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Best for Browsing and Streaming
Lacks a dedicated firewall
Best VPN and Antivirus Bundle
Best for Windows Computers
Third-party antivirus costs extra
Best Low-Cost VPN and Antivirus
Antivirus only works with Windows
Virtual private networks (VPNs) are now part of a rugged landscape of cybersecurity solutions. But a VPN by itself doesn’t detect malware threats or scan for malicious activity on a website or DNS server. That’s where a total security package comes in. Including a VPN service plus antivirus ensures your data is encrypted and you can torrent, stream, or surf the web without worrying about malware.
Luckily many of the best VPNs offer antivirus as well, including NordVPN Threat Protection, Surfshark One, CyberGhost Security Suite, and Private Internet Access offer antivirus alongside their VPN service. Let’s go over the differences between these four and see which suits your lifestyle.
 NordVPN Threat Protection |
 Surfshark One |
 CyberGhost Security Suite |
 PIA + Antivirus |
|
| Starting price | Starts at $2.99/mo | Starts at $2.69/mo | Starts at $1.00/mo + cost of VPN | Starts at $2.00/mo + cost of VPN |
| Money-back guarantee | 30 days | 30 days | 45 days | 30 days |
| Simultaneous connections | 6 | Unlimited | 7 | Unlimited |
| VPN no-logs policy | No logs | No logs | No logs | No logs |
| VPN server
count |
5,000+ | 3,200+ | 8,400+ | Servers in 91 countries + all 50 U.S. states |
| Antivirus real-time protection | ||||
| Antivirus scans | ||||
| Antivirus phishing protection | ||||
| Antivirus ransomware protection | ||||
| Compatibility | Windows, Mac | Windows, Mac, Android | Windows | Windows |
| Learn more | Get NordVPN Threat Protection
Read NordVPN Threat Protection Review |
Get Surfshark One
Read Surfshark VPN Review |
Get CyberGhost Security Suite
Read CyberGhost VPN Review |
Get PIA + Antivirus
Read PIA VPN Review |
Threat protection - Block ads, trackers, and malicious downloads
Works on multiple devices and browsers
30-day money-back guarantee
Lacks a dedicated firewall
Before we get into what we like about NordVPN, it’s important to recognize that Threat Protection doesn’t focus on the threats on your device, rather, it focuses on malware coming in from online activity. That said, the fact that NordVPN is aware of lurking threats and offers a tool giving you more peace of mind is much appreciated.
NordVPN’s Threat Protection, built-in anti-malware previously named CyberSec, comes built into the NordVPN desktop interface. If you already have a NordVPN subscription, all you would need to do is update to the latest version, 8.9.2, to get Threat Protection.
When you turn Threat Protection on it starts scanning for malware and trackers and even blocks ads. It also detects and deletes any malware that you’ve downloaded. Again, while not technically antivirus, it still protects against online threats.
With a paid Threat Protection plan, you are not required to connect to a VPN for it to continuously protect against malware. At the moment, NordVPN plans start at the monthly cost of $14.99/mo or if you choose a two-year plan, it saves you a little over $100 a year.
If you need anti-malware security for more than your MacBook or Windows PC, NordVPN also offers Threat Protection Lite, which works with Windows, macOS, Chrome, Firefox, and Edge, as well as iPhone and Android. Threat Protection Lite’s security features are more limited, as it blocks websites and malicious websites but does not block trackers or scan files for malware. The biggest difference is that Threat Protection Lite only works when you connect to a VPN.
It’s a start to antivirus, but it’s not antivirus. Threat Protection is a great way to achieve antivirus-like protection added to your VPN service, and we like that Nord doesn't charge extra for this bonus feature. But because of its limitations, Threat Protection doesn’t provide strong protection against ransomware, phishing, and other malicious threats.
Get NordVPN Threat Protection | Read NordVPN Threat Protection Review
Antivirus protects against malware, virus, phishing, and ransomware
Bundle includes antivirus, data breach monitor, VPN, and ad blocker
Month-to-month price is expensive
Surfshark is one service that offers a trifecta of security that not only keeps you safe at home but keeps you safe on vacation too.
Cybercrime and tracking can be found everywhere, especially during international travel. Connecting to a VPN with a threat blocker and antivirus helps slow any personal threat to you. Surfshark bundled these elements into Surfshark One, including Surfshark Antivirus, CleanWeb, and its 256-bit AES encrypted VPN so you can surf on a VPN while it blocks ads and malware.
With more than 3,200 VPN servers located in 100 countries, you can take your pick of servers that give you the fastest access to all of your favorite Netflix or streaming libraries. Or, if you’re abroad you can log into your accounts using a U.S. server. Plus, with Surfshark’s no logs policy, you can feel safe that your information is not logged or saved anywhere.
Plus, the added advantage is that Surfshark Antivirus works with Windows, Mac, and Android. The antivirus software provides your device with 24/7 virus, malware, and webcam protection, which is great for thwarting threats and keeping your devices clean when traveling and connecting to public Wi-Fi, like at a hotel or cafe.
And while traveling, having a watchful eye on your personal and financial information is essential. Surfshark One’s Alert feature can be that watchful eye by sending you real-time alerts if your email, credit card, or ID has been breached by a hacker. These features are worth the price, as they allow you to enjoy any activity without much worry of being a victim in another state or country.
Honestly, it’s hard to find something not to like about Surfshark One. With its proprietary antivirus protection, no-logs policy, breach alerts, and protection for unlimited devices on one account, it’s difficult to find a fault.
One thing that does stand out is that even though antivirus comes with the Surfshark One bundle, the higher price might be a deterrent for anyone looking for a cost-effective solution.
With that in mind, to get the most value out of Surfshark One, go for the two-year plan. It just may end up saving you money in the long run.
Get Surfshark One | Read Surfshark VPN Review
Option to bundle Security Suite antivirus
VPN unblocks multiple streaming platforms
Third-party antivirus costs extra
CyberGhost VPN service caters to people who love entertainment. If you love movies, sports, gaming, and a world’s worth of TV shows, then CyberGhost might be the VPN for you. One account on the VPN service connects to up to 7 devices over multiple operating systems, routers, streaming devices, and game consoles.
Based out of Romania, CyberGhost operates outside of the Five, Nine, or 14 Eyes countries that monitor internet activity for any threats or espionage. This means CyberGhost cares about your internet security and privacy and holds true to its no-logs policy.
CyberGhost’s Security Suite is a marriage between the VPN service and Intego Antivirus, a premium third-party antivirus software. Security Suite includes Intego’s antivirus program, and is currently only available for Windows 32-bit and 64-bit systems. The antivirus offers 24/7 protection against malware, phishing, ransomware, and adware.
One thing to note is that the real-time protection doesn’t cover files that lay dormant on your computer, only files that have been created, copied, modified, or saved. CyberGhost customer support tells people to run the “Complete Virus Scan” as soon as they open the antivirus for the first time to ensure those “other files” get a thorough scan.
CyberGhost VPN is a great way to access overseas content from, say, a U.K. server to stream a Premier League match, especially when you add on Intego antivirus to keep you protected. And even though Mac is not supported by CyberGhost’s Security Suite, Intego has a free Mac-compatible antivirus for download.
CyberGhost’s use of a third-party antivirus package is fine, but we’d find it amazing if it was offered on more systems than Windows. Intego does make an antivirus for Mac, so it’s interesting that CyberGhost does not offer antivirus for Mac as well. That’s one of our main gripes about this antivirus.
Comparatively speaking, Security Suite is a lightweight antivirus when placed side by side with Surfshark One. Even if you’re getting a better price with CyberGhost, the features, and compatibility cause it to fall short of a full-fledged antivirus solution.
Get CyberGhost Security Suite | Read CyberGhost VPN Review
VPN offering fast internet speeds and strict no-logs policy
Unblocks Netflix and other streaming services
Antivirus and dedicated IP address cost extra
The most comparable VPN in price to CyberGhost is Private Internet Access, or PIA. PIA sports the latest 256-bit AES encryption protocol and has servers in 91 countries. While the other VPN services might offer a two-year plan, PIA extends it to three years. And right now, the U.S.-based company is including an extra feature with its VPN, an email breach monitor similar to Surfshark One’s email breach monitor, without having to pay the premium price for the added feature.
PIA positions itself as being a low-cost VPN service, and so far it’s the lowest-priced offering we’ve covered here. But in order to keep costs affordable, antivirus is a premium add-on instead of part of a bundle. And just like CyberGhost, PIA’s antivirus is only compatible with Windows systems.
Those factors shouldn’t take away from how good the antivirus program is, which it is. PIA’s antivirus protects against all threats, like Trojans, spyware, rootkits, and ransomware. Antivirus by PIA offers up-to-date security; the list of known viruses is continuously updated for accuracy.
You get a lot with PIA, but the antivirus’ limited compatibility plus the fact that it has to be added on to your VPN plan are downsides. That being said, when you pay for a PIA plan, not only do you get an email monitor but you also get discounts on premium add-ons like antivirus. This makes up for having to pay extra for the antivirus.
Get PIA + Antivirus | Read PIA VPN Review
Antivirus is a powerful tool for fighting against fraudsters and scammers. In the case of staying protected and using a VPN, some of the best antivirus software also comes with a VPN. Let’s take a look at some of them and see which one might be a better alternative for you.
This is a common question, as both VPNs and antivirus protect you from hackers and viruses but in different ways.
A VPN acts as your own private, secluded tunnel for your IP address to travel on the internet and not be seen. It encrypts your internet connection to prevent hackers and other bad actors from intercepting your data or compromising your device.
Most good VPNs come with additional security features like a kill switch, which drops your internet connection if your VPN disconnects, and split tunneling, which allows you to choose which programs get routed through the VPN's connection.
Antivirus acts as both a shield and a sword to the files on your computer. It detects incoming threats such as malware, adware, ransomware, and phishing attempts, and after threats have been detected, they are dealt with so they no longer threaten your device. An added feature of antivirus is its ability to scan files that are on your device and check if any of them have been corrupted by viruses.
To put it in a real-world context, imagine you want to stream a movie that only exists on an international streaming service like BBC iPlayer or as a torrent file. A VPN masks your IP address so region-locked content is accessible to you. Now you can stream the movie.
If you’re trying to access your show by torrenting a file, you may be concerned the torrent file is loaded with malware. A VPN can only protect you so far until it needs reinforcements like antivirus. Using an antivirus in this instance is important for making sure no threats have a chance to infect your device through the torrent file.
If a VPN is like wearing pants, then antivirus is the belt — it’s better to have antivirus with a VPN than not. Browsing, streaming, or gaming with a VPN already makes it easier to be hidden from lurkers on the internet. But with antivirus, websites with malware and viruses don’t have a chance of infecting your device and compromising your files.
In the fight for the best VPN plus antivirus partnership, the four contenders have their own strengths and weaknesses.
NordVPN doesn’t have a full antivirus program, but its Threat Protection feature provides excellent protection while you browse the web. NordVPN has the most servers, works on every operating system, and Threat Protection successfully blocks ads and malware. Plus, it continuously monitors for malware threats even when not connected to a VPN.
Surfshark One bundles everything we need in a VPN and antivirus combo. The value of having unlimited devices connected to a VPN and routine antivirus scans regardless of operating system makes it an excellent choice, and the bundle comes with extras like data breach monitoring and data removal services.
CyberGhost Security Suite pairs the VPN’s excellent streaming support with PC protection. But we found it lacking in terms of compatibility with operating systems other than Windows. There are workarounds such as using CyberGhost’s antivirus host, Intego, and its free Mac antivirus. But that’s something we wouldn’t have figured out if we didn’t research it for ourselves.
PIA's VPN and antivirus combo offers a low cost paired with great performance. Yes, its compatibility is limited to Windows but the VPN allows for unlimited connected devices, while the antivirus optimization tools put it a grade above NordVPN.
| Starting price | Best for | Learn more | |
NordVPN Threat Protection |
Starts at $2.99/mo | Best for lightweight browsing and streaming | Get NordVPN Threat Protection
Read NordVPN Threat Protection Review |
Surfshark One |
Starts at $2.69/mo | Best VPN and antivirus bundle | Get Surfshark One
Read Surfshark VPN Review |
CyberGhost Security Suite |
Starts at $1.00/mo + cost of VPN | Best for Windows-only streaming and gaming | Get CyberGhost Security Suite
Read CyberGhost VPN Review |
PIA + Antivirus |
Starts at $2.00/mo + cost of VPN | Best low-cost VPN and antivirus | Get PIA + Antivirus
Read PIA VPN Review |
You can use a VPN alongside antivirus to boost the security of your device and destroy any threats that are incoming or already infecting your drives.
NordVPN has basic malware protection with Threat Protection, and Surfshark One includes Surfshark Antivirus. Additionally, PIA lets you bundle its VPN with antivirus, as does CyberGhost. All of these options actively scan for malware to keep you better protected.
While security measures have gotten better over the years to protect you from viruses, hackers and phishing scams are always present. Therefore, it’s better to have both an antivirus and a VPN to keep your information and finances safer.
We typically recommend paid antivirus and VPN services because they come with a more robust set of online security tools. That said, there are some free antivirus programs, like Avast, Bitdefender antivirus, and TotalAV, that still offer excellent security and protection. In this case, a free antivirus is better than no antivirus.
Free VPNs, on the other hand, can actually expose your devices to cyber threats. Many free versions of VPNs are notorious for selling their users' data, which ultimately defeats the purpose of a VPN. At the worst, some free VPN apps ended up infecting devices with malware.
If you can't afford a low-cost VPN like Private Internet Access, we advise going with tested and reputable free VPN services. We've used Privado VPN and Proton VPN — both of which offer unlimited data on their free plans — and found both to be excellent.
Threat protection - Block ads, trackers, and malicious downloads
Works on multiple devices and browsers
30-day money-back guarantee
Lacks a dedicated firewall
