VIPRE antivirus review
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Although VIPRE antivirus is not the most popular tool on the market, it has received praise from such independent testing organizations as AV-Comparatives. And while the name has yet to gain widespread recognition among the general public, I was curious to learn more and share my experience with VIPRE antivirus.
With the help of the Cybernews research team, I tested VIPRE antivirus to learn more about its features, virus detection rates, pricing, and ease of use. Ultimately, while it may not be a match for such antivirus giants as TotalAV, there are a few benefits to consider.
| TotalAV | Vipre | |
| ⭐ Rating: | ||
| 🥇 Overall rank: | #3 out of #30 | #20 out of #30 |
| 🔥 Coupons: | TotalAV coupon 80% OFF | Vipre coupon up to 74% OFF |
| 💵 Price: | From $19.00/year | From $14.99/year |
| ✂️ Free version: | Yes | 30-day trial |
| 🖥️ Platforms: | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android | Windows, Mac, Android |
VIPRE pros and cons
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VIPRE security features
VIPRE antivirus blends simplicity with strong security, making it a decent option for anyone who wants to stay safe online. Let’s break down what VIPRE has to offer.
Advanced Active Protection
VIPRE's Advanced Active Protection is essentially its version of real-time protection. This is a core attribute of any antivirus and antimalware application, and VIPRE makes it work quite well.
The antivirus scores high in the independent virus detection tests by AV-Comparatives. During the most recent testing period, it detected 98.7% of threats and produced eight false positives. Moreover, during the latest AV-Comparatives Real-World Protection Test for the February-March 2025 period, VIPRE received the highest ADVANCED+ award. In other words, VIPRE antivirus has a very high chance of detecting a threat before it can make any changes to your system.
I did find some test results that show VIPRE antivirus having trouble detecting phishing scams. However, I can't vouch for the methodology behind the tests, so take this with a grain of salt.
Device scans
You can choose between a full scan, quick scan, and custom scan. During the full scan performed on macOS, VIPRE used up to 4.9% CPU, which is quite a lot compared with other antivirus apps like McAfee.
Also, even though you can see the history of the scans performed, there’s no way to see how long the scan lasted.
The scans are highly customizable. For example, you can scan removable drives, exclude various applications from scans, and let VIPRE antivirus automatically perform a second-layer scan if the quick scan spots a threat.
Quarantine
When VIPRE antivirus detects malware, it immediately puts it into the quarantine folder. Here, you can see the type and threat level of the quarantined threat.
Once VIPRE antivirus places the malware in quarantine, it no longer can harm your device anymore. Of course, if you think an item isn’t dangerous, you can mark it as safe so it doesn’t get quarantined anymore.
Edge Protection and web filtering
Edge Protection is a Windows-only feature that stops exploits and other threats from infecting your computer via a web browser, such as Firefox, Google Chrome, or Edge. In short, it detects pages that use potentially malicious code.
Meanwhile, the web filtering feature blocks websites that VIPRE considers dangerous.
These features allow for some customization, letting you make a list of the domain names that you believe to be completely safe.
Email protection
VIPRE's email protection feature is useful for people who use Outlook frequently. You can manually mark email addresses as spam. The feature also scans incoming emails for viruses and automatically quarantines threats.
You can also keep the anti-phishing toggle on if you want the antivirus to automatically detect suspicious emails that might try to get personal information from you.
Secure File Eraser
The Secure File Eraser feature lets you completely erase unwanted files from your computer. To do that, right-click on the folder or file you want to get rid of and choose the appropriate command. Just keep in mind that, once deleted, the file is gone forever.
Firewall
VIPRE antivirus has a built-in firewall that you can use instead of your Windows firewall. It allows for a lot of customization options – I’d say more than an average user can actually handle.
You can manage your networks, create exception rules, log firewall events, protect your computer from threats coming from the same network, and customize the firewall even further.
That said, if you don’t really understand what’s going on when seeing all the firewall settings, you’re better off just using your built-in Windows firewall. In addition to this, some independent tests have shown that VIPRE’s firewall does a slightly worse job at handling threats than its Windows counterpart.
VIPRE Privacy Shield
VIPRE Privacy Shield is a separate app that you get with the Ultimate Security Bundle.
It has many features to help you protect your privacy. For example, it allows you to block access to your webcam and microphone. It also blocks ads and trackers, making your browsing experience safer.
It also comes with a very simple password manager that lets you keep the login credentials of your favorite websites. In addition, VIPRE Privacy Shield allows you to scan all of the popular browsers to see how many trackers are active on each of them.
You can even use the app to place your documents in an encrypted vault and check if your email or password has been involved in any data breaches.
Internet Shield VPN
You get the Internet Shield VPN as a separate application compatible with Windows, macOS, and Android devices. Even though it’s quite simple, I find it slightly better than most VPN apps included in antivirus suites.
That’s because there are no data and bandwidth limits. Also, you can choose between a few different tunneling protocols: IKEv2, OpenVPN UDP, and OpenVPN TCP. You can even change the level of encryption, choosing between AES 128 and AES 256, and use obfuscated OpenVPN servers.
However, compared to the majority of standalone VPN applications, the software is a bit mediocre. The speeds are inconsistent, sometimes dropping quite significantly when connected to remote servers. Also, the app was unable to connect to certain servers at all.
On the bright side, the VPN successfully unblocked Netflix’s US library and several YouTube videos. However, I wasn’t able to access BBC iPlayer.
Overall, Internet Shield VPN is a nice addition to the VIPRE antivirus package, but you might want to use another VPN service if you use one every day – whether for work or security reasons.
Plans and pricing
If you decide to give VIPRE antivirus a shot, keep in mind that there are three different plans you can choose from. Needless to say, the more expensive the subscription, the more features you get.
| Plan | Features | Price |
| VIPRE Antivirus Plus | Real-time protection, device scans, Windows only | From $14.99/year |
| VIPRE Advanced Security | Real-time protection, device scans, Windows and macOS supported, anti-spam, firewall | From $19.99/year |
| VIPRE Ultimate Security Bundle | Real-time protection, device scans, Windows, macOS, and Android supported, anti-spam, firewall, browsing track cleaner, webcam and microphone blocker, dark web scanner, sensitive document auditing, unlimited VPN | From $39.99/year |
It’s also important to note that the Antivirus Plus plan supports only Windows devices. The Advanced Security subscription adds macOS to the equation, while the Ultimate Security Bundle supports Windows, macOS, and Android operating systems and lets you use the VPN on iOS devices.
Here’s another thing you need to know. The price mentioned in the table is valid only for the first year of subscription – you’ll pay more for the second year and onward:
- Antivirus Plus – $14.99 for the first year, then $38.49/year
- Advanced Security – $19.99 for the first year, then $60.15/year
- Ultimate Security Bundle – $39.99 for the first year, then $153.99/year
VIPRE plans cover up to 5 devices and all offer a 30-day money-back guarantee. You can pay with a credit card, PayPal, PayNearMe, wire transfer, or check/money order.
Keep in mind that when paying for VIPRE antivirus, you have to tick a box agreeing to the automatic yearly renewal terms. This means that you’ll need to manually cancel the subscription if you don’t want to use VIPRE after the first year.
Free trial version
It’s good to know that you don’t actually need to pay for VIPRE antivirus if you simply want to test its antivirus protection capabilities. That’s because you can simply download a 30-day free trial of VIPRE Advanced Security and VIPRE Antivirus Plus.
It’s quite a generous move for VIPRE, as many antivirus products give you only seven days to try their software.
Is VIPRE worth the money?
It’s worth paying for VIPRE antivirus for the first year when the subscription is the cheapest. After that, the cost can get you a more extensive antivirus package elsewhere.
My main concern is the limited selection of supported devices. Also, even though the most expensive plan includes a full-fledged VPN, it’s actually quite basic in function. In this case, I’d rather invest separately in a security tool and a quality VPN, like NordVPN.
Ease of use and setup
Just like expected from a modern antivirus tool, VIPRE is super easy to install. However, don’t forget that it asks you for permission to remove other antivirus software during the installation process. This is quite normal, as two antimalware solutions don't often coexist very well.
The Windows version of VIPRE could use some polish, though – the design looks a bit outdated. Even though there are seven options for a background color theme, most of them don’t make the app look very appealing.
Also, VIPRE might seem a bit confusing for people who aren’t familiar with antivirus tools. There are so many configuration options to choose from that it might scare off some less tech-savvy users.
On the other hand, those who know what they’re doing might thrive when faced with the abundance of customization choices.
Overall, I liked the macOS application better despite the lack of some features like the file shredder. However, VIPRE’s Windows app comes with a bunch of useful features tailored for Windows users, such as third-party patching, protection against phishing and spam emails, and a built-in firewall.
The VPN application looks quite clean and user-friendly. However, the design of the Settings section suspiciously reminds me of PureVPN, including the fact that even the font is the same.
VIPRE mobile app
VIPRE’s Android app has more features than the main desktop application. These include Anti-Theft (which helps you find your device in case it’s lost or stolen), App Lock (which restricts access to selected applications), and an email breach checker.
Overall, the app design looks way more modern than its desktop counterpart. However, there’s a catch.
After looking at the reviews on Google Play, I discovered one review suggesting that VIPRE’s Android app is a ripoff of Bitdefender’s Android application. Naturally, I took a look at the screenshots of the Bitdefender app and found that they were truly almost identical. The only differences were the logo and the fact that Bitdefender had the VPN functionality built directly into the app.
I reached out to VIPRE’s customer support to ask why this was the case. They clarified that VIPRE’s Android app is Bitdefender’s white label product that they license. This is actually great because Bitdefender is a fantastic product in its own right.
Sadly, if you opt for the Business subscription, you can only use VIPRE on your iPhone or iPad. Still, there’s no dedicated app for that as the user has to manage iOS protection through the VIPRE Business Console, which is less than ideal.
All in all, VIPRE antivirus is not the best solution for iOS devices. VIPRE’s only dedicated app for iPhone users is Internet Shield VPN. If you want extra protection, you’ll want to check our list of the best antivirus software for iOS.
Customer support
VIPRE's customer support can be contacted in two ways – you can create a ticket or simply call them via phone. A chatbot’s part of the package too – just don’t expect too much from it yet.
I tried to contact the support via their ticket form about the fact that I could not access some of the features included in my account. Granted, that was a mistake on my end. I thought that Privacy Shield and Internet Shield VPN were the same app, but that wasn’t the case.
Unfortunately, I was unable to log in to the account that I created for the ticket, and the password reset function didn’t work. So, I sent them an email manually after finding their customer support email address, and I got a reply within 30 minutes.
Video review
You can watch our review in video format if you prefer watching rather than reading.
How good is VIPRE antivirus?
VIPRE is definitely a decent antivirus tool for your computer. The application offers good protection against various types of malware, has several security features, and includes a VPN that can unblock Netflix.
That said, it does have its faults. I’d appreciate it if VIPRE offered better coverage for other operating systems, launched a live chat, and modernized its user interface.
All in all, it’s a decent application for those who want to protect multiple Windows devices and feel the need for lots of customization options.
More antivirus guides from Cybernews
Bitdefender Review: undefeated champion against malware
Malwarebytes Review: top-notch malware removal and virus mitigation
ESET Antivirus Review: next-gen approach to malicious software mitigation
FAQ
Does VIPRE remove malware?
Yes, VIPRE antivirus scans your devices and removes various security threats. In other words, the software clears your computer or phone even if it’s already infected, so it’s best to perform a full system scan for that.
Is VIPRE safe?
Yes, VIPRE is a reputable antivirus tool that has been tested by security experts like AV-Comparatives. Of course, you should download the application from its official site to avoid any risks.
Does VIPRE have a VPN?
Yes, you get a separate VPN app when you buy the most expensive plan called Ultimate Security Bundle. It costs $39.99 for the first year. Then, the yearly price increases to $153.99/year.
