TotalAV Review: Let’s be real for a second — most antivirus software feels like that one friend who shows up uninvited, eats your snacks, slows down your laptop, and then leaves without doing much. But TotalAV? Surprisingly, it’s not that friend. It’s more like the competent roommate who pays rent on time, tidies up after themselves, and even throws in a few extras like a VPN and password manager to sweeten the deal. I went into this review pretty skeptical (because “budget antivirus” usually means “enjoy your malware”), but TotalAV genuinely surprised me. It’s a full-blown security suite that actually feels like it was designed by people who’ve used computers in the last five years — and that’s saying something.
How much does TotalAV cost?
Alright, let’s talk money. You can get the full shebang — the TotalAV Premium plan — for just $19 for the first year. That includes real-time protection, a VPN, password manager, system clean-up tools, a secure browser, and even 2 GB of cloud storage (because sure, why not?). It feels a bit like someone at TotalAV made a typo on the pricing page and just rolled with it. Of course, the price jumps up after the first year (don’t they all?), but for $19, it’s honestly hard to complain. That’s less than what I paid for a half-decent sushi lunch last week.
What features does it have?
TotalAV isn’t just antivirus — it’s more like a Swiss Army knife for your digital life. You’ve got:
- Real-time antivirus protection — constantly running in the background like a caffeinated ninja.
- WebShield — blocks sketchy websites before they even load. (We stan a proactive queen.)
- VPN — surprisingly fast, great for streaming, and doesn’t make your internet crawl.
- Password manager — nothing fancy, but it gets the job done.
- System tune-up tools — clears junk files, manages startup apps, and actually speeds things up.
- Ad blocker + Secure browser — blocks trackers, annoying ads, and the general chaos of the modern web.
- 2 GB secure cloud storage — okay, it’s not Dropbox-level, but it’s something.
There’s also a browser extension that flags dodgy sites and trackers, which is great for people like me who click first and think later.
How effective is TotalAV against malware?
Honestly? Better than I expected. I ran a bunch of tests, downloaded some questionable files (purely for science, I swear), and tried my best to mess things up — and TotalAV caught everything I threw at it. Its malware detection is sharp. Real-time protection flagged threats before they even got the chance to unzip themselves. Scheduled scans ran in the background without turning my laptop into a toaster oven, and the on-demand scans were surprisingly quick. Is it the absolute best on the market? Maybe not. But for everyday users who don’t want to get phished or accidentally download a keylogger while looking for “free Photoshop,” it’s more than solid.
Is WebShield actually helpful?
WebShield might be my favorite part of the whole package. It blocks malicious websites before they load — which sounds simple, but it’s low-key magical when it works. No dramatic popups or flashy warnings. Just quiet, effective protection. If you’ve ever clicked on a suspicious link out of pure curiosity (same), WebShield has your back. It’s like a digital “are you sure about that?” button.
What’s the performance impact?
Here’s where TotalAV really won me over — it doesn’t slow your system to a crawl. You know how some antivirus programs make your fan sound like it’s trying to launch a small plane? Not the case here. I could run full scans while editing videos and had zero noticeable lag. That’s a huge win, especially for people who forget to schedule scans and end up launching one right before a Zoom call (been there, done that).
How’s the customer support?
I reached out to support just to test the waters (and yes, I pretended to be confused about VPN setup — forgive me). The response was quick, polite, and surprisingly helpful. You can reach them via email, live chat, or even phone if you’re feeling old-school. They’ve also got a decent knowledge base, but let’s be real — if you’re like me, you’ll just spam the live chat anyway.
TotalAV punches way above its weight class. It’s not perfect — the password manager could use a facelift, and 2 GB of cloud storage isn’t going to replace Google Drive — but for the price, you’re getting a lot of value here. If you’re looking for affordable, no-drama antivirus software that actually respects your system’s performance and gives you useful extras instead of bloatware… this is one of the best picks out there. So yeah, color me impressed. I didn’t expect to like TotalAV, but here we are.
TotalAV Review: Pros and Cons
Let’s cut through the fluff — TotalAV is a solid pick if you want strong malware protection, a few handy privacy tools, and don’t want to take out a loan to pay for it. It’s not perfect (what software is?), but it punches well above its price tag, especially in that first sweet, sweet year.
It’s particularly great for Windows and Android users. Mac users? Ehh… you might want to look around a bit more. Not because it’s *bad*, but because there are slightly better options out there for Apple fans.
What I liked about TotalAV
- Malware detection that actually works: TotalAV caught basically everything I threw at it. Whether it was scheduled scans or me recklessly downloading sketchy files in the name of “testing,” it flagged threats fast and cleaned them up without drama.
- Top marks from independent labs: You don’t just have to take my word for it — AV-Test and AV-Comparatives gave TotalAV near-perfect scores. In fact, as of December 2024, AV-Test gave it a clean 6/6 in protection, performance, and usability. Basically, it’s not just hype.
- Actually useful features: Some antivirus suites throw in junky “extras” to bulk up the feature list. TotalAV, thankfully, sticks to the good stuff: a VPN that works, phishing protection, privacy tools, and even 2GB of secure cloud storage. Not flashy — just practical.
- Beginner-friendly interface: If you’ve ever opened an antivirus app and felt immediately overwhelmed (same), TotalAV is refreshingly simple. Everything’s laid out clearly, runs fast, and doesn’t turn your laptop into a space heater. I also had a good experience with their live chat support — quick, friendly, and not a robot. Win.
- Real-time protection: Think of it as a digital bodyguard that never sleeps. It watches your downloads, monitors your file activity, and blocks threats before you even know they’re a problem. Less “Oh no, now I have to fix this,” more “Nice try, malware.”
- Bonus features that don’t suck: You get a VPN, ad blocker, password manager, and system optimization tools — and none of them feel like cheap add-ons. The ad blocker, in particular, speeds up browsing and ditches those annoying autoplay video ads (bless).
- No false alarms: Out of over a million samples tested, TotalAV didn’t throw a single false positive. That’s not just rare — that’s impressive. You won’t get popups crying wolf every time you open a harmless file.
What I didn’t like about TotalAV
- The second-year price hike: Yep, here’s the catch. The first year is ridiculously cheap, but once that renewal email hits, the price jumps faster than my heart rate during a horror movie. Thankfully, turning off auto-renew is a lot easier now, but still — annoying.
- No behavior-based detection: TotalAV sticks to traditional signature-based malware detection. It doesn’t use heuristic analysis (i.e., spotting weird behavior before something’s officially labeled as malware), which some other antiviruses do. Not a dealbreaker, but worth noting.
- No built-in firewall: Unlike some of its competitors, there’s no advanced firewall baked into the app. Your system’s default firewall will do the trick for most people, but still, it would’ve been nice to have that extra layer baked in.
- Mac version isn’t quite there yet: The macOS app works — it’s decent — but it feels like the developers spent 80% of their time polishing the Windows and Android versions. Protection scores were a bit lower, and the features felt slightly trimmed down.
Do I recommend TotalAV antivirus?
Short answer: Yes. Long answer: Yes, with a few caveats. If you’re on Windows or Android, TotalAV is one of the best antivirus options in its price range. The malware protection is top-tier, real-time scanning is smooth, and the VPN and WebShield combo add legit value. Performance-wise, it runs light. I could scan my system while streaming Netflix and working in Photoshop without everything freezing up — which is more than I can say for some “big-name” antivirus programs. The VPN is surprisingly solid too — lets you bounce your IP to 30 different countries and even works with Netflix (which, let’s be honest, is the real test).
WebShield is another highlight. It’s low-key brilliant at blocking phishing attempts, dodgy links, and sketchy websites before they even have a chance to load. If you’ve ever clicked a “You’ve won a free iPhone” ad at 3AM, you’ll appreciate this feature. Final tip? Set a reminder to cancel before your renewal date, then re-subscribe to grab that first-year deal again. TotalAV won’t win any design awards, but it *will* keep you safe online — and at a price that doesn’t feel like a scam. Overall, a great value pick for most people — just maybe not the Mac faithful.
TotalAV Features
Okay, so here’s the deal — antivirus software isn’t exactly sexy, but TotalAV does a pretty solid job of making it feel useful instead of bloated. Whether you’re just after basic protection or you want the whole cybersecurity buffet, TotalAV’s got a plan that fits. And yeah, like most subscription models, the more you pay, the more toys you get. But the nice part? Each tier builds on the last, so you’re not missing anything by upgrading — you’re just getting more bang (and protection) for your buck.
TotalAV Premium Features
This plan covers three devices, which is honestly enough for most people (laptop, phone, maybe that old tablet you swear you’re going to use again). Here’s what’s packed in:
- Real-time antivirus protection — Stops threats as they show up. No waiting. No excuses.
- Malware, Trojan & virus removal — Cleans up whatever’s already slipped in. Like a digital detox, but for your system.
- Zero-day cloud scanning — Keeps an eye out for brand-new threats by checking against live cloud data. Feels fancy, works great.
- PUA protection — Blocks those sneaky “potentially unwanted apps” that love to piggyback on free installs.
- Phishing scam protection — Stops you from clicking those fake emails your uncle keeps falling for.
- Ransomware protection — Keeps your files from being held hostage. Because paying a hacker in Bitcoin? Hard pass.
- System tune-up tools — Speeds things up, clears junk, and helps your PC feel less… tired.
- Disk cleaner — Cleans up leftover files and frees up space. It’s basically the Marie Kondo of antivirus.
- Browser manager & cleaner — Controls those pesky browser extensions and clears out clutter.
- iOS & Android protection — Because malware doesn’t care what logo’s on your phone.
- Total Adblock — Blocks ads, popups, and trackers that turn the internet into a nightmare.
TotalAV Internet Security Additional Features
This plan bumps you up to six devices — perfect if you’re sharing with family or just own way too much tech. Here’s what you get on top of Premium:
- Safe Browsing VPN — Encrypts your traffic and hides your IP like a digital invisibility cloak. Works well, even with streaming sites. Total bonus.
TotalAV Total Security Additional Features
Got a big digital footprint? This top-tier plan covers eight devices and throws in a few extra perks for good measure:
- Total Password — A password manager that keeps all your login info safe in one place. Is it revolutionary? No. Is it convenient? Absolutely.
Other Useful Features
TotalAV didn’t stop at the essentials — it snuck in some genuinely useful (and sometimes unexpected) extras. Here are a few standouts:
- Gaming Mode: Automatically optimizes performance while you’re gaming. No interruptions, no frame drops. Just pure gaming bliss. Total win for us nerds.
- Breach Scan: Plug in your email and TotalAV checks if you’ve been caught in a data breach. Tells you what happened and when — and yes, it’s mildly terrifying but also super helpful.
- Total Coupon: A browser extension that finds and applies coupons when you shop online. It’s like having a digital grandma who clips coupons for you — but cooler.
- Startup Manager: Lets you see and control what apps launch when your system boots. Turns “Why is my PC so slow?” into “Oh, THAT’S why.”
- Safe Search: This is part of WebShield and helps flag dodgy sites right in your search results with a friendly green tick or a red nope-X. Works great when you’re Googling in a hurry and don’t want to fall into a scam trap.
- Photo Manager (iOS): For iPhone users, this lets you delete duplicate and blurry photos in bulk. Finally, a way to clean out those 37 accidental screenshots of your home screen.
- Device Locator (iOS): Lost your phone under the couch… or on a train? This helps you track it down. It’s not new tech, but it’s a handy backup if you’ve already lost your Apple login (don’t lie, we’ve all been there).
- System Security Alerts (iOS): Keeps an eye out for critical iOS updates and nudges you when it’s time to update. Because who remembers to check manually?
You can actually set how often TotalAV checks for malware definition updates. If you’re the kind of person who worries about cyber threats every 15 minutes (respect), you can make it check hourly. Or just set it and forget it — your call. Bottom line? TotalAV isn’t just antivirus software — it’s like a personal assistant for your device’s health and safety. Some features are standard, others are delightful surprises, but all of them contribute to a more secure and less annoying tech experience. And in this digital mess of a world, that kind of peace of mind is worth a lot.
TotalAV Price and Plans
Let’s be real — antivirus pricing is always a bit of a circus. You get lured in with that “only $19.99!” sparkle, and then *bam*, next year it renews for the price of a small appliance. That said, TotalAV’s intro pricing is pretty hard to beat, especially for what you get.
Here’s how the pricing shakes out, plain and simple:
TotalAV Premium Pricing
- First year: $29.99 (or $19.99 if you use the promo link)
- Renewal: $99/year
- Devices covered: Up to 5
This is your basic plan, but honestly, it’s got more than just the basics. You get real-time protection, system clean-up tools, ad blocking, and mobile coverage. For under 20 bucks the first year? Not bad at all.
TotalAV Internet Security Pricing
- First year: $39.99
- Renewal: $129/year
- Devices covered: Up to 6
This is my personal pick for the best value. Why? You get everything in Premium, *plus* the VPN — and it’s not some throttled, slow mess. It actually works with Netflix and doesn’t ruin your streaming experience. Score.
TotalAV Total Security Pricing
- First year: $49.99
- Renewal: $149/year
- Devices covered: Up to 8
This plan’s for folks with lots of tech — or a family who loves to forget passwords. It includes the Total Password manager on top of everything else.
Need More Than 8 Devices?
Here’s where things get a bit weird. You can’t add extra devices during checkout (why, TotalAV, why?). But once you’re inside the app, you can add licenses à la carte:
- +1 device: $40/year
- +2 devices: $49/year
- +5 devices: $69/year
- Unlimited devices: $198/year
Yes, the per-device price looks high. But that’s just because the first-year discount is ridiculously generous. Once the plans renew at full price, the extra license fees start to make a lot more sense.
How to Get the Best Deal on TotalAV
If you’re here to save money (and who isn’t?), our special discount code knocks another $10 off the Premium plan. That brings it down to just $19.99 — less than what I spend on fancy coffee each month. You’re basically getting antivirus, ad blocker, and system tune-up tools for the cost of a couple lattes. Worth it. But if you’re the type who loves getting the best bang for your buck, go for Internet Security. That VPN alone makes it a steal at $39.99.
Heads-Up: Auto-Renew Is Turned On by Default
This is important — unless you like surprise charges, you’ll want to disable auto-renewal at some point. Thankfully, TotalAV has cleaned up its act since the old days when canceling was like escaping a cell phone contract.
To cancel, just head to:
- Dashboard > My Services > Manage
- Click Cancel
- They’ll email you a confirmation code. Enter it. Done.
If that sounds like too much work, you can always hit up support via live chat or email [email protected] and ask them to do it for you. Use PayPal. Seriously. It gives you way more control over canceling recurring charges. Plus, if anything goes sideways, PayPal’s dispute system is your friend.
Refund Policy
You’ve got a 30-day money-back guarantee. And yes, they actually honor it now (again, thanks to new management). You can request a refund via live chat, email, or phone — no smoke signals or carrier pigeons needed.
Refunds usually show up in 3–5 business days, depending on your payment method. If you paid with PayPal, it’s typically quicker.
TotalAV Reliability & Performance
Now, onto the meat of it: does TotalAV actually work? The short answer is yes — impressively well, actually. I didn’t want to just trust marketing claims, so I dove into AV-TEST’s independent lab results. This team rigorously tests antivirus tools with fresh malware, including zero-day threats, and their standards are no joke.
Windows Protection
In AV-TEST’s November and December 2024 rounds, TotalAV nailed it. It detected and blocked 100% of every single malware sample, from worms to remote-access trojans (aka the creepy stuff that gives hackers control over your system). If you’re running Windows, you’re in safe hands here.
Score: 6 out of 6
Zero-Day Threats
These are the scary ones — threats so new they’re not even in antivirus databases yet. AV-TEST hit TotalAV with 389 of them. Result? Blocked every single one. That’s a big deal.
Recently Discovered Malware
This test used over 12,000 malware samples found in the wild during the 4 weeks before testing. It’s like throwing the latest and nastiest malware at the software to see what breaks. Once again, TotalAV scored a perfect 100% detection rate.
It’s not just good — it’s elite-level protection. You’re not just safe, you’re fortress-mode safe.
Android Protection
AV-TEST tested 2,905 real-time malware threats and 2,924 slightly older Android threats. TotalAV’s Android app blocked 99.9% of them. Not bad at all — and good enough to earn another 6/6 score.
Score: 6 out of 6
macOS Protection
Here’s where the shine dulls just a bit. TotalAV’s Mac protection was still solid but not quite perfect. It blocked 99.5% of the 428 malware samples thrown at it. That’s still very good — but when you’ve got competitors hitting 100%, Mac users might want to consider alternatives if absolute protection is a must.
Score: 5.5 out of 6
TotalAV absolutely holds its own in a very crowded antivirus market. On Windows and Android, it’s top-tier. On Mac, it’s respectable. And with independent labs giving it the thumbs-up, this isn’t just another overhyped antivirus — it’s legit.
Performance impact on system – Windows
Let’s be real for a second — nobody likes it when their antivirus software starts acting like a control freak, hogging all the resources like it’s trying to mine crypto in the background. Thankfully, TotalAV mostly keeps its hands to itself… with a few exceptions.
One of the biggest concerns I usually have with antivirus programs is: “Will this thing slow my PC to a crawl?” Well, according to AV-TEST, TotalAV has a surprisingly light touch in most areas — with just a couple of bumps.
- Website load speeds: Launching websites with TotalAV running slowed things down by 20% on a standard PC and 17% on a high-end one. That may sound annoying, but compared to the industry average (22% and 18%, respectively), it’s actually better than most.
- Download speeds: Zero impact. Nada. Downloading 25 popular programs? TotalAV didn’t interfere at all — which is refreshing.
- App launch times: Apps opened 8% slower. Not ideal, but pretty much what you’d expect — that’s the industry average too.
- Installation times: Okay, here’s the rough patch. Installing apps was 22% slower, which is noticeably worse than the 14% average. So, maybe go grab a coffee while your app installs. Or two.
- File copying: Only a 1% slowdown on a standard PC, and 0% on high-end systems. Honestly? That’s excellent. The average is around 3%, so TotalAV nailed it here.
Final Score: 6 out of 6 — Even with the installation hiccup, TotalAV earned full marks. It’s like the student who aces the test but still forgets their homework once in a while.
Performance impact on system – Mac
Now let’s talk Mac — where everything’s supposed to “just work,” right? Well, TotalAV mostly behaves on macOS too. Not perfect, but far from annoying.
- Download speeds: No issues at all. It didn’t mess with your downloads, and that’s always a relief.
- App launch times: Apps launched just 2% slower, which is way better than the 6% industry average. That’s a win in my book.
- Installation times: Here’s the one eyebrow-raiser — app installs were 20% slower. Yeah, that’s a bit of a facepalm compared to the 7% average. It’s not the end of the world, but definitely a weak spot.
- File copying: Slowed down by just 2%, which is completely normal and on par with competitors.
Final Score: 6 out of 6 — Despite the installation slowdown, TotalAV still scores perfectly on Mac. If you’re not constantly installing apps (and let’s face it, who is?), you’ll probably never notice.
Performance impact on System – Android
Let’s not forget the pocket computers we live on. Android’s a big deal — more people browse the web on Android than on Windows, which is wild if you think about it. So how does TotalAV hold up on your phone? Honestly, it’s kind of a dream.
- No battery drain. Your phone won’t mysteriously die at 3 PM anymore.
- No noticeable slowdowns. Scroll, swipe, tap — all smooth.
- Background data usage is minimal. Great news for those of us who blow through data caps faster than we’d like to admit.
Final Score: 6 out of 6 — TotalAV on Android is what every mobile antivirus should strive to be: effective but invisible.
Usability and false positives
Here’s where I get picky — false positives. Nothing ruins your day like your antivirus suddenly deciding your legit software is “suspicious” and tossing it into quarantine. Fortunately, TotalAV doesn’t seem to have that paranoia problem.
- Windows: Out of 500 websites and over a million legit files, TotalAV didn’t flinch. No false alarms, no wrongful quarantines. Honestly, that’s rare — most antiviruses mess this up at least once or twice.
- Mac: Same story. Out of 100,000 scanned files and 80 tested apps, not a single false flag. It didn’t block, warn, or freak out unnecessarily. A+ for staying calm.
- Android: Just one false warning out of over 3,400 apps tested. That’s an excellent track record, especially on mobile, where things tend to get a little messier.
Final Score: 6 out of 6 — TotalAV is impressively well-behaved across all platforms. If you hate being interrupted with “Are you sure this app is safe?” alerts, this one’s for you.
Protection against ransomware attacks
Ransomware—just saying the word makes me cringe. That sneaky malware that locks down your files and demands ransom like some digital kidnapper. Luckily, TotalAV takes this threat seriously with real-time scanning that’s got your back. If ransomware even thinks about sneaking onto your PC, TotalAV blocks it at the gate, stopping it from downloading or wreaking havoc on your machine.
I dug into some heavy-duty lab tests from AV-Test and AV-Comparatives, and yep—TotalAV’s real-time protection is solid. It doesn’t just catch the usual ransomware, but zero-day ransomware attacks too. That means it’s ready to tackle brand-new threats no one’s seen before. Pretty reassuring, right?
How does TotalAV’s performance compare to Norton and McAfee?
Now, if you’re wondering how TotalAV stacks up against the big names like Norton and McAfee, here’s the scoop. Spoiler: TotalAV holds its own and then some. The table below breaks down the key metrics:
| Metric | TotalAV | Norton | McAfee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Malware detection | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Zero-day protection | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| False positives | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| System impact | 6/6 | 6/6 | 6/6 |
| Performance during background scans | 6/6 | 6/6 | 6/6 |
| AV-TEST Top Product Award | Yes | Yes | Yes |
What’s cool is that TotalAV throws in some extras—like a pretty slick VPN that I’ll dive into later—which gives it a bit of an edge on value. So it’s not just keeping pace, it’s adding bonus points.
Ease of use
One of the things I genuinely appreciate about TotalAV is how hassle-free it is to get up and running. Remember those days when you had to cough up your credit card details before even trying out the software? Yeah, thankfully those dark ages are over. TotalAV now offers a 7-day free trial—no strings attached. Just head to their website, hit that big Download Now button, and you’re off to the races. Installation takes a few minutes, which feels about right given it’s loading up a massive malware library in the background. So grab a coffee or check your messages while it does its thing. Once installed, it kicks off your first scan automatically—nice touch, no need to dig around. After it’s done, you can clear out any nasties it found and even tidy up your disk. Oh, and don’t skip the prompt for the free ad blocker—if you want cleaner browsing, it’s worth grabbing.
The trial version isn’t stingy either: you get real-time protection and on-demand scans, which is pretty generous. Just remember, this trial is only for 7 days. After that, it’s time to upgrade if you want to keep the shield up. Heads up though—the free trial only covers the basic antivirus. No scheduled scans, no WebShield, no VPN, no Total Cleaner, and no fancy extras like Total Drive with its 2 GB storage. You get what you pay for, after all.
Upgrading to TotalAV Premium
Ready to unlock the full arsenal? When your trial expires, TotalAV politely nudges you to upgrade. Hit that upgrade button, pick your plan, and voilà—instant access to all the goodies. If you want my advice, the Internet Security Plan is where the bang for your buck really kicks in, especially since it includes the VPN.
Once you enter your payment info and confirm, you’re good to go with premium features.
Full scan
I ran a full system scan on my trusty ASUS Zenbook 14 (500 GB hard drive, packed with 73 apps) to see how TotalAV performs in real life. Here’s what happened:
- TotalAV took 34 minutes and 19 seconds to finish the scan.
- Malwarebytes, by comparison, zipped through it in 15 minutes and 30 seconds.
Yeah, Malwarebytes was way faster, but I’m a bit skeptical. It’s been a rollercoaster ride for Malwarebytes lately, with some performance dips. So, I’m willing to accept that a slower scan with TotalAV might mean it’s being extra thorough—quality over speed, you know? After the scan, TotalAV shows you exactly what it found: malware threats, tracking cookies, junk files, autorun programs, browser history leftovers, duplicate junk, and even potentially unwanted apps (PUAs). You get to decide if you want to quarantine suspicious files first or just delete them outright—nice to have that control.
Scheduled scans
TotalAV gets scheduling right out of the box, with scans set for every Friday at 9 PM. But because I’m weird and prefer Mondays at 11 PM, I changed it in the settings—super straightforward. Bonus: I like to manually run clean-up scans rather than have them automatically delete stuff, so I unchecked the auto-clean option. It’s nice to have a say in what gets cleaned before anything disappears. I also tested the “Start as soon as possible” feature by scheduling a scan, shutting my laptop off, then turning it back on. Guess what? TotalAV didn’t miss a beat and kicked off the scan right away. Impressive reliability there.
Custom scans
Sometimes you just want to check a particular folder or file, right? TotalAV’s custom scan lets you do exactly that. I ran it on my downloads folder, and it worked smoothly without fuss. If you’re someone who frequently grabs files—music producers, filmmakers, or just a chronic downloader—this feature is a lifesaver. Target the high-risk spots on your device, whether that’s Windows, Mac, tablet, or smartphone.
Clean-up scan
I gave the disk cleaner a whirl to see if it could actually free up some space. Starting the clean-up scan was as easy as hitting a big green button on the dashboard. In less than a minute, it scanned everything and flagged over 1.7 GB of junk files waiting to be nuked. It also found 200+ tracking cookies, though I opted to keep my browser history intact because I’m a sucker for remembering what I googled last week. Overall, I was pleasantly surprised. The tool was effective, simple to use, and didn’t go rogue deleting stuff I wanted to keep. Extra space is always a welcome bonus, and having the option to pick and choose what stays or goes feels smart.
Simple startup app management
TotalAV also flags apps that start up with your computer. I keep my startup pretty lean, but it still caught one app I forgot about, so I disabled it—score one for me! That said, most of these cleanup features aren’t exclusive; Windows and browsers already cover some of this territory. But having it all in one place? That’s just convenience talking. One tiny gripe: when clearing junk files, you have to clear entire categories (like Windows Logs or Temporary Files) rather than individual files. I know some folks want that fine-grain control, but for most, this is just a minor nitpick.
Total browser
TotalAV throws in some neat extras, like its own secure browser designed to keep you away from malware-riddled sites and ad overload. It defaults to Yahoo search (meh), but you can switch it to DuckDuckGo if you’re privacy-minded like me. I expected WebShield to block dodgy sites automatically inside the browser, but nope—you need to add the extension manually, just like you would on Chrome or Firefox. Aside from that, Total Browser felt zippy and reliable. It supports Chrome extensions too, so you’re not losing your favorite add-ons. Would I ditch Firefox or Chrome for it? Probably not. But hey, it’s a solid option for folks who want an all-in-one package.
Total Adblock
I installed the TotalAV ad blocker in Chrome and gave it a whirl on some seriously ad-heavy sites. It cleaned up pop-ups and annoying ads pretty well, with a clean and simple interface. To really test it, I compared it to the Malwarebytes ad blocker on a notoriously cluttered site (with my usual blockers paused). Total Adblock caught seven ads and trackers, while Malwarebytes only snagged three. Impressive, though it’s not a hardcore blocker—Twitch ads, for example, still sneak through. So, if you want a complete ad-free experience, you’ll need something stronger. But for basic ad and tracker blocking? Total Adblock gets the job done.
TotalAV WebShield: How well does it work?
The WebShield extension is designed to keep you safe from phishing sites and malware-heavy pages. It’s available for Chrome, Firefox, Opera, and Edge, which is handy. I installed it, and it immediately started blocking suspicious sites, replacing them with a big warning page. Plus, the Safe Search feature marks sites with a green tick or red cross, which is a nice heads-up before you accidentally wander into sketchy territory. WebShield does a fantastic job at catching phishing attempts and fake login pages. If it ever flags a site you trust, no worries—you can whitelist it. Nice and flexible.
One minor downside: WebShield doesn’t include ad blocking. You need to run Total Adblock alongside it. They work smoothly together, but I can’t help wishing they’d just combined them into one extension. Oh well, can’t have everything. WebShield also offers some nice privacy perks—Strict Privacy Settings, third-party tracker blocking, and a Quiet Mode that cuts down interruptions while you browse. It’s like having a security guard who knows when to chill.
Total VPN: A high-speed VPN at a reasonable price
Alright, let’s be real—VPNs bundled with antivirus software usually come with some pretty meh features. TotalAV VPN isn’t going to blow your mind with a gazillion bells and whistles like the big-name standalone VPNs, but honestly, it’s surprisingly solid.
While many antivirus VPNs barely offer basic protection, TotalAV throws in the heavy hitters: OpenVPN and WireGuard protocols. If you’re a speed junkie like me, you know WireGuard is basically the Usain Bolt of VPN protocols. Here’s a quick rundown of what’s on offer across different platforms: Unlike some VPNs that come as awkward afterthoughts, TotalAV’s VPN feels more like a full-fledged, standalone service. You get access to servers in 30 countries and 24 cities across the US—which, for all you sports fans trying to dodge blackout restrictions, is pretty clutch.
Plus, the usual must-haves are all there: kill switch, no-logs policy, and a choice between AES-256 encryption or the newer, faster ChaCha20 when you use WireGuard. My only gripe? No OpenVPN support on Mac, but since WireGuard’s there, it’s hardly a dealbreaker.And get this—this whole package (antivirus + VPN) runs you just $39.99 for the first year. That’s less than or on par with the big VPN names like ExpressVPN ($59.88/year), NordVPN ($40.68/year), and Surfshark ($26.28/year). Oh, and don’t forget, you’re also getting an ad blocker, anti-tracking tools, phishing protection, disk cleanup, and 2 GB of free cloud storage no matter which plan you pick. Not bad, right?
TotalAV app VS the standalone Total VPN app
So, you might be wondering—are the VPN controls the same if you run it inside the main TotalAV app versus the standalone Total VPN app? I was curious, too, so I dug in. Turns out, if you use the VPN inside the Windows antivirus app, it defaults to the IKEv2 protocol with no option to switch to WireGuard. Bummer. But in the standalone TotalVPN app, WireGuard is the default, plus you get the Hydra protocol, which is supposed to be even faster. If you’re protocol picky, go standalone. Here’s the catch, though—the kill switch only works inside the main TotalAV app, along with a nifty auto-connect feature that kicks in when you join public Wi-Fi. So, there’s a bit of a trade-off depending on which app you prefer.
Total VPN leak test
Privacy nerd alert: I ran some rigorous leak tests (IP, DNS, WebRTC—you know, the usual suspects that can sneak your info out) just to make sure Total VPN actually keeps your data locked down. Spoiler: It passed with flying colors. Not a single leak. Nice.
TotalAV customer support
I’m not gonna lie, I’m usually skeptical about customer support in these things, but TotalAV’s live chat surprised me. The agent took about 4 minutes and 23 seconds to respond—could be faster, but hey, not terrible. They were polite, knowledgeable, and nailed my questions. One question was a bit trickier (I asked about VPN protocol support across different apps), and the agent took a little time to come back, but when they did, the answer was spot-on. And when I inquired about the 2 GB free cloud storage, the info was clear and accurate. If chatting isn’t your jam, you can hit them up via email or phone, but fair warning—the FAQs and guides on the website felt kinda sparse. So, live chat is probably your best bet for quick answers.
Review conclusion: Should you use TotalAV?
If you want an antivirus that just works—reliable, packed with features, and doesn’t drain your system—TotalAV fits the bill nicely. The Premium and Internet Security plans are reasonably priced, especially if you snag one of those sweet deals (like getting Premium for $19 through our link). Honestly, the Internet Security plan is the smart pick if you want the VPN, because Total VPN is seriously impressive for an antivirus bundle.
Looking to unblock Netflix or keep yourself safe on public Wi-Fi? This VPN won’t let you down. Performance-wise, TotalAV delivers solid protection without turning your device into a laggy mess. Mac users might hesitate, thinking there are better options out there, but honestly, the low system impact TotalAV has on Macs makes it worth considering. Heads up, the price jumps once your first year is up, but if you’re savvy, just cancel before renewal and grab another discount elsewhere. No rocket science there.
Antivirus testing methodology
We don’t just take claims at face value. Our approach? Throw antivirus programs into real-world scenarios and see how they perform on key fronts like:
- How well they detect and remove malware
- Pricing transparency and auto-renewal policies
- System impact during scans
- Basic and advanced features
To keep things legit, we lean on data from AV-TEST, AV Comparatives, MRG Effitas, and SE Labs. For the curious, check out our deep dive into our testing methodology.
TotalAV antivirus review FAQs
Does TotalAV protect against phishing attacks?
Yep! TotalAV’s WebShield blocks phishing sites and comes with all paid plans. You can add it as an extension to Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Opera. It also flags dodgy sites in Google search results with red crosses. Handy, right?
Can I turn off auto-renewal in TotalAV?
You can, but it means canceling your subscription. Don’t worry—you still get to use the antivirus for the duration you paid for. Just make sure to cancel before it auto-renews if you want to avoid surprise charges.
Does TotalAV VPN keep my browsing private?
Absolutely. The VPN stops your ISP, local networks, and even government snoops from seeing your online activity. Plus, it uses strong encryption to shield you from hackers on sketchy public Wi-Fi, including those sneaky Evil Twin attacks. So yeah, your data’s safe here.