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TotalAV Antivirus Review (2025): Is it the right choice?
By Tibor Moes / Updated: January 2025
TotalAV Antivirus Review 2025
TotalAV Antivirus is one of the best antivirus software. It has near-perfect anti-malware test scores, an intuitive design, no impact on the speed of your PC, and lots of security features.
Buy it if you want an easy-to-use antivirus solution at a great price. You will get anti-malware, anti-phishing, a password manager, and a VPN, which will protect your privacy online. But no firewall.
Alternatively, you could consider Norton 360 Deluxe. It has a few extra features, like a firewall, dark web monitor, and parental controls. And it has a lower renewal price in the second year.
- Malware protection: 99.8%. TotalAV detected and removed nearly all of the 1,200 malware samples in our test.
- Speed impact: 100%. TotalAV’s anti-malware engine is lightweight and did not slow down our test PC.
- Features: 90%. TotalAV includes anti-malware, anti-phishing, VPN, and a password manager. But it doesn’t have a firewall.
- Price: 90%. TotalAV offers generous discounts in the first year, but high renewal prices in the second year.
Thanks to the 30-day return policy, you can try it risk-free.
| Ranking | #3 of 28 |
| Anti-malware | ✅ |
| Anti-phishing | ✅ |
| Firewall | – |
| Password Manager | ✅ |
| Unlimited VPN | ✅ |
| Operating systems | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android |
| 🔥 Discount | Save 80% on TotalAV 🔥 |
Full Review
TotalAV is ranked #3 out of the 28 best antivirus of 2025.
We found TotalAV to be a user-friendly and effective anti-malware solution with impressive detection rates in our tests. It also includes valuable extras like TotalVPN and identity theft protection (available for US users).
TotalAV offers a range of affordable plans for all major platforms, backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Anti-malware
TotalAV’s malware scanner, powered by Avira’s engine, impressed us with its high detection rates, identifying 99.7% of our test files, including viruses, ransomware, spyware, and more. It offers four scan types: Quick, System, Smart, and Custom (Windows only).
The System Scan took about an hour without affecting system performance, while the Quick and Smart Scans completed in about 10 minutes. The Smart Scan also addresses junk files and startup programs, providing added system optimization.
In real-time protection tests, TotalAV quickly quarantined malware files, blocking threats like ransomware before they could execute. Although its detection rate slightly trails top competitors like Norton and Bitdefender, TotalAV’s scanning capabilities and real-time protection make it a strong choice for malware defense.
Anti-phishing
TotalAV’s WebShield offers solid anti-phishing protection, blocking most phishing sites in our tests. It flagged one suspicious site without fully blocking it, which was a bit confusing, but the warning was still helpful. WebShield uses updated blacklists and AI detection, though it’s not as advanced as competitors like Norton.
We appreciated the customization options, allowing users to block specific types of websites or whitelist trusted domains. Additionally, WebShield alerts you if a site has been involved in a dark web breach, providing details on when the breach occurred, so you can secure your account.
Password manager
Total Password is a secure, user-friendly password manager with solid features, though it lacks some advanced options found in standalone products like 1Password or Dashlane.
It uses 256-bit AES encryption and follows a zero-knowledge policy, ensuring strong protection for your data. Key features include auto-save, auto-fill, two-factor authentication (2FA), and biometric logins. The app’s vault allows for unlimited storage of passwords, notes, and credit card details, with a built-in password generator and auditing tool.
While it doesn’t support password sharing or U2F security keys, Total Password offers useful extras like Secure Me, which lets you log out of all devices remotely, and recovery keys for account access if you forget your master password. Despite some setup issues reported by a colleague, it worked well during our tests and is a solid choice for users bundling antivirus with password management.
VPN
TotalVPN is a reliable and fast option for users seeking privacy and protection online. While not as fast as leading standalone VPNs like NordVPN and Surfshark, it performed well in our tests, with minimal impact on download and upload speeds. It offers 50+ server locations across 30+ countries and supports unlimited data.
The VPN works smoothly with popular streaming services like Netflix and Disney+, and it supports torrenting with P2P file sharing on all servers. It also includes useful features like a kill switch, protocol choices (IKEv2 and OpenVPN), and automatic connection on public Wi-Fi.
Overall, TotalAV’s VPN provides strong security, solid streaming capabilities, and decent speeds, making it one of the best VPNs bundled with antivirus software, similar to Norton Ultra VPN and Bitdefender’s Premium VPN.
Other security features
TotalAV offers several additional security features that enhance its antivirus capabilities, making it a well-rounded solution for privacy and device optimization.
Ad Blocker
TotalAV’s ad blocker is highly effective, successfully blocking ads and trackers, including video ads on YouTube. It’s available for free on Edge, Chrome, iOS, and Android, but the premium version is needed for ad-blocking on major websites. While not as robust as Private Internet Access’s ad blocker, TotalAV’s tool provides excellent customization, allowing users to manage blocklists and set rules for specific websites.
System Tune-Up
TotalAV’s system tune-up tools excel in optimizing device performance, offering features like:
- Startup Manager: Easily manage which apps start with your system.
- Application Uninstaller: Simplifies software removal, even for multiple apps at once.
- Browser Cleanup: Removes tracking cookies to protect your online privacy.
- Duplicate File Finder: Identifies and deletes duplicate files, a feature not found in standard Windows tools.
- Junk Cleaner: Clears junk files left after updates or uninstalls, significantly freeing up space.
These tools work smoothly and are among the most user-friendly we’ve tested, outperforming similar offerings from Norton and McAfee.
Identity Theft Protection
Powered by Aura, TotalAV’s identity theft protection is comprehensive for US users, offering:
- Monitoring of credit reports, the dark web, and breach databases.
- $1,000,000 coverage for identity theft losses.
- Live agent support for recovery assistance.
This service, while not included in standard plans, can be added for a reasonable annual fee and provides excellent protection for those looking to safeguard their personal information.
Secure Browser
TotalAV’s Total Browser enhances browsing privacy with features like:
- Ad and tracker blocking.
- Malicious site blocking.
- Data breach warnings.
- A suspicious download checker.
It blocked most ads during testing, even video ads on YouTube. The browser automatically blocks notifications and limits data sharing by default, with easy customization options. It’s included with all premium plans or available as a standalone product.
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
We navigated through TotalAV’s pricing and plans, and here’s the lowdown. The company has three main tiers: Antivirus Pro, Internet Security, and Total Security.
During our purchase experience, we were met with multiple pop-up offers, making it a bit cluttered compared to one-click solutions from Norton and Bitdefender. Despite this, you can still land an affordable plan if you navigate carefully.
Here’s a quick rundown of the plans:
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Antivirus Pro: Costs $19/year and covers up to 3 devices. It offers essential features like a malware scanner and real-time protection. Good but not as feature-rich as competitors for the same price.
-
Internet Security: Priced at $39/year, it covers up to 5 devices and adds a VPN. It’s a better value, even if the included “Antivirus eBook” isn’t worth much.
-
Total Security: At $49/year, it adds priority tech support, ad blocker, and password manager for up to 6 devices. We find this plan less compelling due to its extra cost for non-essential features.
Every plan comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee. We tested this and received our refund in just one business day.
In summary, while TotalAV offers competitive pricing, its buying experience could be streamlined. Its middle-tier plan, Internet Security, offers the best value for most users.
Test score comparison
We conduct in-house anti-malware tests and review the results from AV-Test, a German lab renowned for its objective evaluations. Below is the average of the last 10 AV-Test results for Windows. Their scoring criteria are:
- Protection (1-6): Effectiveness in blocking malware.
- Performance (1-6): Impact on system speed.
- Usability (1-6): Frequency of errors like false alarms.
We calculate a final score using this formula:
Final Score = 60% Protection + 20% Performance + 20% Usability.
While these results influence our choice of the best antivirus for Windows 11, other factors like privacy and identity protection also play a key role. For a similar analysis for Android or macOS, visit our other comparisons:
Note: Brands not listed in the table either do not participate in AV-Test trials or are tested too infrequently, such as Surfshark Antivirus.
Source: AV-Test (Last updated: December 2024).
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.
We consider scores above 4.0 very good. Lower scores indicate that the brand might have a poor product or customer service. McAfee’s scores, for instance, are worrying.
Source: TrustPilot. Last Update: December 2024.
Company Profile
TotalAV is owned by Point Wild.
In December 2024, TotalAV’s parent company, Total Security, merged with Pango Group to form Point Wild. The new company has a consumer, partner, and enterprise side.
On the consumer side, Point Wild serves over 25 million monthly active users in 150 countries through brands like Hotspot Shield, Betternet, Ultra, VPN360, Comparitech, and Total Security. These brands offer a variety of tools, including VPNs, antivirus software, and online privacy solutions, to enhance user security and privacy.
The partner side operates under the Pango brand, providing customizable security tools for businesses to boost customer trust and engagement.
For enterprises, Point Wild offers advanced solutions through brands like CyEx, which specializes in cyber and privacy incident response, and Simpluris, which provides legal and corporate administration services.
Point Wild is a major player in the online protection industry, with annual revenue projected at $600 million and a focus on consistent growth and innovation.
How we test antivirus software
At SoftwareLab, we provide thorough and unbiased antivirus reviews to help you make informed cybersecurity decisions. Our comprehensive testing covers all critical aspects of antivirus performance. We assess each product in six key categories, weighted by importance:
For even more details, visit our blog posts on how we test antivirus software.
Anti-Malware Protection (30%)
We evaluate how well the antivirus detects and removes various malware types like viruses, trojans, ransomware, and spyware.
In-House Testing: Using 1,200 diverse malware samples, we conduct real-time attack simulations to assess detection and neutralization of known and emerging threats through signature-based and heuristic analysis.
Independent Lab Results: We incorporate findings from respected institutes like AV-Test, SE Labs, and AV-Comparatives to validate our results.
Security and Privacy Features (30%)
We assess additional tools that enhance cybersecurity:
Web Protection: Testing the software’s ability to block phishing sites and web-based threats by accessing known malicious websites.
Firewall: Evaluating effectiveness using intrusion simulations and the ShieldsUP! test to secure network ports and monitor traffic.
Password Manager: Assessing capabilities to generate, store, and auto-fill complex passwords, plus features like two-factor authentication and biometric login.
VPN: Evaluating security protocols, encryption, speed, server locations, data limits, and support for streaming and peer-to-peer sharing while hiding IP addresses.
Parental Controls: Testing screen time management, content filtering, location tracking, and resistance to bypass attempts to protect children.
Identity Theft Protection: Assessing monitoring of personal info and responsiveness to potential identity theft alerts.
Secure Cloud Storage: Evaluating capacity, security, usability, and features like file encryption and secure sharing.
Anti-Ransomware: Simulating attacks to test detection and blocking of unauthorized encryption via behavioral detection and exploit prevention.
Dark Web Monitoring: Checking effectiveness in scanning the dark web for personal info and providing timely alerts.
System Performance Impact (10%)
We measure how the antivirus affects device performance during everyday tasks:
Resource Usage: Monitoring CPU and memory during scans and real-time protection.
Performance Tests: Evaluating impact on launching apps, downloading files, browsing websites, and copying data, aligned with AV-Test criteria.
False Positives (10%)
Accuracy is crucial to avoid interruptions:
False Positive Detection: Assessing how often legitimate applications or files are incorrectly flagged.
Usability Tests: Referencing AV-Test evaluations to gauge false positive frequency for effectiveness and user-friendliness.
Price and Value (10%)
We analyze overall value by comparing features to cost:
Cost Analysis: Considering subscription prices, device coverage, and multi-year plans.
Feature Evaluation: Assessing if included features justify the price compared to competitors.
Ownership and Reputation (10%)
Trust is essential in cybersecurity providers:
Company Background: Researching history, industry track record, mergers, or acquisitions.
Privacy Policies: Examining data handling, privacy commitment, and compliance with regulations.
Ethical Conduct: Investigating past unethical behavior, data breaches, or controversies.
Sources and tools
- Apple Platform Security
- AV-Comparatives Consumer
- AV-Test Android
- AV-Test macOS
- AV-Test Windows
- GRC Firewall Test
- Microsoft Defender
- SpeedTest VPN
- Trustpilot Security Software
Author: Tibor Moes
Founder & Chief Editor at SoftwareLab
Tibor has tested 28 antivirus programs and 25 VPN services, and holds a Cybersecurity Graduate Certificate from Stanford University.
He uses Norton to protect his devices, NordVPN for his privacy, and Proton for his passwords and email.
