McAfee and Kaspersky are both top-tier antivirus products with near-perfect malware detection rates. Kaspersky scores slightly higher in lab tests, but McAfee offers better pricing for multi-device households and is fully UK-based in terms of support. This comparison helps you decide which is right for you in 2025.
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McAfee vs Kaspersky: Quick Comparison
| Feature | McAfee | Kaspersky | |—|—|—| | AV-TEST Score | 96–100% | 99–100% | | Price (3 devices/yr) | ~£29.99 | ~£34.99 | | VPN | Yes (paid plans) | Yes (limited free) | | Password manager | Yes | Yes | | Parental controls | McAfee Safe Family | Kaspersky Safe Kids | | Performance impact | Low | Very Low | | Country of origin | USA | Russia |
Protection Scores
Kaspersky consistently scores 18/18 in AV-TEST evaluations, achieving near-perfect zero-day and widespread malware detection. McAfee scores 17.5–18/18, which is also excellent. In real-world detection tests by AV-Comparatives, Kaspersky has a slight edge in zero-day threat detection, while both perform identically against known malware.
Performance Impact
Kaspersky is renowned for having almost no impact on PC performance, consistently receiving AV-TEST’s top performance score of 18/18. McAfee has improved significantly and now scores 16–17/18 on performance — still excellent but with slightly more impact during full system scans.
Privacy and Data Concerns
Important note for UK users: Kaspersky is a Russian company. In 2023, the US Federal Communications Commission listed Kaspersky as a potential security risk. While Kaspersky denies any connections to the Russian government and maintains servers in Switzerland, some UK businesses and government agencies prefer not to use Russian-origin software. McAfee is a US company with EU-GDPR compliant data handling. This is an important consideration depending on your privacy requirements.
Price and Value
McAfee offers better value for families needing to protect many devices. McAfee LiveSafe covers unlimited devices, while Kaspersky Total Security covers up to 5 devices at a higher price point. For a single PC, Kaspersky is slightly more competitive.
Which is Better: McAfee or Kaspersky?
Choose Kaspersky if you want the absolute highest malware detection scores and lowest system impact, and data origin is not a concern for you. Choose McAfee if you want a proven US-based product, need unlimited device coverage, want strong UK customer support, or if you have concerns about using Russian-origin software. Call our free UK line +44-800-066-8910 for personalised advice.