I’ve frequently found myself using antivirus-bundled VPNs and coming face-to-face with a shocking user experience, unusable speeds, and poor security. Determined to find worthwhile options, I tested every antivirus that comes packaged with a VPN to find combos that actually provide value and a pleasant overall experience. After my extensive testing, I found that Norton 360 is the best antivirus with a VPN. It has an excellent security suite with well-rounded features and an unlimited data VPN to keep you safe online. If you’d like to test it out on your device, you can even try Norton’s VPN risk-free for 60 days with its money-back guarantee. Try Norton risk-free for 60 days!
Quick Guide: 5 Best Antiviruses with VPNs Included
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What is a VPN and How is it Different from an Antivirus?
Although both increase your security, a VPN serves a totally different function from an antivirus. A VPN’s primary purpose is to create a secure and encrypted connection between your device and the internet. This ensures no one can eavesdrop on your connection — even your internet service provider is kept in the dark. A VPN also provides you with a new IP address that allows you to watch geo-restricted content, such as streaming libraries from your home country while traveling. On the other hand, an antivirus is designed to protect your device from malware, such as viruses, rootkits, spyware, or ransomware. They can monitor your device in real-time to prevent malware infections in the first place, or find existing malware on your device and remove it. Having only a single one of these tools can leave elements of your system security and online privacy vulnerable, which is why I’ve focused on bundled products here. This way, you get both increased overall security, and can save some money in the process! Try Norton risk-free for 60 days!
The Best Antiviruses With VPNs Included — Full Test Results in January 2023
1. Norton — Secure VPN Offers Unlimited Data Allowance on All Plans
Key Features: Norton is the best antivirus with a VPN, with unlimited data and inclusion in all but 1 subscription plan. While many antiviruses have tiny VPN data limits or are limited to the more costly plans, Norton lets you stay protected all month long without being disconnected at a reasonable price. This allowed me to watch endless Netflix marathons, browse securely, and download multiple large files without worrying about losing protection. Secure VPN also offers strong security and reliable privacy. Some of its key features include the following:
AES 256-bit encryption — Delivers airtight security Has a strict no-log policy — Protects your privacy Offers a built-in kill switch — Keeps you anonymous in case the VPN disconnects Provides split tunneling — So you can choose which sites and apps go through the VPN
During tests, Norton Secure VPN reached high download speeds of 100Mbps with local servers (16% slower than my baseline speed of 120Mbps). However, when I connected to more distant servers in the US or Australia, these speeds fell to just 15Mbps (over 85% slower). I personally never need to connect to an Australian server from my location, but I frequently use local US servers for streaming my home content while I travel. The speeds I received with the distant Los Angeles server were enough for HD content. However, you may have a hard time reliably reaching the 25Mbps and above that you’ll need to stream in 4K UHD if you live far away. One of my favorite uses for a VPN is accessing home content while I’m traveling abroad, so, fortunately, Norton works with multiple streaming platforms. If you regularly travel overseas, this will help you keep up with your favorite shows. All of them streamed without issues, although the initial buffering time lasted around 20 seconds. Norton’s Secure VPN successfully unblocks the following streaming services: While I’m overall impressed with Norton’s VPN, there are a few downsides you should know. The first is that there’s no kill switch on the iOS app. Kill switches cut you off from the internet if your VPN connection drops — important to maintain your anonymity. Secure VPN is headquartered in the US. Technically, this means it’s under the jurisdiction of the 5/9/14 Eyes (a group of countries sharing intelligence data). Personally, I have no reason to think this is being abused, and Norton claims they have an uncompromising no-logs policy that doesn’t keep any user data. If a government were to request data from Norton, they wouldn’t have any to share since they don’t keep any logs. Even so, being headquartered outside of these alliance countries can bring some additional peace of mind. In 2023, Norton is also the number one antivirus on the market. It has powerful security features, perfect detection rates, and a bunch of useful extra features alongside its VPN. A big bonus is that most of Norton’s plans include a VPN, which is very rare in the industry. You can get Norton’s Standard plan which includes 1 device license (or 3 licenses if you are in the US), 10GB cloud backup, a firewall, password manager, and PC SafeCam feature. I recommend the Deluxe plan as it’s the best value for money — it includes everything on the Standard plan, plus 5 device licenses and 50GB of free cloud storage. If you want to check Norton’s different offerings, you can try it risk-free for 60 days with its money-back guarantee. I confirmed whether this policy is legitimate by signing up for an annual plan. Afterward a few weeks, I contacted customer support through the 24/7 live chat and almost immediately had my refund approved. The agent tried to convince me to stay by offering me 3 free months on top of my membership but didn’t push once I confirmed I just wanted the refund. I received the money back only 5 days later. Try Norton’s VPN risk-free for 60 days!
2. McAfee — Excellent VPN Speeds for Torrenting and Streaming
Key Features: McAfee is another great choice if you are looking for an antivirus/VPN combo. It has a high-speed VPN with local server speeds that maxed out my internet download speeds (120Mbps baseline). I tested it when connected to Germany, UK, US, and Australia servers. In all cases apart from Australia, I reached speeds of at least 100Mbps. This is extremely impressive, considering that many stand-alone premium VPNs I’ve tested can’t consistently reach 100Mbps. Your results will vary depending on where you’re based as well as your base internet speeds, but my testing demonstrated consistently high speeds. You can use these speeds to stream in HD and UHD. In my tests, I was able to watch Netflix with McAfee, although Disney+ and HBO Max detected McAfee’s VPN and blocked access. However, McAfee performed better during my torrenting tests. I connected to a German server and downloaded a 34GB copyright-free file with an average rate of 115Mbps in just 43 minutes — a fantastic time that is almost on par with my speeds without connecting to a VPN! Additionally, it provides the following features to keep you safe and anonymous:
No-logs policy — Won’t keep logs of your activity while connected to its servers. IP address obfuscation — Masks your location to help safely bypass geo-blocks. Industry-standard encryption — Unbreakable AES 256-bit encryption to secure your online activity.
My main issue with McAfee is that it has quite an aggressive privacy policy, which seems to carry over from the main antivirus. This includes logging the pages you visit before and after using its services, geo-location info, and your IP address (possibly the worst offender), amongst others. This is perhaps one of the worst privacy policies I’ve seen a VPN have, so keep that in mind if you’re looking for something truly private. Its log policy is particularly concerning since McAfee is based in the US. This could be an additional privacy concern to some because, unlike Norton, McAfee has logs to hand over if obliged by governmental organizations. However, if you like McAfee’s overall great antivirus package and just need a VPN for occasional streaming and browsing, it might not matter all that much to you. McAfee’s antivirus also has impressively high detection rates at 100%, as part of a comprehensive offering of strong real-time ransomware, spyware, and malware protection. It doesn’t offer quite as much as others like Norton 360, but it is still a well-rounded security suite. McAfee’s plans are structured around how many devices you want to protect. The Single Device, Multi-Device, and Family plan all come with real-time protection, a home security network to secure your firewall and block hackers, anti-phishing and anti-fraud protection, and a password manager. McAfee gives you extra features if you choose automatic renewal. So if you want the VPN included, you will need to select automatic renewal when you are first signing up. This is easy to cancel, so I would recommend doing this. You will also get an Identity Theft tool (for US users only). You can try McAfee risk-free for 30 days with its money-back guarantee. I signed up for a month myself and then submitted a request to be contacted. Unlike other antivirus services with live chat and email support, McAfee only processes refunds over the phone. However, I received a call in less than 10 minutes! I confirmed my refund, which was immediately processed by the representative — I had the money back in 7 business days. Try McAfee’s VPN risk-free for 30 days!
3. TotalAV — Robust Malware Protection With Good VPN for Streaming
Key Features: TotalAV’s Safe Browsing VPN is an excellent choice if you’re a fan of streaming. I was able to watch Netflix US, while others on my team could access their home catalogs in the UK, Canada, and Germany. TotalAV unblocks the following streaming platforms: TotalAV was the only VPN on this list to work with so many platforms. Every stream buffered for less than 5 seconds and immediately played in full HD, creating a great overall experience. TotalAV’s VPN is a solid choice for security and privacy. It offers the following features to keep you safe and anonymous online:
Industry-standard AES 256-bit encryption — To secure your online activity IP and DNS leak prevention — Keeps you anonymous Multiple security protocols — Including IKEv2 and OpenVPN A built-in kill switch — To protect your identity if the VPN disconnects
Unfortunately, its kill switch is only currently available on Windows, but a representative informed me that this feature is also being worked on for macOS. I even tested TotalAV for IP and DNS leaks, and I was happy to find that none were present— meaning your true digital footprint will go unnoticed while you browse. While testing download speeds, I was very satisfied with an average of 107Mbps (11% slower than my baseline). You’ll easily be able to stream in up to 4K quality, browse without interruption, and torrent large files quickly with these speeds. The slowest outlier server was Australia at 28Mbps (13,500+ km from me!) while Germany almost maxed out my connection at 115Mbps (4.1% slower than my baseline speed). Both of these are enough for most use cases, plus you get unlimited bandwidth to take advantage of for whichever activities you choose. I’m also very happy with TotalAV’s antivirus software. It has a 100% detection rate and firewall, plus ransomware and phishing protection. This is all packaged in a user-friendly interface that makes TotalAV a pleasure to use even if you’re unaccustomed to using an antivirus or VPN. If you’re on a budget and don’t want to compromise on features, TotalAV is hard to beat. The best-value antivirus and VPN package is the Internet Security plan that includes 6 device licenses, system optimization tools, a browser cleaner, and cloud scanning. Alternatively, you can spend more on the Total Security plan. It covers 7 devices and even has an ad blocker and password vault. You can check out TotalAV’s VPN’s fantastic streaming capabilities risk-free for 30 days with its money-back guarantee. I confirmed this by signing up for an annual plan and running tests for a few days before requesting a refund by submitting a ticket. While it took almost 2 days to get a response, I received approval and got my money back in my account just 2 days later. Try TotalAV’s VPN risk-free for 30 days!
4. Bitdefender — VPN Network Supported by Hotspot Shield
Key Features: Bitdefender has partnered with well-known Hotspot Shield to create its VPN. The VPN can be accessed from inside Bitdefender’s app. Simply open up the server list, choose a country, and connect. You can select the automatic connect function to be connected to the optimal server from your location, which simplifies setup and gets you connected in seconds. Thanks to being based on Hotspot Shield, Bitdefender VPN also inherits its premium security features. The following are among the key security and privacy features it offers:
AES 256-bit encryption — Provides top-tier security A strict no-logs policy — To make sure none of your browsing activity is stored or tracked A built-in kill switch — Protects you if the VPN connection ever drops Hotspot Shield’s Proprietary Catapult Hydra protocol — Delivers airtight security without compromising speed
I found Bitdefender’s download speeds to be consistent, but underwhelming. In my speed tests, Bitdefender reached an average of 51Mbps (a 57% drop from my baseline speed). This included a high of 58Mbps from a UK server and a low of 42Mbps — significantly slower than McAfee’s VPN. However, I found it was still fast enough to stream HD and 4K content on Netflix. Unfortunately, it didn’t work with Disney+, HBO Max, or Hulu. My main issue with Bitdefender is how it divides its data caps between its plans. All paid plans include a 200MB daily data cap, which is barely enough for a few hours of basic browsing. If you want unlimited data, you have to either buy a dedicated VPN subscription or sign up for Bitdefender’s Premium Security or Ultimate Security plans. While Bitdefender’s antivirus software is top-notch with 100% malware detection rates, you can find VPNs with unlimited data for the same price or cheaper. Fortunately, Bitdefender offers both a 30-day free trial and a 30-day money-back guarantee. This gives you a total of 60 days to try out both Bitdefender’s antivirus software and VPN with no risk. I signed up to verify if this is true and later emailed support to request a refund. A few days later, I received a confirmation of my request and had the money back in my account just 5 days later. Try Bitdefender’s VPN risk-free for 30 days!
5. Panda — Decent All-Rounder Offering a VPN on all Its Plans
Key Features: Panda is the 2nd antivirus on this list to offer a VPN service that’s operated by Hotspot Shield. This gives it a good base to work with, although it’s generally less feature-rich than the full version of Hotspot Shield. Thankfully, it retains decent speeds and an overall good quality of service without particularly excelling at any 1 thing. To keep your traffic secure, Panda runs Hotspot Shield’s proprietary Hydra protocol. It’s based on OpenVPN, which has proven reliable over many years of real-world use. Unfortunately, that’s where the security features appear to end, with no kill switch or really any other apparent features. For this reason, I can’t recommend it for torrenting, even if most of Panda’s servers support P2P traffic. I found Panda’s ability to access streaming content fairly mixed. I could only watch Netflix US, HBO Max, and BBC iPlayer, with no support for other services or Netflix regions. However, I was overall positively surprised, but Norton is still the top choice for streaming if it’s the main priority for you. Panda’s download speeds with local servers dropped a maximum of 58% from my baseline speeds, which was fast enough for 4K content with both local and more distant libraries. This also resulted in low buffering times and good streaming quality with the platforms I tested. Panda comes with 4 different plans; Essential, Advanced, Complete, and Premium. All the plans offer Panda’s VPN, but only the Premium plan comes with its unlimited premium VPN. The other plans come with Panda’s free VPN, which offers safe and secure browsing, but is capped at 150MB daily. You can try Panda risk-free with its 30-day money-back guarantee. To test it, I filled out the available contact form on the website and waited for a response. I received a reply approving the request just 3 hours later — I was especially happy that there were no further questions or demands. I had the money back another 8 days later. Try Panda’s VPN risk-free for 30 days!
Quick Comparison Table: 2023’s Best Antiviruses with VPNs Included
How I Tested and Ranked the Best Antivirus with VPNs Included in 2023
There are some core criteria I use to determine if an antivirus with a bundled VPN is worth it:
Strong antivirus protection — The antivirus software itself needs to offer high malware detection rates and additional features such as ransomware and phishing protection. Unlimited VPN data — A VPN with a data cap quickly becomes useless, making unlimited data a must. Fast VPN speeds — Your VPN connection shouldn’t noticeably slow down your browsing or reduce streaming quality. Powerful VPN security — Cutting-edge encryption, leak protection, and a no-logs policy should be the bare minimum a VPN offers. Accessible server network — You should have access to enough VPN servers in your local area and around the world to maintain reliable connections. Device compatibility — The program should support the most popular devices, such as the VPN and antivirus running on iOS, Android, Windows, and macOS. Good customer service — Preferably with a range of options, especially 24/7 live chat. Streaming support — Giving you access to your streaming libraries is a huge benefit of a VPN, but many struggle to let you access your paid content while you travel. Value for money — Each antivirus here has a different makeup of features, but overall should offer good value to different types of users.
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How to Use an Antivirus With a VPN
Using an antivirus alongside a VPN is extremely simple, just follow the steps below:
Can you use an antivirus and a VPN together?
Yes! Since they don’t have any overlapping functions, antiviruses and VPNs are great pieces of software to run simultaneously so there are no gaps in your device’s security. Simply put, a VPN encrypts your traffic and gives you a temporary new IP address to anonymously connect to the internet, while antivirus software protects you from malware. Our list of the best antiviruses with VPNs included gives some good examples of antiviruses that have affiliated VPNs so you can get the best of both worlds. The best overall is Norton, with a powerful antivirus engine, useful additional features like encrypted cloud storage, and a class-leading VPN that’s not only fast and secure but also great for streaming.
Are VPNs legal?
Yes, in most countries. There are a few countries where VPNs are either fully illegal or occupy a grey area, such as Belarus, North Korea, China, and a few more. Keep in mind that while VPN usage is legal in most countries, we don’t condone illegal activity carried out while connected to them. It’s worth checking your local laws around things such as copyright and torrenting before using a VPN.
Is it better to use a standalone VPN?
Generally, yes. As with all specialized software, standalone VPNs tend to be better at their job than bundled VPNs that were often created as an afterthought. However, if you don’t need the absolute fastest and most feature-packed VPN on the market, a VPN bundled with an antivirus can provide a whole lot of value for one (lower) price. If you want the best antivirus and VPN bundle on the market, it’s Norton 360 and its Secure VPN. Norton’s antivirus offering is the most comprehensive on the market, with near-perfect malware detection rates and a number of additional features. At the same time, it’s VPN offers high speed, strong security, and can even be used to access streaming content. You can try it risk-free for 60 days with its money-back guarantee. Try Norton risk-free for 60 days
Combine a VPN and Antivirus for Maximum Device Security
An antivirus is a powerful start to getting your device secured, but it can’t stop you from being exposed online. To prevent your activity from being visible to groups such as your ISP, hackers, the government, or copyright holders, a VPN is essential. It even comes with additional benefits like letting you access your home streaming libraries while traveling and preventing bandwidth throttling from your ISP or local networks. After testing multiple antiviruses and VPNs, I recommend Norton as my top choice. Its security suite has great protection rates and other top security features, while its VPN offers endless protection with its unlimited data caps and high speeds. Check it out for yourself — you can try Norton risk-free with its 60-day money-back guarantee. Try Norton risk-free for 60 days
