Best antivirus with VPN included in 2023

Antivirus software and VPNs are two essential parts of the cybersecurity equation. Fortunately, most well-known antivirus providers offer a VPN as part of their security suites. After all, VPNs are excellent at protecting your data from online hackers, ISPs, and other third parties. Besides, VPNs also have lots of other appealing benefits, including the ability to bypass geo-restrictions on international streaming services.

However, not all VPNs bundled with antiviruses are strong enough to protect you. Many of them lack advanced features that enhance your protection, their server fleets are small, and their overall performance usually is poor.

Therefore, we tested and selected the best antivirus with VPN services in terms of performance, security, privacy, and other areas. Currently, our tests and research show that the Surfshark Antivirus, combined with a first-class VPN, is the optimal security and privacy choice.

Best antivirus with a VPN included

Surfshark Antivirus offers excellent malware detection rates, great desktop and mobile apps, and a market-leading VPN for affordable pricing.

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• 100% malware detection rates
• Top VPN with many security features
• Best price-to-value ratio

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In this guide, we will look at the best antiviruses with a VPN in 2023 to help you decide which one suits your needs the best. Read on to learn everything you need to know.

Best antivirus with a VPN included

1. Surfshark Antivirus – best antivirus with a VPN
2. NordVPN Threat Protection – first-class VPN with threat protection
3. TotalAV – reliable threat protection with a VPN
4. Norton 360 – premium antivirus with VPN features
5. Bitdefender – solid antivirus and VPN protection

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Why do I need an antivirus with a VPN?

You might think that having either antivirus or a VPN is enough to ensure complete protection of your device and data. However, that is not the case, as antiviruses and VPNs offer slightly different protection measures. Having both an antivirus and a VPN will ensure protection from all possible angles.

Here are some more reasons why getting an antivirus with a VPN is a good idea:

• Protect your device from malware. A quality antivirus program will give you the best protection against all kinds of malware, including ransomware. Your device and data will be under diligent protection at all times.
• Boost your device performance. Good antivirus suites include device performance boosting features. They help ensure that your device works smoothly and stop any processes that might be hindering its efficiency.
• Hide your online activities. An antivirus that includes a VPN will not only give you device protection but also keep you anonymous online. No one will be able to track your browsing history and online habits – this also helps avoid targeted ads.
• Protect yourself from phishing and other online threats. While an antivirus is great from preventing malware infections, a VPN with an ad-blocker or threat protection will effectively block access to unsafe websites and scan for potential threats whenever you browse on the web.
• Access geo-restricted content. The best antiviruses offer VPNs that have excellent bypassing capabilities, which means that you’ll be able to watch, read, or listen to any content that might not be available to you because of your location.

Best antivirus software with a VPN – our detailed list

Although most well-known antivirus providers include a VPN in some of their price plans, they tend to be limited compared to standalone services. However, there are some antivirus providers that offer valuable VPN features. Here is a list of our favorites:

1. Surfshark Antivirus – overall best antivirus with a VPN

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Surfshark is the best antivirus with a VPN included due its exceptional malware detection rates and limitless top-class VPN services.

Malware protection: This antivirus offers real-time protection that continuously monitors your device for potential threats. We’ve tested Surfshark antivirus and it presented great results – caught 9 out of 10 malicious files.

The mobile app ensures a secure browsing experience, letting you seamlessly connect to a VPN and scan device whenever. Meanwhile, on desktop apps, you can create automatic scan schedules for the full system or individual folders. Plus, the antivirus database is updated whenever you launch the Surfshark One app.

VPN: Surfshark VPN offering includes 3200+ servers in 100 countries, no data caps, fast speeds with WireGuard and outstanding security features. You get a kill switch, MultiHop, data leak alerts, obfuscation, and even a private Search tool. Plus, their service relies on RAM-only infrastructure, ensuring no one can steal your data.

Additional benefits: We’ve managed to unblock Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and other streaming platforms with Surfshark. There’s even an option to set it up on devices that don't support VPNs via the SmartPlay feature.

Price: You can get a Surfshark subscription that covers 5 devices from $41.88/year. It includes a 30-day money-back guarantee in case it’s not the right fit for your needs.

Read our full Surfshark Antivirus review to find out more about this provider.

2. NordVPN Threat Protection– malware protection with a first-class VPN

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NordVPN Threat Protection is another premium provider offering malware protection and VPN services all in one solution.

Malware protection: NordVPN’s threat protection acts as an antivirus solution, an ad blocker, and an anti-tracker technology. The protection is active 24/7 and you can see a 7-day summary of the threats that were blocked. In case a malicious program manages to infect your device, NordVPN will block the connecting link and prevent further damage.

VPN: The VPN is the provider’s strength – it’s an exceptional combination of speed and security. You get basic but reliable features, such as a kill switch, split tunneling, Smart DNS, and more. Aside from that, NordVPN has its own proprietary protocol called NordLynx, which ensures blazing fast speeds.

Also, you get more than 5500 servers in 60 countries around the world that run on RAM. This way, your data gets destroyed after each reboot ensuring top-grade online security.

Additional benefits: We’ve tested NordVPN and easily accessed the most popular geo-restricted streaming services, like Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max, and many others.

Price: You can enjoy NordVPN services including the advanced threat protection from as low as $3.49/month for up to 6 devices.

Read more about this provider in our full NordVPN Threat Protection review.

3. TotalAV – unlimited traffic and good protection

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TotalAV is an antivirus that offers a powerful VPN at a reasonable price. So this is a great option if you want to use one provider for your VPN and antivirus software.

Malware protection: TotalAV’s independent test results show excellent malware removal scores – TotalAV blocks 97% of zero-day and 100% of 4-week old attacks. It uses Avira’s technology for much of its antivirus suite, including on-demand and real-time detection, anti-phishing, and a range of system optimization tools.

VPN: TotalAV has a Safe Browsing VPN that is based on Windscribe’s VPN technology and offers unlimited data, fast speeds, and OpenVPN tunneling protocol support. You can connect to around 100 servers in over 40 countries, and there’s a kill switch to protect your data in case a VPN connection drops.

Additional benefits: When testing TotalAV’s Safe Browsing VPN, we’ve managed to unblock all popular streaming platforms, like Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and others. So, it also lets you access geo-restricted entertainment sites.

Price: The cost of TotalAV with a VPN included starts from as low as $19.00/year for 3 devices. What’s even better is that there’s a 30-day money-back guarantee as well.

Find more information about this antivirus in our full TotalAV review.

4. Norton 360 – premium antivirus and VPN combo

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Norton is another top antivirus with a VPN that has built an excellent reputation over time.

Malware protection: Independent testing labs show that this antivirus catches 100% of zero-day malware with no false positives and minimal impact on computer speed. These are some of the best malware detection rates around and it also stands out from the competition with its 100% Virus Protection Promise – if Norton fails to remove a threat, they'll give you a refund.

VPN: Norton Secure VPN is implemented within the app as well as offers unlimited data, servers in 30 countries and excellent online protection with a kill switch and dark web monitoring. During our tests we’ve experienced no IP leaks and even managed to unblock US Netflix, BBC iPlayer, HBO Max and other streaming sites.

Additional benefits: When it comes to useful features, Norton probably has more to offer than any other antivirus with a VPN we've tested. It offers web threat protection, a password manager, and 10 GB of PC cloud backup.

Price: The subscription of Norton antivirus with a secure VPN costs from $39.99/year for 1 device. There’s also a possibility to use a free 7-day trial first.

Learn more about this provider in our detailed Norton Antivirus review.

5. Bitdefender – amazing antivirus, good VPN features

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If you are looking for a great antivirus solution with a VPN included, Bitdefender is a good way to go.

Malware protection: Bitdefender shows impressive 100% both zero-day and 4-week old malware detection rates during independent tests. Plus, it offers an impressive suite of features, including real-time protection, advanced threat defense, web attack prevention, anti-phishing, and anti-fraud.

VPN: Bitdefender VPN has 1300+ servers in 48 countries and uses the technology from Hotspot Shield to deliver a fast and secure VPN service directly from the app. You also get a reliable kill switch to further boost your security. However, the services are limited to 200 MB per day and automatically selects the VPN server country for you.

Additional benefits: If you’re looking for some extras, Bitdefender also includes a SafePay browser, web filtering protection and a file shredder.

Price: Bitdefender antivirus and a VPN costs from $35.99/year for up to 3 devices and includes a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you want to protect more devices or get unlimited VPN services, you’ll have to upgrade your plan.

Find out more about this provider in our complete Bitdefender Antivirus review.

6. McAfee Antivirus – VPN compatible with Chrome OS

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McAfee antivirus also includes a VPN and its reputation makes it a good choice if you search for an all-in-one solution.

Malware protection: During independent tests, it was able to detect 100% of the presented viruses, including zero-day and 4-week old threats. Additionally, it has a Ransom Guard feature that stops the most dangerous file-encrypting viruses from rendering your data useless.

VPN: McAfee also includes a secure VPN that has servers in 48 countries. It comes with all paid plans of McAfee and offers unlimited data. You are protected at all times thanks to the auto-connect feature that enables the VPN connection whenever an insecure wifi is detected.

Additional benefits: One of the McAfee’s strengths is the offering of multiple extra features, such as a device cleaner, a file shredder, a vulnerability scanner, dark web monitoring, and an app boost. And that’s not all – it also comes with encrypted storage space and a password manager!

Price: You can get McAfee with a VPN included from $39.99 for the first year and use it on unlimited devices. Moreover, there’s a free 30-day trial for you to try the software first.

Check out our McAfee review to learn more about this antivirus.

7. Avira Antivirus – great free antivirus plan with VPN

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Avira Antivirus offers a VPN with its free plan which is an excellent option for those who don’t want to spend.

Malware protection: Avira’s antivirus offering is one of the best on the market. This lightweight German software has great malware detection rates, and it is extremely user-friendly. It offers virus scans, real-time protection, and a file shredder, as well as an excellent password manager, file quarantine, and its Avira Safe Shopping plug-in.

VPN: Avira Phantom VPN is developed by using their own technology and in-built in the app. You can auto-connect to servers in 34 countries free of charge but there’s a limit of 500 MB a month. If you want to remove data caps, you can either purchase the VPN as a separate service or subscribe to Avira’s premium plan.

Additional benefits: Although Avira does have a free version, its paid plans have a lot more to offer. For example, Avira's cheapest plan comes with internet protection, email protection, and customer support.

Price: You can get Avira antivirus with a VPN for free. However, if you want to use unlimited VPN services, the Avira Prime subscription costs from $59.99/year for 5 devices.

Read more about this provider in our Avira antivirus review.

What to look for in an antivirus with a VPN

Even though combining two security tools like an antivirus and a VPN into one solution is an excellent proposition from the user’s perspective, it’s not an easy task for the developers to deliver. So if you want to get the best antivirus with a VPN, you should consider the following criteria:

• Antivirus protection capabilities. A good antivirus program will come with an extensive suite of security features, including real-time scans, anti-phishing protection, and extremely good malware detection rates.
• VPN security features. Take a close look at the features the included VPN has to offer. We recommend looking for one that has a decent number of servers and good security features, like a kill switch, AES-256 encryption, and WireGuard support.
• No VPN data caps. Watch out for data caps, as some VPNs that come with antivirus programs impose limits on how much you can download and upload. Luckily, some offer unlimited data (including a few on our list). If you want a VPN for more than light web browsing, avoiding data caps is the way to go.
• Additional benefits. The VPN of a top-class antivirus can also help you bypass region blocks on international content (e.g. access the US library of Netflix or BBC iPlayer). Also, premium solutions might include a password manager that can add an extra layer of security.
• Price of the package. If you are looking for an antivirus program that comes with a VPN, it is really important to choose a combined solution that offers excellent cybersecurity for a price that suits your budget. After all, antivirus programs that include a VPN tend to offer it on their more expensive plans.

How we selected and tested these antiviruses

When selecting our favorite antivirus services that come with a VPN, we used the following criteria:

• Security. In order to find tools with the most robust features for protection from various malware and ransomware threats, we assessed the offered security attributes. That includes real-time protection, firewall, and any other additional features.
• Malware detection results. We made sure that each antivirus program could detect all potential threats. We did this by analyzing the results from various independent lab tests, such as AV-Test, AV-Comparatives, and others.
• VPN features. We also made sure that the VPN included in the antivirus package is useful, user-friendly, secure, and reliable. To do this, we took an in-depth look at the features included on the VPN, as well as the technology used to create it.
• Quality of the overall package. We looked at the combination of the antivirus software and the VPN feature specifically to decide if it is a good solution. We also considered the price of the packages that include a VPN, assessing whether or not they are good value for money.

Best antivirus with VPN compared

	SurfsharkAV	NordVPN TP	TotalAV	Norton 360	Bitdefender	McAfee	Avira
Brand
Rating	4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆	4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆	4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★	4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★	4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★	4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆	4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Free version	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes (Android, iOS)	Yes
Price	From $41.88/year	From $2.99/month	From $19.00/year	From $19.99/year	From $23.99/year	From $39.99/year	From $30.99/year
Device support	Windows, Android, macOS	Windows, macOS, Android, iOS	Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux	Windows, macOS, iOS, Android	Windows, macOS, Android, iOS	Windows, Mac, Android, iOS	Windows, Mac, Android, iOS
Features	CleanWeb Data breach monitoring Private search engine Real-time protection Kill switch Split tunneling	Ad blocker Automatic download scanner Tracker protection Kill switch AES-256 encryption	Safe Browsing WebShield extension Secure Password Vault Ad blocker System tune up	Real-time threat protection Smart Firewall Password manager Cloud backup SafeCam	Advanced Threat Defense Profiles Ransomware remediation AntiSpam Anti-tracker File shredder Anti-webcam hijack Password manager	Ransomware protection QuickClean Shredder Vulnerability scanner McAfee WebAdvisor McAfee Speed Up Password manager	Password manager Safe shopping suite Email protection Firewall Ransomware protection
VPN Server fleet	3200+ servers in 100 countries	5500+ servers in 60 countries	100+ servers in 40 countries	1000+ servers in 30 countries	1300 + servers in 48 countries	2000 + servers in 48 countries	150 + servers in 34 countries
Review	Surfshark AV review	NordVPN TP review	TotalAV review	Norton 360 review	Bitdefender review	McAfee review	Avira review

Antivirus vs VPN – what’s the difference?

While antivirus and vpn services essentially exist for the same reason – to protect your device and information from various online threats – they do it from slightly different angles, and offer differently focused features.

Here are the main differences between a VPN and antivirus software:

• Antivirus software secures your device from malware through real-time protection and scanning your device for suspicious activity. Many good antivirus suites also include performance optimization features which help ensure smooth running of your device and sustainable usage of the device’s resources. However, antiviruses do little to protect your anonymity, and prevent online tracking of your personal data or browsing habits. That’s where a VPN comes in.
• A VPN encrypts your traffic and changes your IP address to keep your information safe from anyone interested in it for various reasons. It will ensure that your ISP and the government doesn't know what you're doing online – something an antivirus can't do. A VPN will also secure your connection when connecting to public wifi. By changing your IP address, a VPN can also help you bypass network restrictions set up by your school or workplace, and even access geo-restricted streaming platforms and other content.

Both antivirus software and VPNs are important cybersecurity tools designed to protect your device and your privacy. However, because they serve different functions, having an antivirus software with a VPN is the best way to ensure complete security and protection of your devices and information.

Disadvantages of using an antivirus with a VPN

By definition, an antivirus program will prioritize its antivirus protection over any other feature it offers. Therefore, a VPN that comes with an antivirus program will likely be more limited than a dedicated VPN service. Here are the main disadvantages of using an antivirus and a VPN solution:

1. Less servers. On the contrary to the standalone VPNs, those included in an antivirus suite come with fewer servers in different locations and don't allow you to manually choose which server you want to connect to. Additionally, provided servers often neither support torrenting nor are great for unblocking streaming content.
2. Limited security features. If you choose to use the combined package of an antivirus and a VPN, there’s a high chance that you won’t be able to enjoy the full functionality of VPN’s security features. There might not be a kill switch or a possibility to switch between different tunneling protocols.
3. Data caps. Antivirus VPNs tend to impose data caps, which means that they are not suitable for anything heavier than occasional web browsing. And will also find that VPN connections with combined apps can be a lot slower than standalone VPNs.

Although we recommend using both an antivirus and a VPN, some users may only want the latter. In this case, choosing a dedicated VPN service will be both cheaper and save you the trouble of navigating a more complicated antivirus app.

However, an antivirus with a VPN feature can be a great solution for many users – why not get two birds with one stone?

How to use antivirus with a VPN

To use antivirus with a VPN, all you need to do is follow these steps:

1. Install an antivirus that has a VPN included. We recommend Surfshark, now 76% off!
2. Open the app and sign in or register an account.

3. Enable the VPN feature and connect to a chosen server.

4. Now, you have both an antivirus and a VPN enabled.

To make sure the VPN is working, look up your IP address online before connecting to the VPN – a simple Google search of "what is my IP" will do the trick. Then, connect to the VPN and check again – you should see a different IP address than before you connected. If the IP is the same as before – the VPN is not connected or there is some other malfunction. In this case, learn more about how to change your location with a VPN.

Is there a free antivirus with included VPN?

Although most antivirus providers that offer a VPN will include it in their more expensive packages, some programs come with a free VPN.

However, VPNs that are included in free antivirus plans tend to be very limited. They usually have very few servers, data caps that allow for limited usage, and very few additional security and other features. And while the free-plan VPNs might do a good job of protecting your online presence and provide the most necessary security, paid plans usually mean more freedom.

Luckily, some antiviruses offer free trials or money-back guarantees. This gives you the opportunity to try out the service before purchasing it, and decide if the additional benefits are worth the money.

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Surfshark Antivirus offers one of the most comprehensive security suites, including anti-malware protection, ad blocker, next-gen VPN, and more, that you can test for a month risk-free.

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• 30-day money-back guarantee
• Excellent malware detection
• Lightning-fast VPN speeds

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Video review: Best Antivirus with VPN

No time to read the whole article? Watch our video review of the best antivirus with a VPN. Get the essential info in just under 10 minutes!

Conclusion

If you want to use an antivirus program that comes with a VPN service, there are some outstanding options out there. However, the VPNs on antivirus packages differ greatly in what they offer and what they will cost you. These features range from sorely limited options to full-fledged VPN services, like Surfshark, that can hold on its own against many standalone tools.

Antivirus software is vital for cybersecurity, but so are VPNs. They will encrypt your traffic and hide your online activities – a lifesaver (sometimes literally) in a time when data breaches are extremely common and true privacy is as rare as a four-leaf clover. Perhaps getting a two-in-one antivirus and VPN combo is the right choice for you?

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