Paige Henley
Updated on: January 3, 2024
Short on time? Here’s how to cancel your PC Matic subscription and get a refund in 2024:
- 1. Cancel your PC Matic subscription. Log into your PC Matic account, contact PC Matic customer service, and tell them you want to cancel your subscription and get a refund. PC Matic processed my refund request within 24 hours, no questions asked — even on their lifetime plan.
- 2. Uninstall PC Matic. Locate all PC Matic files on your computer and uninstall them.
- 3. Try an alternative antivirus. Choose a new antivirus software to keep your data and files safe. I highly recommend Norton 360 since it offers a full suite of advanced security features.
PC Matic is a well-rounded antivirus software, but it may not be a perfect fit for everybody — you may be interested in 100% accurate malware detection or advanced system optimization tools. Thankfully, canceling your PC Matic subscription is really easy: all you have to do is contact customer service with the request.
It’s worth noting that PC Matic offers a money-back guarantee for subscribers. As long as you request a refund for your subscription within 30 days of purchase, you will receive all of your money back. I tested it myself, and it’s a seamless process.
After canceling your PC Matic subscription, you should still protect your data by selecting a new antivirus program (check out the 3 alternatives below). Norton is my top pick in 2024 — its most notable benefits are its 100% malware detection rate and exceptional phishing protection.
RISK-FREE FOR 60 DAYS — TRY NORTON NOW
How to Cancel Your PC Matic Subscription (Step-by-Step Guide)
- How to Cancel Your PC Matic Subscription on Your Windows or Mac Computer.
- How to Cancel Your PC Matic Subscription on Your iPhone or iPad.
- How to Cancel Your PC Matic Subscription on Your Android Device.
How to Cancel Your PC Matic Subscription on Your Windows or Mac Computer
- Go to PC Matic’s website and click on My Account.
- Log into your PC Matic account.
- Navigate to and click on the Customer Support tab.
- Select Refund or Cancel Subscription.
- Select Try Our Live Support.
- Write your request to cancel and claim your refund, then click on Submit Ticket.
- Make sure to allow the customer support email address through your spam filter.
- You’ll receive a confirmation email from PC Matic within a day or two. A refund is automatically applied if you cancel within 30 days of subscribing. Save your Order ID for your records.
- Pick a PC Matic alternative. Norton is my favorite all-around choice because it has perfect malware detection rates and offers standout features like a VPN and dark web monitoring, all for a really good value. Bitdefender is great if you’re looking for a more lightweight antivirus with advanced customization options, and if you’ve got kids, McAfee has really good parental controls. Also, if you’re a Mac user, check out our list of best antiviruses for Mac in 2024.
How to Cancel Your PC Matic Subscription on Your iPhone or iPad
It is easy to cancel your PC Matic subscription on an iOS device. Simply open your preferred browser of choice (Safari, Google Chrome, etc.) and follow the above instructions for canceling on your computer.
How to Cancel Your PC Matic Subscription on Your Android Smartphone or Tablet
Canceling your subscription on an Android smartphone or tablet is easy. Open your Android web browser app (e.g. Chrome) and follow the above instructions for canceling on your computer.
Best PC Matic Alternatives In 2024
Quick summary of the best PC Matic alternatives in 2024:
- 🥇 1. Norton — Best overall alternative to PC Matic.
- 🥈 2. Bitdefender — Feature-rich antivirus with a lightweight scanner.
- 🥉 3. McAfee — Easy to use with great parental controls.
🥇1. Norton — Best Overall Alternative to PC Matic
Approved by our experts
Norton 360 is my favorite PC Matic alternative in 2024. It offers perfect malware detection, plus a heap of genuinely useful security tools to keep you protected from all online threats.
Norton uses a combination of heuristic analysis and machine learning to scan, find, and remove malware, which is a much more advanced approach than PC Matic’s and has earned Norton a place as our #1 antivirus for 2024. Both Norton and PC Matic detected and removed 100% of the malware I tried to install on my devices, but PC Matic also blocked several programs that were not actually malicious, which was frustrating.
Norton’s other features include:
- Secure firewall.
- Password manager.
- Webcam protection.
- VPN (with unlimited data).
- Dark web monitoring.
- Secure Browser.
- Cloud storage.
- Ransomware protection.
- ID theft protection (US only).
- And a lot more…
I’m a big fan of Norton’s system tune-up tools, which did a great job getting rid of my cached browser files, Windows junk files, and registry files. I also like Norton’s Utilities Ultimate add-on feature, which includes better features than PC Matic’s optimization tools.
Norton offers plans for just about every budget, but my favorite is Norton 360 Deluxe. For $49.99 / year*, it includes all of Norton’s standard features, plus parental controls, dark web monitoring, a privacy monitor, 50 GB of cloud storage, and coverage for up to 5 devices. US-based users should check out Norton’s LifeLock plans, which include all the features of Norton 360 Deluxe and add a comprehensive identity theft protection package. All of Norton’s plans offer a very generous 60-day money-back guarantee.
🥈2. Bitdefender — Feature-Rich Antivirus With a Lightweight Scanner
Bitdefender is an advanced yet lightweight antivirus alternative to PC Matic. It offers lots of customized security options, but it’s really simple to set up and use.
Like Norton, Bitdefender’s cloud-based malware scans detected 100% of threats. What’s more, Bitdefender’s scanner is based in the cloud, and even the full scan didn’t slow down my Windows or Mac computers in the slightest. If you’re frustrated with PC Matic’s lack of a VPN, parental controls, or a safe browser, Bitdefender is a good alternative with many extras. Its features include:
- Advanced ransomware protection.
- System optimization.
- Secure web browser.
- Password manager.
- VPN.
- Parental controls.
- Webcam and microphone protection.
- Anti-theft protection (Windows & Android).
- And a lot more…
I’m a big fan of Bitdefender’s anti-theft protection for both Windows and Android devices. It has the most accurate location tracking I’ve seen, and I was able to pinpoint my laptop’s exact location when I tested it! Plus, I was able to remotely lock my devices and erase the data on my hard drives to ensure my information doesn’t get into the wrong hands.
I also like Safepay, Bitdefender’s secure browser for online shopping — something that PC Matic doesn’t offer. I do a lot of shopping and banking online, and I loved knowing that by using Safepay, I could keep my personal data completely safe from hackers.
Bitdefender has several plans available, but the cheapest plans, Bitdefender Antivirus Plus ($29.99 / year) and Bitdefender Internet Security ($42.49 / year) are only compatible with Windows devices. So if you need antivirus protection that works across all operating systems, I recommend the Bitdefender Total Security plan ($49.99 / year) for up to 5 devices or the Bitdefender Premium Security plan — for $79.99 / year, it offers all of Bitdefender’s core features plus a really good VPN with unlimited data, and coverage for up to 10 devices. All plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Read our full Bitdefender review
🥉3. McAfee — Easy-to-Use Antivirus With Great Parental Controls
McAfee is a great PC Matic alternative that’s reliable, affordable, and very easy to use. It offers a lot more extras than some other leading premium antiviruses, including standout parental controls (something that PC Matic doesn’t include).
I really enjoyed using McAfee’s comprehensive parental controls (McAfee is among the best antiviruses with parental controls in 2024), which include customizable website filtering presets based on your children’s ages. The location tracking feature (compatible with Android and iOS) was very accurate when I tested it, and it was also really easy to set screen time and device usage limits.
McAfee detected 100% of malware in my tests. However, I did notice slowdowns during the full system scan, so it’s not as lightweight as Bitdefender. Using the schedule feature is really easy, so this is just a minor inconvenience, and not a dealbreaker for most users.
McAfee’s extra features include:
- Firewall.
- Wi-Fi network protection.
- Anti-phishing protection.
- Virtual private network (VPN).
- Performance optimization.
- Password manager.
- Parental controls.
- Identity theft protection.
- And a lot more…
McAfee Total Protection Premium Family plan is a great deal if you’re getting a PC Matic alternative for a large family. For $59.99 / year, it includes impressive parental controls and can be used on as many devices as you want. McAfee also comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you have time to test it out to see if it meets your needs.
How to Uninstall & Fully Remove PC Matic Files From Your Devices
You’ll need to uninstall PC Matic from your devices after you’ve cancelled your subscription and picked a different antivirus. The process varies depending on which systems you have, so click on the instructions for your device below.
- Uninstall PC Matic From Your Windows PC or Laptop.
- Uninstall PC Matic From Your Mac.
- Uninstall PC Matic From Your iPhone or iPad.
- Uninstall PC Matic From Your Android Smartphone or Tablet.
How to Uninstall PC Matic From Your Windows PC or Laptop
- Uninstall PC Matic on Windows 11.
- Uninstall PC Matic on Windows 10.
- Uninstall PC Matic on Windows 8.
Uninstall PC Matic on Windows 11
- Click start on the bottom of your screen.
- Type “programs” into the search bar and click Add or remove programs.
- Scroll down the App list until you find any programs related to PC Matic. Click on the 3 vertical dots next to PC Matic and click Uninstall.
4. Follow the instructions from PC Matic’s uninstall wizard until all files are removed from your device.
Uninstall PC Matic on Windows 10
- Type “remove” into your search bar and click Add or remove programs.
- Find any programs related to PC Matic, click on them, and click Uninstall twice.
- Follow the instructions of PC Matic’s uninstall wizard until all files are removed from your computer.
Uninstall PC Matic on Windows 8
- Type “control panel” into your search bar and click the Control Panel button.
- Click Uninstall a program.
- Note that View by should be set to Category.
- Scroll down the menu until you can see PC Matic’s programs. Click on them, then click Uninstall. Follow the uninstall wizard to finish uninstalling PC Matic from your Windows 8 PC.
How to Uninstall PC Matic From Your Mac
- Find the PC Matic icon in your menu bar.
- Select the icon and hover over Troubleshooting/Help.
- Click Uninstall.
- You’ll be asked to confirm your PC Matic account details. Enter your details and click Uninstall.
- Enter your Mac administrator password if prompted.
- The uninstall process will complete in the background, and once it’s finished, you’ll no longer see the PC Matic icon in your menu bar.
- Restart your Mac to complete the uninstallation process.
How to Uninstall PC Matic From Your iPhone or iPad
Uninstalling PC Matic from an iOS device is simple:
- Long press the PC Matic icon on your home screen until a drop-down menu appears.
- Then, select Remove App.
- Confirm the selection by tapping Delete App.
- Tap Delete once more to fully remove the app and its data from your device. That’s it!
How to Uninstall PC Matic From Your Android Smartphone or Tablet
- Search for the PC Matic app icon on your device.
- Press and hold the PC Matic icon.
- Tap Uninstall. This will remove the app from your device.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I cancel my PC Matic subscription and get a refund?
Yes, PC Matic has a 30-day no-questions-asked money-back guarantee. All you need to do is contact customer support within a month of subscribing and let them know you want to cancel, and they will cancel your subscription and issue a refund automatically. Follow my steps above to cancel your subscription.
How long will it take to get a refund when I cancel my PC Matic subscription?
It takes a day or two for the request to be processed. After you’ve followed my instructions and canceled your plan, a refund will be applied automatically and auto-renewal will be turned off. It may take 5 to 7 days for the refund to be credited to your bank account.
Is PC Matic the best antivirus?
No, there are better premium antivirus alternatives to PC Matic. PC Matic’s malware detection is actually pretty primitive, as it just uses whitelisting. Top antiviruses like Norton use heuristic analysis and machine learning for more advanced malware detection. Plus, Norton offers lots of useful extra features like a VPN with no limitations and the best dark web monitoring on the market.
What is the best PC Matic alternative?
Norton 360 is the best alternative antivirus to PC Matic. It’s very easy to install and use, but it also has advanced features that allow users to customize the security of their devices. Norton works well across all operating systems and offers affordable packages to fit any budget.
