Internet security suites offer core antivirus defenses for the devices of you and your family. Covering PC, Macs, Android and iOS in one easy-to-manage package, getting one means you don't have to worry about organizing separate virus protection for each one of them.
Alongside this, the best internet security suites throw in additional tools and features that you usually won't find in a basic plan; features like a bundled VPN, password manager (although you still might want to use the best password manager instead), rescue disks, secure file vaults for your sensitive data, and a secure browser for online banking and shopping.
So, there are some good reasons to consider grabbing a security suite, but if you decide to take this route, which one should you go for? With this in mind, we’ll go through and rank the best products, while discussing their individual and relative merits to help you make a more informed buying decision.
The best internet security suites 2023
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Bitdefender Total Security is the well-respected security firm’s top-of-the-range package and tops the lot when it comes to all-singing all-dancing internet security suites.
Total Security is a suite that’s positively bristling with features. You get – deep breath – standard antivirus tools plus impressively capable multi-layered ransomware protection, a firewall, a Wi-Fi security advisor, a secure browser (Safepay) for online banking, a file shredder, a vulnerability scanner (to check for missing apps and OS updates), password manager, email spam filter, parental controls, webcam and microphone defenses, and more besides including a superb web protection module for blocking malicious URLs.
As well as security features, Total Security provides various PC maintenance and optimization tools. These are somewhat useful in themselves, for cleaning out superfluous files and streamlining boot times – but more importantly, Bitdefender’s flagship package also covers more than just Windows devices.
In fact, an app is provided for Mac users (this software is now compatible with M1 Macs, and has been improved to run faster virus scans), as well as clients for iOS and Android mobiles. The Android app has been revamped, and now has the capability to block more link-based mobile threats.
As it’s only a bit more expensive than Bitdefender Internet Security – the firm’s mid-tier security suite – it’s certainly worthwhile upgrading to Total Security if you have multiple devices across various platforms to protect. (You can see what we think of the range in our full Bitdefender review).
There is further good news in that Bitdefender has a minimal impact on system performance, going by independent and our own testing (some rivals do a touch better in this department, but it’s not a difference you’ll ever notice in real-world use).
Finally, it’s worth noting that there’s a 30-day trial of this suite, with no payment details needed; you just have to supply an email address. That means you can try out Bitdefender for a full month before committing to buying and see first-hand for yourself exactly what’s on offer here.
When we evaluated all of NortonLifeLock’s security suite options, we picked out Norton 360 Deluxe as the best value all-around choice for anyone who’s looking to protect more than a single device – which is likely the majority of folks.
Norton delivers good basic protection – although some of the independent test lab results have been a little mixed – alongside a wealth of features, including webcam protection and dark web monitoring (for users in the US, Canada, UK, Australia and a few other countries), an impressively smart firewall, plus a system of parental controls.
The parental controls are top-notch, by the way, including in-depth monitoring systems to keep an eye on what your kids are doing online, and even GPS tracking for their mobile devices. Norton’s very strong in this department.
There are some truly worthwhile extras included here, too, like a fully integrated Norton VPN that massively adds to the value proposition of this suite (assuming you don’t have a VPN already, of course), and 50GB of online backup storage that's another handy bonus.
As for negative points, a flaw worth bearing in mind is that we found Norton 360 Deluxe had more of a drag on system performance than most internet security suites in our own testing. That said, it’s rated as about average in this department by independent test lab AV-Comparatives, and odds are you likely won’t even notice any impact on the speed of your system in everyday usage.
Norton 360 Deluxe covers up to five devices, either Windows or Mac PCs, plus there are mobile apps for Android and iOS. Pricing is highly competitive compared to rivals, particularly given that bundled VPN, so you should definitely consider this Norton package (compare it to the company’s other offerings with our guide to choosing your Norton plan) – especially for family usage with those very thorough parental controls.
Avast One is the trusted security outfit’s revamped suite which offers an umbrella of protection across various bases. That means not just antivirus and ransomware defenses, but also a firewall, webcam protection, data breach monitoring, and a software updater to keep apps patched up with no need for user intervention.
On top of that, Avast One provides a full VPN (with unlimited data – although it’s not the fastest we’ve ever seen, by any means), and some device speed-up and maintenance tools.
There are also some more unusual features like a Sensitive Data Shield which scans drives for files that may contain sensitive info like passwords and phone numbers and stops other users of a device from accessing these. In short, you get a lot with the paid subscription of Avast One (there’s a free version which is impressive, too, but it drops a number of features, and the VPN function is limited).
All this is wrapped up in a smart and easy-to-use interface which has been thoughtfully redesigned for Avast One, and the cherry on top is the strength of the protection delivered. Avast’s antivirus engine is rated as excellent by the independent test labs, and its web protection is among the best around, too. Furthermore, system slowdown is negligible when running this suite.
Overall, Avast One packs in a lot of features, and while some of these capabilities may not be as robust as the top performers in this roundup, the sheer weight of what you’re getting means this is one of the best all-rounders out there.
There’s a lot to like about Trend Micro’s flagship security suite – Trend Micro Maximum Security – not the least of which is its polished and user-friendly interface, backed up by superb virus protection. Trend Micro is highly ranked by the independent testing labs, and it offers sterling multi-layered anti-ransomware defenses, too.
The package also gives you first-class URL filtering for safer web browsing, further bolstering the overall defenses provided here. That said, one slight weak point with Trend Micro’s offering is that there isn’t a huge amount of low-level control – such as virus scan options – so more demanding users may find it lacking here.
Maximum Security provides parental controls, social media privacy features and PC maintenance tools, although the latter isn’t its strongest suit. It also boasts data theft prevention countermeasures, a secure vault for storing sensitive files, and a decent integrated password manager.
Less tech-savvy types will appreciate the ease-of-use here, which also goes for the capable mobile apps. There’s a 30-day trial as well, so you can thoroughly check all this out for yourself before pulling the trigger on a purchase.
As the name suggests, McAfee’s basic security product, Total Protection Individual, only covers one individual device. And if you’re thinking of buying that, and you own more than just a Windows PC, then you’re almost certainly better off purchasing McAfee Total Protection Multi-Device.
For not much more money at all you get a sound internet security suite which protects up to five Windows or Mac computers, and Android or iOS devices. US customers also benefit from a useful additional extra in the form of identity theft protection.
McAfee’s interface is simple and streamlined, which keeps things easy for beginners, although it’ll likely be too sparse for more experienced users. The UI also suffers from some annoying quirks, but nothing too frustrating.
Independent test lab reports suggest McAfee Total Protection offers solid enough defenses, if not class-leading. Indeed, evaluations of McAfee’s antivirus engine vary, with some being more scathing than others.
Overall, McAfee’s suite represents reasonable value and a decent choice in the Multi-Device package, with some nifty extras for boosting web browsing and app performance, plus an integrated (but very basic) free VPN that’s commendably user-friendly.
Another security suite worth considering is one from BullGuard, which offers multi-layered defenses backed by advanced machine learning to stop current and future malware threats.
Additionally there’s a built-in firewall, vulnerability scanner, and a home network scanner for ensuring your Wi-Fi connection is safe and secure.
BullGuard Premium Protection also gives gamers a treat with its Game Booster optimization feature, which is designed to improve performance while gaming (and it works well enough, by all accounts).
BullGuard provides a good quality engine, or at least it’s rated highly by AV-Test, the one independent test lab which covers the security firm. Furthermore, BullGuard Premium Protection represents a solid value proposition for those looking to cover many devices. In fact, if you need to protect 10+ devices, it actually works out cheaper than BullGuard’s Internet Security suite which has fewer features - an odd situation, but not one we’ll argue with!