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Norton
Antivirus & Security
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VS
1 1
6 ties
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McAfee
Antivirus & Security
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Norton vs McAfee: Side-by-Side Comparison (2026)

Norton and McAfee are two of the oldest and most trusted antivirus brands. Both offer comprehensive protection suites, but they differ in detection rates, features, and pricing.

compare_arrows Feature Comparison

Category
Norton
McAfee
Malware Detection Rate
check_circleWinner 99.9% (AV-TEST certified)
99.8% (AV-TEST certified)
System Performance Impact
Tie Light — minimal slowdown
Tie Light — minimal slowdown
Price (annual, 1 device)
Tie ~$19.99/yr (first year)
Tie ~$19.99/yr (first year)
Devices Covered
Up to 5 devices (360 plan)
check_circleWinner Unlimited devices (Total Protection)
VPN Included
Tie Yes — Norton Secure VPN
Tie Yes — Safe Connect VPN
Password Manager
Tie Yes
Tie Yes — True Key
Dark Web Monitoring
Tie Yes — LifeLock plans
Tie Yes — Identity Protection
Customer Support
Tie 24/7 phone + chat
Tie 24/7 phone + chat
gavel Our Verdict emoji_events Norton Wins

Norton edges ahead on malware detection and brand trust. McAfee wins on unlimited device coverage at the same price. Both are excellent — Norton for single-family protection, McAfee for households with many devices.

security
1
Norton wins
balance
6
Ties
shield
1
McAfee wins

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