Antivirus software and a VPN are both necessary to protect your computer and your online presence from harmful threats. While the former prevents malware from infecting your device, the latter protects your privacy.
Several security companies now provide antivirus and VPN combos that make it convenient, and often cheaper, to secure your devices and connections. In this article, we list the best antivirus with VPN programs as well as some of the leading VPNs with antivirus solutions.
After comprehensive tests, we selected the following antivirus suites as the eight best performers:
- Norton 360: The best overall antivirus and VPN package
- Surfshark One: The best antivirus and VPN combo
- Bitdefender Total Security: The best antivirus with VPN for bullet proof security
- McAfee Essential: The best VPN and antivirus combo for cost savings
- Avira Prime: The best antivirus and VPN bundle for multiple connections
- CyberGhost Security Suite: The most affordable VPN with antivirus
- NordVPN Threat Protection: The best VPN antivirus combo for privacy
- Antivirus by PIA: A VPN and antivirus combo with a large server network
The Norton 360 standard plan offers a balanced mix of malware protection and online security and privacy, making it our top choice. Get up to 58% off by signing up for Norton 360 today!
Check out the article below for a detailed breakdown of each antivirus and VPN combo mentioned above!
Keeping yourself secure on the web requires, apart from cyber wits, the right tools. Two essential defense mechanisms include antivirus software — to keep your device free from malware — and VPNs to keep your identity private and your personal data and internet connection protected.
Instead of acquiring both separately, you can get an antivirus and VPN combo. This will often be more convenient and might even save you some money! After some extensive tests, we found that the best antivirus with a VPN is Norton 360, which offers near-flawless threat detection and a versatile VPN for online identity protection!
The Best Antivirus and VPN Programs
Based on our comprehensive testing, the best antivirus with VPN combo is Norton 360. This antivirus program has achieved perfect AV-TEST scores and includes a VPN with robust encryption and good security features.
Below, you’ll find a brief overview of the top five best antivirus and VPN combos on the market.
| Service | Malware Blocked Percentage (June 2023) | Number of Countries With VPN Servers | VPN Data Limit | Price (Yearly) | Number of Devices |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Norton 360 Standard | 100% (0 false positives) | 31 | Unlimited | Starts at $39.99 | 3 (Upgradable to 5) |
| Surfshark One | 100% (0 false positives) | 100 | Unlimited | Starts at $49.08 | Unlimited |
| Bitdefender Total Security | 100% (3 false positives) | 53 | 200MB/day | Starts at $69.99 | 5 (Upgradable to 10) |
| McAfee Essential | 100% (0 false positives) | 49 | Unlimited | Starts at $39.99 | 5 (Upgradable to unlimited) |
| Avira Prime | 100% (1 false positive) | 37 | Unlimited | Starts at $59.99 | 5 (Upgradable to 25) |
Note:
Our list contains both antivirus software with VPNs bundled in and VPNs with antivirus tools. Naturally, both types of security bundles differ slightly. While antivirus + VPN bundles (like Norton 360) focus more on malware detection and elimination, a VPN with antivirus tools (such as Surfshark One) caters more to online security and privacy. You should choose between the two according to your personal or business needs!
Ready to take a deep dive into each antivirus suite with a VPN included? Then, keep reading below.
1. Norton 360: The overall best antivirus with VPN package
- AV-Test score: 17.5/18
- Server network: Servers in 30 countries
- Operating systems supported: Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android
- Additional features: Identity protection, dark web monitoring, parental controls, and a password manager
- Price: Starts at $39.99 for Norton 360 Standard
Is the Norton 360 antivirus effective?
Norton has been a household name in the antivirus business for a long time now. This is mainly due to its high-percentage threat detection: it has achieved a perfect score in multiple AV-TESTs. AV-TEST is an independent organization that tests antivirus programs’ malware-detection capabilities.
Its perfect threat-detection score is a testament to Norton’s real-time protection, which combines heuristics and machine learning to detect threats. During our tests, Norton actively detected, blocked, and quarantined potentially dangerous files on our devices. Moreover, its impact on our system’s performance was minimal.
Additionally, Norton 360 also comes with a smart firewall, password manager, cloud backup, dark web monitoring, and anti-phishing protection.
How well does Norton Secure VPN perform?
Norton’s Secure VPN service is a great complement to its strong antivirus program. The fact that Norton offers unlimited bandwidth in almost all of its plans is a big plus.
In addition to the unlimited bandwidth, we tested Norton’s VPN service and found it offers pretty fast speeds across a network of more than 30 servers. As a result, the VPN can be used to unblock plenty of websites from across the world, including Netflix and other streaming platforms.
However, there are a couple of downsides to Secure VPN. The first is that, occasionally, after you have turned off the VPN, it might turn on again on its own. This will also happen with the kill switch. You may turn it off, and then it will automatically turn itself on again, preventing you from accessing the internet. Both have happened to us a few times.
Nevertheless, Norton 360 offers user-friendly apps for Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS, and you’ll need the Standard or Deluxe Plan to get the VPN included.
For a more thorough breakdown of the service, read our Norton 360 review. You can also try the service for free using its 60-day money-back guarantee.
2. Surfshark One: One of the best antivirus VPN combos
- AV-Test score: 15/18
- Server network: 3200+ in 100 countries
- Operating system supported: Windows, Linux, macOS, iOS, and Android
- Additional features: Secure search, personal data breach alerts, and a password manager
- Price: Starts at $2.69/month for a 24-month plan (plus 4 months free)
Is Surfshark One antivirus effective?
Unlike Norton, which has developed antivirus solutions for more than a few decades, Surfshark One is a relatively new entrant to the market. Despite that, we were pleasantly surprised by how well the antivirus performed.
Powered by Avira’s anti-malware system, it conducted a comprehensive scan of our device in double quick time, identifying and warning us of a few potential threats, like Trojans. The simple interface and UI make running and scheduling scans all the more straightforward.
Another prominent feature of Surfshark’s antivirus is the Cloud Protect system, which scans unknown files to percent zero-day attacks. Moreover, the Surfshark One bundle also features secure search, tracker blocking, and identity theft alerts – making it a complete security solution for your devices.
How well does the Surfshark VPN perform?
While Surfshark’s antivirus may be a new market entrant, its VPN has been a market leader for a few years now. As with all great VPNs, Surfshark uses robust encryption protocols, including OpenVPN and WireGuard, to protect user data. It also features a kill switch to prevent data leakage if the VPN connection falters.
What really sets Surfshark VPN apart from the other providers is its speed. It has regularly ranked as the fastest VPN we’ve tested, with virtually no drop-offs in speeds across its server network.
These excellent speeds combine with its extensive server network to deliver unparalleled unblocking capabilities. We regularly use Surfshark to stream our favorite shows and sports. Surfshark is currently offering great discounts for new subscribers.
Check out our detailed Surfshark One review for more details on the antivirus and VPN combination. Looking to try Surfshark for free? Use Surfshark’s 30-day money-back guarantee to get a free trial.
3. Bitdefender Total Security: Great antivirus software with VPN for bullet-proof security
- AV-Test score: 18/18
- Server network: 4,000+ servers in 53 countries
- Operating systems supported: Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS
- Additional features: One-click device optimization, webcam protection, file shredder, and more
- Price: Starts at $69.99 for the first year
Is Bitdefender antivirus effective?
Another top antivirus with VPN package is Bitdefender. The provider offers nearly unbreachable protection against all possible threats. The antivirus software scored a perfect 6/6 for protection and performance on its last seven AV-TESTS!
Bitdefender’s ability to detect and eliminate viruses without user intervention through remote scans is particularly useful. We routinely use this feature to keep track of malware protection across our different devices. Bitdefender offers ransomware remediation and online threat prevention, which are crucial given that most digital threats emanate online.
We also liked the different optimization and value-added features that Bitdefender offers, particularly the different modes for gaming and work, file shredder, and the OneClick optimizer, which helps boost your device’s speed.
How well does Bitdefender VPN perform?
Bitdefender VPN matches up to some of the more established VPN providers that we’ve reviewed. It relies on Aura’s Hotspot Shield infrastructure and technology, using its secretive Catapult Hydra protocol. The VPN also supports the OpenVPN protocol.
Coupled with Bitdefender’s impressive 4,000+ servers across 53 countries, its high speeds make it an ideal choice for streaming and downloading content on Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, Disney Plus, and other streaming platforms. P2P downloads also work well on Bitdefender VPN. Standard VPN features, such as a kill switch, are also included.
Here’s the only issue: the standard version comes with limited data for its VPN — only 200MB of data per day. This won’t get you very far. Some safe browsing time for sure, but probably not more than 20 minutes of HD streaming. Though competitively priced with other VPNs, you’ll need to pay extra for unlimited data and bandwidth.
Our team has written in-depth reviews of Bitdefender antivirus and Bitdefender VPN, which you can check out for more details on each. Remember to use Bitdefender’s 30-day money-back guarantee to try out its features for free!
4. McAfee Essential: Top-of-the-line antivirus software with VPN for cost savings
- AV-Test score: 18/18
- Server network: Servers in 49 countries
- Operating systems supported: Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and ChromeOS
- Additional features: Identity monitoring, tracker remover, scam protection
- Price: Starts at $39.99 for the first year
Is McAfee antivirus effective?
Few other names are as synonymous with antivirus protection as McAfee. It’s been around since 1987 and has established a stellar reputation as a robust security tool. That is why it is definitely worth mentioning as one of the best antivirus VPN combo solutions.
Not only did McAfee antivirus provide us with real-time threat protection and virus scanning, but it also offered us anti-spam protection, enhanced parental controls, and a password manager. This provides holistic protection against all kinds of threats.
An interesting feature is McAfee’s identity theft protection. It helps protect your personally identifiable information from fraud, which is a worryingly frequent online occurrence. We used this feature to check if our personal information had appeared in leaks online.
How well does McAfee VPN perform?
With McAfee’s avowed focus on digital security, one would expect that its VPN is top-notch. However, this is unfortunately not the case. McAfee’s Secure VPN is average at best.
It does offer great speeds and a fair network of servers: over 48 countries. This makes it a great option for streaming and unblocking content, as you’ll be able to access content from many different countries. Its unlimited data offer further adds to its credentials as a good streaming VPN.
That’s basically where the positives end, though. Though McAfee’s VPN boasts 256-bit AES encryption — like the others on this list — it has a vague no-logs policy. Furthermore, it’s based in the US, which is not a privacy-friendly jurisdiction.
If you’re looking for a granular overview of McAfee’s antivirus and VPN combo, be sure to check out our full McAfee review. Like other bundles on this list, McAfee offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, allowing users to try out its product risk-free.
5. Avira Prime: The best antivirus VPN bundle included for multiple connections
- AV-Test score: 18/18
- Server network: Servers in 30 countries
- Operating systems supported: Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS
- Additional features: Password manager, automatic software and driver updation, PC cleaner
- Price: Starts at $59.99 (annual) or $9.99 (monthly)
Is Avira Prime antivirus effective?
Avira has long been a free antivirus favorite among Windows users. It packages robust protection against trojans, worms, spyware, and other kinds of viruses into a lightweight application that doesn’t impact computer performance as much as others.
Valuable add-ons further bolster its protective suite. These include a software updating tool that keeps your operating system and drivers up to date to avoid vulnerabilities. Also offered as part of the Prime package are a password manager, a vulnerability scanner, and a clean-up tool.
How well does Avira Phantom VPN perform?
Avira distinguishes itself from some of the other entries on this list as it offers its Avira Phantom VPN protection as part of its free plan. That said, the free VPN connection is limited to 500MB/month. We used up this data in less than an hour.
If you prefer VPN protection without a bandwidth limit, you can opt for the Prime package, which allows you to install the antivirus and VPN combo on as many devices as you want. This sets it apart even from a lot of stand-alone premium VPN services, which generally do set device limits.
In terms of performance, Avira’s Phantom VPN fares pretty well. It uses the OpenVPN encryption protocol, which offers a fine balance of speed and security. Furthermore, it has a built-in kill switch, so you can rest assured that your privacy remains protected.
Also, the VPN offers fairly decent speeds across its server network, which is spread out over 35 countries.
Read our full Avira review to know more about how secure its antivirus is. If you want to know more about its privacy features, check out our review of Avira Phantom VPN.
6. CyberGhost Security Suite: A top VPN with antivirus software to remove malware
- AV-Test score: N/A
- Server network: 11500+ servers in 100 countries
- Operating systems supported: Windows only
- Additional features: Automatic software updation and customizable privacy guard
- Price: Starts at $ 2.03/month for a 24-month plan (plus 4 months free)
Is CyberGhost Security Suite effective?
CyberGhost has partnered with Intego to launch its own best VPN antivirus combo. Its Security Suite includes an efficient antivirus solution that offers 24/7 protection against different forms of malware. While the CyberGhost Security Suite isn’t as polished as some of the other household antivirus providers, it does a satisfactory job of detecting and removing malware threats.
During our testing, we also discovered that the suite includes other useful security tools, such as the Security Updater, which keeps your applications and software up-to-date and prevents zero-day vulnerabilities. Unfortunately, these security features are only available on Windows at the moment.
How well does CyberGhost VPN perform?
CyberGhost is one of the most user-friendly and affordable VPNs on the market today. However, its low cost does not mean it compromises on speed or security. It uses leading encryption protocols, including OpenVPN and WireGuard, to secure user data without compromising speed.
With a gigantic network of 11500+ servers in 100 countries, CyberGhost has always excelled at unblocking geo-blocked content for us in the past. We used it to watch our favorite shows on Disney+ and Peacock. The unlimited bandwidth means you can binge shows without worrying about running out of data.
CyberGhost also offers some great features for advanced users, such as split tunneling and custom NoSpy servers for browsing with added privacy.
If you’d rather try out the provider first, you can make use of CyberGhost’s free trial, which comes in the form of a 45-day money-back guarantee to test its features. Read our full CyberGhost review for more details before finalizing your purchase!
7. NordVPN Threat Protection: The best VPN antivirus combo for privacy
- AV-Test score: N/A
- Server network: 6000+ servers in 61 countries
- Operating systems supported: Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux
- Additional features: Ad blocker, web tracker blocker, and password manager
- Price: Starts at $ 2.99/month for a 24-month plan
Is NordVPN Threat Protection effective?
Unlike the other antivirus VPN bundles on this list, NordVPN does not offer a full-fledged antivirus solution. Instead, NordVPN Threat Protection functions more like an advanced firewall by blocking malware, keyloggers, and other malicious programs from infecting your system.
Threat Protection also promises a more private and streamlined browsing experience by blocking ads and web trackers. While these features are sufficient for basic security, the inability to initiate and schedule scans of the device is something we sorely missed.
How well does NordVPN perform?
NordVPN is the best VPN we’ve tested. It uses top-notch encryption protocols, including its own NordLynx protocol, to provide users with a blend of security and speed.
Its extensive server network and stable connection speeds ensured that we could seamlessly stream movies and sports and download torrents. Moreover, it features advanced privacy and security features, such as dedicated IP addresses and obfuscated servers, with the latter helping us hide the fact we were using a VPN.
If NordVPN improves its antivirus solution, it’ll surely be higher on our list, as it offers the very best VPN at the moment and at some great prices, too!
With NordVPN’s 30-day money-back guarantee, you get a chance to try out its VPN and antivirus software for free before committing to a subscription. If you want more details on what you’ll get, read our full NordVPN review.
8. Antivirus by PIA: A VPN and antivirus combo with a large server network
- AV-Test score: N/A
- Server network: thousands of servers in 91 countries
- Operating systems supported: Windows 7 and above
- Additional features: Email breach monitor
- Price: Starts at $1.98/month for a 36-month subscription (plus 4 months free)
Is Antivirus by PIA effective?
Unlike NordVPN, Private Internet Access (PIA) offers a full-fledged antivirus add-on with its VPN subscription. For an additional dollar a month, you get an antivirus program that offers all the features one would expect from a leading antivirus, including real-time protection, ad blocking, and detailed device health reports.
It also features an evolving and updated database of malware, like Remote Access Trojans, ensuring your devices are not left vulnerable to new exploits and attacks. However, it’s unfortunate that this robust and efficient antivirus program is only available for Windows at the moment.
How well does PIA VPN perform?
PIA is a well-known privacy-focused VPN. It boasts a proven and audited no-logs policy and does not store user data on hard drives to begin with. We thoroughly tested PIA on different websites and found that it does not leak DNS or other information at all.
With thousands of servers, PIA has one of the largest server networks of any VPN provider. Thanks to its excellent unblocking capabilities, you can view content from different countries on virtually any streaming service, including HBO Max. PIA is also one of the most affordable VPNs on the market.
We ran an exhaustive test of PIA’s entire suite of features, which you can read about in our full PIA review. If you’d rather get a hands-on experience with the antivirus and VPN bundles, try out PIA’s 30-day money-back guarantee.
How We Chose the Best Antivirus With VPN Package
To create our list of the best antivirus VPN programs, we relied on extensive testing and our experience with 80+ VPNs and 13+ antivirus solutions.
We paid special attention to the following criteria:
- Protection against viruses: We looked at how effective and accurate the antivirus software was in detecting threats. Importance was also given to the time it took the program to run different kinds of scans. We also considered additional features that added to the quality of the security software.
- Overall VPN performance: We paid close attention to the network of servers, the average speeds we got, and the VPN service’s ability to unblock popular streaming sites like Netflix. Important VPN security features, such as AES 256-bit encryption, a kill switch, DNS leak protection, and no logs policy, were also considered.
- Limitations on devices and data: We considered how many devices different antivirus and VPN bundles cover and if they have any limitations on user data.
- Price: We strongly considered how much different providers charge during the first year and after that. We also looked at value for money.
- Usability: Although not discussed in detail, we made sure all of the antivirus programs on this list offer user-friendly apps for the most common operating systems: Windows, MacOS, Android, and iOS.
Why Do You Need an Antivirus With a VPN?
With the growing frequency of online crime, using both an antivirus and a VPN is essential. Why, you ask? Well, here are three reasons that should convince you to safeguard your devices with the dynamic combination of an antivirus and a VPN:
- Comprehensive protection against varied threats: Antivirus software is designed to detect and remove malware. Its main function is to protect the device from internal threats that can compromise data. On the other hand, a VPN encrypts your internet connection, providing security against external threats like hackers and keeping your online activity private.
- Enhanced privacy and security on public networks: Public Wi-Fi networks are notorious for their security vulnerabilities. While an antivirus can protect your device from malware present on these networks, it cannot shield your online activities from being monitored. A VPN encrypts your internet traffic, making it unreadable to others on the same network.
- Complementary roles in data protection: Antivirus software and VPNs play different but complementary roles in data protection. The antivirus focuses on protecting the data stored on your device from malware and cyber attacks. In contrast, a VPN secures the data you transmit and receive online by hiding your IP address and location.
Together, an antivirus and a VPN provide a more rounded approach to protecting both stored and transmitted data, aligning well with comprehensive data protection strategies. In our estimation, Norton 360 offers the best antivirus with VPN software to protect your data and devices.
Top Antivirus Software With VPNs That Didn’t Make Our List
While the five antivirus programs mentioned above offer the best combination of malware protection and a VPN, there are a couple of others that are great as well but didn’t pass our stringent testing to gain an official recommendation. We outlined a couple of them in the table below.
| Service Provider | Reasons to Avoid |
|---|---|
| Avast Antivirus | We’ve reviewed Avast extensively, and it has been a well-known antivirus for a while now. Its SecureLine VPN is one that we’ve tested comprehensively, and it performed fairly well against malicious software and code. Overall, Avast offers good protection and online security at a competitive price. However, we simply can’t recommend the product as Avast has a questionable history when it comes to sharing user data. It has been caught selling user data, and that defeats the entire purpose of a VPN, which is user privacy. |
| TotalAV | TotalAV actually offers a great VPN antivirus bundle. It has a large server network, making it a great choice for streaming content on platforms. It even offers additional tools that help clean and speed up your system. However, like Avast, there are doubts over TotalAV’s data logging practices that stem from the absence of a no-logs policy. If such a policy is implemented, TotalAV would give our top five some stiff competition. |
Final Thoughts: Get the Best Antivirus With VPN Solution
To quickly recap, using the best antivirus software along with a VPN service is crucial to ensuring your device’s and your data’s security.
Norton 360 offers the best combination of an antivirus scanner and VPN service. The main reasons it’s so good are its near-perfect threat detection, unlimited encrypted VPN data, and extra security features like dark web monitoring.
There are other antivirus solutions that offer advantages as well, such as Bitdefender with its remote scanning option or Surfshark One, which boasts an excellent VPN paired with a rapidly improving antivirus solution. It’s ultimately up to you to decide which features you find most important, but it’s very difficult to go wrong with Norton 360.
Learn more about antivirus software by reading the following articles:
- The Best Free Antivirus Software
- The Best Antivirus Software
- Antivirus Software Versus a Firewall: What Is the Difference?
A lot of information was covered in the article above. The FAQ section below has some sharp and short answers to the most pressing questions about the best antivirus with VPN solutions for those of you who are in a rush.
The principal function of an antivirus is to keep your device clean of hackers and malware. A VPN, on the other hand, protects your privacy and your data while it’s in transit. Both are indispensable.
Norton 360 is the best antivirus with a built-in VPN. The antivirus is top-notch and secures your device against most threats. The VPN is pretty great too and provides fast browsing and downloading speeds while also preserving your privacy and securing your personal information.
There are a few important factors that you should consider when choosing an antivirus with a built-in VPN. These are the following:
- Protection against viruses
- Overall VPN performance
- Limitations on devices and data
- Price
- Usability
Avira is one of the most popular free antivirus programs. It is also one of the few antivirus solutions that include a VPN as part of its free bundle. However, when using Avira’s free version, you’ll be limited to a few hundred MB of browsing data over a period of a month.
