Choosing the right antivirus software can be daunting, especially with similar options like Norton and McAfee. Both offer robust protection and comparable pricing, making the decision even trickier. This comparison dives deep into ease-of-use, features, customer service, and pricing to help you determine the best fit for your needs and budget.
Pricing and Subscription Tiers
Norton and McAfee antivirus price lists appear side-by-side.Protecting your digital life is invaluable, but antivirus software costs can accumulate. Both McAfee and Norton offer entry-level plans starting at $30 for the first year. However, renewal costs differ significantly, with McAfee at $90 and Norton at a more budget-friendly $60. These basic plans cover only one device, making higher-tier subscriptions often necessary.
Norton’s multi-device plans range from $40/$95 (Standard, 3 devices) to $50/$120 (Deluxe, 5 devices), $100/$180 (Select, 10 devices), and $300/$350 (Ultimate, unlimited devices). Norton’s pricing focuses on devices, not users, allowing for flexible family sharing. All Norton subscriptions include cloud storage for ransomware protection. Standard plans and above bundle a VPN, password manager, and dark web monitoring. Deluxe and higher add parental controls, while Ultimate includes identity theft protection with $1 million in coverage.
McAfee offers competitive multi-device protection but charges extra for family plans. The $40/$120 Essential plan covers up to five devices. Unlimited device coverage is available with Premium ($50/$150), Advanced ($90/$200), and Ultimate ($200/$280). Family plans add a second adult and parental controls, increasing first-year costs slightly and renewal costs substantially. McAfee’s subscriptions include a VPN and password manager but lack ransomware cloud storage. Premium adds dark web monitoring, Advanced offers $1 million in identity theft coverage, and Ultimate doubles that coverage to $2 million and adds $25,000 in ransomware coverage.
Feature Comparison
Norton maintained an excellent malware protection score from AV-test.
Malware Protection: A Core Function
The primary purpose of antivirus software is malware protection. Both McAfee and Norton successfully blocked test threats. Independent lab AV-Test consistently rates Norton as a top performer, maintaining a near-perfect protection record for the past decade. While McAfee generally performs well, it has shown occasional vulnerabilities in previous tests.
Privacy Features: VPN and Tracking Protection
McAfeeBoth McAfee and Norton include VPN services with their mid-tier plans and above, enhancing online privacy by preventing location tracking and profiling. These VPNs are suitable for general privacy but may not be ideal for bandwidth-intensive activities like streaming geo-restricted content.
Additional Features: Password Management, Cloud Storage, and More
I can add notes, addresses, and credit cards to NortonBoth Norton and McAfee offer password managers, dark web monitoring, and identity theft protection in their higher-tier plans. Norton also provides encrypted cloud storage (2GB to 500GB depending on the plan) for safeguarding essential files against ransomware, a feature McAfee lacks. Mid-range plans from both providers include parental controls.
Customer Support and User Experience
McAfee support is via phone or live chat and itBoth McAfee and Norton boast decades of experience, resulting in user-friendly interfaces and comprehensive support resources. Both offer 24/7 phone and chat support. While wait times are generally reasonable, user reviews suggest Norton consistently provides superior customer service.
Final Verdict: Choosing the Right Protector
Both McAfee and Norton offer comprehensive antivirus solutions for PC, Mac, iOS, and Android. McAfee’s unlimited device plan might appeal to users with many devices, while Norton’s device-based pricing offers more flexibility for families. While initial pricing is comparable, Norton’s lower renewal costs and consistently high protection scores make it a compelling choice for long-term security. Consider your specific needs and budget to make the best decision for your digital safety.
