McAfee vs Zone Alarm: Which One is Better? [2024 Top Picks]

Find the best antivirus for you and your devices.
We compare security, extra features, ease of use, and more to help you decide.

McAfee vs. Zone Alarm: Which Is Right for You?

Eric Goldstein
Eric Goldstein
Chief Editor

McAfee vs. Zone Alarm: Which Is Right for You?

McAfee and Zone Alarm are two well-known antivirus products on the market. They both use the latest malware detection protocols, combining signature-scanning and behavior-monitoring to find unrecognized threats. They also include a lot of additional features.

McAfee is one of the most well-known names on the market. It’s available for most major operating systems and includes an anti-phishing browser extension and a firewall. The social media guard will help keep you safe on networking platforms, and the PC tune-up works hard to remove corrupted or temporary files to increase overall speed. Unlike many other security suites, McAfee allows unlimited device coverage for each subscription, and the Security Management console lets you see, locate, and wipe all of them remotely if they’re lost or stolen. Finally, the digital file shredder increases your privacy by ensuring all removed items are completely deleted.

Zone Alarm also includes an anti-phishing extension, as well as an advanced two-way firewall that can spot common hacks attempting to bypass it. The Wireless Network Security feature will update the firewall depending on your risk factor. The software uses auto-sandboxing technology to launch files in a virtual environment in order to check for threats. It also includes an anti-keylogger and 5GB of online backup space. Zone Alarm is one of the few programs to scan during the boot stages so you can catch problems early. The “Find My Laptop” feature lets you remotely locate your device in the event it is lost or stolen.

Starting Price
Money Back Guarantee
Free Trial
$39.99
30 Days
$19.95
30 Days
Security
Features
Ease of Use
Support
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Latest Positive Review*User reviews are not verified
lenjin
Dec. 16, 2021
very good
I'm very pleased with the antivirus. I used Kaspersky and Bitdefender...
BigEyedBeans
May 16, 2021
Very Good
I've used McAfee for 25yrs plus and I have had NO problems whatesoever. I...
Ottoman Mint
Nov. 5, 2020
Zone Alarm User
I highly recommend ZoneAlarm! I’ve been using Zone Alarm Free Firewall...
Benny
Sep. 22, 2020
A good security product
A very good antivirus with firewall, and it's free !
Latest Negative Review*User reviews are not verified
Larry Andress
May 1, 2023
Terrible Customer Svc
It is easy to sign up and pay them but if the McAfee doesn't agree with...
Steve
May 1, 2023
McAfee VPN Has Major Issues
McAfee virus protection seems to work alright but their VPN has major...
Sanjay
Nov. 7, 2018
Use to be good, but not anymore
I've been using this program for a very long time and have always been...
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
No reviews yet
Our Verdict
Eric Goldstein
Eric Goldstein
Chief Editor
McAfee and Zone Alarm are both top-level providers who offer comprehensive protection. Either one will guarantee strong security from a wide range of threats.
Time To Decide Which One Is Best For You

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I find the best antivirus for me?

The first thing to do is to understand what you need — all antiviruses come with different internet security tools to help you stay protected, so identifying what level of protection you want will help you figure out which product is right for you.

Some antiviruses have a virtual private network (VPN), some have safe browsing extensions, and some have a password manager. Some only work on certain operating systems, while others cover all operating systems across multiple devices.

It’s important to compare the best antiviruses on the market to find the perfect one with the functionality you need.

What makes an antivirus secure?

A high-quality antivirus suite will detect, flag, and remove viruses and various types of malware. It will also offer real-time protection against all threats, regardless of whether you are browsing the internet, downloading software, shopping online, or opening email. For additional security, many antivirus suites offer a VPN, secure storage, and a password manager — these things all add several layers of protection against various cyber threats.

For more information on how antiviruses work, read this.

What do I need to look for when searching for an antivirus?

An antivirus needs to protect against all types of malware — trojans, rootkits, worms, spyware, viruses, ransomware, and anything else that might cause damage to your devices. This is done in a variety of ways, but the most essential feature of an antivirus is real-time protection — this makes sure that an active threat is effectively stopped before anything serious can happen.

Other things to look for include — excellent detection rates, fast system performance, included extra features (like a VPN, password manager, etc.), easy-to-use interface, good customer support, and overall value.

Go here for a list of the best antivirus software of 2024.

How do I know if one antivirus is better than another?

When researching antiviruses, it’s a good idea to visit a few well-known antivirus software websites such as Norton, McAfee, and Bitdefender to directly compare each antivirus’s features.

You can also look at the expert opinions of our reviewers at SafetyDetectives.com to find the most up-to-date information about the best cybersecurity products on the market today.

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