Norton and McAfee are the two leading antivirus software solutions with decades of experience, but which offers the best protection and most value?
McAfee and Norton are among the best antivirus software solutions. Since they share similar features and pricing, it can be hard to know which to pick to keep your computer safe from the ongoing threat from hackers.
I recently reviewed Norton 360 Deluxe and McAfee+ Premium antivirus, so I can share some insights about ease-of-use, functionality, and customer service to help you decide which antivirus app works best for your needs and budget.Tiers and pricing
While it’s hard to put a price on protecting your personal and financial data, the annual cost of paying for antivirus software can add up quickly if you choose the highest-price solution.
Thankfully, McAfee offers plans that start at just $30 for the first year and $90 thereafter. Norton matches McAfee’s starting price but has a lower $60 renewal cost. You can only protect one device with these budget plans, so you’ll probably need one of the more expensive subscriptions.
The first-year discount is fairly standard among antivirus software, but some have consistent pricing. Malwarebytes offers a discount if you choose a two-year plan.
Norton covers up to three devices for $40/$95 (Standard), five for $50/$120 (Deluxe), 10 for $100/$180 Select), and an unlimited number of computers, tablets, and phones for $300/$350 (Ultimate). Norton doesn’t count users, only devices, so you can share a plan with family members.
Every Norton antivirus subscription comes with cloud storage to keep your most important documents safe from ransomware. Standard and above includes a VPN, password manager, and dark web monitoring. Norton 360 Deluxe and above have parental controls. The Ultimate plan adds identity theft protection with $1 million in coverage.
McAfee protects more devices for less, but costs extra for family plans. It also lacks some of the extras Norton includes. The $40/$120 Essential plan supports up to five devices.
