Top 10 malware cleaners for Mac in 2025: expert-tested & ranked

It's perfectly possible, as a Mac user, to go through your whole life without ever being affected by malware. But it also may happen that a nasty piece of spyware, adware, and something even worse attack your Mac simultaneously. And if you use your Mac for work, that could cause serious problems. So why take the risk? 

In this article, we'll walk you through the best antimalware tools that can keep your Mac virus-free.

Our top picks for 2025

Here are three best malware removal tools to check in 2025: 

You'll find complete app reviews of these and other tools further in the article.

How we chose malware removal software

When we made up this list, we've focused on several important aspects:

📌 Performance and results. It was the most vital thing to look for, so we conducted an in-depth research on malware removal tool efficiency. We've chosen those with a high malware detection rate. We've also checked whether the app affects the performance of your Mac and can slow it down.

📌 Price. Although there are some free malware removal tools out there, most of the great options are paid for. Alternatively, free versions of software can come with limited functionality. We've included apps with a free trial version in our list so that you can first test how they work. 

📌 Features. We checked what additional features each option has and whether it provides coverage of Windows malware. Why does it matter if it detects Windows malware? Because although this malware doesn't always affect Macs, Windows malware on your Mac can transfer onto a Windows PC on the same network. Besides, some cleaners come with features that can improve your Mac's performance. We've included different types of apps: from those promising malware removal only to all-round cleaners.

📌 Trustworthiness. Sometimes, malware disguises itself as an antimalware tool. We've focused on including only safe software in our list, and so all apps listed below are malware-free themselves and come from reputable developers. 

How Mac malware removal tools work

Antimalware software detects malware based either on signatures or behavior. Signature-based detection means identifying a threat by matching patterns on malicious code against a database of continuously updated signatures. 

On the other hand, behavior-based detection is about analyzing real-time context and actions and identifying any anomalies. It is important when finding zero-day exploits and more advanced, persistent threats — those that haven't been seen before and long-term attacks.

Currently, developers also actively use machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) to make their software more effective. ML and AI detect evasive and new malware by analyzing behavior, patterns in code, and network traffic, and as a result, make malware detection faster and more accurate. 

Except for traditional malware removal tools, there are also emergency and portable kits. They are best for scanning external drives for malware and can also be used if an infected Mac cannot connect to the internet in order to install a cleaner. The only downside is that, in most instances, you will need a second (malware-free) computer to use it. We won't cover this type of tools in our review.

Understanding malware: what you're up against

Years ago, Macs indeed were immune to malware. But nowadays, they are a more popular target for ransomware, browser hijacking, and other types of threats compared with Windows computers. In fact, there has been an increase in Mac-specific malware in early 2025 — 73% increase in Mac infections compared with the previous year as mentioned by Malwarebytes in the 2025 ThreatDown State of Malware report. 

Malware comes in different shapes and kinds:

• Browser hijackers — alters browser settings (including homepage and default search engine) and redirects you to malicious websites
• Adware — bombards your web browser with excessive ads
• Spyware — runs in the background to collect personal data like passwords, browsing history, and financial data
• Infostealers — a type of spyware that collects user credentials and credit card details
• Ransomware — encrypts files and demands ransom to make them accessible again

One common threat in 2025 is Banshee macOS Stealer. It targets and steals personal data and sensitive information. Another frequently detected threat is Poseidon — advanced infostealer. It uses a sophisticated technique known as malvertising (showing malicious ads) and targets users based on their location and operating system. It can then steal cryptocurrency, passwords, and even VPN configurations.

The best malware cleaners for MacBook [complete reviews]

1. CleanMyMac
   

Pros:

• Combines real-time and on-demand scanning
• Easy to use
• Has 25+ tools for optimizing and maintaining your Mac's performance (on average, clears out over 5+GB of junk files at first scan)
• Pleasant UI
• A free trial unlimited in functionality is available

Cons:

• Doesn't have quarantine (an isolated location to which a detected thread is sent); instead, it removes malware right away 

While it's not primarily an antimalware tool, CleanMyMac has a powerful Protection utility in its arsenal. Click one button, and CleanMyMac will scan your Mac, comparing what it finds with its database of known malware. If it finds anything, you can remove it with another click or dig deeper and see what it found. You can also configure it to automatically scan your Mac in the background, alerting you if it detects malware. It can find all kinds of malware: from ransomware to Trojans and worms. It can detect potentially unwanted programs (PUPs), too — they are not necessarily malicious, but they can be installed without your full awareness and act as a backdoor into your Mac, allowing cybercriminals to steal sensitive details. And CleanMyMac also lets you deal with a bunch of privacy threats (manage app permissions, clear browser data, and see unsecure Wi-Fi networks your Mac is or was connected to).

CleanMyMac is powered by the Moonlock engine developed by the MacPaw team. It covers additional locations for an even deeper Mac virus scan: mail attachments, external drives, browser extensions, and archives. Along with scanning standard system locations, it makes the malware search more comprehensive. According to the developer, on average, it detects and removes over 320K threats/monthly. This is why CleanMyMac takes first place as the best Mac antimalware tool. Get your free trial here — you can test it for 7 days at no charge.

Price: $65.40/year (you'll have to buy Plus plan to have access to Protection features)

Did you know?

AV-Comparatives and AV-Test Institute are independent research institutions that evaluate and test security software in real-world scenarios. They assess the effectiveness and usability of antimalware tools as well as their impact on the performance of a device. Generally, the higher the score, the better the tool. 

Then, they distribute results to individuals, daily news websites, and organizations. AV-Test Institute conducted the last evaluation of security tools for Mac in June 2025. When you choose a tool, it is recommended to search websites providing scores from such individual labs to make sure that you end up with reputable software.

3. Norton 360

The free version of the app scans quickly and has minimal impact on resources, but it doesn't include tools for protecting from ransomware or malicious websites. And neither the free nor premium versions scan email attachments, which can be a source of Trojans and other malware on your Mac. 

Price: $44.99/year

7. Eset Cyber Security

Pros: 

• Scheduling scans 

• Minimalistic interface

• 100% detection rate (AV-Test results)

Cons: 

• A bit slow 

• Pro version doesn't offer lots of features

Eset's unique selling point is that it has a scheduling tool that allows you to dictate and refine exactly when different types of scans are run. You can schedule specific scans to run at time intervals you specify or to be triggered by events, like a particular user logging in. It also has parental controls, an antiphishing scanner, and a firewall.

That's the good news; the bad is that Eset takes significantly longer to scan than other tools here.

Price: $59.99/year

8. BitDefender

Pros: 

• Doesn't impact CPU usage
• Autopilot feature
• Protects browser against online attacks
• 100% detection rate (AV-Test results)

Cons: 

• VPN costs extra

BitDefender offers protection from ransomware and phishing attacks as well as the usual antimalware protection. It has almost no impact on your system performance and includes an autopilot mode that allows you to set it and forget it. It's pretty quick, too, and does a good job of removing Windows malware. It's not the cheapest, and if you want the optional VPN, it costs extra.

Price: $109.99/year 

9. Trend Micro Antivirus for Mac

Pros: 

• Fast scanning 

• Social network security features

• 6/6 in protection, according to AV-Test results

Cons: 

• Difficult to understand the setup process

• Some features are limited (you will have to subscribe for a cross-platform version to gain access to all tools)

Trend Micro is a well-known name in the Windows world, but not so well-known to Mac users. Its antivirus tool for Mac has a license for only one computer, making it a more expensive option than some others here. However, it does offer protection against webcam hijacking and ransomware, as well as a social media privacy scanner.

It also scores well in tests conducted by AV-Comparative and AV-Test Institute. And it's fast and automatically scans external drives when you plug them in. However, its antiphishing tools came up a little short in some tests.

Price: $49.95/year

10. Sophos Home Premium

Pros: 

• Offers a license for 10 computers
• Lots of extra features
• 6/6 in protection, according to AV-Test results

Cons:

• Resource-hungry
• Price: $59.99/year

Sophos Home Premium has an abundance of features and includes a license that covers 10 Macs and PCs for a price that's similar to several tools that have a license for only one computer. Among those features are parental controls, remote management, web protection, and auto-ransomware tools. Those features are also available in the free version.

On the downside, Sophos may consume quite a high level of Mac's resources. So if you're already using other heavy-consuming apps, it may put your CPU under a lot of pressure.

Buyer's guide: choosing the right solution

We recommend testing each of the tools above and choosing one that works best for you based on your needs and budget. Here are a few final pieces of advice: 

• If you are a home user, look for an all-round Mac optimization to prolong its glitch-free work. Choose between basic cleaning and deeper optimization: Avira Free Security for Mac or CleanMyMac may work best for you. Get your free CleanMyMac trial — test market leader for 7 days (downloaded more than 29 million times, frees up on average 30M+ GB of junk monthly, and removes on average 320K+ threats/monthly).
• If you look for a small business solution, most likely, you'll want a tool that is both effective and on a budget. We suggest checking whether the developers of the apps above offer solutions for business. For instance, MacPaw does, and it is CleanMyMac Business — it combines patch management and malware protection for your Mac fleet. Business solutions like this focus on organizational protection and allow scalability and compliance support, while consumer protection software does not provide centralized oversight, even if you buy several licenses.
• If you are a power user, perhaps you need advanced protection and built-in VPN tools. In this case, consider BitDefender, but remember that VPN comes at an extra cost.

Tip: If you think that your Mac is already infected with malware, check out this guide on how to remove viruses from Mac. It also outlines the best prevention tips and tricks. 

As you can see, there is no shortage of antivirus tools available for the Mac. Whichever one you choose, you will be safer from malware than you would be otherwise. In addition to protecting you from malware, CleanMyMac has several tools for clearing space, optimizing performance, and improving your privacy. On the contrary, other tools on the list include features like parental controls and a VPN.

Frequently asked questions

Is free antivirus enough? 

It all depends. Free antimalware tools offer basic protection, so it may be enough for casual home use, but it leaves you vulnerable to more sophisticated threats and newer malware. Also, note that some apps are antiviruses, meaning that they protect from viruses only, while other applications can detect all kinds of malware — they are known as antimalware software.

How often should I scan for malware?

There's no right or wrong answer. Considering that malware scans usually take just a few minutes, we recommend doing it weekly — the sooner malware is detected and removed, the better for your privacy. Or you can set up your malware removal tool to run in the background. 

What should I do immediately if I suspect a malware infection?

If you suspect that your Mac is infected with malware, immediately disconnect it from the internet so that the infection does not spread to other devices. Most antimalware apps work pretty well without the internet so they can detect and remove threats. After you've removed malware, run a few extra scans to make sure that the infection hasn't self-replicated it the removal was successful. If your Mac won't turn on, make sure that the battery has not drained. Connect it to a power source and try booting it into safe mode and running a virus scan from this mode. It can help prevent rootkit malware from booting, thus making it easier to delete such threats.

Can multiple antivirus programs run together? 

No, if you run several tools at the same time, the risks of conflicts are high. You can potentially gain false positives, not to mention that they can quickly drain your Mac's memory and CPU. 

What are the signs that my Mac is infected with malware? 

Any strange behavior may signal malware infection: browser redirects, being bombarded with ads, Mac becoming slow or sluggish if you haven't changed the way you use it, and seeing apps you haven't installed in your Applications folder. 

How to I protect my Mac after removing malware? 

Staying vigilant and having a malware removal tool run in the background should be enough to prevent malware infection in the future. Do not click suspicious links, avoid freeware websites, and install trustworthy software only, and your Mac should be safe. To deal with false positives and other issues, just choose one antimalware tool for you or, at least, make sure that you do not have several antivirus apps open at the same time.

If you've removed ransomware (or your antimalware app could not delete it), you may need to recover your data using a pre-infection backup. If your system was infected with severe malware, you may need to reinstall or clean install macOS to ensure that no malicious elements remain on your Mac. Here are a few signs indicating that you might need a reinstall: system instability, performance issues (like overheating), and noting suspicious activity or apps.