Panda Dome Antivirus Review (2024 Update): The Pros & Cons

Panda Dome Antivirus 2024: Full Review

Panda is ranked #5 of the 28 best antivirus of 2024.

We tested Panda Antivirus and found it to be a solid antivirus solution. It has a sleek interface and lots of features, including some rare ones, like the rescue kit and USB protection.

Panda gives you free and paid options for multiple devices. You can pick how many gadgets to protect and for how long, making it budget-friendly. There’s also a free VPN in all packages, although it’s limited to 150 MB / day.

Anti-malware

We ran several tests on Panda’s antivirus scanner, and it detected over 99% of our 1,200 malware samples. It offers three scan options: Critical Areas, Full Scan, and Custom Scan. The choices are user-friendly but scan times varied. The first full scan took a whopping 2.5 hours, which isn’t great compared to Norton or Bitdefender that usually finish in under an hour.

Quick scans were faster, finishing in about 4 minutes, which is on par with leading competitors. However, the macOS scanner was very slow, taking 4.5 hours to complete. That’s much slower than most competitors, but the detection rate remained solid.

Panda also offers a cloud-based scanner, Panda Cloud Cleaner, great for emergency situations. It’s fast and effective, but we wonder why it’s not integrated into the main scanner. Overall, Panda’s antivirus capabilities are good but could be more efficient.

Anti-phishing

We explored Panda’s Safe Browsing feature, available in all paid plans. It effectively blocks harmful URLs and lets you customize rules for exceptions. You can even see stats on how many URLs were blocked or allowed, categorized into malware and phishing. This adds a useful layer of transparency and control. Overall, it’s a solid anti-phishing tool.

Password manager

Panda Dome Passwords is a modified version of the password manager by Password Depot. During testing, Panda impressed us on both PC and mobile.

On Windows and macOS, it’s fully browser-based, no separate app needed. The extension neatly organizes features into five tabs: Accounts, Identities, Generate Password, Secure Me, and Security Report. The auto-fill feature worked smoothly on all sites we tried, and advanced settings like password breach checks and auto-login are big pluses.

The ‘Secure Me’ feature stood out; it shows where you’re logged in and lets you remotely log out, even clearing cookies and history if you want. A feature we haven’t seen in most competitors.

On Android and iOS, the experience mirrors the desktop version closely, keeping the same tabs and features. Setup is a breeze: set a pin, enable biometrics, and you’re good to go. Your passwords sync across devices effortlessly.

There are minor drawbacks, though. It currently supports Chrome, Firefox, and Edge, but not Safari or DuckDuckGo. Expanding to other browsers would be a welcome addition.

Overall, Panda’s password manager is nearly flawless and highly user-friendly.

VPN

We put Panda’s VPN through its paces and here’s the scoop: Speed-wise, it’s among the fastest we’ve tested, even outpacing popular standalone VPNs. However, the free plan limits you to 150 MB/day, and you can’t pick your server, which is less generous compared to Norton’s unlimited VPN.

If you go premium, you get unlimited data and server choice, but it’s not all roses. The lack of a kill switch is a glaring omission; it’s a basic feature that protects your data if the VPN connection drops. On the bright side, Panda’s VPN passed our IP, DNS, and WebRTC leak tests with flying colors.

Privacy-wise, both Panda and its technology partner Aura claim not to log your online activity, making you essentially anonymous. The VPN also supports 24 countries but limits server selection to country-level, not city-level.

In our tests, Panda’s VPN played nice with both Netflix and torrents. However, if you travel to countries like China, where VPN use is restricted, you might want to consider other options, as Panda explicitly states it’s not designed for use there.

In summary, Panda’s VPN is speedy and secure but falls short in features, especially for advanced users.

Other security features

We tested out some additional features of Panda’s security suite, and here’s what we found:

PC Cleanup

Panda’s cleanup tools are handy but not groundbreaking. They offer options to free up disk space, manage startup programs, and defragment your hard drive. We recovered 1.4 GB of disk space in a quick 2-minute scan.

The Boot Manager also notifies you when new programs are set to launch at startup, which is a small but useful touch. While these features are user-friendly, they’re not revolutionary and similar functionalities can be found in other antivirus software or built into Windows.

Rescue Kit

This is where Panda shines. The Rescue Kit helps you save a compromised computer by creating a “rescue USB drive” that removes malware. In our testing, it successfully cleaned up a malware-infested PC in about 20 minutes. It’s a rare feature, and it’s free, making it a big win for Panda.

File Encryption & Shredder

Panda employs Password Depot for file encryption and shredding, allowing you to easily encrypt or permanently delete files. In our tests, the process was intuitive. Right-click on a file, choose the action you want, and voila. It’s a strong feature for safeguarding your personal files, but other antivirus solutions like Avira offer similar functionalities.

USB Protection

This one’s a boon for businesses or anyone frequently using USB drives. Panda automatically scans every thumb drive you insert, offering a layer of protection against potential malware.

Data Shield

We explored Panda’s Data Shield and found it to be a unique take on ransomware protection. It lets you create a secure partition for sensitive files. If ransomware infects your PC, these protected folders are off-limits to the malware. We see this as a different yet effective approach compared to typical antivirus solutions that mainly focus on stopping malware before it enters your system.

Anti-theft

Anti-theft is available in Panda’s higher-tier plans and allows for remote tracking of devices. Setup was straightforward but did require a few steps for verification. While this feature is valuable for mobile devices, we felt it’s equally crucial for laptops.

Update Manager

We found the Update Manager practical and easy to use. It scans for outdated software and flags them based on the severity of needed updates. This automated system is handy for keeping your software patched without the tedium of manually checking each one.

Dark Web Scanner

This feature scans your email against known breaches and alerts you if your information is compromised. It’s basic but effective, and impressively, it comes with all plans, including the free one.

Parental Controls

Parental controls on Panda’s Windows version felt underwhelming to us, offering just content filtering without time limits or social media monitoring. However, the mobile app compensates with features like GPS tracking and app blocking, making it a mixed bag overall.

Virtual Keyboard

We liked the concept of the Virtual Keyboard for added keylogging protection. However, we found the small key size challenging to use, which could deter people from using this feature frequently.

In summary, Panda brings some strong offerings like Data Shield and Update Manager but falls short in areas like Parental Controls for Windows and the usability of the Virtual Keyboard. Overall, it’s a balanced package with room for improvement.

Mobile App

When we tested Panda Dome’s mobile apps, the experience varied between iOS and Android. The iOS app was pretty basic, offering just a VPN, parental controls, device tracking, and a separate app for password management. Although well-designed, it lacked depth compared to competitors like Norton and TotalAV.

On the other hand, the Android app impressed us with a comprehensive antivirus scanner and numerous features such as VPN, family tools, anti-theft capabilities, app lock, privacy auditing, and call blocker. The smartwatch connectivity is a nice touch, making the Android app a standout among antivirus mobile solutions.

Customer Support

Our experience with Panda Dome’s customer support was less than stellar. Options like live chat, email, and phone support are available but proved subpar in execution. Live chat is only available for premium customers, and even then, the wait times were long. Phone support, run by a third party, lacked expertise on Panda’s products. Email responses were slow and uninformative, often just redirecting us to generic FAQ links.

For a premium antivirus solution, the customer support experience was disappointing. Even with 24/7 premium support available on higher-tier plans, the service didn’t match the expectations set by the price tag.

Plans and pricing

In the table below are the core products with their features and prices.

The prices shown are from the USA. However, most brands have different prices (and currencies) in other regions. So visit the brand’s website to see the price in our country.

Plan description

Panda Free Antivirus

Panda’s free plan provides solid basics like real-time antivirus and a rescue kit for emergencies. It’s a strong option for a free plan but lacks advanced features like ransomware protection and parental controls.

Panda Dome Essential

Starting at $23.99/year for one device, Dome Essential offers real-time antivirus for Windows, Mac, and Android, as well as Wi-Fi protection and a firewall. It’s decent for the price, but competitors like McAfee offer more features at similar costs.

Panda Dome Advanced

For $28.49/year, this plan adds ransomware protection and data shield features. If you have a family, the inclusion of parental controls might tip the scales in its favor, but it competes closely with plans like Norton’s 360 Standard, which provides additional features.

Panda Dome Complete

Priced at $42.99/year for a single device, this plan includes extras like a password manager and file encryption. It’s comparable to Norton’s 360 Deluxe but includes unique features like file shredding and the Rescue Kit.

Panda Dome Premium

At $66.99/year for one device, this top-tier package offers premium VPN and 24/7 customer support. Despite its comprehensive feature set, it struggles to justify the high price, especially considering our lackluster support experience and more affordable alternatives like Bitdefender Premium Security.

All plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee. While Panda does offer first-year discounts, it’s generally pricier, especially for multiple devices.

In summary, Panda offers a range of plans with varying features. While the Android app and free antivirus are strong points, the customer support and pricing make it less competitive compared to rivals like Norton and Bitdefender.

Test score comparison

Next to our own anti-malware tests, we analyze those by AV-Test. We’ve compared the results of the 10 most recent tests for Windows 10. The tests were performed by AV-Test, the German anti-malware test lab. They use three factors:

• Protection (1-6): Antivirus protection against malware attacks.
• Performance (1-6): System slowdown caused by the antivirus.
• Usability (1-6): Frequency of false alarms and disruptions.

We used their results, and this formula, to calculate the final score:

Final Score = 60% Protection + 20% Performance + 20% Usability.

Brands not listed in the table haven’t participated in the analysis by AV-Test. This is usually not a good sign. Because most reputable brands, except Panda, ESET, and Sophos, partake in the test.

Source: AV-Test.

Price comparison

We’ve compared the prices of the top antivirus products for Windows. To make it a fair comparison, we looked at what it would cost us, to protect a  single Windows PC with the most essential features:

• Anti-malware
• Anti-phishing (web protection)
• Firewall
• Password manager
• Unlimited VPN (no data limit)

A few notes:

• Some brands are missing features, lowering their value for money.
• Prices are second-year prices in the USA, without first-year discounts.
• Prices are rounded up for readability (e.g., $99.99 becomes $100).

Brands have different prices outside the USA. See those on their website.

User reviews

We’ve compared the user reviews of all antivirus brands. We’ve used the scores and review count of TrustPilot, a leading user review platform. However, take these results with a grain of salt, as some brands actively attempt to increase their ratings.

Personally, we are wary of exceptionally high scores. Especially those by brands such as TotalAV, known for aggressive marketing and sales tactics.

We consider scores between 4.0 and 4.5 good and realistic. Higher scores are dubious, and lower scores indicate that the brand might have a poor product or customer service. McAfee’s scores, for instance, are worrying.

Source: TrustPilot.

Company Profile

Panda Security is owned by WatchGuard.

About Panda:

Panda Security is a key player in the realm of endpoint security and a member of the WatchGuard family of IT security solutions. Founded with a focus on antivirus software, Panda Security has evolved to offer a range of cutting-edge cybersecurity services aimed at preventing cyber-crime.

The company’s unique features include TruPrevent, a set of proactive tools for blocking unknown viruses, and a Collective Intelligence model that detects and classifies malware in real time. These have paved the way for their Adaptive Defense security approach.

With a global footprint, Panda Security serves 30 million users across 180 countries, operating with a workforce of 600 employees and 16 subsidiaries.

About WatchGuard:

For a quarter of a century, WatchGuard has been a trailblazer in the field of cybersecurity. The company specializes in creating advanced, yet user-friendly, security solutions. Their product range includes network and endpoint security tools, secure Wi-Fi systems, multi-factor authentication services, and network intelligence offerings. Catering primarily to small and midsize businesses, WatchGuard serves over 250,000 enterprises worldwide and secures more than 10 million endpoints.

Headquartered in Seattle, Washington, the company has a global footprint with offices in North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Latin America.

How we test antivirus software

Below we describe how we run our tests. For even more details, visit our blog posts on how we test antivirus software.

Frequently Asked Questions

Below are the most frequently asked questions.