McAfee vs. Trend Micro

McAfee and Trend Micro are tied for fifth place in our rating of the Best Antivirus Software of 2024. In addition, McAfee is No. 10 and Trend Micro is No. 9 in our rating of the Best Antivirus Software for Macs of 2024. Both firms have long experience in malware defense and computer security in general. Trend Micro is known for its enterprise operations that protect U.S. and United Nations government systems, while McAfee has been a recognized name in the consumer computer security software space for decades. Both offer software that is proficient at detecting ransomware, viruses, and other malware. Read our comparison of the two companies below.

McAfee vs. Trend Micro

Trend Micro Antivirus has a less expensive basic security plan than McAfee at $39.95 compared to $84.99 after a promotional period ends. However, it covers just a single Windows PC at that price while McAfee covers a single MacOS, iOS, Android, or Windows device. Both firms have multiple upgrade options.

For a standard price of $89.95, Trend Micro will protect five Windows, MacOS, Android, iOS, and/or ChromeOS devices from malware. It also has features to protect privacy, manage passwords and help optimize your PC.

McAfee has several options costing up to $159.99 with additional features such as virtual private network (VPN), parental controls, personal data cleanup and identity protection. Other McAfee options include a Total Protection plan which has three options depending on features and number of devices.

McAfee vs. Trend Micro: Plans

McAfee's entry-level Antivirus Plus offers basic malware protection for one device for $84.99 annually after a promotional period. The Plus plan at $109.99 includes identity monitoring, a device protection score and an unlimited VPN for five devices. The Premium Plan covers 10 devices and includes an unlimited VPN with five licenses, along with parental controls and personal data cleanup. The Ultimate Plan includes those features for an unlimited number of devices and adds identity theft coverage. McAfee also has three options under its Total Protection package: Basic at $84.99, which includes a VPN and identity monitoring; Premium at $129.99, which adds parental controls and personal data cleanup; and Ultimate ($159.99), which features $1 million for ID theft coverage and restoration.

Trend Micro Antivirus software for consumers includes three plans. Antivirus + Security ($39.95) covers one Windows PC for one year. Maximum Security ($89.95) covers five devices (including Chromebooks) and includes parental web filtering for children, a Pay Guard feature to protect your financial transactions, a password manager, and defense against websites that steal your personal data. The Premium Security Suite ($129.95) covers 10 devices and includes a VPN, dark web monitoring, 24/7 emergency support, and remote diagnosis and repair.

McAfee vs. Trend Micro: Prices

Trend Micro Antivirus offers better value at the low end if you just want malware defense for a Windows device, costing almost $50 less than the comparable McAfee plan. But if you need to cover a MacOS, iOS, or Android device, McAfee is a better option. Trend Micro's upgraded plans also have a price advantage with the company's feature-packed premium plan costing $129.99, below the top-level McAfee plans at $159.99.

McAfee vs. Trend Micro: Compatibility

McAfee plans cover devices powered by Windows, MacOS, Android, and iOS. Trend Micro also covers these platforms (except for the Windows-only entry-level plan) and protects Chromebooks.

McAfee Pros and Cons

McAfee has been in the computer security business for decades and gives you a wide array of options to allow you to effectively customize your plan. That’s good for some people, but others might get confused by the number of choices. McAfee can offer a bare-bones antivirus plan to protect one device at a competitive price, but upgrades can quickly run up the cost. You get a computer protection score and a VPN for the base price. Parental controls and identity theft monitoring are available in the higher-tier plans, or you can choose from one of the Total Protection plans. Some reviewers say McAfee can be resource-intensive, with the potential to slow your device.

Trend Micro Pros and Cons

Trend Micro Antivirus has earned a reputation for protecting corporate and government networks from viruses and other online threats. It offers a solid choice for consumers as well, in many cases at a favorable price point. Its scores from some reviewers and lab tests are a tad below those of some of its rivals, however. Still, Trend Micro has good antivirus options with a reasonably priced entry-level plan for a single device. It also offers a good array of features in its top-tier plan including a VPN, dark web monitoring, and remote diagnosis and repair. In addition, it is one of the few antivirus firms that can cover Chromebooks.

McAfee Antivirus vs. Trend Micro: Bottom Line

McAfee is a longtime top-tier operator in cybersecurity for consumers and is highly regarded by professional reviewers, edging out Trend Micro in most cases for its solid protection and ease of use. It also scores well for customer service and the wide array of features in its different plans. Trend Micro remains a solid choice and is a bit more budget friendly, offering strong malware protection at the basic level and a feature-packed top-tier plan at a lower cost than McAfee. If you have a Chromebook, Trend Micro is one of the few antivirus options available.

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Why You Can Trust Us: 37 Antivirus Companies Researched

At U.S. News & World Report, we rank the Best Hospitals, Best Colleges, and Best Cars to guide readers through some of life’s most complicated decisions. Our 360 Reviews team draws on this same unbiased approach to rate the products that you use every day. To build our ratings, we researched more than 37 antivirus companies and analyzed 16 antivirus reviews. Our 360 Reviews team does not take samples, gifts, or loans of products or services we review. All sample products provided for review are donated after review. In addition, we maintain a separate business team that has no influence over our methodology or recommendations.