5 Best Antivirus Software for Families in 2022

I compared all of the leading antiviruses in the market to find the one that would work best for my family.

Many of the products that I tried were awful. Some have inconsistencies in malware detection, while others have poor internet security. Other programs are far too complex for nontechnical users. Surprised to discover that antiviruses with big names are missing important family-friendly features like remote access, parental controls, and system cleanup!

However, there are many antiviruses out there that provide the Internet security features that every family member needs.

• 100% Malware Removal and detection.
• Anti-phishing protection.
• Parental control.
• VPN is a virtual private network.
• Password manger.
• Data breach monitoring.
• More…

The anti-virus programs I recommend offer excellent protection, as well as intuitive user interfaces. This will ensure that everyone is safe online, including children and adults.

Quick summary of the best antivirus software for families in 2022:

• 1.🥇 Norton 360 Deluxe — #1 antivirus for families in 2022 with excellent parental controls, a great VPN, and lots more.
• 2.🥈 McAfee Total Protection Family —  Excellent antivirus for large families with comprehensive parental controls and anti-theft features.
• 3.🥉 BullGuard Premium Protection — Advanced malware scanning with a Game Booster mode for PC gamers.
• 4. Bitdefender Total Security — Fast cloud-based scanning with good geo-fencing capabilities.
• 5. Kaspersky otal Security — Easy-to-use antivirus with a good malware scanner and solid web protections.
• Bonus: Intego (for Mac users) — Best Mac-only antivirus for families.

🥇1. Norton 360 Deluxe — Best Overall Family Antivirus in 2022

Norton 360 Premium has been my favorite antivirus product for families. In my testing, Norton detected every bit of malware across all my devices.

Norton 360 also offers a comprehensive suite of internet safety tools that can help keep families protected online.

• Parental control.
• VPN (with unlimited Data).
• Password manger.
• Phishing protection.
• Identity protection (US only)

Norton’s usage restrictions are something I love. I was able easily to set up a schedule and limit the time that certain apps can be used. This made it possible for me to ensure my children were using their devices for homework, rather than playing Fortnite in bed.

Norton’s other security features were also extremely helpful. My parents appreciated Norton’s built-in password manager which made it easy for them track all their logins. Norton’s VPN is installed on all devices in my household. While many VPNs can slow down internet connections and cause delays, Norton’s VPN works so fast that my entire family doesn’t notice it’s running. Norton also ranks #1 in antivirus with VPN in 2022.

Norton 360 Deluxe gives protection to up to five devices. All Norton’s advanced protections work on Android, iOS and PCs. Norton’s Advanced 360 Plans include LifeLock identity theft protection, up 500 GB of cloud storage and even theft wallet protection for US families.

Bottom Line:

Norton’s exceptional malware protection, advanced Internet security tools and comprehensive parental control are some of the best available. Norton’s secure password manager and VPN are good additions for those who want to increase their online safety. Norton 360 Deluxe comes with a sixty-day money back guarantee.

Norton Antivirus 2022

Name: Review Norton Antivirus

Description: Norton Antivirus Plus works for both Windows and Mac. Norton Antivirus Plus is an excellent choice if you have only one device. It is not cheap because you can only install it on one device. Bitdefender Internet Security comes with more features. It can also be installed on three computers (not just a Mac). It is cheaper than Norton Antivirus Plus. However, it costs less per device.

Offer price: €15.00 or $19.99

Currency: USD, EUR

Operating System: Windows, macOS, Android, iOS

Application Category: Norton Antivirus - Brand Review

Author: Best Antivirus

[ More ]

• Security
  (4.5)
• Features
  (4)
• Ease of use
  (4.5)
• Customer Support
  (4)
• Pricing
  (4)

Overall

4.2

Summary

Norton Antivirus Plus gives you great protection on one Mac or one PC. It also offers web protection, antimalware as well as password management. This is an excellent choice if you are looking to protect just one device while you go about your daily business. Bitdefender Internet Security may be a better choice, but it costs more per device.

Norton 360, the most comprehensive Norton antivirus suite, is the jewel in Norton’s crown. The 2022 most comprehensive antivirus suite includes unlimited VPN, parental checks (unlimited), dark Web monitoring, dark-web monitor, webcam protection, and privacy monitoring. The best thing is that it is far cheaper than other comparable solutions.

Pros

• All-round protection
• Extra features
• User-friendly interface
• Minimal resource usage
• Identity-theft protection

Cons

• Doesn’t include a free version
• Quite expensive

• Norton for Windows
• Norton for macOS
• Norton for Android
• Norton for iOS

🥈2. McAfee Total Protection Family — Best Value for Large Families

McAfee Total Protection Family has one of most complete anti-malware products on the market. There are tons of great internet security tools, parental controls, and coverage up to 10 devices (more that most of its competitors).

McAfee identified every malware file I tested, and the real-time scan barely slowed down my system — even when I was streaming HD video to Netflix!

McAfee’s additional security options will appeal to families looking to protect their privacy online.

• Parental control.
• VPN (with unlimited Data).
• Anti-theft protections.
• Home WiFi scanner.

McAfee parental controls are outstanding — they include content filtering as well as app and device usage limitations, geo-fencing and browser monitors. The geo-fencing function is excellent — I created a “safe area” around my son’s middleschool, and I received notifications when both he and I left the school.

McAfee also offers great anti-theft tools. They include location tracking, remote access, and an automated selfie cam. This makes it much easier for you to recover your phone if it is lost or stolen. I tested it out with my Android by signing into McAfee’s online dashboard. This triggered an extremely loud alarm that rang throughout my house.

McAfee Total Protection Family offers protection on up to 10 devices. This is less than the majority of competitors and the multi-year payment option makes McAfee Total Protection Family one of the most affordable antivirus packages available.

Bottom line:

McAfee is a powerful antivirus that can detect malware and provides parental controls. Coverage for up to 10 devices is possible. McAfee has geo-fencing and content filtering that is perfect for children. There are also Wi-Fi protections as well as anti-theft protection and VPN. McAfee total protection family comes with a large discount (especially for multiyear subscriptions) and a 30 day money back guarantee.

McAfee Antivirus 2022

Name: Review McAfee Antivirus 2022

Description: McAfee subscriptions could be purchased via a PayPal or credit card. McAfee subscriptions are available with a 30-day money back guarantee. You can try all the features, and you won't be obligated to a substandard product.

Offer price: $39.99 to Up

Currency: USD

Operating System: Windows, macOS, Android, iOS

Application Category: McAfee Antivirus - Brand Review

Author: Best Antivirus

• Security
  (4)
• Features
  (3.5)
• Ease of use
  (4)
• Customer Support
  (4.5)
• Pricing
  (4)

Overall

4

Summary

McAfee’s performance is good most of the time, according to independent tests. MRG Effitas has not certified Avira or this virus for certification in Q2 2020. They do have more than just average results.

McAfee is a must-have on this list. Although it is important, it is not the best antivirus software.

Pros

• All plans support majort platforms
• Generous device limits
• Basic package is feature-rich
• Solid firewall
• Home Network Security feature is a godsend

Cons

• Some independent test results are poor
• Performance could be better
• Apple products have fewer features

🥉3. BullGuard Premium Protection — Best for Gaming Families

BullGuard Premier Protection is a high-quality internet security suite. This suite includes advanced malware detection, a range of additional features, as well as a unique Game Booster mode, which increases CPU performance on gaming computers.

BullGuard detected, quarantined and removed every malware threat during my testing. The ransomware scanner detected ransomware much faster than other competitors.

BullGuard Game Booster was used by my teenage to test it on his refurbished gaming laptop. The Game Booster was able to significantly increase his CPU performance, frame rate, and CPU speed without interrupting him gaming sessions with annoying notifications. BullGuard is now the #1 gaming antivirus, thanks to BullBooster.

BullGuard also offers an array of internet security options, including:

• Parental control.
• System cleanup tool.
• Identity protection.
• Firewall.
• VPN – Separate purchase
• Home network scanner.

BullGuard has decent parental controls, but they aren’t as good or as thorough as McAfee’s or Norton’s. BullGuard’s content filter was unable to detect inappropriate sites during my tests. Also, there is no geofencing option.

BullGuard is a great firewall and system cleanup tool. It also provides real-time credit monitoring to users in the US, Canada, most of the EU, and other countries (unlike Norton that only offers ID protection for US users).

BullGuard Internet Security includes parental controls and Game Booster. BullGuard premium Protection offers protection for ID, home network scanner, and coverage of up to 15 devices from all major operating systems.

Bottom Line

BullGuard antivirus is the best for gaming families. It has an excellent malware scanner, and lots of other features. Game Booster is a very good feature. It significantly speeds up the performance of gaming computers. BullGuard has parental controls that are not as good as some, but they are not bad either. BullGuard identity theft protections are better than Norton’s. They’re comprehensive and can be used in more countries. BullGuard offers a 30-day guarantee of your satisfaction.

4. Bitdefender Total Security — Best for Families on a Budget

bitdefender Total Security is a security suite with a good antivirus scanner and tons of extra features — including a mobile security app for iOS and Android.

Bitdefender caught all of my malware during testing. Bitdefender’s cloud-based scanner was so easy to use, it didn’t slow down my device performance even with full disk scans.

Bitdefender also offers useful extras to keep families online safe, such as:

• Parental control.
• VPN, 200 MB daily limit
• Phishing protection.
• Password manger.

Bitdefender’s parental control features are excellent. I found the screen time limits to be easy to set up and loved being able track my kids’ apps. Bitdefender’s geo-fencing also allowed me to track my children and notify me when they leave a defined safe zone.

Bitdefender’s VPN was slow and frustrating. Bitdefender is available for purchase at checkout. Bitdefender is one of the fastest VPNs in the market. Bitdefender connects to over 20 countries via lightning fast connections.

Bitdefender offers many plans. The best is Total Security for families. This plan covers up to 5 devices, across all operating systems, and it’s much cheaper than the major competitors.

Bottom Line:

Bitdefender is an antivirus that offers solid protection against real-time malware and lots of other features. All of the excellent tools that can be used to protect families online are geo-fencing and VPN. Bitdefender has coverage up to 5 devices at a cheaper price than McAfee Norton and McAfee. Plus, there is a 30-day refund guarantee.

Bitdefender Antivirus 2022

Name: Review Bitdefender Antivirus

Description: Bitdefender is the best Windows antivirus software. Bitdefender's Internet Security & Total Security offer comprehensive protection for Windows computers.

Offer price: $14.99 to Up

Currency: USD

Operating System: Windows, macOS, Android, iOS

Application Category: Bitdefender Antivirus - Brand Review

Author: Best Antivirus

[ More ]

• Security
  (4.5)
• Features
  (4)
• Ease of use
  (4)
• Customer Support
  (4)
• Pricing
  (4)

Overall

4.1

Summary

Bitdefender Internet Safety Anti-Virus Software is the most affordable for Windows. It offers both online and offline protection.

Bitdefender Total Safety remains our top choice. But, we love Norton 360 Deluxe. This is an excellent anti-virus suite for all platforms. Norton has unlimited VPN, a better password manger and more effective parental controls. This antivirus suite is more expensive but offers more functionality.

Pros

• Great scores in independent tests
• Multiple customer support options
• Available 30-day trials
• Has a free version
• Notification settings adapt to activity

Cons

• macOS supported only with paid plans
• Requires extra payment for full VPN access

• Bitdefender for Windows
• Bitdefender for macOS
• Bitdefender for Android
• Bitdefender for iOS

5. Kaspersky Total Security — Best Ease of Use

Kaspersky Total Protection is a great family antivirus. It offers excellent anti-malware security, strong parental controls and many additional security features in an intuitive, user-friendly interface.

Kaspersky’s real-time scanner detects new and unknown malware threats using many advanced techniques. Kaspersky’s Quick Scan worked well on my test system. It detected most of the malware and was able to delete it. However, some ransomware files were still present so I had to do a full scan.

Kaspersky offers parental controls that are quite good. Kaspersky’s geofencing feature, which is the best of any parental control app, I believe is very impressive. YouTube controls (including YouTube App), usage limits and real-time notifications are also available. There is also an online content filter.

Kaspersky has all the features you would expect from an antivirus suite that is premium, such as:

• Firewall.
• VPN: 200 MB daily limit
• Password manger.
• Online shopping security.

Kaspersky’s Shopping Protections are my favorite. They offer a safe, sandboxed web browser and an onscreen keyboard that prevents spyware from accessing sensitive financial information.

Kaspersky Total Security offers the only plan that has parental controls. It can cover up to 10 devices.

Bottom Line

Kaspersky provides some really good parental controls – with excellent geofencing and YouTube control. Kaspersky also offers safe shopping features. Kaspersky provides a 1-year, 2-year or 3-year subscription. Each plan comes with a 30-day satisfaction guarantee.

Kaspersky Antivirus 2022

Name: Review Kaspersky Antivirus

Description: Kaspersky Internet Security on Windows and Mac is an excellent, "set-and-forget it" security product. Bitdefender Internet Security costs slightly less and supports Windows only. Which one is right depends on your individual situation.

Offer price: $29.99 to up

Currency: USD

Operating System: Windows, macOS, Android, iOS

Application Category: Kaspersky Antivirus - Brand Review

Author: Best Antivirus

[ More ]

• Security
  (4)
• Features
  (3.5)
• Ease of use
  (4)
• Customer Support
  (4.5)
• Pricing
  (4)

Overall

4

Summary

Kaspersky has outstanding security software.

Kaspersky Internet Security for the low and mid-ends is an excellent, “set & forget” antivirus system. It is clearly superior to Kaspersky Anti-Virus Basic.

Kaspersky Total Security provides a powerful password manager at the top. We recommend upgrading to this product as it will significantly improve your cybersecurity.

Pros

• Excellent malware protection
• Great independent organization test scores
• User-friendly interface
• 24/7 customer support options
• Has a basic free version

Cons

• Lower brand trust
• Quite expensive
• Password manager only in expensive plans

• Kaspersky for Windows
• Kaspersky for macOS
• Kaspersky for Android
• Kaspersky for iOS

Bonus: Intego Mac Premium Bundle X9 — Best Mac Antivirus for Families

Intego Mac Premier Bundle X9, an intuitive and reliable Mac-based antivirus, offers some excellent family protection. Intego has two primary security features: VirusBarrier — a real time anti-malware engine that is specifically tailored for Macs — as well as NetBarrier which protects users of phishing sites and malicious web scripts.

Intego’s parental control options are significantly better than macOS’s builtin parental controls. Intego has specifications for many different criteria like inappropriate language or religious content, as well as certain web shops. Intego provides more options for managing app usage, monitoring for predatory and unsafe communication, and scheduling device usage.

Intego also provides advanced system cleanup options and device backup tools to help safeguard your data and optimize the performance of your system. During my tests, I deleted tons of duplicates, junk programs, cached web pages, and other files from my dad’s Mac. I also synchronized his backup with my MacBook to ensure that his files are automatically backed up on my drive.

Intego’s Mac Premium Bundle X9 includes protection for up 5 devices. 2 year protection is available at a substantial discount.

Bottom Line

Intego offers great protection against Mac-based malicious software and excellent parental controls. These parental controls, system optimization tools, and device backup tools are much more robust than macOS’s built in features. Intego has a 30-day money-back warranty.

Intego Antivirus

Name: Intego Antivirus Review and Prices

Description: Intego sells four consumer macOS antivirus packages in a variety of multiyear/multi-device subscription configurations, covering just macOS devices or macOS devices plus a single Windows device. They range in price from $39.99/$49.99 for a single-year/single-device subscription to $149.99/$184.99 covering three devices for two years.

Offer price: $24.99 to Up

Currency: USD

Operating System: macOS

Application Category: Intego - Brand Review

Author: Best Antivirus

[ More ]

• Security
  (4.5)
• Features
  (4.5)
• Ease of use
  (5)
• Customer Support
  (4.5)
• Pricing
  (4)

Overall

4.5

Summary

Intego Mac antivirus software scores well in our ratings. The company offers several macOS protections, privacy tools and system optimization functions. Intego will provide instructions for how to remove malicious threats from your computer if the software doesn’t detect them. Users can also contact the company’s technical assistance team by email, phone or chat between 8:30 a.m. Central Standard Time and 5:30 p.m. Central Standard Time.

Pros

• While mainly aimed at macOS, some protection for Windows are available
• Full range of macOS protection and system optimization features
• Provides extensive explanations of technologies

Cons

• Product configurations can be confusing
• No VPN or identity theft monitoring included
• Plans cover no more than five devices
• Windows protection is a secondary focus

• Intego for macOS

How I Rated the Best Antiviruses for Families in 2022

Over the past few weeks, I downloaded and tested the most popular antiviruses, along with my 2 children, my partner, as well as my parents. We tested each of the antivirus family plans available to find out if any had these 5 qualities.

• Strong protection. A variety of malware samples were tested, including spyware, ransomware and rootkits. I looked at things such as real-time antivirus protection, secure Web-browsing, smart firewalls, and secure web-browsing. All the products I included on my list proved to be capable of protecting against sophisticated malware.
• Easy to use. Everybody, even less tech-savvy users can access the important features of an antivirus program. I tried all of these products along with my kids and my parents to find the best balance of security, accessibility, and affordability.
• Family-friendly features. I made sure the products on my checklist had family-friendly features, such as parental controls to keep your kids safe online, remote accessibility to help you protect your devices from hackers, and secure virtual privacy networks (VPNs).
• Excellent customer service. This also included customer support options like email and phone. I double-checked all data offered by support teams and gave them extra points for detailed knowledge bases, FAQs, community forums and active discussion.
• Price. I compared features, prices and devices to determine if they are competitively priced in comparison to other products.

Top Brands That Didn’t Make the Cut

• TotalAV. TotalAV can be used as an internet security tool. It offers advanced malware scan, a fast VPN, identity theft protection, and speedy VPN. It lacks parental controls, so it is not a better family antivirus product than the others.
• Cylance. Cylance makes use of artificial intelligence to scan the internet for malware quicker and more accurately than other companies. Cylance offers family protections but is limited to a web-based dashboard.
• Avira. Avira features an intuitive interface, an advanced antivirus engine and other features, making it one of the top internet security products on the market. Avira provides the best free antivirus on both Windows and Mac. The lack of parental controls unfortunately kept it from my top ten.

Do I really need an antivirus for my family?

While antivirus protection is important for protecting your device from malware, family security needs are different. The best family antiviruses have parental controls, home Wi Fi scans, and system optimization tools that help protect all your family members’ devices.

Norton 360 Premium Deluxe is my favorite family antivirus. It has the best malware detection rates, great parental controls, advanced internet protections like anti phishing and anti ransomware, and covers up to 5 devices.

Are there any free antiviruses for families?

There are many antiviruses free on the market today, Avira being my favorite. But none of them offer the protections that the best anti-virus for families offers.

Avira’s Free Antivirus is a good choice if you are looking for an affordable antivirus. However it’s not something I recommend for families. McAfee Total Protection has a fantastic discount for their 2-year family plan. Bitdefender Total Security for families on a limited budget is my favourite antivirus.

Doesn’t my PC or Mac have good enough built-in antivirus protection?

Windows and Macs both include built-in antiviruses. All of these products are superior.

Windows’s built in antivirus is not up-to date and fails to detect malware. It lacks internet security features such as parental controls or advanced phishing prevention.

Norton 360 Deluxe antivirus has advanced malware detection, fast VPN and parental controls for all iOS and Android devices.

Are antivirus parental controls as good as other parental control apps?

These antiviruses are among the best parental controls available.

Bitdefender and others can even monitor texts and emails for aggressive or sexual language. Norton 360’s parental controls also include guidelines that allow parents to communicate with their children the importance of internet safety.

While there are many standalone parental control software options available, it is better to have them bundled with an antivirus program to ensure your family’s safety, security, and complete protection online.

Source : safetydetectives
Editor by : BEST Antivirus KBS Team