After extensive testing, I found antiviruses that offer airtight security against malware and include effective VPNs. Their built-in VPNs offer many servers to choose from, fast connection speeds, and industry-standard encryption to keep you safe online. Of all the choices, Norton stands out as the best antivirus with a VPN. It offers industry-leading 100% malware detection and an unlimited VPN with AES 256-bit encryption for impenetrable security. Best of all, the 60-day money-back guarantee lets you try Norton completely risk-free. Try Norton risk-free for 60 days

Quick Guide: Best Antiviruses with VPNs Included in 2023

Surf the web safely with Norton’s VPN

The Best Antiviruses With VPNs Included — Full Test Results in 2023

1. Norton — Secure VPN Provides Airtight Protection and Unlimited Data

Key Features: Norton is the best antivirus with a VPN. Its Secure VPN is available on all but 1 subscription plan and it offers unlimited data. So, I used Norton to enjoy Netflix marathons, download various large files, and safely surf the web without worrying about losing my protection. Secure VPN also provides airtight security and privacy thanks to the following features:

Industry-standard encryption — protects your connection with unbreakable AES 256-bit encryption. Built-in kill switch — disconnects the internet if the VPN connection drops to keep you anonymous. Split tunneling — lets you choose exactly which apps’ traffic goes through the secure VPN tunnel. Ad tracker blocking — blocks advertisers from monitoring your online activity.

During tests, Norton’s Secure VPN provided consistently fast speeds, with only a 15% drop when connected to nearby servers. However, my speeds dropped over 50% on long-distance servers in the US and Australia. Nonetheless, the connection remained fast enough for lag-free browsing and UHD streaming. Norton’s Secure VPN successfully unblocked many streaming services during tests, including the following services: This antivirus also provides excellent malware scans and real-time security. Norton’s scans and real-time protection detect 100% of malware, and it offers other features like a customizable firewall, webcam protection, and more for added protection. Unfortunately, Norton’s VPN has a few downsides, like being headquartered within the 5/9/14 Eyes’ jurisdiction in the US. Thankfully, there’s a strict no-logs policy, meaning Norton wouldn’t have any data to share if anyone requested it. Norton offers multiple plans starting at $19.99/year, including the following:

Antivirus Plus — includes Norton’s antivirus features, password manager, and 2GB of cloud backup for 1 device, but doesn’t offer its VPN. 360 Standard — has Norton’s VPN, all the features in Antivirus Plus, protection for 3 devices, and Dark Web Monitoring. 360 Deluxe — offers everything in 360 Standard but protects up to 5 devices and includes parental controls, 50GB of cloud storage, and Norton’s Privacy Firewall. 360 Select — provides Norton’s ID theft protection, 250GB of cloud storage, protection for 10 devices, and the above features.

The VPN is available in almost all of Norton’s plans. However, I suggest you get Norton’s Deluxe plan. For $49.99/year, it offers protection for up to 5 devices, 50GB of cloud storage, and the VPN. Of course, you can try Norton risk-free regardless of your plan, thanks to its 60-day money-back guarantee. When I tested its refund policy, I had my money back in just 5 days. Try Norton’s VPN risk-free

2. McAfee — Provides Super-Fast VPN Connection Speeds for Lag-Free Browsing

Key Features: McAfee is another top antivirus with a reliable built-in VPN. Its VPN provides fast speeds on nearby servers, making it perfect for lag-free browsing and UHD streaming on the various platforms it unblocks. While McAfee successfully unblocks Netflix and HBO Max it does fail to unblock other platforms like BBC iPlayer, Disney+, and more. During tests, McAfee’s connection speeds never dropped more than 20% when connected to nearby servers (like Germany and UK). The connection speeds were slower on its long-distance server in Australia, but still enough for lag-free browsing and UHD streaming. Also, I downloaded a 34GB copyright-free file at an average rate of 115Mbps in under 43 minutes, which is almost on par with my speeds without a VPN. Besides its fast connection speeds, McAfee’s VPN has the following to keep you safe and anonymous:

Top-grade encryption — uses unbreakable AES 256-bit encryption to secure your traffic. No-logs policy — doesn’t keep logs of your online activity. IP address obfuscation — masks your actual location to maintain privacy.

McAfee’s antivirus scans and real-time security detect 100% of malware. However, McAfee flags a few false positives, meaning its results aren’t as flawless as Norton’s. Unfortunately, McAfee is based in the US (within 5 Eyes’ jurisdiction). Also, its privacy policy mentions that it logs the pages you visit, your IP, geo-location info, and other details. McAfee’s pricing starts at $39.99/year. Its plans include:

Total Protection Plus — has McAfee’s core antivirus, firewall, VPN, password manager, web protection, ID monitoring, and file shredder. McAfee+ Premium — offers everything in Total Protection Plus and has McAfee’s Personal Data Cleanup scans. McAfee+ Advanced — provides McAfee’s full-service Personal Data Cleanup, lost wallet protection, monthly credit reports, $1M ID theft coverage, and everything in McAfee+ Premium. McAfee+ Ultimate — includes all the features in McAfee+ Advanced and provides McAfee’s credit lock and $25K ransomware coverage.

I suggest you start by getting McAfee’s Total Protection Plus plan for $39.99/year. Also, you can try McAfee risk-free regardless of your plan thanks to its 30-day money-back guarantee. I had my money back in 7 days when I requested a refund via phone support after my tests. Try McAfee’s VPN risk-free

Key Features: TotalAV’s Safe Browsing VPN is excellent if you like to stream often. It successfully unblocked Netflix US for me, and it can also access Netflix catalogs in the UK, Canada, and Germany. You can access the following streaming platforms with it: TotalAV’s VPN is the only one on this list to work with so many platforms. Plus, the streams buffered for less than 5 seconds and immediately played in UHD for a great overall experience. During speed tests, my connection speeds only dropped an average of 11% when connected to TotalAV’s VPN. The only outlier was the 70% speed drop on the long-distance Australian server. Nonetheless, connection speeds on TotalAV’s VPN remained fast enough for lag-free browsing and UHD streaming. You’ll also get security features with TotalAV’s VPN, which include:

Unbreakable encryption — uses industry-standard AES 256-bit encryption to safeguard your online activity. Leak prevention — prevents your IP and other identifying information from leaking while online. Built-in kill switch — kills your internet connection if the VPN disconnects to ensure you stay anonymous (Windows only).

I was also pleased with TotalAV’s performance against malware. Its scans find 100% of malware, while its real-time security successfully blocks 99% of cyber threats. However, its security isn’t flawless like Norton’s, which blocks 100% of real-time threats. TotalAV’s price plans start as low as $19.00/year and include the following options:

Antivirus Pro — includes TotalAV’s antivirus for 3 devices but doesn’t have its VPN. Internet Security — offers TotalAV’s built-in VPN, antivirus features, and protection for up to 5 devices. Total Security — provides a password manager, ad blocker, all the features in Internet Security, and protection for up to 6 devices.

I advise getting TotalAV’s Internet Security plan for $39.00/year. It includes the VPN and all the app’s key security features. Also, you can try TotalAV risk-free thanks to its 30-day money-back guarantee. Claiming a refund is easy — when I tested it out, I had my money back 2 days after my refund was confirmed. Try TotalAV’s VPN risk-free

4. Bitdefender — Uses Catapult Hydra Protocol to Provide Fast Speeds Without Compromising Security

Key Features: Bitdefender has partnered with the renowned Hotspot Shield to create its VPN, which is easily usable from Bitdefender’s app. Also, its automatic connect function quickly finds an optimal server and connects you in seconds. Plus, it has the following security features:

Impenetrable encryption — protects your online activity with industry-standard AES 256-bit encryption. Strict no-logs policy — ensures your browsing activity is never tracked or stored. Catapult Hydra protocol — uses Hotspot Shield’s proprietary protocol to deliver airtight security while maintaining speeds. Built-in kill switch — secures your anonymity if the VPN unexpectedly disconnects.

Bitdefender’s download speeds are consistent but underwhelming. Bitdefender provided an average of 51Mbps during tests (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, it was still fast enough to stream shows on Netflix in UHD. However, it doesn’t work with Disney+, HBO Max, or Hulu. Unfortunately, Bitdefender’s VPN is data-capped. So, unless you get its most premium plans, your VPN bandwidth will be limited to 200MB/day. Bitdefender’s antivirus delivers airtight security thanks to its 100% malware detection via scans. Also, its real-time security successfully blocked 99.7% of threats during my tests. You can get Bitdefender for as low as $18.99/year, and it offers the following plans:

Antivirus Plus — provides Bitdefender’s core antivirus features, VPN (200MB/day), and protects 1 device (Windows only). Internet Security — includes Bitdefender’s parental controls, Privacy Firewall, the features in Antivirus Plus, and protection for 3 devices (Windows only). Total Security — offers all the above features, Bitdefender’s optimization tools, and protects up to 5 devices (all platforms). Premium Security — includes Bitdefender’s unlimited VPN, password manager, protection for 10 devices, and everything in Total Security. Ultimate Security — provides Bitdefender’s ID monitoring and all of Premium Security’s features.

You will need to sign up for the Premium Security plan if you want an unlimited VPN. Luckily, you can try any of Bitdefender’s plans risk-free with its  30-day money-back guarantee. I had my money back in just 5 days when I tested its refund policy. Try Bitdefender’s VPN risk-free

5. Panda — Offers Well-Rounded Protection and a Reliable VPN

Key Features: Panda provides a well-rounded security suite and a reliable VPN for online safety, and it’s the second antivirus here with a VPN operated by Hotspot Shield. Its VPN has the following for added security:

Catapult Hydra Protocol — provides Hotspot Shield’s proprietary protocol to ensure safety without compromising speed. Military-grade encryption — uses AES 256-bit encryption to safeguard your online activity. No-logs policy — ensures that none of your identifying information or activity is logged.

During speed tests, connection speeds on Panda’s servers decreased by a maximum of 58% compared to my baseline values. Despite the drop, Panda’s connection speeds were always fast enough for smooth browsing, buffer-free UHD streaming, and fast downloads. The VPN’s streaming capabilities are mixed. Panda’s VPN can only unblock Netflix US, HBO Max, and BBC iPlayer, and there’s no support for other services. So, Norton is still the better option if streaming is a priority for you. Panda also provides reliable security against malware. Its scans found 99.7% of threats on my system, which is impressive but less effective than Norton’s 100% detection rate. Thankfully, Panda’s real-time security successfully blocked 100% of cyber threats. All of Panda’s plans include a VPN, but most limit it to 150MB/day. The plans start at $23.99/year and include the following options:

Essential — has Panda’s core antivirus, WiFi protection, and 150MB/day VPN. Advanced — provides Panda’s parental controls and ID protection besides the features in Essential. Complete — includes Panda’s optimization tools, password manager, and all the above features. Premium — offers Panda’s unlimited VPN, priority customer support, and all of Complete’s features.

Because of the unlimited VPN, you’ll get the best value with Panda’s Premium plan which costs $42.99/year. Of course, you can try Panda risk-free because it’s backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee. After tests, my money was returned within 8 days of requesting a refund. Try Panda’s VPN risk-free

Quick Comparison Table: 2023’s Best Antivirus Software With VPN Included

How I Tested and Ranked the Best Antiviruses with VPNs Included in 2023

I used the following criteria to determine the best antiviruses bundled with VPNs:

Reliable security — I picked antiviruses with excellent malware detection scores and other reliable security features. Unlimited VPN data — I chose antiviruses with unlimited VPN data plans for unrestricted browsing and streaming. Fast VPN speeds — I chose antiviruses with VPNs that deliver fast connection speeds. Unbreakable VPN security — I picked VPNs with industry-standard encryption to keep you safe online. Large server network — I picked VPNs with large server networks to ensure you can maintain reliable connections and avoid crowded servers. Streaming support — I prioritized antiviruses with VPNs that can unblock popular streaming services. Device compatibility — I chose antiviruses compatible with various platforms, including Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android. Reliable customer service — I prioritized antiviruses with good customer support so you can get help whenever needed. Value for money — I picked antiviruses that offer multiple well-priced plans. Money-back guarantee — I chose antiviruses with money-back guarantees so you can test them risk-free.

How to Use an Antivirus With a VPN

Why You Need Both an Antivirus and a VPN

Both antiviruses and VPNs provide security, but VPNs protect you by encrypting your traffic and online activity, while antiviruses block and remove malware. Using a VPN ensures that no one can eavesdrop on your connection. Plus, VPNs provide a new IP address to mask your identity and ensure that your actual IP address never leaks on the internet. Antiviruses provide virus scanners to remove malware and include real-time security to prevent reinfection. Plus, the best antiviruses have features like customizable firewalls and password managers for added security. Since VPNs and antiviruses don’t have overlapping functions, the best way to secure yourself is by using both simultaneously or getting an antivirus with a built-in VPN. Secure your system with Norton Of course, while VPN usage is legal, I don’t condone any illegal activities while connected to them. It’s always best to check your local laws around things like torrenting before using VPNs for this. The best standalone VPNs also let you switch between multiple VPN protocols and have features like multihop for added security.

Use a Top Antivirus With a Reliable VPN for Unbreakable Security

Using a VPN with your antivirus ensures unbreakable protection, which is why antiviruses with built-in VPNs are a great security solution. Unfortunately, many antiviruses have poorly performing VPNs with unreliable security, slow connection speeds, and small server networks. After testing every antivirus with a VPN, I’ve listed the top antiviruses that provide excellent VPNs with their other security features. Every app on this list safeguards your system against malware and other cyber threats while encrypting your connection and keeping you anonymous online. My top antivirus with a built-in VPN is Norton. Its VPN uses AES 256-bit encryption and has a strict no-logs policy, and its malware scanners detect 100% of cyber threats without highlighting false positives. Also, you can try Norton completely risk-free because it’s backed by a 60-day money-back guarantee.

Summary — Best Antiviruses with VPNs Included in 2023