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McAfee is one of the longest-established consumer security brands. Its plans pair antivirus with a VPN, identity monitoring and a password manager, and its higher tiers cover an unlimited number of devices across Windows, macOS, Android, iOS and ChromeOS.
Below we look at what McAfee sells in Australia, what's different from its US plans, and who it actually suits. Plan contents and prices change, so check the renewal price in Australian dollars (AUD) on McAfee's official Australia site before you buy.
Strengths and limitations
Strengths
- Unlimited devices on the higher tiers — strong for big households
- Scam alerts for texts, emails and videos included in the plans
- Mature, widely documented consumer apps
Limitations
- Higher tiers bundle identity tools single-device users won't need
- First-term pricing rises at renewal
- Not all identity monitoring elements are available in every country
Who it’s for
- Families protecting many phones, tablets and computers from one account
- People who want scam alerts on their phone as well as their laptop
Who should look elsewhere
- Someone protecting a single device
- Users who want a minimal app without identity features
What you get in Australia
McAfee's Australian line-up runs from Total Protection Basic (one device) and Essential (five devices) to McAfee+ Premium, Advanced and Ultimate, which cover unlimited devices. Advanced also comes as a family plan for up to six family members.
- Every plan lists Scam Detector — automatic alerts for scam texts, emails and videos — alongside antivirus, Secure VPN, identity monitoring and a password manager.
- Advanced and Ultimate add identity restoration and lost wallet protection.
- Ultimate is the only plan that lists identity theft coverage.
What's different from the US plans
The credit monitoring, credit freeze and lock tools in McAfee's US plans don't appear in the Australian plan comparison, and McAfee notes that not all identity monitoring elements are available in all countries. McAfee's Australian pages quote different figures for Ultimate's identity theft coverage, so confirm the amount with McAfee before you rely on it.
Is McAfee worth it?
For a big household, often yes. The higher tiers cover unlimited devices, so the price per device falls as the family grows, and every plan includes scam alerts and a VPN.
For one or two devices it's harder to justify the upper tiers. Match the plan to the number of devices you actually protect and the identity features you'll actually use — and compare them at the renewal price.
Before you buy: renewal and refund policy
McAfee's Australian refund policy covers requests within 30 days of initial purchase or within 60 days of an automatic renewal, for terms of a year or longer. Subscriptions renew automatically each year and prices are in Australian dollars. McAfee's licence terms also note the guarantees that can't be excluded under the Australian Consumer Law.
McAfee on Windows, Mac, iPhone and Android
McAfee's Australian system requirements list Windows 10 and 11, macOS 13 and later, Android 10 or higher, iOS 16 or later and ChromeOS.
On iPhone, Apple's app sandboxing means no security app can scan other apps the way antivirus does on a PC — mobile protection centres on web, scam-link and phishing warnings. If one feature is the reason you're buying, confirm it exists on each of your devices.
McAfee alternatives
- Norton review
Bundles a VPN, password manager and backup — our top pick overall.
- McAfee vs Norton
The two biggest all-in-one suites side by side.
- Avast vs McAfee
A free-first brand against a family-scale suite.
- Does Android need antivirus?
What a security app can and can't do on a phone.
Our verdict
McAfee makes most sense for households that want one subscription covering lots of devices, with scam alerts built in. If you protect one or two devices, a smaller plan — or another suite — is likely better value.
