McAfee vs Norton 360: which is better?
Quick verdict
Both bundle antivirus, VPN, scam protection and identity tools, and both advertise a first-year price that renews higher. McAfee+ covers unlimited devices on every plan and refunds within 60 days of a renewal; Norton 360 covers 3, 5 or 10 devices, adds Windows cloud backup and Parental Control, and has a 60-day money-back guarantee.
Option A
Feature comparison
| Criterion | McAfee | Norton 360 |
|---|---|---|
| Devices | Unlimited (Family: 6 members) | 3, 5 or 10 |
| Identity theft coverage | From Advanced | LifeLock (top plan) |
| Cloud backup | Not listed | 2–250 GB (Windows) |
| Money-back | 30 days (60 after renewal) | 60 days |
| VPN | Every tier | Every plan |
Independent lab tests
These numbers come from lab tests. The scales differ between tests, so we don’t merge them into one score.
| Test | McAfee | Norton 360 |
|---|---|---|
Real-world protection AV-Comparatives: Real-World Protection Test February-May 2026 · published June 15, 2026 | Blocked 394 of 400 attacks — 98.5% false positives: 4 Tested version: McAfee Total Protection | 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 — 86.1% false positives: 14 Tested version: McAfee Total Protection | 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 3.3 (lower is better) Tested version: McAfee Total Protection | 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: McAfee Total Protection | Protection 6/6, performance 6/6, usability 6/6 Tested version: Norton 360 |
The two biggest US consumer security brands, with similar three-tier ladders that end in identity theft protection.
If you don’t want to read further
Many devices, identity coverage from the middle tier — McAfee+. Cloud backup, Parental Control and LifeLock — Norton 360.
What really sets them apart
In each row, the last sentence matters most — what the difference means for you.
Devices?
McAfee
Unlimited on every individual plan (1 user); Family covers 6 members.
Norton 360
3, 5 or 10 depending on the plan.
Lots of devices — McAfee+.
Identity theft coverage?
McAfee
Up to $1M on Advanced, $2M on Ultimate.
Norton 360
LifeLock identity theft protection on the top plan.
Both reserve it for higher tiers.
Cloud backup and parental control?
McAfee
Not listed in McAfee+ plans.
Norton 360
2, 50 or 250 GB backup (Windows); Parental Control from Deluxe.
For backup and kids’ controls, Norton.
Money-back?
McAfee
30 days on a new purchase, 60 days after a renewal charge (not monthly).
Norton 360
60 days.
Both give real time to change your mind.
Renewal timing?
McAfee
Charged 30 days before the annual term ends; cancel at least 31 days before.
Norton 360
Renews at the regular price; the Virus Protection Promise requires auto-renewal.
Set reminders on both — McAfee’s is a month early.
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.
VPN on every plan
Secure VPN on all McAfee+ tiers and every Norton 360 plan.
First-year pricing
Both advertise an introductory price; renewal is higher.
Scam protection
McAfee Scam Detector and Norton Scam Protection.
Which one fits whom
| Your situation | What to choose | On what condition |
|---|---|---|
| A household with many devices | McAfee+ | Unlimited devices. |
| You want Windows backup | Norton 360 Deluxe | 50 GB. |
| You have kids | Norton 360 Deluxe | Parental Control (not on macOS). |
| You want $1M identity coverage without the top tier | McAfee+ Advanced | Plus credit monitoring. |
- McAfee charges 30 days before the term ends — cancel at least 31 days before.
- Norton Cloud Backup is Windows-only; Parental Control isn’t on macOS.
- Both renew at a higher regular price.
- McAfee refunds don’t apply to monthly subscriptions.
Where the facts come from
Sources: mcafee.com and us.norton.com. Prices are in the price blocks on each service’s page.
Facts in the text checked: .
FAQ: McAfee or Norton 360
Other comparisons
The same products against other competitors, and other comparisons in the “Antivirus software” category.
Comparison text updated: