Norton Antivirus for Mac Review (2026): The right choice?

Full Review

Norton is ranked #1 of the 28 best antivirus for Mac.

Norton 360 stands out with an extensive range of security features, even on its basic plan, Norton Antivirus Plus. Alongside a strong anti-malware engine, users receive a firewall, anti-phishing protection, a password manager, 2 GB of cloud storage, and a 100% Virus Protection Promise, which guarantees a refund if Norton can’t remove a virus.

Upgrading to Norton 360 Deluxe adds valuable features like parental controls (including the School Time tool), a VPN with unlimited data, dark web monitoring, webcam protection, a privacy monitor, and 50 GB of cloud storage.

Those looking to include identity theft protection, can opt for Norton 360 Advanced (outside of the US) or the LifeLock products (in the US). All of Norton’s plans come with a 60-day money-back guarantee.

Anti-malware

Norton’s anti-malware engine delivers flawless detection performance and exceptional real-time protection. During testing with nearly 1,200 samples—including viruses, trojans, worms, backdoors, rootkits, ransomware, spyware, and cryptojackers—it achieved a 100% detection rate. The system relies on an extensive malware directory combined with heuristic and machine learning-based analysis, placing it among the top-tier performers alongside Bitdefender.

Real-time protection blocked every malware attempt across plain, zipped, and encrypted formats before execution, demonstrating robust behavioral analysis. Norton’s full scan completed in about 14 minutes on a desktop and under 9 minutes on an SSD-equipped laptop—faster than most competitors—while maintaining minimal system impact. Users can customize their protection with several scan types, including Smart, Quick, Full, Targeted, and Startup scans, as well as context-menu and scheduled custom scans.

The Smart Scan extends beyond malware, identifying Wi-Fi vulnerabilities, registry clutter, and junk files, helping maintain optimal system performance. Full-screen detection ensures gaming or video sessions remain uninterrupted by notifications or scans. Overall, Norton’s anti-malware system combines outstanding accuracy, speed, and configurability to deliver comprehensive and reliable protection across all devices.

Anti-phishing

Norton’s Safe Web and Safe Search modules deliver highly effective phishing and web threat protection. Safe Web integrates directly into desktop and mobile applications and offers browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge. Its Intrusion Prevention System (IPS) enhances transaction security by detecting malicious scripts and exploit attempts. In extensive testing, Safe Web successfully blocked almost all phishing sites, outperforming Chrome’s native defenses.

Safe Web provides detailed reports on every blocked page, explaining the reason for detection and associated risks. Users can also manually query site reputations via the Safe Web dashboard, even without a Norton subscription. Safe Search augments this with color-coded trust indicators—green for safe, orange for caution, and red for dangerous links—applied to search results and social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter (X).

While Safe Search’s accuracy occasionally mislabels safe or unsafe sites, Safe Web compensates with superior reliability. Together, these components ensure comprehensive browsing safety, preventing access to fraudulent and infected domains. Although the Chrome extension lacks certain detailed insights, Norton’s anti-phishing ecosystem remains one of the most capable and data-rich in the security industry.

Firewall

Norton’s Smart Firewall surpasses standard operating system firewalls with advanced threat detection and deep customization options. It protects against ARP and DNS spoofing, SSL man-in-the-middle attacks, and unauthorized port access. During controlled intrusion tests, it identified and blocked every network-based attack, including ones that bypassed the default Windows firewall.

Users can choose among several operational modes, including Ask Mode—which prompts users for each new connection—and Smart Mode, which automatically permits or blocks connections based on behavioral analysis. Predefined traffic rules are intelligently configured to block common attack vectors while allowing safe connections, minimizing false positives. Advanced users can define custom rules for individual applications, tailoring network permissions with granular precision.

Norton’s firewall logs all networks the device connects to and dynamically adjusts protection levels for public versus private connections. When a device connects to a public Wi-Fi, security protocols tighten automatically to prevent intrusion. Overall, Norton’s Smart Firewall offers a strong combination of intelligent automation, detailed visibility, and expert-level configurability, making it a leading choice for both novice and advanced users.

Password manager

Norton’s password manager is among the most capable bundled solutions, offering solid encryption and essential functionality for secure credential storage. It uses 256-bit AES encryption and supports unlimited storage for passwords, payment details, and secure notes. Synchronization across Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS devices ensures seamless cross-platform access, complemented by browser extensions for all major browsers.

The manager includes efficient auto-save and auto-fill features and a password generator for creating strong, random credentials. Its vault auditing tool continuously evaluates password strength and duplication, providing actionable recommendations for improvement. The mobile login feature allows vault access without a master password by using biometric authentication.

Two-factor authentication (2FA) supports authenticator apps and hardware keys, though it applies to the Norton account rather than the vault itself—posing a minor security limitation. Account recovery options are minimal, relying on a recovery key or mobile biometric access. Despite the absence of emergency access or recovery contacts, the strict security model prevents unauthorized access. Overall, Norton’s password manager balances usability and strong encryption, ranking as the best antivirus-integrated password manager in 2026.

VPN

Norton’s VPN distinguishes itself among antivirus-bundled VPNs through unlimited data usage and strong privacy protections. It employs 256-bit AES encryption, the WireGuard protocol, and a verified no-logs policy. Standard security features include a kill switch and split tunneling (Windows and Android only), Wi-Fi threat detection, ad tracker blocking, and Tor network compatibility.

With over 2,000 servers across 29 countries on six continents, the VPN provides balanced global coverage, although it lags behind standalone VPNs in total reach. Performance testing revealed moderate speed reductions—roughly 15–25% on nearby servers—with higher latency on distant connections. Despite this, HD streaming and general browsing remained smooth and stable. The VPN supports major streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Disney+, but not BBC iPlayer.

Torrenting is supported but limited to automatically selected P2P servers, restricting location control. While download speeds varied, local servers performed reliably, maintaining usable speeds for streaming and downloading. Overall, Norton’s VPN provides strong security and adequate performance for everyday users seeking convenience and privacy, though it lacks the fine-grained controls of premium standalone VPNs.

Other security features

Norton supplements its core modules with an extensive range of additional tools that enhance overall security and system functionality. The parental control suite, Safe Family, offers comprehensive monitoring with content filtering across 45+ categories, app blocking, screen-time management, YouTube supervision, and location tracking. It supports up to 10 devices and includes a School Time mode to restrict access during study hours, though compatibility is limited on macOS and Chromebooks.

Privacy Monitor scans major data broker databases to help users remove personal information, while Dark Web Monitoring uses both automated systems and live human agents to detect compromised credentials and notify users in real time. For U.S. users, Norton’s LifeLock identity theft protection adds multi-bureau credit monitoring, insurance coverage up to $3 million, legal assistance, and recovery support—offering unmatched financial protection against identity fraud.

Additional layers include Cloud Backup with up to 500 GB of storage, PC SafeCam webcam protection, AntiTrack for digital fingerprint obfuscation, Genie AI scam detection, and Deepfake Protection to combat synthetic media threats. Norton’s Rescue Disk, Spam Filter, Sandbox, and Driver Updater further bolster system integrity and performance. Collectively, these tools make Norton 360 one of the most feature-rich and well-integrated security suites available in 2026.

Plans and pricing

In the table below are the core products with their features and prices.

The prices shown are from the USA. However, most brands have different prices (and currencies) in other regions. So visit the brand’s website to see the price in our country.

Plan description

Norton AntiVirus Plus — Basic Plan

For $19.99 / year, this plan offers real-time malware protection, a smart firewall, Norton’s password manager, and 2 GB of cloud storage. It’s limited to one device and lacks features like VPN and parental controls.

Norton 360 Standard — Entry-level 360 Plan

Costing $39.99 / year, this plan provides all the AntiVirus Plus features and adds VPN, webcam protection, and dark web monitoring. It covers 1-3 devices, depending on your location.

Norton 360 Deluxe — Best Value

At $49.99 / year, you get everything in the 360 Standard plus coverage for up to 5 devices, parental controls, 50 GB cloud storage, and more. The only downside is you can’t add extra devices without upgrading plans.

Norton 360 for Gamers — Gaming Special

This $44.99 / year plan includes the 360 Deluxe features and adds game-boosting capabilities. We found Norton GO significantly enhanced gaming performance.

Norton 360 Premium — Advanced Features

Available in select countries, this $59.99 / year plan provides 360 Deluxe features, covers up to 10 devices, and offers 100 GB of cloud storage.

Norton 360 Advanced — International Advanced Plan

Similar to 360 Premium but with up to 200 GB storage. Priced at $59.99 / year, it’s good for larger device numbers.

Norton 360 with LifeLock Select (US Only) — Identity Theft Protection

Starting at $99.99 / year, this plan combines Norton 360 Deluxe features with comprehensive identity theft protections, including $25,000 insurance and 250 GB cloud storage.

Norton 360 with LifeLock Advantage (US Only) — Enhanced Identity Protections

Priced at $191.88 / year, this extends the Select plan with higher insurance payouts and extra identity monitoring features.

Norton 360 with LifeLock Ultimate Plus (US Only) — Premium Identity and Asset Protections

For $299.88 / year, this top-tier plan offers unlimited device coverage, $1M identity theft insurance, and extensive financial and social media monitoring.

Summary: Norton offers a diverse range of plans to suit different needs and budgets, from basic antivirus to advanced identity theft protection. The primary limitation is the inability to add extra devices to your plan without upgrading. Overall, Norton provides comprehensive cybersecurity solutions worth considering.

Test score comparison

We conduct in-house anti-malware tests and review the results from AV-Test, a German lab renowned for its objective evaluations. Below is the average of the last 10 AV-Test results for Windows. Their scoring criteria are:

• Protection (1-6): Effectiveness in blocking malware.
• Performance (1-6): Impact on system speed.
• Usability (1-6): Frequency of errors like false alarms.

We calculate a final score using this formula:

Final Score = 60% Protection + 20% Performance + 20% Usability.

While these results influence our choice of the best antivirus for Windows 11, other factors like privacy and identity protection also play a key role. For a similar analysis for Android or macOS, visit our other comparisons:

• The best antivirus for Android.
• The best antivirus for Mac.

Note: Brands not listed in the table either do not participate in AV-Test trials or are tested too infrequently, such as Surfshark Antivirus.

Source: AV-Test (Last updated: November 2025).

Price comparison

We’ve compared the prices of the top antivirus products for Windows. To make it a fair comparison, we looked at what it would cost us, to protect a  single Windows PC with the most essential features:

• Anti-malware
• Anti-phishing (web protection)
• Firewall
• Password manager
• Unlimited VPN (no data limit)

A few notes:

• Some brands are missing features, lowering their value for money.
• Prices are second-year prices in the USA, without first-year discounts.
• Prices are rounded up for readability (e.g., $99.99 becomes $100).

Brands have different prices outside the USA. See those on their website.

User reviews

We’ve compared the user reviews of all antivirus brands. We’ve used the scores and review count of TrustPilot, a leading user review platform. 

We consider scores above 4.0 very good. Lower scores indicate that the brand might have a poor product or customer service. McAfee’s scores, for instance, are worrying.

Source: TrustPilot. Last Update: November 2025.

Company Profile

Norton is part of the Gen Digital family (NASDAQ: GEN), a global leader in Cyber Safety with a mission to make the digital world safer and more private for everyone.

Gen is a collection of renowned cybersecurity brands that serve over 500 million users in 150 countries. Its portfolio includes Norton, Avast, LifeLock, Avira, and AVG.

Operating from dual headquarters in Tempe, Arizona, and Prague, Czech Republic, Gen brings together cutting-edge AI technology and data analytics to tackle today’s most pressing cybersecurity challenges. 

By consolidating these brands, Gen combines expertise and innovation to address both current and future cybersecurity threats.

How we test antivirus software

At SoftwareLab, we provide thorough and unbiased antivirus reviews to help you make informed cybersecurity decisions. Our comprehensive testing covers all critical aspects of antivirus performance. We assess each product in six key categories, weighted by importance:

For even more details, visit our blog posts on how we test antivirus software.