TotalAV vs Zone Alarm: Which One is Better? [2024 Top Picks]

Find the best antivirus for you and your devices.
We compare security, extra features, ease of use, and more to help you decide.

TotalAV vs. Zone Alarm: Which Is Right for You?

Kate Davidson
Kate Davidson
Chief Editor

TotalAV vs. Zone Alarm: Which Is Right for You?

Today’s antivirus software must protect from more than just malware. It also needs protocols to stop hackers, phishing attempts, and even physical theft. Both Total AV and Zone Alarm include the strongest malware detection available and use unique features to provide more comprehensive protection.

Total AV is relatively lightweight software that includes several extras. Along with malware protection, you get anti-phishing protocols and a Virtual Private Network to secure you on public networks. There’s also a remote firewall, which you can edit from different devices, and a password manager to keep your credentials safe from prying eyes. The adblocker stops annoying ads when you’re online and also prevents adware from infecting your computer. Plus, there’s the PC optimization disk cleaner which removes unwanted files in order to speed up your machine.

Zone Alarm is a more comprehensive provider with a seemingly endless list of additional security protocols. It uses auto-sandboxing technology to launch all files in a virtual environment to ensure their safety. The crowd-sourced insights speed up the scanning process and reduce computer slowdown. You get an advanced two-way firewall which can detect when hackers are trying to bypass it and an anti-phishing Chrome extension, an anti-keylogger, and 5GB of online backup storage. Zone Alarm is one of the few security suites that scans during boot up to identify infections before your system loads. Finally, the “Find My Laptop” feature is a great tool in the event of loss or physical theft.

Starting Price
Money Back Guarantee
Free Trial
$19.00
30 Days
$14.95
30 Days
Security
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Support
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Latest Positive Review*User reviews are not verified
S. Kerstges-Lerch
Apr. 22, 2024
Total Security ist nach meinen Erfahrungen das mithin beste Schutzprogramm
Total Security ist nach meinen Erfahrungen das mithin beste...
Apr. 22, 2024
start up
would like to have automatic start up whenever the computer is turned on...
Benny
Sep. 22, 2020
A good security product
A very good antivirus with firewall, and it's free !
Vince
Dec. 18, 2018
It works quietly and unobtrusively in the background
Easy installation and handling even for older people. There are no popup...
Latest Negative Review*User reviews are not verified
Dec. 9, 2023
Refund Circus
Signed up for 12 month premium service on special AUD $49. Yes will auto...
Trevor Hamilton
Nov. 25, 2023
Difficult to deal with tech support and to cancel
TotalAV revved my CPU in excess of 30% regularly and it would stay there...
Sanjay
Nov. 7, 2018
Use to be good, but not anymore
I've been using this program for a very long time and have always been...
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
No reviews yet
Our Verdict
Kate Davidson
Kate Davidson
Chief Editor
Zone Alarm includes more coverage overall, but it’s more expensive and can slow down your system. If you’re on a budget or regularly have data-heavy tasks, then Total AV may be the better choice.
Time To Decide Which One Is Best For You

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I find the best antivirus for me?

The first thing to do is to understand what you need — all antiviruses come with different internet security tools to help you stay protected, so identifying what level of protection you want will help you figure out which product is right for you.

Some antiviruses have a virtual private network (VPN), some have safe browsing extensions, and some have a password manager. Some only work on certain operating systems, while others cover all operating systems across multiple devices.

It’s important to compare the best antiviruses on the market to find the perfect one with the functionality you need.

What makes an antivirus secure?

A high-quality antivirus suite will detect, flag, and remove viruses and various types of malware. It will also offer real-time protection against all threats, regardless of whether you are browsing the internet, downloading software, shopping online, or opening email. For additional security, many antivirus suites offer a VPN, secure storage, and a password manager — these things all add several layers of protection against various cyber threats.

For more information on how antiviruses work, read this.

What do I need to look for when searching for an antivirus?

An antivirus needs to protect against all types of malware — trojans, rootkits, worms, spyware, viruses, ransomware, and anything else that might cause damage to your devices. This is done in a variety of ways, but the most essential feature of an antivirus is real-time protection — this makes sure that an active threat is effectively stopped before anything serious can happen.

Other things to look for include — excellent detection rates, fast system performance, included extra features (like a VPN, password manager, etc.), easy-to-use interface, good customer support, and overall value.

Go here for a list of the best antivirus software of 2024.

How do I know if one antivirus is better than another?

When researching antiviruses, it’s a good idea to visit a few well-known antivirus software websites such as Norton, McAfee, and Bitdefender to directly compare each antivirus’s features.

You can also look at the expert opinions of our reviewers at SafetyDetectives.com to find the most up-to-date and unbiased information about the best cybersecurity products on the market today.

The listings featured on this site are from companies from which this site receives compensation and some are co-owned by our parent company. This influence: Rank and manner in which listings are presented. 
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