Avast vs Norton 360: which antivirus is better?
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When it comes to antivirus software, Norton 360 and Avast Antivirus are two names that consistently stand out. Even after their merger in 2022, they remain different tools, each bringing unique features and approaches to cybersecurity.
Picking the right one isn’t always easy. In this detailed Avast vs Norton comparison, I cover everything from malware protection and system performance to ease of use and pricing. Read on to find out which antivirus best suits your needs.
Norton 360 vs Avast
| Norton Antivirus | Avast Antivirus | |
| ⭐ Rating: | ||
| 🥇 Overall rank: | #2 out of #30 | #6 out of #30 |
| 🔥 Coupons: | Norton coupon 60% OFF | Avast coupon 60% OFF |
| 💵 Price: | From $29.99/year | From $31.20/year |
| ✂️ Free version: | No | Yes |
| 🖥️ Platforms: | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android | Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS |
Our team of researchers thoroughly tests antivirus software following a well-established testing process. In unison, our experts combine in-house and independent testing lab findings with first-hand experience to help you make informed decisions about each product. Learn how we test antivirus software.
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Norton offers a more complete premium package, with built-in VPN, password manager, cloud storage, AI scam protection, and a Virus Protection Promise.
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Avast stands out mainly for its free version, which provides solid basic protection and useful tools like Web Guard, File and Behavior Shields, and a sandbox.
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In independent lab tests, both performed excellently, but Norton achieved perfect scores across all categories.
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Norton focuses more on prevention, blocking threats at the browser and network level, while Avast emphasizes detecting and managing threats after they’ve entered the system.
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Despite Avast’s free tier, Norton delivers better value for money on paid plans, offering more features at similar or even lower prices.
Features overview
How many features a service has heavily depends on which edition you're looking at. Avast Antivirus splits into Free, Premium Security, and Ultimate. The latter adds separate products: Avast Cleanup Premium and Avast SecureLine VPN. The most significant selling point of the Avast Antivirus is that it has a free version, which provides basic protection.
Norton 360 doesn't have a free version, and it offers four paid editions: Plus, Standard, Deluxe, and Premium. Each higher tier adds more privacy features, such as privacy controls or a privacy monitor.
Although Norton 360 doesn't have a free version, it proves to be a more robust service. It provides many more relevant subscription benefits that should be important to you if you're looking for the best antivirus service. Even on more modest editions, it's the clear winner.
Norton 360 features
With Norton 360 Standard, you get not only an antivirus. There's also anti-spyware functionalities and built-in malware and ransomware shields. The service aims not only to deal with the viruses that get into your system but also to prevent them from appearing in the first place. Its smart firewall and online threat protection deal with suspicious traffic before it causes any harm.
In its basic tier, Norton AntiVirus Plus provides protection for 1 device. Within its comprehensive cybersecurity suite, Norton 360 aims to be pretty generous as a package. For example, it adds many features that you would buy as standalone products. It includes a password manager, a VPN service, 2GB of cloud storage, and a built-in AI-powered scam protection. The VPN's ability to provide complete anonymity is questionable. However, this is still a great feature, which gives the user bank-level data encryption, particularly useful for protection on public Wi-Fi.
There's even the Virus Protection Promise. This is the ability to get help with malware removal from a Norton expert and the promise of a refund if they can't solve the issue. All of this is available starting on the Standard plan for 3 devices (Windows, macOS, Android, or iOS). If you want to use Norton 360 on more than 3 devices, you'll have to switch to Norton 360 Deluxe. It adds support for 5 devices and gives 50GB of cloud storage. The top-tier plan extends device compatibility for 10 devices and adds 100GB of cloud storage. For more Norton features, check our Norton 360 Antivirus review.
Avast Antivirus features
Avast Antivirus would be the only option between the two if you were hoping to get a free service. The free edition includes protection against viruses, ransomware, and other threats with a real-time monitoring service. You get the essentials plus the Avast Assistant (for scam protection), Web Guard (for blocking websites and phishing links), File and Behavior Shields (for files and apps protection), and Quarantine (for isolating potentially harmful files).
Then, Avast Premium Security splits into two versions: single-device and multi-device. As you would expect, the only difference between them is the increased number of devices (from 1 to 10). Otherwise, you get your DNS cache protection, secure sandbox to run potentially suspicious files, permanent data files eraser, auto app updater, and remote access shield. There's also a webcam shield that blocks malicious hackers from trying to access it. The Ultimate plan adds VPN, Cleanup Premium, and AntiTrack. For more Avast features, check our Avast Antivirus review.
The main issue with Avast features as a whole is that it seems lacking. There's little incentive to upgrade from the free edition, especially when you get a set of features that can be easily substituted with better third-party tools.
Norton 360 vs Avast Antivirus: which one is better for protection?
To properly evaluate the protection measures of Norton 360 and Avast Antivirus, you need data, even better if it's from the independent malware laboratories.
Independent lab testing by AV-TEST has awarded both services its seal of approval. It means that both Norton and Avast are certified and comply with the highest level of malware protection standards. The tests themselves were performed on several platforms.
In the latest AV-TEST results from October 2025, both Avast and Norton rank among the top antivirus tools. Avast Free Antivirus scored 6/6 for protection, 5.5/6 for performance, and 6/6 for usability, while Norton achieved a perfect 6/6 across all three categories, confirming their top-tier security and reliability.
While the independent lab results are not that bad for both, in 2024, Avast raised even more concerns about user privacy than before.
To sum up, Avast is a very capable service, but Norton does the job better. On average, it protects against a wider variety of threats. So, it's more capable of determining threats based on its well-rounded database.
Real-time protection
As I've mentioned previously, Norton 360 aims to mitigate threats before they get the chance to infect the system. For this reason, it continually syncs with its database with the most recent malware types. It means that your protection starts at the browser level, negating links to sites that meet certain criteria of suspicion. However, even when the malicious software gets through to your system, the service can still be useful with several types of quarantine options.
Avast Antivirus focuses more on detecting and managing threats that are already inside the system. The service heavily relies on frequent background rescans, the impact of which you can feel if you have a less powerful device. Its highlight is the sandbox tool, allowing it to test a suspicious app in an isolated environment. It helps to avoid installing malicious apps directly to your system.
Scanning
Both Norton 360 and Avast Antivirus have efficient scanning tools, but they perform differently. It's hard to determine what differences under the hood cause this since both services are closed-source. However, when scanning a PC in safe mode, Avast Antivirus is 20% faster than Norton 360. It might be because Avast is constantly rescanning background files. Avast might be saving time by not rescanning unchanged or already recently scanned entries, even when you force a full scan.
Firewall protection
Norton 360 Standard has an Intrusion Prevention System that works with its Smart Firewall. This feature chooses what goes through as traffic, and the Intrusion Prevention System sifts through the traffic to make sure that all of the content in the traffic is safe.
Avast Premium Security and Ultimate come with an advanced firewall preinstalled that you can personalize and whitelist certain applications. Avast does not go as in-depth into its firewall security as Norton’s does, but it does allow for more user customization.
PC performance
When it comes to PC performance, there is no clear winner. Avast does an excellent job of utilizing the CPU to defend against malware, but that is only good news if it's running on a higher-end computer.
Scanning for malware uses a certain amount of processing power. If you're trying to be efficient with your CPU usage, then it's important to know how much each program demands. While in the background, Norton 360 uses about half as much as Avast does, but it is the other way around when it comes to a full scan. When comparing Avast vs Norton's performance, they use the same amount of processing power on Mac or Windows.
During a quick scan, Avast uses 3 times the amount of CPU as Norton. For higher-end computers, the more processing is needed, the faster the results. However, it’s the exact opposite for lower-end computers that don't have that many resources to spare.
Pricing
When it comes to cost, Avast leads by offering a free plan, whereas Norton does not. However, in terms of value for money, Norton provides so much more than Avast on similar subscription tiers.
| Plan | Avast | Norton 360 |
| Free | $0.00 | – |
| Premium Security/Plus | $31.20/year | $29.99/year |
| Ultimate/Standard | $39.99/year | $39.99/year |
| –/Deluxe | – | $49.99/year |
| –/Premium | – | $59.99/year |
| Check pricing | Check pricing |
It’s clear that Norton offers better value at similar-tier plans – you not only pay less, but also get more features.
If these prices still seem like too much, don't worry. You can always get better discounts by taking a look at our pages for Norton coupons and Avast coupons.
Norton 360 or Avast Antivirus: free vs premium plans
Norton does not offer a free tier for Norton 360, unlike Avast. Norton’s entry-level tier is priced at $29.99/year, and for an additional ten dollars per year ($39.99/year), users can subscribe to Norton’s 360 Standard plan to secure up to three devices and gain dark web monitoring.
Higher tiers with Norton are priced at $49.99 and $59.99 for the first subscription year (with an increasing subscription scale in subsequent years). These higher tiers offer additional services such as parental controls and a privacy monitor.
Avast offers paid tiers for its security software, starting at $31.20/year for single-device protection with benefits that extend beyond the free software, $39.99/year for multi-device protection for up to ten devices. With the Ultimate plan for $43.99/year, you get VPN, Cleanup Premium, and AntiTrack for a single device, and for $55.99/year, you can secure these benefits for up to ten devices.
Apps and interface
When it comes to apps and interface, both providers stand toe-to-toe. Their desktop and mobile apps follow similar layouts and navigation logic, which minimizes confusion when switching between devices. This consistency makes both platforms easy to pick up, even for first-time users.
That said, Norton’s apps may appear bulkier or more crowded to some users, but this largely reflects the broader range of features it includes compared to Avast, rather than poor design.
Desktop apps
In terms of aesthetics, Norton offers a black and white software base with yellow accents. For consumers who want minimal color on their screens, and potentially for professionals who prefer a minimalistic appearance for work-related purposes and devices, Norton might be the preferred choice.
In comparison, Avast features a similarly modern look to Norton, with comparable color schemes and an interface that’s just as easy to navigate. Its use of bold colors and clean, vector-style panels gives it a polished, contemporary feel, making it a solid choice for users who value both visual appeal and intuitive menus.
Avast also utilizes simple-to-use menu options with individual icons to run its security services. This way, you can quickly check any security risks immediately, whether that be a network inspection to find network issues or a comprehensive virus scan of your device.
Mobile apps
Norton’s iPhone app features a clean, black-and-white interface with yellow accents. Its standout feature, VPN, auto-selects a region for users, allowing them control of regional preference but with only limited control of the final VPN location. The iPhone app also scans for Wi-Fi weaknesses, provides an ad blocker, and allows users to enable warnings when connected to unsecured hotspots.
Norton’s Android app has all of the iPhone app’s features with the added benefits of app installation checks, spam call checks, and battery usage warnings.
Avast’s iPhone app, called Avast Security & Privacy, offers services for users with the familiar aesthetics of the Avast desktop app. Avast’s app opens to a clean screen that provides a scan option, but it does not offer the level of personalization and warning messages that Norton provides.
The Avast Android app also includes device tracking, RAM boosting, app installation checks, and protects against malware-infected websites. When it comes to user-friendliness, Avast and Norton for Android are both easy to navigate.
Customer support
Norton offers custom support services through online forums, live chat, and phone 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with little to no wait times. You will also find many FAQ on popular topics.
If consumers prefer to speak with a Norton representative directly over the phone, Norton offers wait time estimates on its website that average 3 minutes. Plus, users can opt for on-demand IT support to help with technical issues, with prices ranging from $69.99/service or $149.99/year.
Avast mainly delivers customer support via automated web forms and community forums. Users are guided through issue categories that lead into step-by-step questionnaires, designed to narrow down the problem and suggest a solution. If they reach the contact form, they’re then required to submit additional details, such as their specific issue, software version, and other technical information.
As a final note, although Avast does offer remote phone support, the phone number is limited to its Premium version customers and is not easy to find through its website.
Additionally, Avast offers two premium tech support plans: Simple Fix for $79.99 per one-time call on one device, and Total Care for $204.99 per year with unlimited calls and support for up to three devices. Both provide help with basic and advanced hardware and software issues, including non-Avast products.
Final verdict
| Category | Norton | Avast |
| Protection | ✅ | ❌ |
| PC performance | ❌ | ✅ |
| Pricing | ✅ | ❌ |
| User interface | ✅ | ✅ |
| Customer support | ✅ | ❌ |
Overall, both AV software providers provide impressive arrays of benefits. However, this review concludes that Norton takes the lead. It performed better in nearly all comparison categories, with its main advantages being a broader feature set and more flexible pricing options.
Although Avast performs slightly faster than Norton for both standard and high-end computer builds, the gain in efficiency doesn’t weigh against the ease-of-use and flexibility that Norton provides in terms of subscription benefits.
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FAQ
Which antivirus is better: Avast vs Norton 360?
Even though both programs are good, Norton outperforms Avast in many aspects, including customer support and the number of features.
Is there a free version of Norton 360?
No, Norton doesn’t provide a free version. Its least expensive plan costs $29.99/year. However, there is a free 7-day trial period for you to test the service.
What does Norton 360 cost?
The price range for Norton 360 goes from $29.99/year to $59.99/year.
Is Norton 360 compatible with Android?
Yes, Norton 360 offers a mobile app for Android, which has a lot of useful features like spam call checks, app installation checks, and battery usage warnings.
Is Avast owned by Norton?
No, Avast isn’t owned by the Norton brand itself. Still, both Avast and Norton are now owned by the same parent company, Gen Digital Inc. It’s a global cybersecurity company headquartered in the US (with a co-headquarters in the Czech Republic) that owns both the Norton and Avast brands.
