VIPRE Antivirus Review 2021
New online threats are popping up in every corner of the internet faster than you can pour your morning coffee, just waiting to steal your private information. In fact, the AV-Test Institute registers over 350,000 new malware and potentially unwanted applications (PUA) every day. It’s a dangerous digital world out there, and if you want to keep your data out of the hands of cybercriminals, then VIPRE Antivirus might be your new best friend. This VIPRE Antivirus review will take a critical look at how the award-winning virus protection software stacks up to the competition.
What’s on This Page
VIPRE Antivirus
3.75/5
- User-friendly interface
- Essential virus protection
- Low system impact
What is VIPRE?
VIPRE is an antivirus solution for personal and professional cybersecurity. The company was originally founded in 1994 as Sunbelt Software, which was acquired by GFI Software in 2010. Today, the company operates as VIPRE Security Group serving over 50,000 customers in nearly every nation worldwide. VIPRE uses cutting-edge machine learning, real-time behavior monitoring, and one of the world’s largest intelligence clouds to protect against even the most aggressive online threats.
Why Use Vipre?
VIPRE offers a simplified approach to antivirus protection without all the bells and whistles of other popular antivirus software, like Norton and McAfee. With one of the highest-rated protection scores in the industry, VIPRE antivirus safeguards your personal data with essential real-time protection from today’s biggest threats, such as malware, ransomware, spyware, viruses, trojans, rootkits, and more. VIPRE has become a popular choice among users looking for a reliable antivirus program that’s easy to navigate and doesn’t slow down computer performance.
VIPRE Pros and Cons
Pros
- Unlimited VPN
- Minimal impact on system speed
- User-friendly interface
- Free virus removal for subscribers
Cons
- No free version
- Slow customer support
- Limited compatibility with Mac, iOS, and Android
- Significant price increase after introductory discount
How to use VIPRE?
A VIPRE antivirus subscription can be purchased and downloaded through the website. Once installed, VIPRE will perform an initial scan and notify you of any suspicious files or malicious activity, including options to deal with the situation. The program comes with pre-set defaults to automatically run a daily full scan, which takes about an hour and a half to check the whole machine.
Users have the option to schedule scans or run manual scans at any time, with the choice of changing the full scan to a custom scan or a quick scan. Running a quick scan takes approximately 10 minutes and checks the main system files, file locations, and registry keys. A custom scan is ideal for anyone who wants to check specific files or programs and includes a deep-level scan that searches for signs of trojans and rootkits.
Our Rating Process
While antivirus software has advanced well beyond the basic functions of identifying and matching malicious file signatures, not all virus protection is created equal. We assess each antivirus software based on features, compatibility, pricing, and performance. We assign all criteria a score out of 5 points for a comprehensive VIPRE Antivirus review to help you decide if this cybersecurity solution is the right fit to keep you and your data safe.
Features – 3/5
VIPRE gets high scores on test results for malware protection from third-party labs, but its firewall protection and ransomware detection underperform when compared to competitors. VIPRE also excludes parental controls and identity protection from its cybersecurity solutions, which come as standard offerings with other antivirus software, such as Avast’s Premium Security package.
Compatibility – 3/5
VIPRE products are available for Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android operating systems, depending on which plan you select. Some products and features are only compatible with Windows, even if you select a plan with flexible system requirements. Comparing the VIPRE Advanced Security review of features to the other solutions, only Windows users can access protection beyond the basic security features in the Antivirus Plus plan.
Pricing – 4/5
VIPRE comes in at an average price point compared to other antivirus software we’ve reviewed. Introductory discounts can save users up to $100, and the standard renewal pricing ranges from $54.99 to $139.99. The full-scale security suites for Avast and McAfee are priced similarly at $119 and $159.99, respectively. However, these competitors offer more features and compatibility.
Performance – 5/5
VIPRE stands out among other paid antivirus programs when it comes to minimizing the computer resources it needs to execute tasks. You can easily run VIPRE in tandem with other programs without compromising your computer’s performance. Some VIPRE antivirus reviews report experiencing speed issues and freezing when running custom scans.
Package Comparison
Product Details
Antivirus Plus
Advanced Security
Ultimate Security
Price per year
$54.99
$74.99
$139.99
Business VPN
Yes
No
Yes
Web Access Control
Yes
No
Yes
Phishing Protection
No
Yes
Yes
Email Encryption
No
Yes
Yes
Data Loss Prevention
No
Yes
Yes
Technical / Product Details
Product Details
Specs
Supported Languages
English
Compatibility
Windows, Mac, iOS, Android
Restricted countries
None
Customer support
+1 (877) 673-1161 (home)
+1 (877) 757-4094 (business)
Maximum devices
10 (home), Unlimited (business)
Deployment
Web-Based, On-Premise (business)
Frequently Asked Questions
VIPRE RapidScan enables previously scanned files to be checked much faster on subsequent scans. This means each scan created (Custom, Quick, or Full) remembers what files it has scanned before. By keeping track of scanned items, VIPRE will only scan files that have changed since the previous rapid scan, increasing the speed of subsequent scans.
VIPRE earns some major points for its low impact on system performance compared to other paid antivirus programs. Since VIPRE isn’t packed with a whole bunch of fancy features, scans don’t need as many resources to run. Custom scans can slow things down a bit, depending on what files and directories you’re scanning.
Which is better, Norton or VIPRE?
If you’re in the market for an affordable security suite with basic antivirus protection, then VIPRE is all you need. Norton may take a few more dollars out of your wallet, but you get multi-layered protection with tons of advanced features, such as dark web monitoring, parental controls, password manager, credit monitoring, identity alerts, and more.
VIPRE is among the more affordable options for antivirus software, but there is no free version available. However, there are introductory discounts that can save users up to $100, in addition to a 30-day money-back guarantee. VIPRE also offers flexible multi-licensing for personal plans and a suite of scalable business solutions for small, medium, and large enterprises.
Does VIPRE antivirus work on Mac?
VIPRE Advanced Security and VIPRE Ultimate Security are compatible with macOS Big Sur 11, macOS Catalina 10.15, macOS Mojave 10.14, macOS High Sierra 10.13, macOS Sierra 10.12, and OS X El Capitan 10.11. For VIPRE to function on Big Sur, Mojave and Catalina, you must allow VIPRE system extension and full disk access. Not all antivirus features are compatible with Mac operating systems, including third-party patching, anti-phishing, anti-spam, webcam and microphone blocker, and firewall protection.