We may earn a commission when you make a purchase via links on this site.

Webroot Antivirus Review (2024 Update): The Pros & Cons

By Tibor Moes / Updated: November 2023 / Rating: 3 of 5

Webroot Antivirus Review 2024

Webroot Antivirus 2024: Review Summary

Webroot is ranked #19 of the 28 best antivirus of 2024.

Webroot does not participate in the independent tests by AV-Test or AV-Comparatives, which is not a good sign. Without these tests, we have no verifiable benchmark to compare it against.

The last time Webroot participated in AV-test trials was in June 2019; it scored only 2 out of 6 points in the protection test. It was in last place out of 20 brands, far behind Norton, Bitdefender, McAfee, and Kaspersky.

On the upside, Webroot includes all essential security features, such as a firewall, password manager (from LastPass), identity theft protection, and an anti-tracker.

That said, until Webroot participates in the independent tests, we would stick to one of the proven winners, like Norton 360 Deluxe.

  • Malware protection: 92%. Webroot detected and removed many of the 1,200 malware samples in our test, but not all.
  • Speed impact: 90%. Webroot’s anti-malware engine is lightweight, but it did have a small impact on the speed of our test PC.
  • Features: 90%. Webroot offers anti-malware, anti-phishing, a firewall, a password manager, a VPN, and more.
  • Price: 70%. Webroot’s price is not the best. Both Norton and Kaspersky offer more features at a far lower price.

If you want the best protection, we recommend Norton.

Ranking  #19 of 28
Anti-malware
Anti-phishing
Firewall
Password Manager
Unlimited VPN
Operating systems Windows, macOS, iOS, Android

Click the links to read the reviews of the best antivirus of 2024:

🥇 Norton 360 Deluxe – The #1 in 2024
🥈 Bitdefender Total Security
🥉 TotalAV Antivirus

Or read our complete comparison of the best antivirus for Windows 11.

Webroot Antivirus 2024: Full Review

After testing Webroot, we found it to be a budget-friendly option that doesn’t hog system resources. Its inclusion of a LastPass-powered password manager is a notable feature. Webroot also has extras like web protection and system optimization, though they didn’t impress us much. The web protection was hit-or-miss, and the system optimizer felt basic.

We tried Webroot on multiple platforms, including Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS. Unfortunately, the mobile apps left much to be desired. On the bright side, all plans come with a lengthy 70-day money-back guarantee, giving you ample time to test it out.

Anti-malware

In our tests, Webroot offered a cloud-based malware scanner that’s easy on CPU usage and disk space. We could choose from Deep, Full, and Quick scans, with options to scan individual folders or schedule routine scans.

When we hid 1,200 malware test files on our device, Webroot caught 92% of them. That’s okay, but not up to the standard set by Norton or Bitdefender, which detected 100% in similar tests. Webroot fell short in ransomware protection as well, blocking only 7 out of 24 simulated threats.

On the upside, Webroot’s scans were super quick, averaging 6 minutes per scan. However, we did notice our internet speed dropping during scans.

Overall, Webroot offers a speedy but not foolproof antivirus solution. It’s efficient and light on system resources, but its ransomware detection needs improvement.

Anti-phishing

We put Webroot’s online shields to the test, including its Web Threat Shield, Phishing Shield, and Identity Shield. The Web Threat Shield effectively blocked all common web exploits we threw at it. However, the Phishing Shield caught only 80% of phishing sites, lagging behind competitors like Avira and Norton.

Identity Shield had a mixed performance; it detected webcam usage but failed to block some keylogging and data mining attempts.

Comparatively, Norton’s Safe Web and Avira’s Browser Safety outperformed Webroot in comprehensive online protection and didn’t cause browser crashes, which we experienced with Webroot’s shields.

So, if you’re looking for robust online protection, Webroot falls short. But for decent antivirus and phishing protection, it’s an adequate choice.

Password manager

We were pleased to see that Webroot includes a LastPass subscription, a top-rated password manager in our 2024 rankings. LastPass uses strong 256-bit AES encryption and a zero-knowledge architecture, ensuring that only you can access your passwords.

The LastPass interface is user-friendly, offering an online dashboard and browser extensions for easy password management. Among the premium features are two-factor authentication (2FA), secure password sharing, and dark web monitoring. We especially liked the 2FA options, including its own one-time password (OTP) generator, which added an extra layer of security to our accounts.

LastPass also excels in account recovery, offering methods like biometric scanning and text-based password reset codes.

In our opinion, LastPass is Webroot’s standout feature and makes it a good option for those seeking an antivirus and password manager combo.

Firewall

We found Webroot’s firewall to be quite basic and limited in features. Unlike some competitors, such as Avast, it only monitors outbound traffic and relies on Windows Defender for inbound protection. The firewall also lacks advanced features that you’d find in Norton, like protection against ARP and DNS spoofing or man-in-the-middle attacks.

Moreover, we couldn’t find options to manage application rules, which is a standard feature in most other antivirus firewalls.

Considering it’s a premium antivirus offering in 2024, we expected more from Webroot’s firewall. It leans too heavily on Windows Defender and is lacking in key areas.

System optimizer

Webroot’s system optimizer is fairly basic, clearing out cookies and junk files automatically. Unlike Bitdefender, which allows user control over what files to delete, Webroot takes a hands-off approach. While it frees up space, we missed the advanced optimization features seen in competitors like TotalAV and Avira.

The sandbox feature in Webroot allows advanced users to test apps in a controlled setting. While a good idea in theory, our tests showed that several apps crashed in the sandbox. The feature could be useful for experts but may not be reliable for all.

Webroot does offer some unique features like a manual threat removal tool and system diagnostics tools. However, many of these are better suited for advanced users. Its identity theft protection, partnered with Allstate, offers substantial coverage like $500k fraud reimbursement and dark web monitoring but falls short of Norton’s more comprehensive protection.

Some of Webroot’s additional features felt redundant or unnecessary. For example, its process manager mimicked functionalities already available in Windows Task Manager, and its manual threat removal tool could mislead users into thinking they’ve successfully eradicated malware.

In summary, Webroot has some handy additional features but also room for improvement. We’d like to see more universally useful features, such as Wi-Fi protection and a game booster.

Mobile app

We tested Webroot’s mobile app on Android and found it fairly basic, offering an antivirus scanner and a secure web browser. On iOS, you only get the secure web browser. While it detected 93% of test malware quickly, it lacks features like Wi-Fi monitoring and a VPN, which are standard in Norton’s mobile app. Webroot’s app is decent but limited in comparison to competitors like Norton and McAfee.

Customer support

As for customer support, Webroot offers phone support, FAQs, email support, and a community forum. Phone support is limited to English and only during business hours in select countries. While we had a good experience calling the US line, international users might find this restricting. The forum is active, and we received prompt responses there, but the email support took over 24 hours for a technical query.

Plans and pricing

Webroot offers five pricing tiers, all as yearly subscriptions, with a 14-day free trial and a 70-day money-back guarantee. Here’s the rundown:

  • SecureAnywhere AntiVirus: Protects one PC or Mac for $29.99/year. It’s affordable but basic, with an antivirus scanner, real-time protection, firewall, and web protection.
  • SecureAnywhere Internet Security Plus: At $44.99/year, it covers 3 devices and adds mobile apps and LastPass password manager. Good value, but Norton 360 Standard offers more features for a similar price.
  • SecureAnywhere Internet Security Complete: Priced at $59.99/year, it covers up to 5 devices and adds system optimization. It’s affordable but lacks features like parental controls found in competitors like Norton.
  • SecureAnywhere Internet Security Premium (US Only): Covers 5 devices for $77.99/year and includes identity theft protections through Allstate Identity. Offers good fraud reimbursement but lacks a VPN.
  • SecureAnywhere AntiVirus for PC Gamers: Priced at $23.99/year for one device, it’s similar to the basic plan but adds system optimization. Decent for gamers but doesn’t boost CPU performance like Norton’s gaming option.

While Webroot’s plans are generally more budget-friendly, they lack some features offered by competitors. Norton, for instance, often provides better overall value with more comprehensive features in its plans.

Click the links to read the reviews of the best antivirus of 2024:

🥇 Norton 360 Standard – The #1 in 2024
🥈 Bitdefender Internet Security
🥉 TotalAV Antivirus

Or read our complete comparison of the best antivirus for Mac.

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.

Final Score
Protection
Performance
Usability
6.00
6.00
6.00
6.00
6.00
6.00
6.00
6.00
5.98
6.00
5.90
6.00
5.98
6.00
5.90
6.00
5.97
6.00
5.85
6.00
5.96
5.95
5.95
6.00
5.94
5.95
6.00
5.85
5.93
5.95
5.95
5.85
5.91
5.95
5.75
5.95
5.87
5.83
5.83
6.00
5.81
5.85
5.55
5.95
5.77
5.70
5.95
5.80
5.60
6.00
6.00
4.00
5.47
5.15
5.90
6.00

Click the links to read the reviews of the best antivirus of 2024:

🥇 Norton Antivirus Plus – The #1 in 2024
🥈 Bitdefender Antivirus Plus
🥉 TotalAV Antivirus

Or read our complete comparison of the best antivirus for Android.

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.

Total price
Missing features
$ 50
No firewall, password manager, and VPN
$ 80
No firewall and password manager
$ 90
No firewall
$ 130
No password manager
$ 180
No firewall

Click the links to read the reviews of the best antivirus of 2024:

🥇 Norton 360 Advanced – The #1 in 2024
🥈 Bitdefender Premium Security
🥉 TotalAV Antivirus

Or read our complete comparison of the best antivirus for iOS.

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.

Review score
Review count
4.8
5900
4.7
97000
4.4
1600
4.3
14500
4.3
4000
4.2
8300
4.1
13200
4.1
900
3.9
12000
3.9
26600
3.8
19000
3.7
7600
1.2
2000

Click the links to read the reviews of the best antivirus of 2024:

🥇 Norton 360 for Gamers – The #1 in 2024
🥈 Bitdefender Total Security
🥉 TotalAV Antivirus

Or read our complete comparison of the best VPN of 2024.

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.

Anti-malware protection test

We analyze antivirus software’s capability to detect and eliminate known and unknown malware, using heuristic analysis for behavior monitoring.

We conduct in-house tests and analyze those from labs like AV-Test, SE Labs, and AV-Comparatives to determine the best malware protection.

Malware includes adware, keyloggers, ransomware, rootkits, spyware, trojans, viruses, worms, and more. Other cyber threats, usually not classified as malware, are (zero-day) exploits, hacks, identity theft, phishing attacks, scams, and social engineering.

False positives test

False positives occur when antivirus software misidentifies legitimate software, files, or websites as malicious. We rely on AV-Test’s large-scale analysis of false positives in its usability test to guide our evaluations.

System performance test

We measure the CPU load during antivirus software system scans and consider AV-Test’s performance results on the slowdown caused by antivirus software when opening websites and handling software.

Firewall test

We evaluate two-way firewalls that filter incoming and outgoing data and allow users to set rules to regulate data streams. We use the ShieldsUP! test to determine if the antivirus software blocks all ports.

Password manager test

We assess password managers’ ability to create, store, and autofill secure passwords, as well as additional features like two-factor authentication and biometric login.

Virtual Private Network (VPN) test

We evaluate built-in VPNs on their security, privacy, speed, compatibility with streaming services, unlimited data access, and support for peer-to-peer networks and torrent clients.

Parental control test

We examine parental control features, such as screen time rules, website/app blocking, and real-world location tracking. We test these features on a device and attempt to circumvent them, checking if the activity is accurately reported in the parental control admin.

Anti-phishing protection test

We evaluate antivirus browser extensions that block phishing sites by installing them and attempting to visit dangerous URLs.

Ransomware protection test

We assess security suites’ ability to prevent data encryption through exploit prevention and behavioral detection during ransomware attacks.

Bonus features test

We test any additional cybersecurity tools such as:

  • Ad Blocker
  • Anti-theft
  • Dark web monitoring (identity protection)
  • Email protection
  • File encryption
  • File shredder
  • Gaming mode
  • Microphone protection
  • PC maintenance features
  • Secure browser (hardened browser to protect your online banking)
  • Secure cloud storage (cloud backup)
  • Spam filter
  • Startup optimizer
  • Tune up tools
  • Virtual keyboard
  • Webcam protection

Ownership and reputation test

We analyze the trustworthiness of antivirus companies, especially concerning customer data. We read press releases, news articles, and privacy policies to determine their reputation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Below are the most frequently asked questions.

Is Webroot a good antivirus program?

Webroot is ranked #19 of 28 antivirus programs. The ranking is based on its protection, performance, price, and features. Find the best protection in our comparison of the best antivirus of 2024.

How do we test antivirus software?

We analyze the protection from malware, the performance impact on a PC, and the number of false positives. On top of that, we test various security features such as the firewall, password manager, VPN, and more.

Author: Tibor Moes

Author: Tibor Moes

Founder & Chief Editor at SoftwareLab

Tibor has tested 39 antivirus programs and 30 VPN services, and holds a Cybersecurity Graduate Certificate from Stanford University.

He uses Norton to protect his devices, CyberGhost for his privacy, and Dashlane for his passwords.

You can find him on LinkedIn or contact him here.