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Best Internet Security Suites

Best Internet Security Suites

By Leo S.Leo S. — Verified by Adam B.Adam B. — Last updated: August 6, 2024 — (0)
Table of contents

We live in a world where more and more people are connecting to the internet and while this surely brings us all together, it also means that an ever-increasing slew of digital menaces lurk around the online space. With Best Reviews you’ll know the ins and outs of antivirus and internet security suites, their greatest features, and all the details that often remain hidden. Our comparisons will highlight all the pros and cons of the software we test and write about, helping you to make the best cost-efficient choice and find out how to enjoy free trials and score discount coupons.

Best internet security suites of 2024

TotalAV logo
Editor's rating:
(4.5)
Intuitive and versatile program
Good user interaction and customization level
Integrated VPN and password manager
Multiplatform support
Bitdefender Internet Security logo
Editor's rating:
(4.5)
Intuitive dashboard with great level of customization
Comprehensive antivirus
Small system impact with quick and in-depth scans
Extraordinary number of extra features
McAfee Total Protection logo
Editor's rating:
(4)
Very easy to use
Plenty of additional features
Customizable firewall protection
Multiplatform support for computers and mobile
TotalAV
TotalAV
Editor's rating:
Reviews
  • Intuitive and versatile program
  • Good user interaction and customization level
  • Integrated VPN and password manager
  • Multiplatform support
  • Suitable for all kinds of users
  • Heavy performance loss from in-depth scans
Starting price: $19.95/yr Visit TotalAV
Screenshots
Offers
$59.95 per year for TotalAV Ultimate
30-day risk-free trial of TotalAV
Free first scan with TotalAV
Bitdefender Internet Security
Bitdefender Internet Security
Editor's rating:
Reviews
  • Intuitive dashboard with great level of customization
  • Comprehensive antivirus
  • Small system impact with quick and in-depth scans
  • Extraordinary number of extra features
  • Attractive pricing
  • VPN requires extra payment
  • Windows exclusive
Starting price: $40/mo Visit Bitdefender
Screenshots
Offers
$40 per year for Bitdefender Internet Security
Only $0.55 per month for 10 computers
McAfee Total Protection
McAfee Total Protection
Editor's rating:
Reviews
  • Very easy to use
  • Plenty of additional features
  • Customizable firewall protection
  • Multiplatform support for computers and mobile
  • Attractive pricing
  • Noticeable performance impact of quick and full scans
  • Lack of scan customization
  • VPN and Identity Theft Protection features require auto-renewal
Starting price: $34.99/yr Visit McAfee
Screenshots
Offers
Over 66% discount on the first year
Only $0.38 per month for 10 devices
30-day free trial of McAfee Total Protection
30-day money-back guarantee with McAfee Total Protection

How to choose the right internet security suite

Deciding on a product can be quite hard, but fortunately there are some key aspects to look for before confirming your purchase.

Device support and number of systems

It’s pretty common seeing companies offering multiple plans according to the number of devices supported. The maximum is usually ten, which means that a single subscription can protect an entire family or a small office. This is often pricey, obviously, but that’s not always bad news when accounting for all the features that each user can enjoy, not to mention that the cost can always be divided by the number of in-use devices, too. Depending on the length of the plan, this can lower the monthly per device cost to only $1 or less, and if the software happens to be compatible with multiple platforms – like Windows and Mac computers or Android and iOS devices – then all the better.

Extra features, reviews, and free trials

An internet security suite brings a whole other level of protection, so it’s important to know exactly which tools are offered. As a general rule, most suites of this kind invest in antivirus protection, and therefore it is often up to the extra features to decide the game. Our reviews are a crucial help in this regard, as they save our readers the time and effort of navigating through different websites trying to find all the necessary details. Aggressive marketing strategies of certain products – that are often not actually that good – can lead to confusion and frustration, so our reviews are carefully executed by experts who test the different components of a product. Also, we invite other users to review the software themselves, which is a great way to know the opinion of the wider Best Reviews community.

We make sure to provide all the information about free trials, too, which will help you make your own conclusions. Many services offer great discounts as well, and in these cases we present this information to help save you some money and make a purchasing decision. And, when in doubt between two similar products, you’ll find our accurate side-by-side comparisons will surely help in making a final decision.

Antivirus software vs internet security suites

The foundations of antivirus software and internet security suites are essentially the same, but both products are actually somewhat different from one another. In fact, it’s quite common to see companies creating both types of solutions, but while antivirus solutions are developed purely for that purpose, the protection provided by an internet security suite is much greater. That’s the main difference between the two and, as such, it’s ultimately each person’s unique needs that ends up deciding which is the best choice.

While antivirus software typically tends to be cheaper, they won’t do more than providing safety mechanisms to prevent malware from infecting the device and removing those that aren’t blocked. This means that they’re a great choice for those looking primarily for protection since they won’t need to waste money on tools they won’t make use of. However, other consumers care about their online privacy and computer performance and will find security suites to be the better choice as they feature all the great benefits of an antivirus solution and even bring additional tools for extended protection, such as Wi-Fi protection, VPN tools, password managers, and more.

Free internet security

The ability to use internet security suites for free depends heavily on a company’s decision to provide free trials. In this sense, it’s important to address the fact that even if a provider seems unwilling to let its customers use a product without paying, most of them do at least include money-back guarantees that can be used for risk-free testing. Even though it’s required to pay in advance, users can always request a refund within the given time limit, which is normally set to 30 days.

But some companies do still provide actual free trials that let users enjoy the whole range of features for a limited time, but there are even free versions of the final product available with features restricted until a payment is made. Speaking of which, it’s important to know exactly which tools are part of the package, since sometimes it may be possible to obtain free trials via alternative routes. A subscription to a simple antivirus solution may include a free trial for the company’s VPN or password manager, for instance, so you’re already getting a taste of the most complete program, even if it is in separate pieces.

Internet security 101

What is an internet security suite?
How does an internet security suite work?
Why an internet security suite?
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