A virtual private network is an important tool for protecting your privacy, but despite certain misconceptions, a VPN isn’t a silver bullet for all of your online privacy and security needs. A VPN can boost your privacy online, making it so neither your internet service provider nor any other entity attempting to snoop on your internet activity will be able to see what you’re up to online, like the websites you visit or apps you use. An antivirus program, on the other hand, is a security tool that can help keep your computer secure and free of harmful malware. Your antivirus software can analyze files you download and continuously scan your system in real time to detect and neutralize potential threats. Both of these tools cover different parts of your overall privacy and security needs. Here are the best VPNs with antivirus for enhancing your privacy and security.
VPN DEALS OF THE WEEK
What is the best VPN with antivirus right now?
Surfshark
Surfshark is currently the best VPN with antivirus right now, thanks to its bevy of privacy and security features at a wallet-friendly price. On top of being one of the best VPNs on the planet, Surfshark’s antivirus solution is AV-test certified, feature-rich and available on Windows, MacOS and Android devices.
PIA
PIA is another excellent VPN that offers antivirus protection as an optional paid add-on. PIA’s antivirus solution provides standard features without a ton of extras and is available only for Windows users. It’s a terrific option for budget- and privacy-conscious users because a yearly subscription with VPN plus antivirus protection is cheaper than many standalone VPNs on the market.
Best cheap VPN
Surfshark
Pros
- Fast
- Unlimited simultaneous connections
- RAM-only server infrastructure
- Lots of unique features
- Split tunneling on Windows, Android, MacOS and iOS
Cons
- 14-Eyes jurisdiction (Netherlands)
- Major renewal price increase
Surfshark is a solid option for anyone looking for a premium VPN experience for a cheaper price than ExpressVPN or NordVPN. Surfshark boasts an impressive roster of useful premium features that deliver a lot of value. It can’t quite match NordVPN’s speed or ExpressVPN’s overall privacy position, but it comes remarkably close at a lower price. All in all, Surfshark is a top-notch VPN that demonstrates consistent improvement year after year.
Why we like it
Surfshark’s apps are slick, simple to use and deliver a consistent user experience across platforms, including Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Apple TV, Fire TV and Android TV. Streaming enthusiasts will appreciate that Surfshark does a good job of unblocking content on most platforms and streaming services and that it offers apps for smart TVs as well as streaming devices. Other than a few minor hiccups, Surfshark’s streaming experience was solid, which we would expect from a top-tier VPN service, and it offers unlimited simultaneous connections while most VPNs limit you to 10 or fewer.
We’re impressed with Surfshark’s consistently fast speeds over the past few years, with an average speed loss hovering in the high-teens. We measured an average speed loss of 21% in our 2025 speed tests — which is technically slower than previous years, but shouldn’t result in a noticeable difference in practice. Surfshark’s network of over 4,500 servers across 100 different countries is large, but somewhat smaller than those provided by ExpressVPN (105 countries), Proton VPN (129 countries) and NordVPN (130 countries). A large network of servers like what Surfshark offers can help ensure fast speeds and stable connections by minimizing congestion and offering more options for more users to connect to servers nearby their physical location.
In addition to standard privacy protections like its kill switch, no-logs policy and DNS leak protection, Surfshark includes a few unique features that help it stand out from the pack. Dynamic Multihop lets you tunnel through any two server locations of your choosing for an added layer of privacy, and Rotating IP switches your IP address every few minutes, making it harder to track you online. Surfshark’s Alternative ID lets you create an alter-ego complete with full name, physical address, and email address that you can use online without divulging your true identity. Following the lead of other VPN providers including ExpressVPN, Mullvad and NordVPN, Surfshark rolled out post-quantum protections this year to protect against potential future threats from quantum computers. Even though Surfshark is still playing catchup in terms of transparency, we’re encouraged by company representatives telling us they’re committing to annual third-party audits.
While Surfshark’s $15.45 per month rate makes it one of the most expensive monthly subscription prices in the industry, prices for its longer-term plans are reasonable. The yearly plan costs $48 for the first year and $79 annually thereafter, and the two-year plan costs $60 total for the first two years combined, then $79 annually. Surfshark’s renewal prices increased this year, but its overall pricing is still significantly cheaper than ExpressVPN’s $75 for the first 15 months or $98 for the first 28 months (renewing at $100 annually on the one- and two-year plans), as well as NordVPN’s $60 for the first year or $81 total for the first two years (renewing at $140 annually for the one- and two-year plans).
Antivirus is available starting on the Surfshark One tier, which costs $18 per month, $55 for the first year or $67 total for the first two years combined (renewing at $119 annually for the one- and two-year plans).You also get antivirus with Surfshark’s One Plus plan, which gives you everything from One, but adds the company’s Incogni data removal service. And like many other VPNs, Surfshark offers a 30-day money-back guarantee in case you’re not satisfied with the service.
- Also featured in: Best VPN Service, Best VPN for Windows
Best Cheap Alternative
PIA
Pros
- Cheaper than most competitors
- Excellent privacy and transparency
- Extremely customizable apps
- Open-source apps
- Great device support, including a Linux GUI app
- Solid server network
Cons
- Uneven server speeds
- Somewhat clunky app design
- Lots of CAPTCHAs
PIA is a wallet-friendly VPN that’s cheaper than most competitors at $12 per month, $40 for the first year (renewing at $50 annually) or $79 every three years. PIA also offers unlimited simultaneous connections, a benefit that pricier VPNs like Proton, ExpressVPN and NordVPN don’t have. It’s suitable for streaming, provides a solid network of 35,000-plus servers in 91 countries and has highly customizable, albeit a little unpolished, apps. People who live in or frequently travel to the US may appreciate PIA’s servers in all 50 of the United States — which can be helpful for streaming regional sports, like NFL games.
Why we like it
We like that its apps are open-source, meaning anyone can inspect the source code for bugs or vulnerabilities. Only a few other providers, including Proton VPN and Mullvad, have open-source apps. While PIA largely sticks to the basics, it features a few unique privacy perks, including split tunneling on MacOS (which lets you use a VPN for certain apps and services but not others) — a rarity among VPN providers. Notably, Surfshark also offers split tunneling on MacOS.
But unfortunately, PIA was rough around the edges in our latest round of testing. We clocked an underwhelming 49% average speed loss, which was meaningfully higher than the 25% average we like to see. Additionally, we encountered many CAPTCHAs while trying to perform basic tasks like running a Google search. Although streaming was largely decent, we had to change servers more often than with other providers, like NordVPN, Proton VPN, ExpressVPN or Surfshark. You can get Surfshark, which delivers far faster speeds, a better streaming experience and more forward-thinking privacy features, for a little more money. Still, PIA can be good on a budget if you need comprehensive US server coverage.
- Also featured in: Best VPN for iPhone, Best Cheap VPN
Do you need to use a VPN and antivirus software?
We’ve tested plenty of online privacy and security tools at CNET over the years, including VPNs, antivirus and password managers with the same focus on quality and value for money. Each one is designed for a specific task, so you shouldn’t rely on just one.
A VPN might be able to provide surface-level malware protections, but it won’t do anything about malware already on your computer like a full antivirus solution will. By the same token, antivirus software can’t encrypt your internet traffic and protect your privacy like a VPN can.
That’s why you should consider using both a VPN and antivirus software. And you don’t need to buy each separately, as some of the best VPNs also offer an optional antivirus add-on. While it can be a little more expensive than just the base VPN subscription, bundled plans can bring the price down way below purchasing a VPN and antivirus separately — plus, you can manage your antivirus and VPN from the same app.
Should you bundle your VPN and antivirus software or go with separate solutions?
Whether to bundle your VPN and antivirus software is entirely up to you and will depend mostly on your budget and what you want out of your VPN and your antivirus software. Perhaps the two most compelling reasons to bundle VPN and antivirus software are cost and convenience.
It’s convenient to have multiple online services under one umbrella with a consistent user experience as opposed to having multiple logins or dealing with different interfaces across various services. You could also potentially save some cash by bundling under one provider. An annual subscription for a standalone VPN can range anywhere from $40 to $140 or more per year and an annual subscription for an antivirus program can cost an additional $20 to $100 per year, depending on how many devices you need to protect. Whereas, if you bundle your VPN and antivirus software, you can expect to pay around $60 to $100 per year total.
On the other hand, if the VPN’s antivirus solution doesn’t include the features you’re looking for or doesn’t provide all of the protections you need, then you’ll probably want to go with a separate antivirus program. Or if the VPN that works best for your needs doesn’t include antivirus protection, then you’ll need to go with separate solutions.
Factors to consider in a VPN with antivirus
There’s a lot that can go into your decision on which service to go with, but based on my years of using and researching VPNs, these are the most important factors to consider when choosing a VPN with antivirus software.
Antivirus software included with the VPN
If you want a VPN with an antivirus included, your primary consideration will be that the VPN you choose offers antivirus protection. Not many VPNs include antivirus software at this time, so your choices are somewhat limited. But VPNs are increasingly adding additional services like password managers and antivirus solutions to their portfolios, so you may have more options in the future. Antivirus companies like Norton and Avast also offer VPN solutions.
Privacy/security
You’ll want your VPN to protect your privacy and your antivirus software to secure your computer. Look for a VPN that offers AES 256-bit encryption on OpenVPN and IKEv2 and ChaCha20 with Wireguard, along with privacy protections like a kill switch, DNS leak protection and an audited no-logs policy. The antivirus software that comes along with your VPN should include virus/malware detection and removal, real-time protection, malicious website blocking and automatic updates to keep on top of evolving threats.
Price
If you’re on a budget, price will be an important consideration. If you’re purchasing a VPN bundled with antivirus software, then you can expect to pay about $15 per month or between $60 and $100-plus per year, depending on what’s included in the VPN’s package. Naturally, it’ll be more expensive than getting just the VPN on its own, but you’ll probably save some cash over getting a VPN and antivirus separately. If you’re worried about committing to a year-long subscription, you can always back out after testing the antivirus if your provider offers a money-back guarantee. Regardless, we generally don’t recommend you subscribe for any time longer than a year, as a lot can change in terms of quality and performance within that timeframe.
Usability
Your VPN should be as easy to use as any other app you’re used to using. Connecting to a VPN server and navigating the settings should be a simple, straightforward affair — whether you’re an experienced VPN user or a total newbie. As for the antivirus, you should barely even know it’s there because it should work in the background with minimal impact on the performance of your computer. That said, you should be able to hop into the settings and customize your antivirus security protection and schedule scans easily whenever you need to.
How we tested VPNs with antivirus
I picked the best VPNs with antivirus based on our exhaustive VPN testing process and took into account which of CNET’s top VPN picks offer fully fledged, high-quality antivirus protection alongside their VPN services. When we evaluate VPNs at CNET, we test the VPN’s speeds by conducting over 250 internet speed tests per provider, run DNS leak tests, check its streaming capabilities, test all features across available platforms and evaluate its overall usability and value. We also take a deep dive into each VPN provider’s privacy policy, along with its corporate structure and history. Throughout the process, we maintain close contact with company representatives via email and video conferencing to ensure any questions we may have are clarified or issues we have are addressed.
Other VPNs we tested
NordVPN
NordVPN is a top-tier VPN provider that earns an honorable mention here because of its Threat Protection Pro feature that’s built into its VPN software. While not a full-fledged antivirus solution, NordVPN’s Threat Protection Pro does many things that an antivirus program does, like scanning downloaded files to check for potential threats, scanning existing applications for vulnerabilities and blocking malicious websites. The feature also blocks ads and trackers and can detect double extensions to help guard against files sneaking malware onto your device.
NordVPN is currently the only VPN to be awarded AV-Comparatives’ anti-phishing certification. However, Threat Protection Pro lacks key antivirus features like full system scans, quarantine and removal of existing malware, webcam protection and automatic updates. In February 2026, NordVPN added CrowdStrike Threat Intelligence to its Threat Protection Pro service to bolster malware, phishing and scam website protection.
NordVPN’s Threat Protection Pro feature is available along with the VPN and NordPass password manager on the Plus, Complete and Prime subscription tiers for Windows and Mac users. The Plus tier costs $15.29 per month, $65.88 for the first year or $93.36 for the first two years (the one- and two-year plans renew at $179.88 annually). The Complete plan goes for $18.69 per month, $83.88 for the first year or $129.36 for the first two years (the one- and two-year plans renew at $219.48 annually). Prime costs $25.29 a month, $107.88 for the first year or $177.36 for the first two years (the one- and two-year plans renew at $296.28 annually).
As a VPN, NordVPN is one of the best. The VPN boasts fast speeds, a huge network of servers in 130 countries, excellent streaming capabilities and solid privacy features.
Read our NordVPN review.
Norton Secure VPN
Norton may be most well-known for its antivirus solutions, but just as many VPNs now offer security software, so too does Norton provide privacy software. In our hands-on testing, we were underwhelmed by Norton Secure VPN. While we found it easy to use, we experienced IPv6 leaks, there was a lot of personal data collection and its US jurisdiction proved less than ideal for people with serious privacy concerns.
Compared with many of our top VPN picks, Norton Secure VPN falls quite short. We clocked sluggish speeds, were disappointed by its small server network and lack of Linux support. However, Norton is making improvements, like adding support for Google TV, Apple TV streaming devices and smart TVs. But for the money, you can get a VPN with more robust privacy features, better app support and faster speeds.
Read our Norton Secure VPN review.
Many antivirus providers offer VPNs, but we don’t recommend most of them
Just as a handful of VPN providers now offer bundles that include additional cybersecurity tools, so too do many antivirus providers — like Bitdefender and McAfee — now offer VPNs. While bundling can be convenient, offering potential financial savings and the convenience of a single bill rather than multiple, a package deal has downsides. Namely, many VPNs from antivirus providers haven’t been audited (an important trust signal), lack diverse app support, have small server networks and may be slow. Additionally, you might miss out on features to enhance your privacy even further than a standard VPN connection, such as obfuscation (which tries to hide the fact that you’re using a VPN), or specialty servers that make it even more difficult to trace your traffic back to your device, like Tor Over VPN and double VPN servers.
Accordingly, we don’t suggest using your antivirus provider’s VPN for anything but basic privacy. For most people, from streaming enthusiasts to privacy buffs, we recommend sticking with a reliable VPN like ExpressVPN or NordVPN. On a budget, Surfshark and Mullvad are great choices, and Proton VPN is the best free VPN on the market.
If you already have a VPN and don’t want to pay for security software, there are some great free antivirus programs — including built-in software for both Windows and MacOS (yes, even Macs can get viruses).
For more, learn how to keep your computer and phone safe from cyber threats.
VPN with antivirus FAQ
