2026

McAfee vs Surfshark Antivirus

McAfee and Surfshark Antivirus compared side by side: protection, performance, pricing, and features. Which antivirus suits you better?

McAfee

8.5

/ 10

McAfee+ delivers a practical security package for households with many devices. The suite covers Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS, and includes VPN, identity protection, and optional parental controls. Setup is quick and the interface straightforward. Worth noting: performance can vary by system, and the renewal price sits noticeably above the introductory offer.

1st Year PriceCHF 39.90 RenewalCHF 84.90 PlatformsWindows, Mac, Android, iPhone / iPad

Protection 9.0

Performance 8.0

Best for 8.6

First-year price 8.0

Key features 9.0

Support 8.4

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Surfshark Antivirus

8.8

/ 10

Surfshark Antivirus is part of the Surfshark One suite, combining virus protection with VPN, data breach alerts, and a private search engine. The antivirus detects malware in real time and protects your webcam from unauthorized access. The biggest advantage: unlimited devices at the same price. Ideal for families and shared households looking for an all-in-one security package at a top price. Pure antivirus protection is solid but not quite at the level of Bitdefender or Norton.

1st Year PriceCHF 59.90 RenewalCHF 119.90 PlatformsWindows, Mac, Android

Protection 8.8

Performance 9.0

Best for 9.2

First-year price 9.3

Key features 8.5

Support 8.2

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Our Verdict

Surfshark Antivirus narrowly wins – McAfee is the leaner choice.

Surfshark Antivirus scores 8.8 / 10 overall and is the stronger pick on protection and feature scope. If you value maximum performance, low resource use and lower renewal costs, McAfee is the better fit. Both are excellent options for Swiss users.

See Surfshark Antivirus in detail

Our verdict

Surfshark Antivirus takes a slight lead in our comparison with an overall score of 8.8 out of 10 – an advantage of 0.3 points over McAfee. The gap is small but consistent across multiple test dimensions.

On price, McAfee currently sits at CHF 40 in year one, Surfshark Antivirus at CHF 60. Watch the renewal price closely: both are transparently listed in the table above and matter more long-term than the introductory price.

Strength profiles: McAfee scores highest on protection, Surfshark Antivirus on price-performance. If you care most about one of those dimensions, the choice is clear. For all-round needs, either product is a safe pick.

Feature-by-feature comparison

Criterion	McAfee	Surfshark Antivirus
Real-time protection	Yes	Yes
Built-in VPN	Yes	Yes
Password manager	No	No
Anti-tracking / anti-phishing	No	No
Parental controls	Yes	No
Identity protection	Yes	Yes
Low system impact	No	Yes
Platforms	Windows, Mac, Android, iPhone / iPad	Windows, Mac, Android
Number of devices (standard licence)	5	999
System impact in daily use	Moderate	Very low

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Frequently asked questions about McAfee vs Surfshark Antivirus

Which scores higher on protection, McAfee or Surfshark Antivirus?

Both reach top scores in AV-TEST and AV-Comparatives – the differences are small. The exact scores are in the comparison table above.

Which is cheaper in year 1 and on renewal – McAfee or Surfshark Antivirus?

Look at the price columns above: year-one price and renewal price are stated transparently side by side. The renewal delta is often the bigger cost factor over 3 years.

Which is better for families, McAfee or Surfshark Antivirus?

Both offer family plans for 5–10 devices. What matters: does the product have a dedicated parental-controls mode, screen-time management and a smooth setup. Details in the feature table.

Do I get better Mac/mobile support with McAfee or Surfshark Antivirus?

Platform support is listed in the comparison above. Generally: macOS performance is best with Bitdefender and Intego; Android protection is most mature with Bitdefender, Norton and Kaspersky.