Avast vs Norton 360 (March 2026)
| AAvast | NNorton 360 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | $19.99/yr |
| Rating | 4.2/5 | 4.3/5 |
| Free Tier | ✓ Yes | ✗ No |
| Best For | Home users seeking comprehensive protection, Families with multiple devices | Families needing multi-device protection, Users wanting comprehensive cybersecurity suite |
Norton 360 takes the lead with a 4.3/5 rating compared to Avast's 4.2/5, though both are solid choices depending on your priorities.
Quick Overview
Avast
Comprehensive antivirus and cybersecurity solution offering real-time protection against malware, ransomware, and online...
- Best for: Home users seeking comprehensive protection, Families with multiple devices
- Starting price: Free
- Category: Antivirus Software
- Founded: 1988
- Pricing model: freemium
Norton 360
Comprehensive cybersecurity suite that combines antivirus, VPN, identity protection, and cloud backup in one platform. O...
- Best for: Families needing multi-device protection, Users wanting comprehensive cybersecurity suite
- Starting price: $19.99/yr
- Category: Antivirus Software
- Founded: 1991
- Pricing model: subscription
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Avast | Norton 360 |
|---|---|---|
| Real-time Malware Protection | ✓ | ✗ |
| Ransomware Shield | ✓ | ✗ |
| Firewall Protection | ✓ | ✗ |
| Webcam Shield | ✓ | ✗ |
| Wi-Fi Security Scanner | ✓ | ✗ |
| Email Protection | ✓ | ✗ |
| Password Manager | ✓ | ✓ |
| SecureLine VPN | ✓ | ✗ |
| Browser Protection | ✓ | ✗ |
| Data Shredder | ✓ | ✗ |
| Antivirus Protection | ✗ | ✓ |
| Secure VPN | ✗ | ✓ |
| Dark Web Monitoring | ✗ | ✓ |
| AI Scam Protection | ✗ | ✓ |
| Parental Controls | ✗ | ✓ |
| Cloud Backup | ✗ | ✓ |
| Identity Theft Protection | ✗ | ✓ |
| 100% Virus Protection Promise | ✗ | ✓ |
| Deepfake Protection | ✗ | ✓ |
Pricing Comparison
Prices last verified: March 16, 2026
Avast
Norton 360
Pros & Cons
Avast
- Excellent malware detection rates (99.96% online protection)
- Robust free version with essential features
- User-friendly interface suitable for beginners
- Multi-platform support (Windows, Mac, Android, iOS)
- History of unauthorized data collection issues
- Quick scan missed malware in testing
- Higher system resource usage on Windows
- Limited customer support for free users
Norton 360
- Comprehensive all-in-one security suite
- AI-powered scam and deepfake protection
- 100% virus protection promise
- Multi-device support across all platforms
- No free tier available
- Significant price increases after promotional period
- Some advanced features locked to higher-tier plans
- Requires payment details for free trial
Which Is Best for You?
Choose Avast if:
- Home users seeking comprehensive protection
- Families with multiple devices
- Budget-conscious users wanting free antivirus
- Users needing multi-platform security
- You want to start with a free plan
Choose Norton 360 if:
- Families needing multi-device protection
- Users wanting comprehensive cybersecurity suite
- Individuals concerned about identity theft
- Those seeking AI-powered scam protection
- Budget is a priority ($19.99 vs $31.20)
- Higher user rating matters to you (4.3 vs 4.2)
Our Verdict
After thorough analysis, Norton 360 takes the lead in this comparison with a higher rating of 4.3/5 versus Avast's 4.2/5.
Norton 360 is best for Families needing multi-device protection and Users wanting comprehensive cybersecurity suite. Comprehensive all-in-one security suite.
Avast remains a strong alternative, especially for Home users seeking comprehensive protection and Families with multiple devices. Excellent malware detection rates (99.96% online protection).
Pricing-wise, Norton 360 is the more affordable starting option. Evaluate free trials of both before committing.