Is Norton antivirus worth it? Costs, features, and reviews

Norton antivirus software is trusted by millions and widely recognized for delivering top-of-the-line protection against viruses, malware, ransomware, and other online threats.

According to a 2025 report from AV-TEST, an independent security research institute, Norton earned perfect or near-perfect scores across protection, performance, and usability categories. It has also maintained a 100% detection rate for the most widespread malware threats for several years running.

There’s no question that Norton’s antivirus offers great value. But is it the right fit for your needs and budget? Let’s explore its features and pricing plans so you can decide for yourself.

How does Norton antivirus work?

Norton antivirus software provides real-time protection by continuously monitoring your devices for suspicious activity. When it detects a virus or other malware, including ransomware, it immediately quarantines the threat to stop it from spreading or causing damage. From there, Norton helps you remove it safely, either automatically or through clear, guided steps.

The software also includes advanced security technologies like Smart Firewall, which monitors incoming and outgoing network traffic and automatically blocks suspicious connections before attackers can exploit vulnerabilities.

In addition, Norton offers enhanced protection against scams. Its AI-powered scam detection helps identify social engineering attacks such as phishing messages, while deepfake protection alerts you when video or audio files contain artificially generated or manipulated voices — reducing the risk of being misled by convincing fake content.

Plans and features of Norton antivirus products

Norton offers three main consumer plans — Norton AntiVirus Plus, Norton 360 Standard, and Norton 360 Deluxe. Each is designed to address different needs and budgets.

For those looking for protection for their mobile phones, Norton Mobile Security is also available for $19.99 for the first year (renewing at $29.99 per year) and offers coverage for one iOS or Android device per plan.

Norton AntiVirus Plus

Norton AntiVirus Plus is ideal for budget-conscious consumers who want reliable protection against malware and scams.

Key features include:

• Coverage for one device: Protect one Mac, PC, tablet, or smartphone.
• Protection against hacking: Install Norton AntiVirus Plus on your device to help protect against viruses, ransomware, spyware, and other types of malware.
• AI scam detection: Includes AI-powered Scam Protection to help detect scams in texts and gives you real-time tips to spot online scams.
• Cloud backup: Get access to 2 GB of secure cloud storage space to back up your most important files, like financial records, identification documents, and irreplaceable family photos.
• Password management: Store your passwords and auto-fill them as needed to maximize convenience without sacrificing security.
• Deepfake protection: Identify AI-manipulated videos on YouTube and Facebook to help avoid falling for scams and misinformation.
• 100% Virus Protection Promise: Get a full refund if we can’t remove a virus from your device.

Norton 360 Standard

Norton 360 Standard is best for users who want all of the basic plan’s security features alongside additional protection and privacy tools, including dark web monitoring and a VPN.

It’s also a great option if you need protection for multiple devices. On this plan, you can secure your desktop computer, personal laptop, and smartphone — or whichever three devices you prefer.

Additional features on this plan, on top of those available with Norton AntiVirus Plus, include:

• Coverage for three devices: Best for individuals or small families. You can protect up to three devices under one subscription.
• Virtual private network: Encrypt your internet connection and mask your IP address by leveraging Norton’s proprietary VPN protocol, Mimic. This keeps your in-transit data safer on public Wi-Fi networks and helps you access your favorite content from around the world.
• Dark web monitoring: Automatically scans dark web marketplaces and forums for your personal information. If your data is exposed in a breach and we find it on the dark web, you’ll be notified so you can take action to secure any compromised accounts.

Norton 360 Deluxe

Norton 360 Deluxe is Norton’s premier consumer antivirus offering — great for couples or families, because you get coverage for up to five devices and parental control features.

It offers all the features included with Norton AntiVirus Plus and Norton 360 Standard, plus:

• Coverage for more devices: Secure up to five devices under one subscription.
• More cloud storage: With 50 GB of space, you can comfortably store thousands of documents and media files, ensuring they’re safe and easily accessible.
• Parental controls: Norton Parental Control features help you set screen time limits, review your kids’ browsing and search history, track their location, and block websites to keep them safer from dangerous websites, cyberbullying, and inappropriate content.

If you need more device coverage under one plan, upgrade to Norton 360 with LifeLock Select. This plan covers up to 10 devices and provides identity theft protection, along with all your security and privacy features from Norton 360 Deluxe.

Is Norton antivirus software worth the cost?

Norton antivirus tools offer premium, comprehensive protection that can defend against even the newest online threats. They’re also competitively priced — often costing less than or equal to comparable products on the market. And unlike many alternatives, Norton includes a 100% Virus Protection Promise, deepfake detection, and AI-powered scam protection.

While free antivirus options are available, they typically lack comprehensive protection. Whether Norton antivirus is worth the cost depends on your online habits and how much time you spend connected. But when you weigh a modest monthly fee against the potential damage from a single malware infection or scam, the added peace of mind is a clear advantage for many users.

What users and experts say about Norton

Industry professionals at PCMag and Tom’s Guide say Norton is one of the best antivirus options because of its consistently high scores in independent testing, its reliability in protecting against malware attacks, and its intelligent firewall. Norton is also the most awarded consumer security brand ever by PCMag.

And user reviews consistently praise Norton tools for being user-friendly and highly effective. Many have used them for decades to help protect their devices, data, and financial accounts.

Norton antivirus pros and cons

Norton stands out as a premium option in the antivirus market, offering trusted protection with flexible pricing. Here’s what you should know:

How Norton compares to alternatives

Norton stands out with flexible plans built to fit your budget and your family’s needs, and it also folds more advanced features into the base plan than most.

A strong Trustpilot rating indicates real user satisfaction and an overwhelmingly positive experience for most customers.

Is Norton antivirus good for small businesses?

Norton consumer antivirus products could work for you if you’re a freelancer or solopreneur. However, you may run into limitations if you need protection for more employees, or additional features like financial and social media monitoring, or access to tech support.

If your small business could benefit from the extra coverage and professional support, consider Norton Small Business or Small Business Premium.

• Norton Small Business: This plan starts at $59.99 per year (first-year price) and covers up to three employees, but you can upgrade to include up to 10 people. It protects business devices from cyber threats, comes with a secure browser that keeps browsing activity and online banking private, automatically updates software to keep devices safer and performing their best, includes dark web monitoring, offers 250 GB of cloud storage space, and more.
• Norton Small Business Premium: This plan starts at $199.99 per year (first-year price) and covers up to five employees, but you can upgrade to include up to 10 people. You get all the same features as the standard plan, plus financial and social media account takeover alerts, 24/7 access to tech support, a VPN, a driver updater that optimizes hardware performance, and an upgrade to 500 GB of cloud storage.

Get award-winning antivirus protection

You can rest assured when you protect yourself with Norton AntiVirus Plus, the tool trusted by individuals, families, and industry professionals. With decades of experience, a track record of blocking millions of cyber threats every day, and constant advancements to stay on top of emerging threats, Norton has you covered.

FAQs

Is Norton antivirus better than Windows Defender?

Norton offers more comprehensive protection than Windows Defender. While Windows Defender provides basic malware scanning, Norton includes advanced features like AI-powered scam detection, deepfake protection, dark web monitoring, a password manager, and cloud backup. You can also use Norton to protect non-Windows devices, like a Mac, iPhone, or Android.

Which Norton plan includes identity theft protection?

Identity theft protection is offered in the Norton 360 with LifeLock plans, which combine device security with powerful identity theft protection. Having Norton and LifeLock on your side means you’re better protected against online scams and threats, and you’ll receive support should you fall victim to identity theft.

Is Norton antivirus better than Aura?

Norton is often preferred by users and experts when focusing on the antivirus features. The brand has been around longer, and Norton’s independent malware testing results are excellent, proving its antivirus engine can keep most malware off devices. And if you’re looking for identity theft protection, Norton offers you the choice to move to a Norton 360 with LifeLock plan. Aura, for its part, ties identity theft and device security into all its plans, which means that people looking for dedicated device security have to take a bundle instead.

Is Norton antivirus better than McAfee?

Both Norton and McAfee are established names in antivirus protection, and receive similar performance scores in independent testing. A significant difference between the two companies comes down to user satisfaction. Norton’s reliability and user-friendly interface are widely praised, helping to explain its strong 4.7 Trustpilot rating. By contrast, McAfee holds a 1.3 Trustpilot rating, with users citing weak customer service, aggressive pop-ups, and problems related to subscription auto-renewals.

Methodology

To create this article, we evaluated Norton and its security capabilities using publicly available, independently verifiable information and corroborated that with Norton product managers, who are the real subject matter experts. We also reviewed documentation for details on features, capabilities, pricing, reviews, and more.

We supplemented this with analysis from independent publishers such as PCMag and Tom’s Guide, as well as customer feedback and aggregate ratings from platforms including Trustpilot, Apple’s App Store, and Google Play.

By relying on public resources and Norton subject-matter experts, we aim to provide readers with an objective comparison they can trust. All information was checked and reviewed before publication and is subject to change. The analysis reflects the author’s independent evaluation and does not necessarily represent the views of Norton or its parent company.