TotalAV Antivirus review 2026

TotalAV is a widely used antivirus solution and, after thoroughly testing it myself, I can see why. Our in-house tests showed solid malware detection rates, which align with independent lab test results, demonstrating strong protection across multiple devices. Still, it’s important to note that TotalAV doesn’t have a perfect score, making it a weaker solution than Norton or Bitdefender.

That being said, it’s still a reliable antivirus with a free version that offers basic protection, making it a solid first step in securing your devices. The paid version adds features like real-time protection, ransomware defense, anti-phishing tools, a VPN, and a password manager. This makes TotalAV a well-rounded option for those seeking a comprehensive cybersecurity package.

Its affordable pricing makes it a solid choice in the antivirus market. Therefore, this TotalAV review goes further into its strengths and weaknesses to see if it’s the right fit for your device's security.

⭐ Rating:	4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
🥇 Overall rank:	#3 out of #30
💵 Price:	From $19.00/year
✂️ Free version:	Yes
🖥️ Platforms:	Windows, macOS, iOS, Android
🔥 Coupons:	TotalAV coupon 80% OFF

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TotalAV pros and cons

How much does TotalAV cost per year?

For this review, I used the Total Security plan, which costs $49.00 for the first year and covers up to 8 devices. This gave me access to all of TotalAV’s core features, allowing me to test it fully and without limitations.

Overall, TotalAV is one of the cheapest antiviruses on the market. Its starter plan, TotalAV Premium, costs just $19.00/year, while other top solutions start at $29.99/year (Norton 360) and go up. Still, you can find even more budget-friendly options, such as Bitdefender’s Antivirus Plus plan, which costs only $12.99/year but protects only one device.

	Premium	Internet Security	Total Security
Standout features	Real-time protection, malware detection and removal, phishing protection, ransomware protection, system optimization, disk cleaner, browser manager and cleaner	Everything from Premium plus Total AdBlock	Everything from Internet Security plus Total VPN and Total Password
Best for	Those who want basic protection against viruses and malware	Those who also want an ad and tracker blocker for a smoother online experience	Those who want a comprehensive security package
Devices	3	6	8
1st year price	$19.00	$39.00	$49.00
Renewal price (per year)	$99.00	$129.00	$149.00

Check the latest TotalAV discounts

Note: TotalAV prices are usually the same regardless of currency, which means that, in practice, the service can be cheaper in the US than in the EU.

TotalAV Premium ($19.00/year) has everything you need for basic protection against malware. Upgrading will only grant access to advanced features for more convenience, not security. For instance, Internet Security ($39.00/year) only adds the Total AdBlock tool, which is a browser extension that blocks ads and trackers online – hardly worth an extra $20.00. If you want more features, I’d recommend going for Total Security ($49.00/year), which is a comprehensive package with an ad and tracker blocker, VPN, and password manager, offering the best value.

Is the free version of TotalAV really good, and do we recommend it?

Based on our testing, the free version of TotalAV is one of the best free antivirus programs on the market. It provides robust features such as real-time antivirus protection, anti-malware, anti-ransomware, anti-spyware, WebShield for safe browsing, and tools to clear junk files and manage browser history. Unfortunately, a good chunk of critical features like real-time protection are only provided as a free trial, leaving you with only on-demand scans once it expires, which is not ideal.

If your budget allows it, choose one of the paid TotalAV plans, as they offer premium features like real-time protection, advanced ransomware protection, and malware scanning.

TotalAV security features

I subscribed to the Total Security plan to test and review all features that TotalAV offers. This plan provides the most features to protect your device from all kinds of threats, including ransomware and phishing attempts.

TotalAV offers an impressive variety of security features, although the selection varies by subscription plan. Thankfully, even the cheapest plan includes all you need for excellent daily security. For this review, I tested the Total Security plan to evaluate all of TotalAV’s features. Below is a table summarizing all the tools this antivirus offers.

TotalAV feature	What it does
Real-time threat protection	Protects against various cyberthreats at all times.
Total WebShield	Browser add-on that blocks malicious websites while browsing the web.
Safe Browsing (VPN)	VPN feature for changing your location and encrypting your traffic.
Total Cleaner	Device optimization features for improving overall performance.
Total Adblock	It blocks various online advertisements, pop-ups, and trackers.

Real-time threat protection

TotalAV offers real-time protection for your devices by constantly monitoring for potential threats. You’ll find this feature is enabled by default. You can disable it if you want, but there’s no reason not to have it switched on – the impact on performance is minimal.

In addition, TotalAV uses advanced cloud scanning, which means that any programs that raise suspicions during scans are compared with the ones included in the cloud database of known malware threats. This method allows the antivirus to detect zero-day threats more accurately and protect the device more precisely.

If the suspected program appears to be a threat, TotalAV issues a warning to inform you of this malware and quarantines it. Afterward, the antivirus provides you with steps on how to remove malicious files from your system.

Malware and virus scans

TotalAV antivirus has a reliable virus scanner. It’s a version of Avira’s anti-malware engine, considered one of the best on the market. So, you can be assured of excellent protection against malware.

With TotalAV, you get four device scanning options:

• Quick scan. Your computer will be quickly scanned for temporary files, where viruses are most commonly found.
• Full system scan. This is a full scan for identifying malware anywhere in your system.
• Smart scan. Schedule scans for malware, tracking cookies, and junk files to run automatically on your pre-set time.
• Custom scan. This on-demand scanning option allows you to pick a single file, folder, or disk to scan.

To better understand how efficient TotalAV’s scans are, I've put the two main ones – a quick scan and a full system scan – to a test. While a full scan can affect your system resources and take more time, a quick scan should have less impact.

So, here are the results of my test scans:

	Quick scan	Full system scan
Time	0min 14s	6min 36s
CPU load	8-38%	17-99%
Memory load	40%	45%
Disk load	2-5%	1-95%
Items scanned	130	350-600
Zero-day malware found	0	10

The results were excellent, with an average detection rate of 99%. And while a quick scan was rather gentle on system resources, the system scan showed far more CPU load. But it’s no surprise, considering the in-depth scans.

After TotalAV finishes scanning, you can select an action for each malicious file: quarantine, whitelist, or delete.

All in all, TotalAV is a powerful antivirus software for malware detection. So, you can securely download files or programs, and in case of a virus – TotalAV will have you covered.

Total WebShield

TotalAV offers protection against malicious sites through its Total WebShield feature. WebShield protects against threats designed to harm devices and cause security and online privacy risks. As long as it’s enabled, it will automatically block low-trust websites and crypto-mining URLs.

It’s a free Chrome, Opera, Safari, and Edge add-on that constantly monitors websites that could pose a threat to your device and redirects searches away from anything it identifies as a potential risk. It’s also available on iOS and Android devices.

WebShield includes a Safe Search feature that redirects all web searches through TotalAV’s web engine for added security. It’s supposed to grade every site it surfaces with either a green tick to show it’s safe to click on or a red cross to indicate a potential threat. There’s also a yellow tick, which means that there’s something suspicious, but the exact threat hasn’t been found, so visit at your own risk.

I’ve tested how WebShield works, and here's what I found:

Platform	Safe Search	Blocks suspicious websites	Stops tracking
Chrome	✅ Yes, it works	✅ Yes, it works	✅ Yes, it works
Edge	✅ Yes, it works	✅ Yes, it works	✅ Yes, it works
Opera	❌ No, it doesn't work	✅ Yes, it works	✅ Yes, it works
Safari	❌ No, it doesn't work	✅ Yes, it works	✅ Yes, it works
Android	❌ No, it doesn't work	❌ No, it doesn't work	❌ No, it doesn't work
iOS	❌ No, it doesn't work	❌ No, it doesn't work	❌ No, it doesn't work

In practice, this feature didn’t work well for me on Android and iOS devices. Also, it doesn’t block intrusive ads. However, it might be a helpful browser add-on to avoid potentially dangerous sites and website tracking.

TotalVPN

Two of TotalAV’s most expensive plans (Internet Security and Total Security) include TotalVPN, and as far as antivirus VPNs go, it’s pretty decent. A VPN reroutes traffic through a secure server in your chosen country. Meaning that it’s encrypted, and you can remain private when browsing online.

TotalVPN comes with unlimited data and servers in 35 countries. I tested it out by connecting to a server in Belgium. I was connected within seconds, and, more importantly, it didn’t noticeably slow down my browsing experience.

Additionally, TotalAV VPN’s speed is quite impressive. In some instances, it successfully competed with our fastest-performing providers, such as NordVPN with its proprietary NordLynx protocol and Surfshark with the IKEv2 protocol.

Another VPN feature you might be interested in is streaming. And, just like any other provider, TotalAV VPN can also unlock global content for you. However, when I tried streaming videos, it kept buffering, and the quality would often suffer. So, while it’s possible to access some geo-restricted content with this VPN, there are certainly better streaming VPN options out there.

To access the VPN, just go to Privacy in the sidebar of the TotalAV desktop app. Then, select TotalVPN. Provided you’re signed up to a package that supports it, you’ll simply be given a list of regions to connect to. It really is that simple.

Total Cleaner

What’s worth mentioning is that all paid TotalAV subscription plans include system optimization features. This security software has a built-in junk cleaner and duplicate file finder.

These System Tune-up tools remove junk and duplicate files, and can even uninstall unused applications to free up disk space. They're especially useful if you’re looking to improve your device’s performance and keep it running smoothly.

Additionally, TotalAV provides browser cleanup as it manages history and cookies, so you can always be sure that unwanted third parties won’t store your information.

TotalAV additional features

Apart from protecting your device from malicious programs, TotalAV can also help you secure your credentials and identity, as well as avoid intrusive ads. Here’s an overview of the extra features that TotalAV offers.

• Total Password. TotalAV’s Secure Password Vault is available only on the most expensive (Total Security) plan. If you’re looking for a good password manager, TotalAV’s Secure Password Vault certainly does everything you’d want it to. It lets you securely store, organize, and retrieve all your login details and can generate secure and virtually unhackable passwords.
• Identity protection. TotalAV provides identity theft protection services that are designed to reduce identity theft exposure. TotalAV continuously monitors your credit card details, Social Security number (SSN), and health insurance information to prevent personal details from being sold online. If it identifies a breach, you’re immediately notified. In case your identity is compromised, you can expect TotalAV to provide full assistance when restoring stolen information.
• Total Adblock. Ads might not only be annoying but dangerous as well. Luckily, TotalAV includes an AdBlock feature, which comes as an extension for the most popular browsers or as an app on iOS and Android. It’s designed to get rid of all types of ads to improve your browsing experience and security.

In-house TotalAV antivirus testing results

The Cybernews research team and I conducted thorough TotalAV performance tests regarding malware detection, ransomware protection, and phishing prevention. We tested each attack vector’s relevant security features separately to better understand TotalAV’s strengths and weaknesses when tackling various cyberthreats. Moreover, we used threat samples from sites like phishtank.com and urlhaus.abuse.ch to simulate real-life cybersecurity incidents.

These particular tests were done on a Windows Server 2022 machine with an Intel Xeon 8259CL processor and 32GB of RAM.

We also reviewed independent lab test results, such as AV-TEST and AV-Comparatives, and compared them to our own findings. We also compared how the testing results changed over the years to see if TotalAV improved with time.

However, remember that these internal tests aren’t the only indication of a provider’s effectiveness. You should also consider existing customer testimonials. Ultimately, whether an antivirus service works for you depends on your particular needs.

Real-world protection and malware detection

Malware detection is arguably the most critical job of any antivirus service. As such, it’s crucial to test it thoroughly to evaluate the provider’s capabilities.

We tested malware detection by putting 150 malware samples onto the test device and then using TotalAV’s full scan to search for them. We also monitored CPU usage during this period to assess the service’s impact on device performance.

Out of 150 samples, the scan found 103, which is an adequate result. During this time, CPU usage ranged between 60% and 75%, which isn’t too severe and will allow doing other tasks while the scan runs.

Ransomware and phishing attacks are on the rise, so it’s important that an antivirus has tools to combat these types of cyberattacks. We put TotalAV to the test, starting with ransomware protection, where we planted 10 malicious samples onto the testing device. Additionally, we tested the real-time protection capabilities in a controlled environment, as antiviruses must prevent ransomware from even entering your system.

The research team tested both the quick and full scans to assess any notable performance differences. As expected, the quick scan took only 3 minutes and managed to find 9 out of 10 malware samples. During the scan, CPU usage ranged between 70% and 85%, which is quite severe. As for the full scan, it took a lengthy 25 minutes, but the wait was worth it, as it found all 10 ransomware files.

The final ransomware test evaluated TotalAV’s real-time protection in a controlled environment. The results were excellent because the antivirus detected all 10 ransomware samples and stopped them before they could do any harm. So, I can confidently say that TotalAV is an excellent antivirus program that protects against ransomware.

Next on our list was phishing protection. TotalAV’s anti-phishing tool is a browser extension called TotalAV WebShield, which is available on Chrome, Safari, Edge, Opera, and Brave, but has been removed from Firefox due to compatibility issues. We tested it by installing it on Chrome and then visiting various malicious websites to see if the add-on would detect them. The research team tested generic malicious websites and phishing websites separately to see if there were any notable discrepancies.

WebShield detected 7 out of 10 malicious websites, which is an alright result. However, the phishing link test was even worse since the add-on detected only 3 out of 10 phishing links. This is a pretty disappointing result, especially for a paid tool.

EICAR test results

We also performed a few tests with the EICAR test file, which is designed to measure the efficiency of an antivirus. We downloaded the test files in different formats. Here’s how TotalAV did:

• DOS executable – detected and quarantined
• Standard text file – detected and quarantined
• .zip file – successfully downloaded the file, TotalAV detected malware only after extracting the file
• 2.zip file – successfully downloaded the file, TotalAV detected malware only after extracting the file

TotalAV didn’t perform well when it came to ZIP files, as it only detected malware after extraction. It’s a poor result compared to Norton 360, which detected the malware during the extraction.

Independent third-party lab test results

Independent lab AV-TEST tested TotalAV throughout 2025. Its latest findings (December 2025) showed a perfect 6/6 score in all categories: protection, usability, and performance, the same as the beginning of the year.

AV-Comparatives' latest test (July-October 2025) also showed excellent results, consistent with previous testing, where TotalAV detected and blocked almost all malware samples. Compared to AV-Comparatives’ previous test (February-May 2025), TotalAV improved its protection rate from 99.1% to 99.5% and reduced its false positives rate. Moreover, in late 2025, TotalAV was awarded the Advanced+ title, whereas last year it only received the Advanced award. The main factor holding it back was the high number of false positives. Despite strong detection capabilities, this issue significantly impacted its overall ranking, but it has improved in the latest tests.

To make it easier to understand the scores, I compiled independent lab test results of different antiviruses. Here’s what I found.

Impact on PC performance

Throughout all of our testing, we also kept an eye on how TotalAV impacts the device’s performance. Previously, the CPU load fluctuated between 60% and 75% when doing a full scan. However, the most recent tests showed a lesser impact on performance, where the CPU load fluctuated in lower ranges of 50–65%.

Similarly, previous tests yielded lower CPU usage with the smart scan (checks for vulnerabilities, but scans fewer files), fluctuating between 5% and 26% of CPU load. Additionally, the more recent quick scan tests resulted in CPU loads between 40% and 60%, compared to previous results of 70% and 85%, which means that it does not impact performance as negatively as before.

These results surprised me positively because they show that TotalAV became less resource-heavy than before, which could indicate improved databases, better detection logic, and optimized scan patterns.

When not using the antivirus for scanning, or when it’s simply on in the background, the CPU load is less than 1%. This means there's basically no impact on the PC performance whatsoever.

Getting started with TotalAV

To test TotalAV’s usability, I used the same Total Security plan as for other tests. It allowed me to fully evaluate the service’s various capabilities and ease of use. The first step I analyzed was the installation process since that’s a customer's very first experience with a digital service.

TotalAV installation

Downloading and installing TotalAV is straightforward, regardless of your device and OS. The process is standard and shouldn’t cause any trouble if you’ve installed other apps on your device before. All you need to do is visit TotalAV’s website, download the installer, and follow the on-screen instructions. The final step is to log in with your account and enable the necessary security features. However, if you have already used up all of your licenses, the setup may take longer – you’ll need to reassign a license through the website, and it can take some time for the TotalAV app to recognize the change.

My experience using TotalAV

TotalAV apps seemed very easy to use and navigate across all operating systems – Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS. I prefer the Windows version, as it has more features available. However, all apps have an intuitive interface and are nicely organized. Every feature has a short explanation of what it does.

The TotalAV desktop app makes it pretty simple to find your way around the different features, whether you're using it on Windows or Mac devices. I felt the user interface makes good use of space without feeling cluttered, and it categorizes everything in a very intuitive way. There are lots of features, but they’re well organized, so you can always find what you’re looking for.

As soon as you open it, you’ll see three main tabs on the app’s dashboard:

• Protection
• Privacy
• Optimization

Of course, these are some of the most popular functions of antivirus software. It’s great that you can do a quick antivirus scan with just a several clicks. You’ll also find a very helpful sidebar with more handy options.

The WebShield browser, however, is another story. While the app is clean and simple, the browser extension for me seemed slightly more complicated and considerably less intuitive. But once I got used to it, I was able to find everything I needed.

TotalAV mobile apps

TotalAV offers dedicated apps for both Android and iOS devices. I have tested both apps to see if they differ at all from one another and whether they provide the same protection and overall experience.

TotalAV for Android

I tested TotalAV on Android and found it very easy to set up – just download it and log in to access its full security suite. The app mirrors the desktop version, offering antivirus scans, real-time protection, and an App Lock for added security. Its clean layout places all the features on the main screen, making navigation simple.

You can continue using your phone during scans without noticeable slowdowns. However, while TotalAV offers many benefits, there are several antivirus mobile apps that provide more features at a lower cost.

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TotalAV for iPhone

When it comes to antivirus apps for an iPhone, things get interesting. That’s because iOS devices require less antivirus protection than other OS.

Viruses for iPhones and iPads are pretty rare. For this reason, antivirus programs have to implement lots of useful features on their iOS applications to appeal to their users.

There is no virus scan feature like on the Android application because iPhones have built-in protection from viruses.

Overall, the TotalAV antivirus app for iOS offers great complementary features to the existing iOS antivirus protection.

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Customer support

TotalAV’s customer support is good, which I find important, as users might need prompt assistance when dealing with their device’s protection.

TotalAV has all the usual troubleshooting guides and links to help you resolve the issue yourself. Plus, customer service via phone is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The number can be found on the customer support landing page. There’s also a 24/7 live chat and an option to open a ticket by filling out an online form.

24/7 live chat	✅ Yes
Email	✅ Yes
Phone line	✅ Yes (UK, US, Europe, Australia, and international)
Guides or articles	✅ Yes
FAQ	✅ Yes

I have tried several support options. The live chat option was initially very hard to find – I could not access it through the account dashboard or even from the help center. I then typed “TotalAV chat support” on Google search and found it straight away. However, once I contacted the live chat support, I had no complaints.

First, I was connected to a bot, but once I stated my issue, I was instantly redirected to a real agent. The agent was very prompt, knowledgeable, and helpful, and took only a few minutes to resolve my issue.

The email support came back within a couple of days, which I find is also a fair result if your issue is not urgent. There was a bit of a waiting time on the phone line, which is expected, but the agent was also eager to help.

In short, TotalAV makes it much easier to find help if you need it than a lot of its competitors, which usually try to deter people from phoning. If you actually want to talk to a person about an issue, you can phone, email, or use the TotalAV live chat.

TotalAV video review

Want to learn about TotalAV by watching a video rather than reading? Then check our YouTube channel, which includes a thorough TotalAV review.

Is TotalAV antivirus worth it?

Our testing shows that TotalAV is worth it for two types of people: those on a tight budget and those who want a comprehensive security package at a reasonable price. Starting at $19.00/year, TotalAV is one of the cheapest antiviruses on the market, providing powerful anti-malware protection at a budget-friendly price. Upgrading to a different plan grants access to an ad and tracker blocker, VPN, and password manager, providing an all-around online security suite.

That being said, TotalAV has its limitations. None of the plans includes a firewall, and its anti-phishing protection tools performed poorly during testing. Lastly, TotalAV users see a significant price increase after the first year, making it not so budget-friendly once the initial year passes.

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