MacKeeper vs Avast

Avast review

Avast is a multi-platform security app, available for macOS, Windows, Android, and iOS. The company is well known for its free security solutions, which give you good, basic protection from malware. There’s also a Premium version, which adds extra features like ransomware protection. You can also buy separate add-ons, including a VPN client and a cleanup tool. Alternatively, Avast Ultimate and Avast One subscriptions bundle some of these add-ons together.

• Company name: Avast Software
• HQ: Prague, Czech Republic
• Founded: 1988

Read our Avast Cleanup review for more information about the cleaning tool add-on, which removes junk files from your Mac.

1. Features of Avast

Avast One is the version that’s most similar to MacKeeper. Its key features include:

• Antivirus: Real-time and on-demand protection.
• Ransomware protection: Stop your data from getting locked down.
• VPN client: Unlimited data from 50+ locations.
• Mac cleaner: Remove junk files and cached data.
• Duplicate finder: Deleted unnecessary copies.

A note from our experts: 

 

If you need robust, reliable security for your Mac, Mackeeper is for you. Our Antivirus solution has been independently certified by AV-TEST, catching 100% of viruses. As well as offering real-time protection, MacKeeper lets you run a scan on demand too, like this:

1. Download MacKeeper, run it, and select Antivirus on the left. Click Start Scan.
2. If the scan finds anything, select it and click Delete.
3. Click the Delete button to confirm.

Easy, right? Just a few clicks, and your Mac will be free of cyber threats.

2. Avast pricing

As well as the free version of Avast, you can get a free trial of the premium versions. Currently, Avast offers discounts for the first year, which goes up in the second. Below, we’ve listed the standard pricing without these discounts.

3. Avast customer support

You can get help from Avast through the following means:

• Online knowledge base and FAQs
• User forum
• Avast Premium Tech Support for 24/7 help
• Live chat through the Avast website

4. Is Avast safe to use?

Avast is a capable antivirus solution, and there’s no reason to believe it isn’t safe. However, the company was fined $16.5 million by the USA’s Federal Trade Commission in 2024, after it was found to be collecting and selling its customers’ browsing data to third parties—despite claiming to block online tracking.

If you try Avast and don’t like it, follow our guide on how to uninstall Avast on Mac to remove it safely.

5. Avast pros and cons

Is Avast’s antivirus software right for you and your Mac? Here’s what you need to consider:

MacKeeper review

MacKeeper offers a wide variety of tools to clean, protect, and optimize your Mac. Unlike Avast, it isn’t available for other platforms, choosing to focus purely on macOS computers. A major plus point is that all its main features are included in the subscription price, so you don’t need to browse through and compare lots of complicated options to get what you want. The only thing that costs extra is the Premium Services option, which gives you 24/7 live chat support from our team of technical experts.

• Company name: Clario Tech
• HQ: Dubai, UAE
• Founded: 2019

1. Features of MacKeeper

MacKeeper gives you everything you need to keep your Mac in top condition, including:

• Antivirus: Real-time and on-demand protection.
• Safe Cleanup: Remove junk data.
• Duplicates Finder: Delete wasteful copies.
• Smart Uninstaller: Remove apps, plug-ins, and more.
• Private Connect: VPN with 300+ locations in 50 countries.

2. MacKeeper pricing

MacKeeper’s pricing model is much simpler than Avast’s. There are currently three plans. You can also download the app at no charge, with one free fix for each tool.

3. MacKeeper сustomer support

Choose one of ways to get help from us:

• MacKeeperQS remote support tool—install this and get live support
• Online Help Center knowledgebase and FAQs
• Live chat via the MacKeeper website
• Premium Services—speak to experts 24/7

4. Is MacKeeper safe?

Yes, MacKeeper is completely safe. Many years ago, the MacKeeper name was associated with overly aggressive marketing. Thankfully, the brand has been under new ownership for several years now, and MacKeeper has since matured into a fully legit, independently verified, and Apple-notarized security solution for Mac owners. Learn more about this in our Is MacKeeper safe blog post.

5. MacKeeper pros and cons

Final Comparison

So MacKeeper vs Avast for Mac—which one comes out on top? As our review has shown, it really depends on what you want, how much you want to pay, and so on. The main difference between MacKeeper and Avast is that MacKeeper offers all its features under one simple subscription, while Avast has several different tiers, each with its own set of abilities. Avast also offers a free version, which gives you good basic malware protection but not much else. Whichever one you choose, your Mac will be safe from viruses.

However, we think MacKeeper’s Antivirus has an edge, giving you excellent malware removal features and straightforward pricing, including a monthly subscription, which means you don’t have to commit for an entire year. MacKeeper will also keep your Mac optimized and free of junk—with one of the best Mac cleaners around. (And you won’t need to worry about your privacy either.) For a leaner, cleaner Mac, give MacKeeper a try today.