PC Matic vs Webroot
Features, use cases, pros and cons, and pricing side by side — and which one to pick.
Best for: Home users who want a single product covering viruses, ransomware, and identity theft instead of multiple overlapping tools, Non-technical users who prefer default-deny protection over responding to constant security alerts
Read the full PC Matic reviewBest for: Households with a mix of Windows, Mac, and mobile devices that want one security provider and one renewal across all of them, Owners of older or lower-spec computers who need protection that will not tax system resources
Read the full Webroot reviewCommission may apply at no extra cost
PC Matic vs Webroot: features compared
Compare key features side by side
Feature Comparison Summary
Which should you choose?
Choose PC Matic if
- You prefer flexible billing with free, yearly, and usage-based options.
PC Matic vs Webroot: pros and cons
PC Matic
PC Matic swaps signature-matching for application allowlisting, so unknown malware and ransomware are denied before they run — a real structural advantage against zero-day attacks. The trade-offs are possible blocking of legitimate new software, yearly-only billing, and no independent lab results in view. Overall, it's a credible pick for non-technical home users who'll trial the free plan first.
Pros
- Allowlisting blocks brand-new and zero-day malware by default — threats with no signature in any database are still denied execution, unlike signature-dependent scanners.
- Ransomware defense is structural rather than reactive — an unrecognized encryption process is stopped before it runs, not detected mid-attack.
- All-in-one consolidation covers viruses, ransomware, and identity theft in a single product, avoiding the cost and complexity of stacking multiple security tools.
Cons
- Allowlisting can block legitimate but not-yet-vetted software, so installing new or niche applications may require manually whitelisting them.
- Paid protection is structured around yearly subscriptions; users who prefer month-to-month flexibility should confirm current billing terms with the vendor.
- The scope of the free plan is not fully detailed, so verify what it includes before relying on it as full-time protection.
Webroot
Webroot keeps its security client tiny by doing most detection work in the cloud, and its tiered plans cover Windows, Mac, and mobile devices. Identity and privacy features sit in higher tiers, though, and the $1-to-$1,920 price spread makes comparison shopping essential. Overall, it's a sensible pick for mixed-device households willing to study the plan details before checkout.
Pros
- Cloud-assisted scanning keeps the installed client lightweight, so real-time protection does not noticeably slow everyday use or boot times.
- Coverage extends beyond malware to identity, privacy, and personal data, reducing the need to buy separate security tools for each threat type.
- Tiered plans let you match protection to your actual device count and budget, from a single machine up to a full household.
Cons
- The published price range spans $1 to $1,920, which makes it hard to tell what a realistic plan costs without studying the comparison page in detail.
- Entry-level plans focus on core device protection; identity recovery and premium extras are reserved for higher tiers, so the cheapest option may feel thin.
- Independent lab certifications and aggregate user-review scores were not available for this review, so third-party validation should be confirmed before purchase.
PC Matic and Webroot in detail
PC Matic
PC Matic is an all-in-one security platform that combines antivirus, ransomware defense, and identity theft protection in a single product. Its core defense mechanism is application allowlisting: instead of trying to recognize and blacklist every piece of malware ever created, the software maintains a catalog of trusted applications and blocks anything unfamiliar from executing. This inverts the traditional antivirus model, so unknown threats are denied by default rather than caught only after they have been identified and cataloged. The platform is built to guard against sophisticated cyber attacks, including modern ransomware that mutates faster than signature files can be updated.
Standout features
- Application Allowlisting Engine
- Ransomware Protection
- Identity Theft Protection
- All-in-One Consolidated Security
Use cases
- Households Protecting Irreplaceable Files
- Non-Technical Users Who Want Set-and-Forget Security
- Users Concerned About Zero-Day and Novel Attacks
Webroot
Webroot is a consumer antivirus and internet security suite. Its core engine scans for and blocks malware, while higher tiers add protection for personal data, online privacy, and identity. Threat detection is delivered largely through the cloud, which keeps the software's footprint on your machine small. Plans scale by device count and feature depth, so the same provider can cover a single PC or an entire household.
Standout features
- Cloud-Based Threat Detection
- Identity and Privacy Protection
- Multi-Device, Multi-Platform Coverage
- Tailored, Tiered Plans
Use cases
- Securing a Family's Mixed Device Lineup
- Protecting an Older or Low-Spec Computer
- Guarding Personal and Financial Identity Online
- Scaling Protection as Needs Grow
Pricing compared
List prices from each vendor's pricing page, before taxes and add-ons. Costs are per month.
| Pricing compared | PC Matic | Webroot |
|---|---|---|
| From (cheapest paid plan) | $2.50/mo PC Matic Privacy (add-on) | $4.17/mo Antivirus Protection Essentials 1 Device |
| Free plan | No | No |
| Free trial | Not stated | Not stated |
| Money-back guarantee | Not stated | Not stated |
| Annual billing savings | — | — |
| Pricing model | Flat price | Flat price |
| Cost for 1 user | $2.50/moCheaper PC Matic Privacy (add-on) plan, billed annually | $4.17/mo Antivirus Protection Essentials 1 Device plan, billed annually |
| Cost for 5 users | $2.50/mo PC Matic Privacy (add-on) plan, billed annually · price per account (user limit not stated) | $4.17/mo Antivirus Protection Essentials 1 Device plan, billed annually · price per account (user limit not stated) |
| Cost for 10 users | $2.50/mo PC Matic Privacy (add-on) plan, billed annually · price per account (user limit not stated) | $4.17/mo Antivirus Protection Essentials 1 Device plan, billed annually · price per account (user limit not stated) |
| Cost for 25 users | $2.50/mo PC Matic Privacy (add-on) plan, billed annually · price per account (user limit not stated) | $4.17/mo Antivirus Protection Essentials 1 Device plan, billed annually · price per account (user limit not stated) |
| Plans | 6 | 7 |
| Prices checked | Vendor page checked Oct 13, 2026 | Vendor page checked Oct 13, 2026 |
| Price history | Tracking prices since Oct 1, 2026. No price change detected yet. | Tracking prices since Oct 1, 2026. No price change detected yet. |
- Cheapest plan that fits each team size. Per-user plans are multiplied by the number of users (respecting stated minimums and seat packs). Plans that include some users cost their base price plus the extra-user price for each user beyond those included. Flat-priced plans with no stated user limit are counted as one licence per user.
Cheaper for your team size
For 1 user (billed annually), PC Matic costs $2.50/mo vs Webroot at $4.17/mo.
Computed from published list prices on the dates shown. Excludes taxes, add-ons and promotions.