So, you want an antivirus tool for your Mac but aren’t quite sure if MacKeeper is the one. Maybe you’re weighing other MacKeeper alternatives for Mac to see how MacKeeper compares before committing.
Totally understandable. The problem is there are so many optimizations and antivirus apps out there. It’s easy to feel lost. No worries. We’ve done the hard part for you.
We've curated an excellent list of Mackeeper alternatives to help you make an educated choice. Read on to find out more about them.
Before we start:
Looking for antivirus tools usually means your Mac isn't performing as smoothly as you'd like. Junk files and other clutter build up over time, slowing down everything.
If this sounds familiar, MacKeeper’s Safe Cleanup tool can help. It’s designed to find and remove hidden junk and give your Mac the fresh start it needs. Here’s how to use MacKeeper’s Safe Cleanup:
- Download and install MacKeeper on your computer.
- Open MacKeeper and select the Safe Cleanup tool.
- Click Start Scan to find all hidden junk files.
- Select the files you want to delete, then click Remove Selected.
In this article you will find the following:
Criteria for choosing a good antivirus for Mac
The right antivirus tool keeps your Mac secure and running smoothly without unnecessary slowdowns. It should also offer strong support and provide good value for your investment.
Here’s what to keep in mind when picking a good antivirus for Mac:
- Performance impact: How efficiently does the software run without hogging system resources?
- Security features: What does it do besides malware protection? Look for essential tools like a cleaner, data breach detectors, and performance boosters.
- Ease of use: Does it have a steep learning curve, or is it user-friendly?
- Pricing structure: Are free trials, flexible plans, or one-time payments available? Are the features offered worth the cost?
- Customer service: Does the company offer reliable support?
Below is a quick comparison of MacKeeper with its top alternatives—CleanMyMac X, CCleaner, and Norton Antivirus—so you can see how they stack up.
| Criteria | MacKeeper | CleanMyMac X | CCleaner | Norton Antivirus |
| Pricing | $5.95/month (1 Mac) or $7.45/month (3 Macs) – all features included | $39.95/year (1 Mac) or $89.95 (one-time, 1 Mac) | Starts at $39.95/year for one Mac | $29.99 for the first year, renews at $59.99/year |
| Overall rating | 4.3/5 – reliable, all-in-one solution | 4.5/5 – strong for optimization | 4.5/5 – effective for cleanup | 4.2/5 – good for protection |
| Ease of use | 8.3/10 | 9.8/10 | 9.3/10 | 9.0/10 |
| Customer service | 8.7/10 (24/7 live chat with fast responses) | 8.2/10 (email support only) | 8.5/10 (email-only) | 8.6/10 (24/7 chat requires phone/email info) |
| Security features | Full antivirus, malware, ad-block | Malware detection | No security features (except a system updater) | Full antivirus and malware protection |
| Extra features | Memory optimizer, junk cleanup, VPN, leak monitoring | System cleanup, app uninstaller | Primary system optimization tools | Memory optimizer, junk cleanup, VPN, leak monitoring |
Keep reading for more details on the best antivirus software for Mac to find the best fit for your needs.
Top alternatives MacKeeper for Mac
The internet has a gazillion tools to help you free up space, protect your system, and boost performance on your Mac. But we've narrowed it down to a few popular MacKeeper alternatives. Here’s a quick guide to what each one offers.
1. CleanMyMac X
CleanMyMac X is an optimizer app that offers features like file cleanup, speed optimization, and basic malware detection. It also has a neat disk space visualization feature and a 7-day free trial.
However, it’s not a security app. For instance, it has no ad block, VPN, adware monitoring, etc.
Pricing: $39.95 per year for one Mac, or a one-time payment at $89.95 for one Mac, too.
Compatibility: macOS 10.13 and higher.
Overall, it’s a solid choice if you’re mainly looking to free up space on Mac and keep it organized.
| Pros | Cons |
| Simple, user-friendly design | A one-time purchase might seem pricey |
| Good for clearing junk and boosting speed | Limited malware detection (not a full antivirus) |
| Regular updates | In-app support is through a smart assistant, not a human live chat |
| Offers app permissions management | Yearly subscription may feel like a big commitment for first-time users |
2. CCleaner
CCleaner helps improve your system operations by cleaning junk files, updating software, clearing browser history, and uninstalling unwanted apps.
It doesn’t include malware detection or antivirus features, so you’ll need a separate setup to check for virus on Mac.
Price: Professional version costs $39.95 per year, and the Professional Plus costs $59.95.
It has a free version for basic cleaning.
Compatibility: Apple macOS 10.12.x and above.
| Pros | Cons |
| Easy to use | No malware detection or antivirus features |
| Good for removing junk files | Free version is very limited |
| Helps manage startup programs | Technical support can be slow (according to reviews) |
A note fom the team:
Do you want a more detailed look at this Mackeeper alternative? Check out our complete CCleaner review.
3. BuhoCleaner
BuhoCleaner is user-friendly and has a shallow learning curve. It lets you remove junk files, uninstall apps/app leftovers, erase duplicate files, and visualize your system with a disk space analyzer.
It also has something for the developers—an Xcode cache cleaner. What it doesn’t do, however, is provide malware protection.
Pricing: A lifetime license starts at $34.99 for one Mac.
BuhoCleaner has a free trial with a file removal limit.
Compatibility: M1-M4 and Intel Macs.
| Pros | Cons |
| Affordable, one-time purchase | No malware detection or antivirus features |
| Lifetime updates included | Free trial has a 3GB cleaning limit |
| Good customer support | Lacks advanced tools like anti-trackers, adblocks, and VPN |
4. AVG Antivirus
AVG Antivirus is a pretty solid pick if you’re looking to protect your Mac from malware and viruses. It covers the basics well and even throws in extras like phishing and ransomware protection in paid plans.
If you want the whole package—like a firewall, disk cleaner, VPN, and other advanced security features—then you should try AVG Internet Security or AVG Ultimate. For a closer look at the latter, here’s our AVG Ultimate review.
Pricing: Starts at $77.99/year, while AVG Ultimate is $139.99. However, they usually give 40-60% discounts on your first year.
Compatibility: macOS 10.13 and higher.
| Pros | Cons |
| Great for malware and virus protection | Free version only offers basic protection |
| Easy to use | Can slow down your system sometimes |
| Frequent updates to keep up with threats | Paid versions can feel pricey after discounts end |
5. Avast Cleanup
Avast Cleanup clears out trash files, deletes blurry/duplicate photos, organizes your browser data, and even puts apps you don’t often use into sleep mode to free up system resources.
While it’s great for performance, it’s not a security app—you’ll need the Avast antivirus app for that.
Pricing: $65.99 per year for one Mac.
It has a 30-day free trial, though.
Compatibility: macOS 10.12 and up.
| Pros | Cons |
| Cleans up junk files quickly | No malware or antivirus features |
| Helps speed up sluggish systems | Higher price for a subscription |
| The app-sleeping feature is a nice touch | Some features overlap with macOS's built-in tools |
6. McAfee
McAfee is for people who want more than essential virus protection. It handles malware, phishing, online threats, real-time browsing protection, identity protection, and much more.
The downside? It can hog resources and slow down your Mac.
Pricing: Starts at $89.99 for one Mac for the first year. And if you’re lucky, you can get more than 50% off in the first year.
Compatibility: McAfee works on macOS 10.15 and above.
| Pros | Cons |
| Includes identity and web protection | Subscription might feel costly after discounts |
| Easy setup and regular updates | UI and UX may be overcomplicated for casual users |
A tip from our experts: Do you know something else that makes your Mac sluggish? All the junk files are piling up in the background. We’re talking temporary files, system cache, duplicate pictures, and those random downloads you forgot about. They take up space and slow things down.
Well, not anymore! Not with MacKeeper’s Safe Cleanup. Safe Cleanup is a quick and simple way to free up space and give your Mac a speed boost.
Follow these steps to clear junk files with Safe Cleanup:
- Open MacKeeper.
- Go to the Safe Cleanup tab, and click Start Scan.
- Let the scan complete to see categorized results like Logs, Caches, and Trash. Select the files you want to remove and click Clean Junk Files.
As you can see, MacKeeper’s Safe Cleanup is built to make space management and system optimization effortless. Go on, have a look. Your cleaner, faster Mac is just a few clicks away.
7. MacBooster
MacBooster is a system optimizer that cleans out junk, deletes similar photos, uninstalls apps, and even scans for malware.
Pricing: $29.95 per year (heavily discounted from $59.95), but it’s safe to assume this is a limited-time deal.
Compatibility: macOS 10.7 and above.
| Pros | Cons |
| Malware and privacy protection are included | UI could use improvements for smoother navigation |
| 24/7 customer support | Require a full year’s payment upfront |
| Multiple modules can run at once | VPN requires separate purchase |
8. Kaspersky Antivirus
Kaspersky Antivirus offers real-time scanning for malware and ransomware, protects against phishing links, and generally keeps you safe online.
It also includes extras like a basic VPN, a password manager, and tools for cleaning up your internet traces and fixing system vulnerabilities.
Pricing: Starts at $29.99 per year for one device.
Compatibility: All iOS and macOS devices.
| Pros | Cons |
| Reliable malware and ransomware protection | Vulnerability Scan reports are vague |
| Doesn’t slow down your Mac | Constant upsell notifications can be frustrating |
| Easy-to-use | Mixed reviews about customer support |
| Regular updates to handle new threats |
9. Malwarebytes
Malwarebytes focuses on malware detection and removal. It keeps your system safe from threats like adware, ransomware, and potentially unwanted programs.
While it does the job well, it’s not an all-in-one tool—the standard tier doesn’t include system optimization or a VPN.
Pricing: Has a free version. The standard version costs $44.99 per year for one Mac. Plus version is $59.99 annually.
It’s simple to set up and works on macOS 11 versions and higher.
| Pros | Cons |
| Quick and efficient malware removal | No extra features like system cleanup |
| Doesn’t slow down your Mac | Focuses only on malware, not full antivirus |
| Free version available | Features like identity protection are only available in the Ultimate subscription ($119.99/yr) |
10. Norton Antivirus
Norton Antivirus is a Mac security app that provides real-time defense against viruses, malware, ransomware, and phishing attempts. Beyond basic antivirus capabilities, Norton includes features like a password manager, 10GB of cloud storage, and a Secure VPN for online privacy.
Pricing: Starts at $29.99 for the first year for one device, with subsequent renewals at $59.99 per year.
Capability: macOS versions from 10.15.x (Catalina) and above.
| Pros | Cons |
| Comprehensive protection against various threats | Some features (like VPN) may require additional installations or subscriptions |
| Includes password manager and cloud storage | Not a system optimizer |
| Fast 24/7 live chat | Some reviews say it causes significant system slowdown |
Conclusion
Every tool on this list has its strengths. CleanMyMac X is great at optimization, Malwarebytes at lightweight malware protection, and Norton at full security.
However, they also have weaknesses. Some lack 24/7 support, while others don’t, and others don’t combine optimization and security.
This isn’t the case for MacKeeper. It bundles antivirus protection, Safe Cleanup, memory optimization, and 24/7 support in one user-friendly app. Plus, it offers a monthly subscription instead of an annual commitment. Install MacKeeper today.
So, while the alternatives are great for specific needs, MacKeeper gives you an all-in-one solution. Why settle for less when your Mac can have it all?
