Updated on: December 12, 2024
Short on time? Here’s the best antivirus with a VPN in 2024:
- 🥇 TotalAV : An excellent internet security suite with one of the best antivirus scanners on the market, includes a secure VPN with a strict no-logs policy that maintains fast connection speeds, works with Netflix and Amazon Prime, and is easy to use.
Many good antiviruses include VPNs, but most of these bundled VPNs aren’t great — some aren’t secure enough, some aren’t fast enough, and some are only good for basic online activities like web browsing.
However, a few antiviruses come bundled with top-quality VPNs and offer top-notch malware protection, real-time protection, device optimization tools, and more. The bundled VPNs add excellent privacy features and maintain fast speeds for browsing, streaming, torrenting, and gaming.
You get two quality internet security tools for the price of one when you purchase an antivirus that offers a VPN. This way, you don’t have to worry about managing two accounts or contacting different customer support teams to settle any troubleshooting questions. You can often manage both your antivirus and VPN settings from one dashboard.
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Quick Summary of the Best Antiviruses With VPNs
🥇1. TotalAV — Best Overall Antivirus With a VPN in 2024
TotalAV is my favorite antivirus with a VPN. It offers unlimited bandwidth, over 70 servers in 35+ countries, and strong privacy-oriented features in a simple-to-use interface.
The VPN comes with:
- 256-bit AES encryption — Makes your data unreadable to prying eyes and is the same encryption used by banks and governments.
- Kill switch — Automatically disconnects you from the internet if your VPN connection drops, preventing your data from leaking online.
- No-logs policy — Prevents TotalAV from storing logs of any user data, including the websites you visit and files you download.
- IKEv2 and OpenVPN protocols — Protocols are a set of rules that determine how data travels from your device to the VPN server. IKEv2 and OpenVPN are both secure and fast protocols.
- Leak protection — TotalAV provides WebRTC and DNS leak protection. WebRTC leak protection ensures that your private and public IP address is never leaked online. DNS leak protection makes sure all of your DNS requests (the websites you visit) are routed through the VPN and not your internet service provider.
I was impressed with TotalAV’s VPN speeds — it’s one of the fastest VPNs on this list. Websites instantly loaded on local and distant servers, and videos started immediately and didn’t buffer. Also, I downloaded a 20 GB file in about 30 minutes, which is comparable to standalone VPNs like ExpressVPN.
TotalAV’s anti-malware engine is fast and effective, detecting all my malware samples during testing. When I ran a full system scan, I didn’t experience any slowdown, so I could use my PC to work, stream movies, and play games without issues.
TotalAV also offers decent web protection and excellent system optimization tools. The WebShield feature blocks most dangerous websites, and the Smart Scan consolidates maintenance tasks into a single efficient process.
TotalAV’s mobile app is also quite useful, and it’s available for Android and iOS. That said, malware scanning and App Lock are exclusive to Android. Meanwhile, the phishing protection, Wi-Fi checker, VPN, junk cleaner, and secure browser are available on both platforms and work really well. I tested the VPN on a public Wi-Fi network and experienced no leaks or slowdowns while browsing and shopping online.
You can get TotalAV’s antivirus and VPN with its Internet Security and Total Security plans. TotalAV Internet Security is the best overall plan — it’s reasonably priced at $39.00 / year and covers up to 6 devices. All TotalAV products come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Bottom Line:
TotalAV is one of the best antivirus programs on the market and has an excellent VPN. Its antivirus scanner has perfect malware detection rates, and its Safe Browsing VPN has excellent security features, very fast speeds, allows unlimited data, works with top streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime, and supports torrenting on all non-US servers. TotalAV also has phishing protection, system tune-up tools, a password manager, and more. It backs all purchases with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
🥈2. Norton — Best Antivirus Protection With a Feature-Rich VPN
Norton is my favorite antivirus in 2024, and its VPN provides good security, good speeds, and a wide range of cool extra features.
It comes with a decent server network (25+ countries), industry-standard features, and:
- Split-tunneling — Allows you to choose which apps are routed through the VPN and which are routed through your local network.
- Ad blocker — Successfully blocks ads and improves page load speeds.
- Tor support — Adds another layer of security to the Tor network.
- Wi-Fi Secure feature — Identifies dangerous networks and lets you know when you connect to one.
- Full leak protection — Protection against DNS, WebRTC, and IPv6 leaks.
- Streaming and torrenting support — Works with platforms like Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and Max (but not Disney+) and supports torrenting on dedicated servers.
The only downside is that it logs user IP addresses, potentially risking privacy. If you’re concerned about this, consider a different antivirus-bundled VPN.
Norton’s antivirus engine detects malware using a massive malware directory, heuristic analysis, and machine learning. During testing, it consistently detected and removed 100% of the malware samples I had hidden on my device.
Norton 360 also includes a secure firewall, password manager, webcam protection, dark web monitoring, Wi-Fi security alerts (Android and iOS only), cloud storage (250 GB on the 360 with LifeLock Select plan), a private browser, and ransomware protection.
The mobile apps for Android and iOS are good, but it would be great to have all the tools in a single app. That said, they do work quite well. Features include a malware scanner, web protection, VPN, and an SMS spam filter. The App Advisor for Android scans your apps for risks, while the secure calendar for iOS blocks phishing messages.
Norton’s best-value internet security package is Norton 360 Deluxe, which is competitively priced at $49.99 / year*. It includes coverage for 5 devices (including all major platforms), an excellent malware scanner, web protection, 50 GB of cloud backup storage, a firewall, a password manager, parental controls, a privacy monitor, web camera protection, and dark web monitoring. Norton backs each plan with a generous 60-day money-back guarantee.
Bottom Line:
Norton provides excellent protection against the most advanced malware threats, and it includes a decent VPN with many extra features. In addition to detecting all malware samples in my tests, Norton has various security features like web protection, cloud storage, a firewall, a password manager, parental controls, and much more. Norton VPN is secure, easy to use, and fast, and it comes with great extra features like split-tunneling, an ad blocker, Wi-Fi protection, and Tor support. Norton covers each purchase with a 60-day money-back guarantee.
Read the full Norton VPN review
🥉3. McAfee — Excellent Web Protection + Great VPN for Beginners
McAfee has a great malware scanner, excellent web protection, and a user-friendly VPN. McAfee’s Safe Connect VPN is pretty good. While it doesn’t come with many features, it has an intuitive dashboard that makes it easy to navigate. In terms of security, it has 256-bit AES encryption and a kill switch, and its no-logs policy is independently audited and confirmed every year.
You get a couple of convenient connection options. In addition to opting to connect manually, you can automatically connect to a server on non-secure Wi-Fi and LAN networks or just on Wi-Fi networks. This way, if you use the Wi-Fi at your hotel or the gym, McAfee Safe Connect will instantly launch on your device. Plus, you can add a list of trusted networks like your home network.
However, there are a handful of things that I don’t like about McAfee Safe Connect VPN. For example, it’s missing extra features like split-tunneling and an ad blocker (unlike Norton, which has a really good ad blocker). While it does work with Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Max, you won’t be able to use it to watch Hulu, ESPN+, or Disney+, so TotalAV is probably a better choice for streaming.
The antivirus scanner offers effective anti-malware protection (it detected all of the malware samples I hid on my device). It also comes with features like anti-phishing and identity theft protection to protect you on the web.
The antivirus suite includes a strong firewall that guards against unauthorized access and network intrusions. You also get performance tools that speed up your system by clearing out unnecessary files and managing startup programs, and I appreciate the inclusion of encrypted storage for sensitive files.
McAfee has an app for iOS and Android. It features an easy-to-use interface, real-time scam protection to block malicious links in texts, and a Wi-Fi network scanner for security issues. While it lacks anti-theft features, it includes the VPN and ID theft protection.
All of McAfee’s antivirus plans come with the VPN. The Essential plan, which covers 5 devices and is priced at $39.99 / year, is great for couples or individuals with multiple devices. The Premium plan, which costs $49.99 / year, adds parental controls, data clean-up tools, and coverage on unlimited devices. The Advanced plan, priced at $89.99 / year, adds identity theft coverage features. McAfee backs all plans with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Bottom Line:
McAfee is very effective at protecting your device against malware, and the Safe Connect VPN is easy to use. McAfee’s scanner detected every malware file in my tests, and the internet security suite also comes with great features like a firewall, file shredder, identity protection, optimization tools, and a password manager. The VPN is secure, fast, and works with most streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime, but it’s missing extra features like split-tunneling. McAfee has a 30-day money-back guarantee for all of its plans.
4. Bitdefender — Advanced Antivirus Scanner With a Very Fast VPN
Bitdefender has an excellent malware scanner and one of the fastest VPNs on this list. The VPN is free with some of Bitdefender’s antivirus bundles and is powered by standalone VPN provider Hotspot Shield. But I’m not a big fan of the free version — you only get 200 MB per day, and there’s no option to pick a server manually. Upgrading to Bitdefender’s premium VPN solves this problem by giving you unlimited data, 10 simultaneous connections, and access to 1,300 servers in 50+ countries.
The VPN has strong security features like 256-bit AES encryption, a kill switch, a strict no-logs policy, and extra features like split-tunneling. Not all VPNs offer these features. You can also access double-hop connections on Windows, Android, and iOS.
Bitdefender’s VPN also comes with an ad and tracker blocker. The ad blocker is great at blocking intrusive ads and helping websites load faster (similar to Norton’s ad blocker). I also like the anti-tracker feature, which blocks trackers from collecting your data.
The cloud-based virus scanner uses machine learning along with traditional signature-based scanning, which provides 100% malware detection while keeping the impact on your system to a minimum in terms of performance, with full-system scans averaging 21% CPU usage and less than 1% during background scans.
Bitdefender has mobile apps for iOS and Android. The Android app includes an antivirus scanner, free VPN, web protection, app lock, app anomaly detection, and anti-theft protection. The iOS app has a free VPN, web protection, data breach monitoring, and a scam alert feature.
Bitdefender offers several reasonably priced plans. Antivirus Plus costs $24.99 / year, covering 3 Windows PCs with basic protection and offering 200 MB/day VPN. Internet Security costs $37.99 / year, adding a firewall, webcam and microphone protection, and parental controls. Total Security, at $40.99 / year, extends coverage to 5 devices (Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS). Users looking for an unlimited-data VPN should consider Premium Security, which is $63.99 / year. All plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Bottom Line:
Bitdefender comes with lightweight and advanced malware scanning, and its VPN has the fastest speeds on this list. It also has anti-phishing and anti-ransomware protection, a firewall, webcam and microphone protection, and parental controls. Bitdefender’s free VPN only allows 200 MB per day, but Bitdefender Premium VPN allows unlimited data (and is available as a standalone purchase or as part of Premium Security). Bitdefender Premium VPN is good for streaming; it supports torrenting on all servers and includes split-tunneling and an ad and tracker blocker. All Bitdefender plans have a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Read the full Bitdefender review
Read the full Bitdefender Premium VPN review
5. MacKeeper — Good Mac Antivirus With a Basic VPN
MacKeeper is a lightweight antivirus for Macs that includes a secure and fast VPN. MacKeeper’s VPN, Private Connect, is good for general browsing. It includes unlimited data, has a minimalistic, user-friendly dashboard, uses a secure protocol (OpenVPN), and comes with DNS and WebRTC leak protection. It also has nearly 300 servers in 50+ countries, allowing you to connect to a server nearby to get the fastest speeds. That said, Private Connect isn’t as fast as Bitdefender or TotalAV.
The integrated antivirus scanner detected most of my malware samples, but unfortunately, MacKeeper can’t detect rootkits.
The suite also offers a great set of security and performance tools for Macs. Its adware cleaner effectively removes unwanted ads, while the StopAd feature blocks intrusive ads and pop-ups, improving your browsing experience. The ID theft guard monitors your email for data breaches, and the system cleanup tools help free up space by removing junk files and optimizing system performance.
However, I was disappointed with MacKeeper’s privacy policy. The company collects your data and activity, including your IP address and screenshots of the visible areas of your browser’s active tab whenever you use its products. MacKeeper may also share your data with other companies, consultants, and contractors.
MacKeeper includes all of the same features in each plan — the only difference is the number of macOS devices it covers. There’s a 1-month and 12-month plan for 1 Mac and a 12-month plan that covers up to 3 Macs. MacKeeper’s plans start at $10.95 / month and include a 14-day money-back guarantee, the shortest refund time on this list.
Bottom Line:
MacKeeper is a good antivirus program for Macs, with an integrated VPN that provides secure browsing. The VPN is easy to use, has decent speeds, and supports torrenting on dedicated P2P servers, but it isn’t suitable for streaming and has a questionable privacy policy. The malware scanner flagged almost all of the malware in my tests, and you also get cool features like an adware cleaner, ad blocker, email breach monitoring, optimization tools, and system cleanup tools. All of MacKeeper’s plans come with a 14-day money-back guarantee.
Read the full MacKeeper review
6. Malwarebytes — Minimalistic Antivirus With a Fast VPN
Malwarebytes is a good and intuitive antivirus program with a fast VPN, but it lacks many of the features that other top antiviruses like Norton, Bitdefender, and TotalAV offer.
Malwarebytes’s Privacy VPN has 500+ servers in 40+ countries and uses WireGuard, one of the fastest protocols out there. It isn’t as fast as some other VPNs, but I had really fast speeds for browsing, gaming, and watching HD videos on local servers. However, on distant servers, websites loaded in 2–4 seconds, and I experienced some lag playing video games.
When it comes to antivirus software, Malwarebytes provides effective real-time protection that continuously monitors your system to detect and block threats immediately. Likewise, its ransomware protection safeguards your files from being encrypted and held for ransom. Malwarebytes also includes a browser guard that blocks malicious websites and phishing attempts.
Malwarebytes has mobile apps for iOS and Android. The Android app offers more functionality, including malware scanning, web protection, spyware protection, and a privacy audit tool. The iOS app provides web protection, ad blocking, SMS filtering, and scam call blocking. Both apps are well-designed and easy to use.
Malwarebytes Privacy VPN is included with the Plus plan, which is priced at $59.99 / year. For those considering identity theft protection, Malwarebytes lists it separately, with prices starting at $99.99 / year. This package is more costly but offers comprehensive protection and comes bundled with the antivirus, web protection, and VPN. Malwarebytes backs each purchase with a lengthy 60-day money-back guarantee.
Bottom Line:
Malwarebytes is an easy-to-use antivirus that is good for detecting malware, and it comes with a fast VPN. While the VPN isn’t great for streaming, it’s decent for basic online activities like secure browsing. The malware scanner found 95% of the malware samples in my testing, and you also get excellent web protection (like anti-phishing protection) and real-time protection. However, Malwarebytes lacks features other top antiviruses offer in their internet security suites, such as a firewall and parental controls.
Read the full Malwarebytes review
Quick Comparison Table
Testing Methodology: Comparison & Ranking Criteria
Ranking antiviruses isn’t easy. You need a unified set of clear-cut criteria to make a fair judgment. That’s why I used our testing methodology to develop this list. In addition to rigorously checking everything in the software, I tested the following areas:
- I made sure the VPN had good security features. A good VPN needs to have industry-standard security features like 256-bit AES encryption (used by banks and militaries), a kill switch that shuts down your internet connection if it drops, a strict no-logs policy to prevent the provider from keeping logs of your online traffic, and protection against IPv6, DNS, or WebRTC leaks.
- I looked for advanced malware protection. Each antivirus listed here has the most up-to-date protection against advanced threats, including trojans, spyware, and ransomware.
- I looked for additional features. I only recommend antiviruses that offer extra features (in addition to an excellent malware scanner and a VPN). The antiviruses on my list include great security features like an advanced firewall, anti-phishing protection, data breach monitoring, identity theft monitoring, parental controls, and a password manager. The VPNs on my list offer extra features like split-tunneling, an ad blocker, and more.
- I checked if the antiviruses worked with multiple operating systems. All the antiviruses I recommend include Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS apps.
- I went for good value. All the antivirus programs listed above offer affordable plans that include a VPN and many other features, such as anti-phishing protection, password managers, and parental controls. They also accept multiple forms of payment and offer a money-back guarantee for each purchase.
Antivirus-VPN Bundles vs. Standalone Solutions
Buying an antivirus bundled with a VPN gives you comprehensive protection in one package. These bundles typically come at a discounted price compared to purchasing each product separately. Also, integration between the antivirus and VPN can lead to smoother operation and fewer compatibility issues as they are designed to work together.
However, bundled solutions might not always provide the best features or performance for antivirus and VPN services. Some bundled products can be basic, lacking the advanced features of standalone versions. Additionally, if you are dissatisfied with one component, you may need to replace the entire bundle, leading to unnecessary costs.
By choosing individual products, you can select the best antivirus and the best VPN according to your specific needs and preferences. This approach often results in better performance and more advanced features, as you can pick top-tier products for each function. However, this option is generally more expensive since you purchase two separate services. Setting up and managing standalone solutions can also be more complicated, as you must ensure compatibility and handle multiple subscriptions.
Ultimately, deciding between antivirus-VPN bundles and standalone solutions depends on your priorities. If convenience and cost-saving are top of your list, bundles are a great option. But if you value flexibility and advanced features, standalone VPNs and antiviruses offer the customization you need.
How to Use an Antivirus With a VPN?
It’s very easy to use an antivirus with a VPN. You can just follow these quick and easy steps:
- Step 1. Choose a high-end antivirus with a good VPN. I recommend TotalAV because it has an excellent malware scanner and other top-notch security features. It also has a secure, fast VPN and good streaming and torrenting support.
- Step 2. Download and install the antivirus. The whole process should only take a couple of minutes. Just follow the installation wizard’s instructions.
- Step 3. Launch the antivirus app and download the VPN. Some antiviruses have built-in VPNs within their apps, while others require you to download a separate VPN app.
- Step 4. Connect to a server. Open the VPN app, scroll through the list of server locations, and click on your desired country. Now, you can browse the internet with an IP address that matches the country you’re connected to.
Top Brands That Didn’t Make the Cut
- Aura. Aura antivirus has a pretty good malware detection rate and excellent ID theft protections for US users, but its VPN isn’t very good. It won’t allow you to choose a VPN server manually, it doesn’t have a kill switch, and it’s not very good for streaming.
- Sophos. Sophos is easy to use and offers reliable protection from malware, spyware, trojans, rootkits, and viruses. That said, its apps aren’t nearly as feature-rich as top competitors, and it doesn’t include a VPN.
- Webroot. Both Webroot’s antivirus and VPN are decent, but none of Webroot’s plans, not even the most expensive one, include the VPN. Plus, even if you get it as a separate purchase, Webroot’s VPN only covers 3 devices.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between an antivirus and a VPN?
An antivirus and a VPN perform two completely different tasks:
- Antivirus programs protect your device from malware like viruses, ransomware, and rootkits. They can also remove malware and prevent future infections. Antivirus software such as TotalAV and Norton scored 100% in detecting malware in my tests.
- VPNs protect your privacy and secure your data. They offer advanced encryption standards that make your data indecipherable to any third parties, including governments, hackers, or even your internet service provider. VPNs protect your privacy by hiding your location behind a virtual IP address.
Depending on just one security tool isn’t the safest choice, as you might find yourself unprotected from malware or threats to your privacy. By merging a high-quality antivirus with a dependable VPN, you’ll reap both benefits and ensure you can engage in swift and secure browsing, streaming, torrenting, or gaming.
Can an antivirus and a VPN work together?
Yes, these two security tools can coexist and have been built to work together. An antivirus protects your devices from malware, phishing attacks, ransomware attacks, rootkits, and other cyber threats. A VPN routes all of your online traffic through an encrypted tunnel, preventing anyone from monitoring the websites you visit and files you download.
Fortunately, many antiviruses offer a VPN either as part of their antivirus suites or as a separate purchase. My favorite antivirus with a VPN in 2024 is TotalAV. It uses one of the most advanced malware engines, and its VPN is very secure and fast. It also supports torrenting and works with top streaming sites (including Netflix).
What’s the best antivirus with a VPN?
TotalAV is my top pick for the best antivirus with a VPN in 2024. It has a powerful malware engine, features a secure and fast VPN with unlimited data, and works with top streaming sites like Netflix and BBC iPlayer. TotalAV’s VPN includes industry-standard VPN security features (256-bit AES encryption, a kill switch, and a clear no-logs policy) and protects against DNS and WebRTC leaks. All TotalAV plans are backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee.
That said, each antivirus on this list includes a good VPN.
Are VPNs legal?
Yes, VPNs are perfectly legal in most countries. However, some countries have regulated or banned VPNs, including Belarus, China, Iran, Iraq, North Korea, Russia, and the UAE. If you’re caught using a VPN in a country that has banned VPNs, you may face fines or even prosecution. Checking whether a VPN is allowed at your destination is important if you’re going abroad.
If you’re looking for a VPN that consistently works in censor-heavy nations, I recommend a standalone VPN like ExpressVPN. While VPNs are legal in most countries worldwide, any illegal activity carried out without a VPN remains illegal using a VPN.
Do I need an antivirus and a VPN?
You don’t have to use an antivirus and VPN, but I strongly recommend doing so. Combining an antivirus and a VPN gives your devices maximum protection from malware and helps minimize the risk of a hacker stealing your personal information.
All of the antivirus providers on this list include secure VPNs that are easy to use and have fast speeds.
Is there a free antivirus with an included VPN?
Yes — Panda Dome’s free version comes with a VPN. It also has real-time protection, a scanner with a 95% malware detection rate, and a nifty Rescue Kit that can be used to save seriously damaged systems.
Free antivirus/VPN combos will never be as good as premium offerings. For example, if you’re using the free version of Panda’s VPN, your data will be restricted to just 150 MB / day. This limit applies to most of the lower-tiered versions of Panda’s premium antivirus, too. I recommend choosing a premium antivirus with a fast VPN and unlimited data (my favorite is TotalAV’s Internet Security plan).
What are the disadvantages of using an antivirus with a VPN?
Most antivirus-bundled VPNs aren’t as good as standalone VPNs, but it’s very convenient to bundle your antivirus program with a VPN (and get two security tools for the price of one).
However, many antiviruses offer VPNs that lack advanced security features like RAM-only servers, perfect forward secrecy, and audited no-logs policies that top standalone VPNs include. They also lack cool extra features like split-tunneling and an ad blocker, and they set a limit on how much data you can use per day or month.
Plus, many VPNs included in antivirus packages don’t work with popular streaming apps (like Netflix and Amazon Prime), don’t allow torrenting on their servers, have slow speeds, and have smaller server networks, which prevent users from connecting to a server in their country to get the fastest speeds.
