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Norton Antivirus Plus Review (2026): Is it the right choice?
By Tibor Moes / Updated: November 2025
Norton Antivirus Plus Review 2026
Norton Antivirus Plus is the best entry-level antivirus. It has perfect anti-malware protection, no impact on the speed of your PC, several security features, and an excellent price.
Buy it if you want the best protection for a single device. You will get anti-malware, anti-phishing, a firewall, and a password manager.
If you need to protect more devices, consider Norton 360 Deluxe. It also includes a VPN, which will protect your online privacy and keep you safe on public Wi-Fi.
- Malware protection: 100%. Norton detected and removed each of the 1,200 malware samples in our test.
- Speed impact: 100%. Norton’s anti-malware engine is lightweight and did not slow down our test PC.
- Features: 90%. Norton Antivirus Plus includes anti-malware, anti-phishing, a firewall, and a password manager. But it misses a VPN.
- Price: 100%. Norton Antivirus Plus has an excellent price and offers more value than similar products at Bitdefender, McAfee, or Kaspersky.
Thanks to the 60-day return policy, you can try it risk-free.
| Ranking | #1 of 28 🥇 |
| Anti-malware | ✅ |
| Anti-phishing | ✅ |
| Firewall | ✅ |
| Password Manager | ✅ |
| Unlimited VPN | – |
| Operating systems | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android |
| 🔥 Discount | Save 60% on Norton 🔥 |
Full Review
Norton is ranked #1 of the 28 best antivirus of 2026.
Norton offers a wide range of security features, surpassing most antivirus competitors. Even on the basic plan, Norton Antivirus Plus, users benefit from a robust anti-malware engine, firewall, anti-phishing tools, password manager, 2 GB of cloud storage, and a 100% Virus Protection Promise, ensuring a refund if Norton can’t remove a virus.
Upgrading to Norton 360 Deluxe enhances protection with parental controls, unlimited VPN, dark web monitoring, webcam protection, a privacy monitor, and 50 GB of cloud storage. US users and those in select countries can access up to 250 GB of cloud storage and advanced identity theft protections through Norton LifeLock plans.
All of Norton’s plans come with a 60-day money-back guarantee.
Anti-malware
Norton’s anti-malware engine delivers industry-leading protection against all types of digital threats. It combines an extensive malware database with heuristic algorithms and machine learning to identify and eliminate both known and emerging threats. In controlled testing with nearly 1,200 malware samples, including ransomware, rootkits, and trojans, Norton achieved a perfect detection rate.
Its real-time protection mechanism instantly blocks malicious files in any format—whether uncompressed, zipped, or encrypted—before they can infect the device. Even when attempting to decrypt infected archives, the system stopped all threats without performance degradation.
Norton’s scanning engine is highly optimized for speed and flexibility. A full scan of a desktop system completed in under 15 minutes, faster than nearly all competitors. The software also provides a variety of scanning options, from Smart and Quick scans to fully customizable ones. Users can exclude specific folders, schedule scans, and create automated scanning routines.
Additionally, Norton intelligently recognizes full-screen activities such as gaming or video playback, automatically pausing notifications and background scans to maintain an uninterrupted user experience. This balance of efficiency, configurability, and flawless detection makes Norton’s anti-malware technology among the most advanced in the industry.
Anti-phishing
Norton’s Safe Web and Safe Search tools form a powerful anti-phishing suite designed to keep users safe from fraudulent and compromised websites. Safe Web evaluates each visited site in real time, blocking those known for phishing, scams, or drive-by downloads. It also employs an Intrusion Prevention System to secure sensitive online transactions.
Browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Safari integrate this protection seamlessly, highlighting malicious or suspicious pages. In independent tests, Norton’s filters consistently blocked more phishing attempts than Chrome’s native protection. Each blocked site includes a detailed security report explaining why it was flagged, enhancing transparency and user understanding.
Safe Search extends these capabilities to search results, color-coding links to indicate their trustworthiness—green for safe, orange for caution, and red for dangerous. It also flags unsafe links shared through social platforms like X (Twitter) and Facebook.
Together, these tools provide exceptional defense against phishing campaigns, credential theft, and malicious downloads. While the Safe Search engine itself is less refined than mainstream options, Safe Web alone delivers industry-leading web protection and visibility.
Firewall
Norton’s Smart Firewall offers superior network protection that goes well beyond default operating system firewalls. It actively defends against ARP and DNS spoofing, SSL man-in-the-middle attacks, and port scanning attempts. During rigorous testing, Norton successfully intercepted all intrusion attempts, including those that bypassed the Windows firewall.
The system’s adaptive modes provide flexible control for different user preferences. Smart Mode automatically evaluates application behavior to determine safe or suspicious activity. For users seeking maximum control, Ask Mode prompts decisions on every connection attempt, while the default ruleset automatically blocks known malicious network behaviors.
Norton’s firewall includes extensive customization for advanced users. You can define traffic rules for individual applications, block or allow connections based on protocol and direction, and configure specific ports. Its logs detail every network interaction and classify networks as private or public, applying stricter protection when necessary.
The firewall’s ability to analyze network context and intelligently adjust protection levels ensures constant safety without excessive alerts. Overall, it provides enterprise-grade defense suitable for both novices and power users.
Password manager
Norton’s password manager provides secure, cross-platform credential management with simplicity and reliability. It uses AES 256-bit encryption to safeguard stored data and supports unlimited storage for passwords, notes, credit cards, and addresses across all major operating systems.
Its browser extensions automate password capture, generation, and filling, significantly improving convenience without compromising security. The built-in password generator encourages strong password creation, while the vault auditing tool continuously evaluates stored credentials for duplication, weakness, or age.
The password manager supports biometric and mobile authentication, allowing users to unlock their vault using their phone instead of typing a master password. Two-factor authentication further enhances protection, although it applies only to the Norton account rather than the vault itself.
While recovery options are limited—either through biometrics or a recovery key—this design minimizes unauthorized access risks. Despite lacking features like emergency access or family sharing, Norton’s password manager ranks as the top antivirus-integrated option in 2026, combining usability, encryption strength, and free accessibility.
Other security features
Beyond its core tools, Norton integrates a comprehensive ecosystem of additional protections. Its ransomware defense system preemptively blocks encrypted payloads, allowing custom inclusion of specific file types or folders for enhanced data coverage.
Parental controls under the Safe Family suite provide detailed web filtering, app blocking, and screen-time management for up to 10 devices, while offering location tracking and YouTube activity monitoring. These tools work across Windows, Android, and iOS, ensuring consistent supervision.
Privacy Monitor and Dark Web Monitoring safeguard user identities by detecting exposure on broker databases and dark web markets. For users in supported regions, Norton’s LifeLock identity protection extends this with real-time credit monitoring, legal assistance, and financial compensation in case of identity theft.
Device Optimization tools improve system performance via file cleanup, startup management, and software updates, while advanced subscribers can access Utilities Ultimate for deeper diagnostics and RAM optimization.
Norton also includes innovative AI-driven defenses such as Genie Scam Protection, Deepfake Detection, and PC SafeCam. These technologies counter modern threats like impersonation fraud, webcam hijacking, and malicious deepfake content. Coupled with sandbox environments, Safe Email, and AntiTrack features, Norton’s security suite offers an unmatched multi-layered defense for both personal and enterprise users.
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’s diverse plans cater to a range of cybersecurity needs. Here’s a summary of what we found when reviewing their offerings:
Norton AntiVirus Plus: For $19.99 / year, this basic plan provides robust malware protection, a smart firewall, a password manager, and 2 GB of cloud storage. It’s limited to one device, lacking some advanced features available in 360 plans.
Norton 360 Standard: Priced at $39.99 / year, this plan covers 1-3 devices (depending on location) and includes a VPN, webcam protection, dark web monitoring in select countries, and all features of AntiVirus Plus.
Norton 360 Deluxe: At $49.99 / year, this offers the best value. It extends coverage to 5 devices and provides parental controls, 50 GB cloud storage, and dark web monitoring in more countries. It’s feature-rich, though we wished for more device flexibility.
Norton 360 for Gamers: Designed for gamers at $44.99 / year, this plan enhances gaming performance with Norton GO, covering up to 3 devices. We found it optimized gaming experiences significantly.
Norton 360 Premium: Available in select countries at $59.99 / year, it covers 10 devices and offers 100 GB cloud storage, ideal for those needing more device coverage and backup space.
Norton 360 Advanced: Also priced at $59.99 / year, but for different regions, this plan mirrors the Deluxe but offers up to 200 GB storage and covers 10 devices. It’s a sound investment for larger device numbers.
Norton 360 with LifeLock Select (US Only): Starting at $99.99 / year, this comprehensive plan covers 10 devices and introduces identity protection, including credit monitoring and a $25,000 identity theft insurance.
Norton 360 with LifeLock Advantage (US Only): At $191.88 / year, this advances the Select plan by increasing identity theft insurance to $100,000 and introduces features like payday loan lock and enhanced monitoring. The benefits are clear in numbers, and it’s suitable for those prioritizing identity protection.
Norton 360 with LifeLock Ultimate Plus (US Only): The most premium at $299.88 / year, this plan provides unrivaled protection. It covers unlimited devices, offers 500 GB storage, and $1M identity theft reimbursement, among other advanced features. Though expensive, it’s perfect for those wanting top-tier security.
In conclusion, Norton offers a plethora of plans for different user needs. From basic malware protection to comprehensive identity theft insurance, there’s an option for everyone. Whether for single device users or large families, Norton’s offerings provide solid cybersecurity solutions.
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:
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.
Anti-Malware Protection (30%)
We evaluate how well the antivirus detects and removes various malware types like viruses, trojans, ransomware, and spyware.
In-House Testing: Using 1,200 diverse malware samples, we conduct real-time attack simulations to assess detection and neutralization of known and emerging threats through signature-based and heuristic analysis.
Independent Lab Results: We incorporate findings from respected institutes like AV-Test, SE Labs, and AV-Comparatives to validate our results.
Security and Privacy Features (30%)
We assess additional tools that enhance cybersecurity:
Web Protection: Testing the software’s ability to block phishing sites and web-based threats by accessing known malicious websites.
Firewall: Evaluating effectiveness using intrusion simulations and the ShieldsUP! test to secure network ports and monitor traffic.
Password Manager: Assessing capabilities to generate, store, and auto-fill complex passwords, plus features like two-factor authentication and biometric login.
VPN: Evaluating security protocols, encryption, speed, server locations, data limits, and support for streaming and peer-to-peer sharing while hiding IP addresses.
Parental Controls: Testing screen time management, content filtering, location tracking, and resistance to bypass attempts to protect children.
Identity Theft Protection: Assessing monitoring of personal info and responsiveness to potential identity theft alerts.
Secure Cloud Storage: Evaluating capacity, security, usability, and features like file encryption and secure sharing.
Anti-Ransomware: Simulating attacks to test detection and blocking of unauthorized encryption via behavioral detection and exploit prevention.
Dark Web Monitoring: Checking effectiveness in scanning the dark web for personal info and providing timely alerts.
System Performance Impact (10%)
We measure how the antivirus affects device performance during everyday tasks:
Resource Usage: Monitoring CPU and memory during scans and real-time protection.
Performance Tests: Evaluating impact on launching apps, downloading files, browsing websites, and copying data, aligned with AV-Test criteria.
False Positives (10%)
Accuracy is crucial to avoid interruptions:
False Positive Detection: Assessing how often legitimate applications or files are incorrectly flagged.
Usability Tests: Referencing AV-Test evaluations to gauge false positive frequency for effectiveness and user-friendliness.
Price and Value (10%)
We analyze overall value by comparing features to cost:
Cost Analysis: Considering subscription prices, device coverage, and multi-year plans.
Feature Evaluation: Assessing if included features justify the price compared to competitors.
Ownership and Reputation (10%)
Trust is essential in cybersecurity providers:
Company Background: Researching history, industry track record, mergers, or acquisitions.
Privacy Policies: Examining data handling, privacy commitment, and compliance with regulations.
Ethical Conduct: Investigating past unethical behavior, data breaches, or controversies.
Sources and tools
- Apple Platform Security
- AV-Comparatives Consumer
- AV-Test Android
- AV-Test macOS
- AV-Test Windows
- GRC Firewall Test
- Microsoft Defender
- SpeedTest VPN
- Trustpilot Security Software
Author: Tibor Moes
Founder & Chief Editor at SoftwareLab
Tibor has tested 28 antivirus programs and 25 VPN services, and holds a Cybersecurity Graduate Certificate from Stanford University.
He uses Norton to protect his devices, NordVPN for his privacy, and Proton for his passwords and email.
