Norton 360 vs Bitdefender: which is better?
Quick verdict
Both sell a lower first-year price that renews higher. Norton 360 includes an unlimited VPN and cloud backup on every plan (3, 5 or 10 devices) and a 60-day money-back guarantee; the top plan adds LifeLock identity theft protection. Bitdefender Total Security covers 5 devices with a VPN capped at 200 MB a day, a Family plan covers 25 devices, and there’s a 30-day trial.
Feature comparison
| Criterion | Norton 360 | Bitdefender |
|---|---|---|
| Devices | 3 / 5 / 10 | 5 or 25 (Family) |
| VPN | Every plan | 200 MB/day; unlimited on Premium |
| Cloud backup | 2–250 GB (Windows) | Not listed |
| Identity theft protection | LifeLock (top plan) | Not in these plans |
| Guarantee | 60 days | 30-day trial and refund |
Independent lab tests
These numbers come from lab tests. The scales differ between tests, so we don’t merge them into one score.
| Test | Norton 360 | Bitdefender |
|---|---|---|
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: Norton Antivirus Plus | Blocked 398 of 400 attacks — 99.5% false positives: 5 Tested version: Bitdefender Total Security |
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: Norton Antivirus Plus | Online — 99.94%, offline detection — 97.6% false positives: 4 Tested version: Bitdefender Total Security |
Impact on computer speed AV-Comparatives: Performance Test April 2026 · published April 22, 2026 | Impact score 5.3 (lower is better) Tested version: Norton Antivirus Plus | Impact score 9.6 (lower is better) Tested version: Bitdefender Total Security |
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: Norton 360 | Protection 6/6, performance 6/6, usability 6/6 Tested version: Bitdefender Total Security |
Norton and Bitdefender are the two antivirus suites most US buyers compare. Both bundle a VPN and a password manager; the limits differ.
If you don’t want to read further
Unlimited VPN and backup in the base plan, or identity theft protection — Norton 360. A large family on one plan, or a free trial first — Bitdefender.
What really sets them apart
In each row, the last sentence matters most — what the difference means for you.
VPN limits?
Norton 360
Included on every plan.
Bitdefender
200 MB a day per device on Total Security and Family; unlimited on Premium Security.
For everyday VPN use without upgrading, Norton.
Devices?
Norton 360
3, 5 or 10.
Bitdefender
5 for one account, or 25 devices for 5 accounts on Family.
Big families get more devices from Bitdefender Family.
Cloud backup?
Norton 360
2 GB, 50 GB or 250 GB (Windows only).
Bitdefender
Not part of the plans.
Only Norton includes backup.
Identity protection?
Norton 360
LifeLock identity theft protection and credit monitoring on the top plan.
Bitdefender
Data breach detection on Total Security; Scam Protection Pro on Premium.
For identity theft coverage, Norton with LifeLock.
Try or refund?
Norton 360
60-day money-back guarantee.
Bitdefender
30-day trial; refundable within the first 30 days.
Bitdefender lets you try first; Norton gives longer to ask for money back.
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 a higher regular price after year one.
Scam protection and a password manager
Both include them.
Windows, Mac, Android and iOS
Both cover all four.
Which one fits whom
| Your situation | What to choose | On what condition |
|---|---|---|
| You want an unlimited VPN in the base plan | Norton 360 | Every plan. |
| A family with many devices | Bitdefender Family | 25 devices, 5 accounts. |
| You want identity theft protection | Norton 360 with LifeLock | Top plan. |
| You want to try before paying | Bitdefender | 30-day trial. |
- Both renew at a higher regular price after the first year.
- Norton’s cloud backup is Windows only; Parental Control isn’t supported on macOS.
- Bitdefender’s VPN is capped on Total Security and Family.
- Bitdefender prices are plus applicable sales tax.
Where the facts come from
Sources: Norton’s and Bitdefender’s US product and pricing pages. Prices are in the price blocks on each service’s page.
Facts in the text checked: .
FAQ: Norton 360 or Bitdefender
Other comparisons
The same products against other competitors, and other comparisons in the “Antivirus software” category.
Comparison text updated: