Updated 16 October 2026 · Edited by the Benchmark Buyer team · How we review
We do the homework you'd do before buying, so you don't have to. Like any careful buyer, we read the independent lab tests, the expert reviews and what users say, then sum up where they agree and where they don't. We don't run our own tests. This guide draws on 2 independent lab tests of Mac antivirus, from AV-TEST and AV-Comparatives, and 6 expert reviews published between May and October 2026.
The short answer
Norton 360 is the consensus pick for Mac. Five of the six expert sources we read put it in their top three, and it had near-perfect results in both lab tests. Bitdefender is a close second and the top pick at three expert sources. If you want something free, Avast scores best.
Among the best at catching malware, slightly slower in one test
●●●○
Experienced users who want control
Scroll sideways to see the whole table →
Stars show the consensus score out of 10, turned into a 5-star scale and rounded to the nearest half star; the exact score is in each product's section. Lab results sum up the two independent lab tests of Mac antivirus. Popularity (●●●● very high to ●○○○ lower) is based on how many people have rated each brand's Android app on Google Play: very high (5m+ ratings), high (1m+), medium (500k+) or lower. It shows how widely used a brand is, not how good its Mac product is, so it doesn't affect the score. We found no Google Play app for Intego, so it has no popularity rating.
1. Norton 360: the product most experts agree on
★★★★★Consensus score: 9.8
Norton is in all six expert lists and in the top three of five. Security.org puts it first; TechRadar, Tom's Guide and Cybernews put it second; Macworld third. In the labs it scored 18/18 at AV-TEST (June 2026) and caught 99.9% of 1,500 Mac malware samples at AV-Comparatives, with no false alarms. It falls just short of 10 because Cloudwards ranks it only seventh.
"Norton 360 Deluxe is great if you want a do-it-all antivirus that's as powerful as it is easy-to-use." (Tom's Guide)
Macworld calls it "one of the most comprehensive security suites available for Mac" (Macworld). TechRadar names it a great choice for multi-device users.
Who it suits: anyone who wants one subscription that covers their Mac and other devices, with extras on top of the antivirus.
2. Bitdefender: the reviewers' favourite, with one weaker lab result
★★★★★Consensus score: 9.6
Bitdefender is the top pick at TechRadar, Tom's Guide and Cloudwards, and third at Cybernews. It scored 18/18 at AV-TEST. At AV-Comparatives it caught 99.0% of Mac malware samples, behind Norton, Avast and ESET (99.9%), which is why it sits second.
"Bitdefender is the top pick for MacOS for a reason." (TechRadar)
"Overall, it’s a really solid choice if you want the best protection for your Mac." (Tom's Guide)
Where opinions differ: Security.org ranks it fifth and Macworld sixth.
Who it suits: people who want well-reviewed protection without a lot of extras to manage.
Avast One matched Norton in both labs: 18/18 at AV-TEST and 99.9% of Mac malware caught at AV-Comparatives, which tested the free version. Macworld and Cloudwards rank it second, and Security.org names it the best free version.
"For Mac users on a budget, Avast’s free antivirus may be all you need." (Security.org)
Tom's Guide names it best for beginners: "Avast One is our top choice for Mac antivirus software for beginners thanks to its super easy-to-use interface." (Tom's Guide)
Where opinions differ: Cybernews ranks it tenth and Security.org seventh.
Who it suits: anyone who wants strong lab-tested protection on a Mac without paying.
4. Intego: built for Macs, but the weakest lab result here
★★★★☆Consensus score: 8.3
Macworld ranks Intego ONE first overall. TechRadar puts it third and Cybernews fourth. It scored 18/18 at AV-TEST in March 2026 (it wasn't in the June round), but at AV-Comparatives it caught 96.7% of Mac malware samples, the lowest of the home products tested, which holds its score back.
"Intego ONE stands out for its outstanding malware protection, exceptionally fast scans, and powerful firewall controls." (Macworld)
"Where Intego falls slightly flat is in the additional features." (TechRadar)
Where opinions differ: Cloudwards ranks it eighth, and Tom's Guide and Security.org leave it out.
Who it suits: Mac-only households that want software made just for macOS.
ESET caught 99.9% of Mac malware at AV-Comparatives and scored 17.5/18 at AV-TEST, losing half a point on performance. Only three of the six expert sources list it (Cloudwards fifth, Macworld and Cybernews ninth), which lowers its score. It sits just behind Intego on unrounded scores.
"ESET Cyber Security is a great pick for Mac users who want strong protection with minimal impact on performance." (Cybernews)
Macworld names it best for power users seeking control.
Who it suits: experienced users who want lots of settings to adjust.
AVG matched Avast in both labs (18/18 at AV-TEST, 99.9% at AV-Comparatives), but only two of our six expert sources list it. We need three.
Kaspersky had the best lab results (18/18 at AV-TEST and 100% at AV-Comparatives), but none of our six expert sources ranks it. Since 2024 its antivirus has been banned from sale in the US on national security grounds (US Bureau of Industry and Security), and several of our expert sources are US-based.
Trend Micro is in four expert lists, but its latest AV-TEST result (March 2026) lost points for protection (16.5/18) and it wasn't in AV-Comparatives' Mac test. We need results from both labs.
Avira scored 18/18 at AV-TEST in June 2026 and is in four expert lists, but wasn't in AV-Comparatives' Mac test.
TotalAV is Cybernews' top pick and scored 18/18 at AV-TEST, but wasn't in AV-Comparatives' Mac test and is in only two expert lists.
McAfee, Malwarebytes, Surfshark, MacPaw Moonlock, Aura and others appear in some expert lists but have no result in either Mac lab test.
How we score
We don't run our own tests. Each product's consensus score combines three things:
Independent lab results (50%): each lab test is turned into a score out of 100, then averaged. Missed malware costs more than false alarms, because a missed threat can do real damage.
AV-TEST macOS (June 2026; March 2026 for products not in the June round): protection, performance and usability points out of 18.
AV-Comparatives Mac Security Test (May 2026, 1,500 Mac malware samples): minus 1 point per 0.1% of samples missed, minus 0.5 per false alarm. No product raised a false alarm.
Expert rankings (35%): each product's position in 6 expert "best Mac antivirus" lists, from TechRadar, Tom's Guide, Macworld, Security.org, Cloudwards and Cybernews.
Breadth of agreement (15%): how many of those 6 lists include the product.
To be ranked, a product needs results from both lab tests and a place in at least three expert lists. We leave out evidence older than 18 months; AV-Comparatives' 2025 Mac test is replaced by its 2026 edition. Affiliate commission plays no part in the score.
Evidence last checked: 16 October 2026. Full details on how we review.