Scanguard Antivirus Review 2024 — Is It Worth the Price?

Updated on: January 8, 2024
Fact Checked by Sam Boyd
Paige Henley
Paige Henley
Published on: January 8, 2024

Scanguard Review: Quick Expert Summary

Scanguard has flawless malware detection rates and offers a range of useful security tools. It performed well throughout my testing, and its virus scanner detected a wide range of malware.

Besides good malware protection, Scanguard includes anti-phishing protection, a disk cleaner, web protection, and a firewall. Other features like a password vault, VPN, and data breach checker are available as add-ons for additional fees.

Unfortunately, Scanguard’s add-on features are quite expensive, and it would probably make more sense for users to buy better standalone products instead. For example, the VPN’s yearly plan costs the same as CyberGhost VPN (one of our highest-rated standalone VPNs).

I found that Scanguard is an almost identical service to TotalAV and PCProtect— even down to the interface design. This is because they are all sold by the same company, which offers slightly different packages for each one. This is strange, but because they all use the very good Avira antivirus engine, at least you know you’re getting high-quality malware protection.

Scanguard is covered by a 30-day money-back guarantee for annual subscribers (and there’s a 14-day money-back guarantee for monthly subscribers), so you can try it out risk-free and see if it’s the service for you.

🏅Overall Rank #36 out of 75 antiviruses
🔥 Firewall
🌐 VPN
(Paid add-on)
🎁 Free Plan
💵 Pricing $29.00 / year
💰 Money-Back Guarantee 30 days (annual subscribers)
14 days (monthly subscribers)
💻 Operating Systems Windows, Mac, Android

Try Scanguard Now (30 Days Risk-Free)

Scanguard Full Review

Scanguard Full Review

Scanguard is a secure antivirus with an intuitive interface that makes it easy to use and customize its many features.

Its malware scanner is powered by a whitelisted version of Avira’s anti-malware engine (the same as TotalAV), which is widely recognized as one of the best in the industry — this means that Scanguard comes with the same flawless malware detection rates as Avira. But to make use of Scanguard’s full suite of features, including the VPN and ad blocker, you need to pay a lot more than the starting price.

Having said that, the starting price for the paid plan (with no add-ons) is $29.00 / year, and it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee (there’s a 14-day money-back guarantee for monthly subscribers).

Save 75% on Scanguard today!
Get Essential Antivirus for only $29.00!

Scanguard Security Features

Malware Scan

Scanguard Security Features

Scanguard uses the same antivirus engine as Avira (which provides excellent malware protection) to deliver real-time malware scanning and on-demand antivirus scans. Avira is an award-winning engine and one of our top-rated antiviruses for 2024.

You can choose between 4 different types of scan:

  • Quick scan — Scans currently running processes, temporary files, and browser files in under 2 minutes.
  • System scan — Performs a full scan of your device.
  • Smart scan — Quickly scans and finds suggestions to improve system performance.
  • Custom scan — Allows particular drives, files, or folders to be scanned.

All the scans worked great in my tests. By downloading test files from a malware database, I was able to ensure that the scans could find potential dangers and malicious files hidden throughout my device. The system scan was relatively quick (it took just over one hour), and the quick scan was completed in under 2 minutes.

In addition to active scans, Scanguard comes with real-time malware protection. This is designed to block you from downloading harmful files as well as opening malicious programs. These protections work well, even identifying suspicious zipped files.

I’d put Scanguard’s malware protections up there with the best antiviruses available in 2024. However, brands like Norton and Bitdefender offer the most powerful malware protections along with added extras like specialist ransomware protections.

WebShield

Scanguard Security Features

WebShield provides protection against malicious sites, including sites that are designed to steal user data through phishing attacks. It also has several additional features including a web cache cleaner, ad blocker, and real-time blocking of access to ‘Low Trust’ websites — suspicious websites that could potentially have malicious content and scam adverts.

During my tests, WebShield stopped me from accessing most malicious sites, including verified phishing sites listed on PhishTank. However, it didn’t stop me from accessing every malicious site. In comparison, Bitdefender’s web protections are much better, catching every malicious page I tried visiting.

Overall, Scanguard’s web protections are good, but not perfect. It detected the majority of dangerous sites I tried to visit, but it did miss a few others.

Password Vault

Scanguard Security Features

Scanguard’s Password Vault is a standard password manager with decent security. It’s easy to set up and use, and it can be fully integrated into Chrome, Edge, or Firefox.

Password Vault only requires users to remember one password (their master password), meaning you can access your stored passwords and auto-fill login details using just one password. Also, its seamless web browser integration makes it easy to access your passwords as needed on all of your devices. Scanguard’s Password Vault also includes a password generator that creates secure passwords using a mix of characters and symbols.

However, there aren’t many extra features available. Apart from some very basic customization options, there isn’t much more to this password manager. I would have liked to at least see one two-factor authentication (2FA) option so I could add an extra layer of security to my password vault.

Unfortunately, Scanguard’s offering is nowhere near as good as standalone password managers like 1Password or Dashlane, both of which include a wide range of additional features like advanced two-factor authentication, breach monitoring, secure password sharing, and more.

Overall, Scanguard’s Password Vault is lacking useful features and would only suit users who need a basic password manager. If you’re looking for a password manager with a wide range of features and advanced security, you’re better off trying a standalone option like 1Password.

System Tune-Up

Scanguard Security Features

Scanguard’s System Tune-Up feature comes with various tools to help optimize your device, including:

  • Junk Cleaner.
  • Duplicate File Finder.
  • Application Uninstaller.
  • Startup Manager.
  • Browser Cleanup.

The Junk Cleaner allowed me to clear nearly 500 MB of unnecessary files — the files were identified and deleted in under a minute. I also used the Duplicate File Finder to get rid of some unwanted copies, including duplicate photographs that had been adding unnecessary clutter to my photo gallery.

While the available tools functioned really well, I would have liked to see a few more. Unlike some similar services such as TotalAV, Scanguard’s System Tune-Up doesn’t include disk optimization tools like a disk usage analyzer.

I would have also liked some sort of performance-boosting options, like Norton’s Game Booster (which improves system performance while gaming) or Avira’s System Speedup Pro (a huge range of tools to improve overall system performance, including startup times).

Having said that, Scanguard’s tools worked well throughout my testing. Each feature was easy to use and worked quickly to help tune up my system. While I would like to see Scanguard offer more device optimization features (like the tools offered by Avira and Norton), its current optimization options work as intended.

Safe Browsing VPN (Virtual Private Network)

Scanguard Security Features

Scanguard’s Safe Browsing VPN provides a surprisingly good experience for browsing and streaming. But it comes at an extra cost (it’s an add-on feature that isn’t included in Scanguard’s premium plan).

The VPN has industry-standard features such as browsing data encryption and a kill switch, which cuts you off from the internet if the VPN goes down, ensuring you’re not online without its protection.

It also provides users with access to 42 server locations in Europe, the Americas, Africa, and Asia. While Scanguard’s range of server locations is quite good, I would like to see more server locations available. Premium standalone VPNs like ExpressVPN offer 90+ server locations.

I had success accessing my accounts on several streaming services including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+. However, unlike many standalone VPNs, Scanguard’s offering doesn’t feature optimized streaming servers, so consistent streaming with minimal lagging or buffering isn’t guaranteed.

I ran a series of tests, comparing my speeds without a VPN to the results I got while connected to local and distant VPN servers. Here are my results.

Scanguard Security Features

Generally, the speeds held up well, even on the distant servers. The VPN was quick enough for browsing, streaming, and even torrenting (but torrenting is only available on its non-US servers).

But the major issue I had with the VPN was the price. While the service worked well, it costs as much as a premium VPN like CyberGhost VPN or ExpressVPN, which has way more features, including a huge range of optimized servers and many more server locations.

All in all, Safe Browsing is a solid VPN that delivers security and good speeds even on distant servers. However, because of the high price, I would recommend trying a standalone VPN instead to get access to a much larger network of servers, optimized streaming servers, and more.

Ad Blocker

Scanguard Security Features

AdBlock Pro is an ad and tracker blocker browser extension, but it’s a paid add-on. It does a good job of blocking ads and trackers but doesn’t offer more for the price than a standalone ad blocker or VPN with ad blocking (such as Private Internet Access).

During my tests, AdBlock Pro blocked over 20 ads and tracking links within the first 15 minutes of using it. However, while I’m impressed by how effective it is, you can get an ad blocker that is just as effective with a top antivirus like Avira without having to pay extra.

Data Breach Checker

Scanguard Security Features

The Data Breach Checker monitors the dark web for any of your login credentials. This feature works well, and it alerted me when one of my online accounts had been leaked. This allowed me to access said account and change the password before hackers gained access to it.

However, I much prefer Norton’s dark web monitoring feature, which is not only far more advanced (it scans the dark web for credit card details, home addresses, ID documents, and a lot more), but also scans the dark web in real-time and provides instant alerts.

Scanguard’s Data Breach Checker doesn’t do any more than free sites offering the same service, but it at least includes this feature with your Scanguard subscription (unlike AdBlock Pro or the Safe Browsing VPN, it doesn’t incur any extra cost). However, if you’re looking for more advanced data breach protection, Norton’s dark web monitoring tools are the best on the market currently.

Scanguard Plans & Pricing

Scanguard has 1 free plan and 1 premium plan, but it also offers a wide range of add-on features that come at an additional cost, ranging from a cyber security eBook to a VPN. The VPN performed well during my testing, but it also ended up costing more than Scanguard’s base subscription.

The free plan comes with Scanguard’s quick scan, WebShield protection, anti-phishing protection, and anti-spyware tools. However, it’s missing real-time protection and full-system scanning, which is a significant disadvantage if you’re wanting to completely protect your devices.

Scanguard’s paid plan, Essential Antivirus ($29.00 / year), includes many features and covers up to 5 devices (including PC, Mac, and Android devices). More device connections can be added from the store, but this can really cause your costs to climb.

Essential Antivirus includes access to everything in the free plan, in addition to full system scan capabilities, the Data Breach Checker, Password Vault, and System Tune-Up. But for add-on features like the VPN, AdBlock Pro, and Advanced Scanning (cloud-based real-time malware scanning), you need to pay extra.

Scanguard’s paid plan is covered by a 30-day money-back guarantee for annual subscribers and a 14-day money-back guarantee for monthly subscribers. Here’s a quick overview of both plans:

Free Plan Essential Antivirus
Platforms PC, Mac, Android PC, Mac, Android
Price Free $29.00 / year
Number of device licenses 1 5
Malware scanning & removal
Real-time protection
Ransomware protection
Web protections
Firewall
Wi-Fi protection
Password manager
VPN
(Available as a paid add-on)
System Tune-up Tools
Password Vault
Data Breach Checker
Disk Cleaner

Overall, I don’t think Scanguard offers a good value. Not only is its paid plan far more expensive than antiviruses that offer much better products, but it also charges extra for features that are included with other antivirus packages by default. For example, Norton 360 Deluxe offers much better features, including a VPN, advanced dark web monitoring, performance optimization tools, and more, while costing far less than Scanguard’s Essential Antivirus plan.

Scanguard Ease of Use & Setup

Scanguard Ease of Use & Setup

Scanguard uses an intuitive interface with a sidebar that makes finding all of its tools and features very straightforward. The sidebar is split into several different categories, which include:

  • Malware protection.
  • Internet security.
  • System tune-up tools.
  • Password vault.
  • Family sharing accounts.
  • Settings.

I had the Windows app installed in under 3 minutes by following the installation wizard’s instructions and had no issues. I tested what was offered on the free plan (just a quick scan) before upgrading to the paid plan. The tools included with the paid plan were made available to me immediately (though extras like the VPN took a few minutes to become available after purchasing them separately).

The settings tab is well-organized, allowing users to easily customize each feature. While it may take a bit of time to fully understand each setting, it’s very easy to adjust each one to suit your needs. I really liked the scan scheduling settings, which allowed me to customize almost all aspects of the scan, including start and end time, scan type, and even the type of files for which the anti-malware engine scans.

Scanguard Ease of Use & Setup

Overall, Scanguard’s desktop apps are very easy to use. With features ranging from antivirus scans to a data breach checker, it could be easy for things to feel cluttered. However, even with a good amount of customization options available for each feature, I never felt confused or overwhelmed by the interface.

Scanguard Mobile App

As of April 2023, Scanguard’s mobile app has been removed from the Google Play Store. If you’re in the market for a good mobile antivirus, check out our 10 best Android antiviruses of 2024.

Scanguard Mobile App

Scanguard only offers a mobile app for Android (there’s no iOS app available). I tested the Android app using my Samsung Galaxy device and I was generally happy with how well it worked. The app has an easy-to-navigate interface, and I didn’t encounter any glitches throughout my testing.

Many features available on the desktop apps have been well integrated into the Android app, such as the malware scanner, VPN, and junk cleaner. Each of these features worked just as well as they did for my Windows tests.

However, some competitors offer features that are notably missing from Scanguard’s mobile apps. For example, Scanguard’s app doesn’t include spam and fraud call alerts, scam SMS message filtering, and dark web monitoring (all of which are included with Norton’s Android app). I would have liked to see a few more extras included within the Android app.

Overall, I found Scanguard’s Android app to be about as good as its desktop version. I didn’t experience any glitches or slowdowns, and the integrated features all worked well. This app was also easy to use, but I much prefer Norton’s antivirus app as it offers many more features and support for both Android and iOS devices.

Scanguard Customer Support

I was initially impressed by the wide variety of support options Scanguard had available. Unfortunately, the quality didn’t match up to the number of services.

Scanguard Customer Support

The FAQs and video tutorials have some helpful info, but not enough. I couldn’t find the specific answers I needed in the help center, terms, or privacy policy.

I tried emailing Scanguard about the VPN, but I never received replies to my emails.

Upon calling the phone support, I found out that it was only for billing issues. The option for tech support led to a message advising me to send an email, after which the call ended automatically.

My best experience with Scanguard’s customer support was through their live chat, where the support representative was friendly and responsive. However, despite multiple attempts, I was unable to receive satisfactory answers to my questions.

Scanguard Customer Support

Scanguard’s customer support is pretty bad overall, particularly if you need technical advice. I never received a response to my email (though I noticed an expensive add-on for priority support in the store), and live chat didn’t answer my questions properly.

Is Scanguard a Good Antivirus Program in 2024?

Scanguard is an okay antivirus service with some good but overpriced add-on features. It’s a pretty expensive choice for 2024 — even if you avoid the add-ons. If I’m honest, you can get a lot more for your money by trying another premium antivirus program, like Norton or Bitdefender.

That said, Scanguard still offers decent malware and web protections. Its malware scanner is powered by the same effective Avira anti-malware engine used by similar services like TotalAV and PCProtect. When I tested the malware scanner on my Windows and Android devices, it found the test malware I downloaded with no issues.

Scanguard’s Safe Browsing VPN worked great during my testing, but it is very overpriced (it is only available as a paid add-on). The VPN allowed me to connect to 40+ global locations while maintaining good enough speeds for browsing and streaming, but it costs about the same as CyberGhost VPN — which offers access to a network based in 90+ countries, dedicated streaming and torrenting servers, and a 45-day money-back guarantee.

Scanguard’s customer support was pretty bad, despite having a wide range of support options. I wasn’t able to get a basic tech question answered despite multiple attempts using email, phone, help center, and live chat.

Overall, there are much better antiviruses on the market. Alternatives like Norton and Bitdefender offer many more features, like dark web monitoring, advanced ransomware protections, and cloud-based scanning for much less than the price of Scanguard’s paid plan.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Scanguard safe?

Scanguard is a legitimate company that provides antivirus software and other internet security tools. All of its products are safe to use, from its antivirus to its system cleanup tools.

Its antivirus uses the same trusted anti-malware engine as Avira (one of our top-rated services), which offers highly-effective malware protection. Scanguard’s web protections are also effective at blocking malicious websites, including phishing pages.

While Scanguard is legit and safe to use, there are many great antivirus alternatives that offer much better features for a better price. For example, Norton offers more advanced data breach monitoring, a VPN, and a password manager all for a lot less than Scanguard.

Does Scanguard have extensions?

Scanguard offers a free extension that works with Chrome, Firefox, and Edge. It can protect you from potentially dangerous phishing sites. It also integrates AdBlock Pro to stop ads and trackers, though this is a paid add-on.

However, some antivirus services include good ad blockers as part of their plans and not as a paid add-on feature. Bitdefender Total Security is a good example of this and is covered by a 30-day money-back guarantee so you can try it before you buy.

Can I use Scanguard for free?

Scanguard can be used for free in a very limited capacity. The free version only offers a basic quick malware scan, meaning free users don’t get access to the 4 types of system scans (including the full system scan) or any of the additional features like real-time malware protection, data breach checker, WebShield, etc.

However, Scanguard does offer a 14-day money-back guarantee on monthly plans and a 30-day money-back guarantee on annual plans, so you can try it out risk-free and see if it’s right for you.

Is Scanguard the same as TotalAV?

Scanguard is owned by the same company as TotalAV. Scanguard uses the same Avira anti-malware engine as TotalAV and a number of other services sold by the same company, including the VPN, ad blockers, and password manager.

These services are very similar (the interface is virtually identical) but have small differences in what is offered in each plan.For example, Scanguard offers more device connections that may be more suitable for a large household, while TotalAV’s plans offer a much better value overall.

Scanguard Products & Pricing

Essential Antivirus
$29.00 / year
Free
$0.00 / year
Bottom Line

Scanguard is a pretty good antivirus program with a decent selection of tools, but it’s not as good as alternative antivirus suites like Norton and Bitdefender. Its anti-malware detection performed well in my testing, as did the system tune-up and password vault. The Safe Browsing VPN exceeded my expectations in terms of speeds and ability to access streaming sites, but it’s very overpriced (as are all of the paid extras). Scanguard is very similar to TotalAV (and distributed by the same company), with some minor changes to plans and performance. It’s a decent choice as long as you avoid the paid extras, but you can get a lot more for your money by choosing one of the top antiviruses in 2024, most of which offer better quality features for much less than a Scanguard subscription.

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About the Author

About the Author

Paige Henley is an editor at SafetyDetectives. She has three years of experience writing and editing various cybersecurity articles and blog posts about VPNs, antivirus software, and other data protection tools. As a freelancer, Paige enjoys working in a variety of content niches and is always expanding her knowledge base. When she isn't working as a "Safety Detective", she raises orphaned neonatal kittens, works on DIY projects around the house, and enjoys movie marathons on weekends with her husband and three cats.

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