Avast vs Norton 360: which is better?
Quick verdict
Avast has a free antivirus and sells Premium Security for 1 PC plus 1 mobile or for 10 devices, focused on scam protection (Email Guard, SMS and call scam blocking), with a 30-day trial that needs no credit card. Norton 360 includes a VPN, password manager and cloud backup on every plan (3, 5 or 10 devices) and a 60-day money-back guarantee; the top plan adds LifeLock.
Option A
Feature comparison
| Criterion | Avast | Norton 360 |
|---|---|---|
| Free option | Avast Free Antivirus | Not listed |
| Devices | 1 + 1, or 10 | 3 / 5 / 10 |
| VPN in plan | Not listed | Every plan |
| Cloud backup | Not listed | 2–250 GB (Windows) |
| Trial / refund | 30-day trial, 30-day refund | 60-day money-back |
Independent lab tests
These numbers come from lab tests. The scales differ between tests, so we don’t merge them into one score.
Both products use the same threat detection engine (Avast), so their detection results are the same. What differs is price, what’s in the bundle and the interface — not detection.
| Test | Avast | Norton 360 |
|---|---|---|
Real-world protection AV-Comparatives: Real-World Protection Test February-May 2026 · published June 15, 2026 | Blocked 397 of 400 attacks — 99.3% false positives: 5 Tested version: Avast One Free Antivirus | Blocked 397 of 400 attacks — 99.3% false positives: 5 Tested version: Norton Antivirus Plus |
Malware protection AV-Comparatives: Malware Protection Test March 2026 · published April 15, 2026 | Online — 99.97%, offline detection — 96.3% false positives: 9 Tested version: Avast Free Antivirus | Online — 99.97%, offline detection — 96.3% false positives: 9 Tested version: Norton Antivirus Plus |
Impact on computer speed AV-Comparatives: Performance Test April 2026 · published April 22, 2026 | Impact score 5.5 (lower is better) Tested version: Avast Free Antivirus | Impact score 5.3 (lower is better) Tested version: Norton Antivirus Plus |
AV-TEST scores AV-TEST: Windows 11 - June 2026 · tested 2026-05–2026-06 | Protection 6/6, performance 6/6, usability 6/6 Tested version: Avast Free Antivirus | Protection 6/6, performance 6/6, usability 6/6 Tested version: Norton 360 |
Avast is known for its free antivirus; Norton for all-in-one suites. Their paid plans aim at different needs.
If you don’t want to read further
Free protection, or scam blocking for email and texts — Avast. A VPN, backup and password manager in one plan, or identity theft protection — Norton 360.
What really sets them apart
In each row, the last sentence matters most — what the difference means for you.
Is there a free option?
Avast
Yes — Avast Free Antivirus.
Norton 360
No free plan; a 60-day money-back guarantee.
Only Avast can be used without paying.
What’s in the paid plan?
Avast
Scam protection (Email Guard for up to 5 inboxes, SMS and call blocking on mobile), firewall, ransomware and webcam protection.
Norton 360
Antivirus, Scam Protection, VPN, password manager, Dark Web Monitoring, Deepfake Protection, cloud backup.
Norton bundles more tools in the base plan.
Devices?
Avast
1 PC + 1 mobile, or 10.
Norton 360
3, 5 or 10.
Both reach 10 devices.
Try or refund?
Avast
30-day free trial without a credit card; 30-day money-back.
Norton 360
60-day money-back guarantee.
Avast to try; Norton for the longer refund window.
Where they don’t differ, even though it seems they should
This part is often more useful than the list of differences — it saves money for anyone who was about to pay for an imaginary advantage.
First-year pricing
Both renew at the regular price after year one.
Guarantee tied to auto-renewal
Avast’s Stay Safe Virus Guarantee and Norton’s Virus Protection Promise both require auto-renewal.
Deepfake features
Both mention deepfake protection.
Which one fits whom
| Your situation | What to choose | On what condition |
|---|---|---|
| You don’t want to pay | Avast Free Antivirus | Basic real-time protection. |
| Scam emails and texts are your worry | Avast Premium Security | Email Guard and SMS scam blocking. |
| You want a VPN and backup in one plan | Norton 360 | Every plan. |
| You want identity theft protection | Norton 360 with LifeLock | Top plan. |
- Both renew at the regular price after the first year.
- Avast’s deepfake video detection works on Windows PCs.
- Norton’s cloud backup is Windows only.
- Both guarantees require automatic renewal.
Where the facts come from
Sources: Avast’s and Norton’s US product and pricing pages. Prices are in the price blocks on each service’s page.
Facts in the text checked: .
FAQ: Avast or Norton 360
Other comparisons
The same products against other competitors, and other comparisons in the “Antivirus software” category.
Comparison text updated: