Norton 360 Review
Maybe the biggest name in antivirus and protection software, Norton 360 (formerly Norton Security) gets a lot right, though for some reason just has to install an annoying toolbar and browser extension. Check out our full Norton 360 review to know more about its pros and cons.
Norton 360 (formerly Norton Security) is one of the most comprehensive antivirus suites available, combining excellent malware protection with additional security tools such as a VPN, password manager and identity theft protection. It’s consistently featured in our best antivirus guide and remains a strong contender among today’s cloud-based security solutions.
Although Norton doesn’t offer a free plan, it does include a generous 60-day return policy that lets users try its premium features with minimal risk. If you’re comparing Norton with other antivirus software, it’s worth exploring our antivirus comparisons to see how it stacks up against the competition in 2026.
Before diving into my full Norton 360 review, I’ve answered some of the most common questions about its safety, who should use it, whether it’s still worth paying for in 2026 and how it compares to alternatives like Bitdefender and McAfee
-
07/21/2026 Facts checked
I’ve updated this review with the latest information on Norton’s security features, pricing plans, ideal use cases and how it compares to other leading antivirus suites.
Is Norton Worth It in 2026?
Yes, Norton is still worth paying for in 2026. It’s one of the best antivirus suites available, offering excellent malware protection alongside premium features like a VPN, dark web monitoring and identity theft protection on select plans. If you’re looking for an all-in-one security solution, Norton is easy to recommend.
Protect Your Privacy. Get Our Free VPN Guide Now!
- Comprehend the essential role a VPN plays in safeguarding your digital life
- Gain a deep understanding of how VPNs function under the hood
- Develop the ability to distinguish fact from fiction in VPN promotions
Which Norton Plan Should You Buy?
Norton Antivirus Plus
This plan is best for individuals who only need antivirus protection for a single Windows or Mac device. It offers essential malware protection without paying for features you might never use.
Norton 360 Standard
Norton 360 Standard is ideal for users who want additional security features, including a VPN and password manager. It’s a good choice if you’re protecting just one device but want more than basic antivirus protection.
Norton 360 Deluxe
This is the best option for most people. It covers multiple devices and includes parental controls, making it particularly well suited to families and households with several devices.
Norton 360 With LifeLock
This plan is best for users who want identity theft protection in addition to antivirus software. It combines Norton’s security tools with credit monitoring and identity restoration services (availability varies by region).
Microsoft Defender vs Norton
Microsoft Defender is a solid free antivirus solution that comes built into Windows and offers sufficient protection for many users. If you only need basic malware protection and don’t want to pay for antivirus software, Defender is an excellent starting point.
Norton is the better choice for users who want a more comprehensive security suite. Its additional features, including a VPN, password manager, dark web monitoring and identity theft protection, provide significantly more value than Microsoft Defender alone.
Who Should Use Norton?
Norton is best suited to users looking for an all-in-one antivirus and security suite.
Families
Norton 360 Deluxe is an excellent option for families thanks to its multi-device support and parental controls.
Windows Users
Windows users benefit from Norton’s excellent malware detection rates and additional security tools that complement Microsoft’s built-in protections.
Users Wanting Identity Protection
Certain Norton plans include identity theft monitoring and restoration services, making them ideal for users who want more than antivirus software.
People With Multiple Devices
Norton makes it easy to protect several devices under a single subscription, including Windows, macOS, Android and iOS devices.
Who Shouldn’t Use Norton?
Norton isn’t the best choice for every user or budget.
Users Wanting Free Protection
Microsoft Defender and other free antivirus solutions may be sufficient if you’re only looking for basic malware protection.
Mac-Only Users Needing Lightweight Software
Norton works well on macOS, but some users may prefer lighter antivirus solutions designed specifically for Apple’s ecosystem.
Advanced Users Wanting Highly Configurable Antivirus
Power users who prefer granular controls and advanced configuration options may find Norton too streamlined compared to some competitors.
Bitdefender vs Norton
Bitdefender is a fantastic choice for users who prioritize malware protection, performance and value for money. Its plans are often slightly more affordable than Norton’s while still offering an impressive range of security features.
Norton is the better option if you’re looking for a complete security suite that includes tools such as a VPN, password manager and identity theft protection. It’s particularly appealing for families and users who want comprehensive protection across multiple devices.
Strengths & Weaknesses
Pros:
- Windows & macOS support
- Strong lab results
- Lots of features
- Good support system
- Mobile support
Cons:
- No Linux support
- Expensive
- No free plan
- Inexpensive plans are limited
Alternatives for Norton 360
- 1$2.50 / month(All Plans)
- 2$3.12 / month(All Plans)
- 3$2.50 / month(All Plans)
- 4$2.60 / month(All Plans)
- 5$2.08 / month(All Plans)
What Features Does Norton Offer?
Norton offers almost all of the features and options you could want from an antivirus. However, this makes some of the menus complicated. You will often have to go through multiple tabs and windows to change a setting. If you’re willing to go through hoops to find them, though, most features can be tweaked or turned off.
There were a couple of features that were missing, such as Norton not having a quick access button for its quarantine. You would usually find this in a list that is accessible from an antivirus’ main page, like you do with Malwarebytes Antivirus.
A dedicated settings window does exist, which you can use to access most settings for a variety of features. This includes a list of “quick controls,” which allow you to temporarily deactivate security features, such as Norton’s firewall.
This firewall allows you to choose which networks and programs can have greater access, as well as whether it should block certain types of traffic. By default, the firewall provides great protections across the board, except with traffic types where security isn’t often needed.
The Norton Password Manager
Norton also comes with a password manager. When you first open it, you will need to add a password, which you will have to use every time you enter the password manager. There are also settings to make individual passwords request it every time. This isn’t the best password manager available, but this is useful for keeping some personal information safe.
Norton Password Manager has four sections. The first is where it keeps normal logins, but the other three are for addresses, bank cards and notes that you want to secure. You can also give them tags so it’s easier to sort or search through many entries.
There is also a password generator to help you set up a strong password for each of your accounts. This works similarly to Cloudwards.net’s own password generator, where you can set the number of characters and turn off symbols, numbers or letters, if you need.
Cloud backup ranges from 2GB on entry-level plans up to 250GB (or more on select higher-tier plans). Norton uses multiple data centers and encrypts everything to keep your data safe while it’s in the cloud backup.
You can create multiple “backup sets,” which designate the types and locations of saved files. Having control over how often it saves each backup set to the cloud allows you to regularly backup important files, without your computer backing up everything all the time.
Although this is a fine add-on to an antivirus program, there are better cloud storage options available. The limited data quantity in the cheaper packages means that you could hit the cap quickly, and you may not be able to protect all of the files you want.
Norton Safe Web
Norton offers browser extension software to go alongside its antivirus products. There are a few options to choose from, each with different features. In addition to extensions that allow you to integrate with products like Norton Family for full parental controls, there are two browser extensions for web security.
Named “Norton safe web” and “Norton safe search,” these two can be easily confused. Norton could simply join both together, and having both available seems like it’s intentional to get people to install the wrong one.
“Safe web” gives you full browser protection by keeping an eye on what you are doing online and stopping any threats. For antivirus protection within a browser, this is very effective. Norton doesn’t let suspicious downloads complete, and phishing pages cause a warning page to appear. This will keep you safe online when it’s used alongside Norton’s desktop antivirus.
On the other hand, the “safe search” extension feels redundant. It gives you the same protection of the “safe web” extension but with the drawback of changing your default search engine.
Additionally, neither extension references the other, so it is easy to get confused between the two. We think having just one extension with an option to change the search engine would be a better choice.
Norton 360 Features
Norton 360 provides extra features to help protect your data from various threats. This includes extra cloud backup space, smartphone security and webcam protection. Norton also helps protect against identity fraud in the form of a dark web monitoring system.
This dark web monitoring looks to see if any of your data is on the dark web. This is a basic form of security, but the full-featured LifeLock comes bundled with some versions of Norton 360. We have a roundup of the best identity theft protection to keep you safe online.
Norton 360 Deluxe also includes parental controls through Norton Family. The account holder can control what each device can do and how long each device can be active. Details are displayed within Norton Family, like how much time was spent on social media, but it doesn’t give any access to the users’ accounts.
Norton 360 Deluxe also includes email alerts, so when a child accesses a website blocked by the parental control, you can see what site the device tried to access. The user can also send a message to request access when they visit a blocked site.
Even if you have Norton 360 Deluxe, there is still no option for using the parental controls on a Mac. This means only PCs and mobile devices can be monitored and limited through Norton’s parental control system, so you should consider if these are essential features for you.
Additionally,Norton’s Secure VPN is included in the basic Norton 360 Standard package, but the more expensive plans can have more simultaneous users.
This is a relatively good all-round VPN with some limitations. This VPN software is quick and easy to use, but this comes at the price of fewer options and some security concerns. If you want to learn more, read our Norton Secure VPN review or our breakdown of the best VPNs available.
Norton 360 Features Overview
| Features |  |
|---|---|
| Password manager | |
| File shredder | |
| Multi-OS support | |
| Parental control | |
| Disk cleanup | |
| VPN | |
| Profiles | |
| Ransomware protection | |
| Webcam protection | |
| Real-time monitoring | |
| Secure browser | |
| Download protection | |
| Phishing protection | |
| Firewall | |
| Windows | |
| macOS | |
| Linux | |
| Android | |
| iOS | |
| Desktop UI | |
| Mobile application | |
| Browser extension | |
| Help Center | |
| Forum | |
| Live Chat | |
| Phone | |
| 24/7 Support | |
| Video Tutorial | |
| Free Plan |
How Much Does Norton Cost?
- Price renews at $59.99; Full protection from viruses and malware, 2GB of cloud storage, integrated firewall, password manager, protection for one PC or Mac
- Price renews at $94.99; Protection for three devices, 2GB cloud backup, Secure VPN, password manager, dark web monitoring
- Price renews at $119.99; Protection for five devices, parental control, 50GB of cloud storage
More plans
- Price renews at $189.99; Price for 10 devices and includes VPN, password manager, virus protection, parental control, credit monitoring coverage, and more
- Price renews at $259.99; Price for 10 devices and includes VPN, password manager, virus protection, parental control, credit monitoring coverage, up to $100,000 in Stolen Funds Reimbursement, and more
- Price renews at $364.99; Price for 10 devices and includes VPN, password manager, virus protection, parental control, credit monitoring coverage, and up to $1,000,000 in Stolen Funds Reimbursement, and more
Norton is reasonably priced for antivirus software, although the cost for each package has a steep increase when it’s renewed, making it one of the more expensive options on the market. The pricing structure on the products page gives a breakdown of the features gained at each level. There is also a guide for what the equivalent was in the old system.
Norton AntiVirus Plus is slightly cheaper than other similar software, such as Trend Micro Antivirus. However, getting malware protection for only one computer that has tight limits of features, like the cloud backup, means this option can be beaten by some of the best free antivirus software on the market.
When looking at the more advanced Norton 360 options, the Norton 360 Deluxe seems to be the best value for most people. With the extra devices, you can protect most of your family’s computers and phones. This means you can utilize the addition of parental control to choose what each device can do.
Norton 360 Deluxe also grows the cloud storage capacity to 50GB, which is significantly more useful than the 2GB provided by Norton 360 Standard. Few antiviruses offer cloud storage, but if it is a priority, you should look at some of our cloud storage articles for more robust solutions if you don’t choose Norton.
The more expensive end includes LifeLock protection. Alongside identity theft protection, Norton 360 is confident enough in its protection to provide $25,000 in stolen funds reimbursement, with up to $1,000,000 to pay for lawyers and experts, should you become a victim of identity theft.
Norton offers a 60-day money-back guarantee on annual plans and a 14-day refund period on monthly subscriptions. Although this makes up for having no free trial, the lack of a free version will be a problem for some. Those who want a free alternative might prefer software like Avast Pro.
How User-Friendly Is Norton?
Norton’s user-friendliness starts with a clear dropdown menu at the top of the home page showing all available products. Upon subscribing to one of the plans, you get an option to download the installer. This does almost everything on its own to install Norton, and it only stopped to ask us to remove an antivirus software that was still on the computer. This is because different antiviruses can interfere with each other.
The first thing shown after the download is the “my Norton” window. This gives good access for setting up cloud storage, the password manager and the scanning options. You can also set it to display the classic launcher on startup. This window makes more obscure settings and features, like the disk cleanup, more accessible.
On the surface, Norton’s products have a clean and easy-to-use UI. This is great for regular scans or for running a preset backup. However, when looking through the settings menus, things stop being so clear.
Norton has lists of settings that can be difficult to understand at a glance. Some of the settings are under a heading with various switches to turn features on or off, but other settings have a “configure” page that opens a separate window with the options. This can result in a cluttered screen, if you don’t know where to find a specific setting.
Scanning Options
Norton offers three scan types. In the screen where you can choose which scan to run, other options are available that may be useful. For example, “Norton insight” looks through your files and decides how likely they are to contain malware. This can show you what programs Norton deems as high risk.
The first is a “quick scan,” which is what Norton will default to when it asks to search for malware. This only took seven minutes and scanned 10,337 items, and it was capable of finding threats in locations malware often hides, without slowing the computer down.
The next option is the “full scan.” This took nearly five hours and scanned 2,923,832 items; Norton appears to be checking all the files on the computer. This means running the scan should find any threats that are hiding.
The final scan option is the “custom scan.” By selecting specific folders or files to run scans on, you can check suspicious programs. However, you cannot drag and drop files, so you have to go through a file browser and select what it will scan.
Running a custom scan is a quick way to regularly check a small selection of folders. However, it takes some time to set it up, so one-time scans are better off as quick scans.
When a scan is running, there is an option underneath the progress bar to turn off the computer after the scan is complete. You also have the option to sleep or hibernate the computer, which is nice to have.
How Effective Is Norton’s Protection?
Norton may have a great set of features and a decent display, but what matters is that the Norton antivirus can protect your computer. To test an antivirus’ security, we use a combination of lab tests and hands-on, practical testing.
AV-Test found that Norten blocked all of the threats with no false positives in November and December of 2019. With the need for less processing power than average, AV-Test gave Norton a 6/6 for protection, performance and usability.
Next up was AV-Comparatives. The July to October 2019 real-world tests produced a three-star result for Norton, although it was surpassed by other programs, including Avira, because of Norton’s higher false-positive rate.
Finally, we checked MRG Effitas, which last tested Norton in 2018. This test found that no malware could get past Norton’s protection. As such, Norton got a level-one pass, MRG Effitas’ best rating.
Overall, the lab tests show that Norton can reliably protect devices from the latest threats, so you shouldn’t be concerned with the security provided by this antivirus. The hands-on testing files we used also confirmed the strength of Norton’s malware protection.
Hands-On Testing
First, we checked the WICAR website, which contains 13 links to pages that antivirus software should block as malware. Norton detected all 13 and blocked them before Google Chrome’s protections stopped access to the page. This isn’t common in an antivirus, so it testifies to the security provided by Norton.
The other tool we use is the AMTSO website. This has six tests that download fake malware files, such as an EICAR (European Institute for Computer Antivirus Research) file. Norton blocked all five of the uncompressed files. The test that downloaded 10 compressed files had only three files successfully download, which is better than most antiviruses.
According to these tests, Norton is successful in protecting computers. If you are concerned about your antivirus protecting your device from every possible attack, our Bitdefender Antivirus review may give a good alternative. You can also read our full guide on Bitdefender vs Norton Antivirus comparison to get a fuller scope.
Despite having some excellent protection results, Norton seems to significantly slow down scanning if too many other processes are running. It consistently tried to keep about 20 percent of our processing power, although it will use everything available if the computer is idling. This is worth considering if your devices are old or normally slow.
Virus Protection Promise
Norton continually scores high on tests across the board, and it offers a “virus protection promise.” This is a money-back guarantee, should your computer become infected with malware that Norton can’t remove.
To file a Virus Protection Promise claim, you’ll first run Norton’s Full Scan and Startup Scan. If malware persists, Norton support will attempt to remove it, and you’ll receive a refund if they can’t.
Norton’s antivirus protection is good enough that you probably won’t need a refund, but this isn’t often offered by companies if a product doesn’t work. This is not a suitable replacement for reliable protection, but on a product that already keeps your device safe, it is a nice thing to have.
What Support Options Does Norton Provide?
Norton provides a wide variety of support options to help users with their antivirus needs. There is a forum, a good-sized knowledgebase, a 24/7 live chat and an email system in case the other support channels cannot provide solutions to your problems.
The knowledgebase covers many of the common problems that may occur. There are step-by-step guides for most issues, as well as a list of common follow-up questions. There is a search bar underneath the support page, but it isn’t great at finding a clear answer for a specific problem.
Some of the knowledgebase questions have small video tutorials. These are slow and hard to focus on, but they do provide plenty of information and can help with the more complicated issues that may occur.
Norton also has a forum page that has some activity. Most days see a couple of problems posted, which the community typically resolves within the day.
However, the main problem is with the forum’s design. Navigating the forum is difficult, and it looks outdated. If Norton made the forum clearer and gave it a more modern design, it could be a great resource for solving problems.
If the support from the knowledgebase or forums isn’t enough, Norton does operate a 24/7 live chat, as well as a support email. This can help guide you through most problems fairly quickly, and email support can help you with harder challenges.
One small issue with Norton’s support is the lack of a phone line. This could be a problem for people who prefer to talk over the phone rather than through a chatbox. Although it isn’t an essential part of the support system, the option would be nice to have.
The Verdict: Is Norton Worth It in 2026?
Yes, Norton is still worth buying in 2026 if you’re looking for an all-in-one security suite with excellent malware protection and a wide range of premium features. In this updated review, I’ve covered whether Norton is worth paying for, which plan is right for you and how it compares to competitors like Microsoft Defender and Bitdefender.
Norton is particularly well suited to families, Windows users and anyone who wants additional security tools such as a VPN, password manager and identity theft protection. Its multi-device plans offer excellent value for users looking to secure their entire digital ecosystem.
Have you used Norton before, or are you considering subscribing for the first time? Which Norton plan would you choose, and how do you think it compares to other antivirus software? Let me know in the comments below, and thanks for reading.
Norton 360 FAQ
Yes, Norton provides a good product and has a very well-known name because of it. Even if it isn’t the best option available, there aren’t many significant flaws that detract from what it does well. It is worth keeping an eye on the testing sites we use to ensure the standard of protection doesn’t start to slip, but we have no major concerns about the security provided by Norton’s products.
Norton offers better overall value thanks to its excellent malware protection and comprehensive security features. McAfee is still a strong contender, but Norton is generally the better choice for most users.
Yes. Norton Security was discontinued and replaced by Norton 360 in 2019. Norton 360 is now the company’s flagship antivirus and security suite.
Norton Security was discontinued in 2019 and replaced by Norton 360. New users can no longer purchase Norton Security. If you’re buying Norton today, Norton 360 is the company’s current antivirus and security suite.
