{"slug":"norton-vs-malwarebytes","question":"Norton vs Malwarebytes","answer":"Norton is a comprehensive full-suite antivirus offering broader protection across devices with VPN, password manager, and 24/7 support, while Malwarebytes specializes in malware detection with lighter system impact and lower pricing, making it ideal as a secondary scanner or budget option.","answer_curated":true,"verdict":"Choose Norton if you want comprehensive all-in-one protection with included VPN, password manager, and round-the-clock support across multiple devices. Choose Malwarebytes if you prioritize lightweight performance, don't need extra features, prefer specialized malware detection, or want to use it as a secondary scanner alongside another antivirus.","keyDifferences":[{"label":"Price (Annual, Single Device)","winner":"b","entityAValue":"$49.99","entityBValue":"$39.99"},{"label":"System Performance Impact","winner":"b","entityAValue":"6-8% CPU overhead","entityBValue":"2-3% CPU overhead"},{"label":"Included Features","winner":"a","entityAValue":"VPN, password manager, parental controls, firewall","entityBValue":"Malware scanning, browser extension only"},{"label":"Malware Detection Rate","winner":"b","entityAValue":"98.7% (AV-Test 2025)","entityBValue":"99.2% (AV-Test 2025)"},{"label":"Customer Support Availability","winner":"a","entityAValue":"24/7 phone, chat, email","entityBValue":"Chat and email only (business hours)"}],"winner":{"slug":"malwarebytes","name":"Malwarebytes"},"confidence":"high","entities":[{"name":"Norton 360","slug":"norton-360","url":"https://www.aversusb.net/entity/norton-360","alternativesUrl":"https://www.aversusb.net/api/v1/alternatives/norton-360"},{"name":"Malwarebytes","slug":"malwarebytes","url":"https://www.aversusb.net/entity/malwarebytes","alternativesUrl":"https://www.aversusb.net/api/v1/alternatives/malwarebytes"}],"faqs":[{"question":"Can I use Malwarebytes with another antivirus like Windows Defender?","answer":"Yes, Malwarebytes is specifically designed to work alongside other antivirus programs without conflicts. Many users run Malwarebytes as a secondary scanner with Windows Defender or another primary antivirus. Norton, however, is a full suite meant to be your primary protection and may conflict with other antivirus software running simultaneously."},{"question":"Does Norton's VPN slow down internet speed significantly?","answer":"Norton's VPN typically causes 5-15% speed reduction depending on server location and connection quality, which is moderate for VPN services. Malwarebytes does not include a VPN. If you need a dedicated VPN, Norton's inclusion saves money versus buying VPN and antivirus separately."},{"question":"Which is better for gaming - Norton or Malwarebytes?","answer":"Malwarebytes is significantly better for gaming due to its 2-3% CPU overhead versus Norton's 6-8%, meaning less performance impact on frame rates and responsiveness. For gamers with older systems or those playing demanding titles, Malwarebytes as a secondary scanner paired with lighter primary protection is ideal."}],"attribution":{"source":"A Versus B","url":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/norton-vs-malwarebytes","license":"CC BY 4.0","citationFormat":"According to A Versus B (https://www.aversusb.net/compare/norton-vs-malwarebytes), Norton is a comprehensive full-suite antivirus offering broader protection across devices with VPN, password manager, and 24/7 support, while Malwarebytes specializes in malware detection with lighter","dateModified":"2026-06-30T18:16:35.167Z"},"relatedQuestionsUrl":"https://www.aversusb.net/api/faq/norton-vs-malwarebytes","relatedComparisonsUrl":"https://www.aversusb.net/api/v1/related/norton-vs-malwarebytes","knowledgeGraphUrl":"https://www.aversusb.net/api/knowledge-graph/norton-vs-malwarebytes","claimReviewSchema":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"ClaimReview","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/norton-vs-malwarebytes#claimreview","url":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/norton-vs-malwarebytes","inLanguage":"en-US","isAccessibleForFree":true,"conditionsOfAccess":"Free","claimReviewed":"Norton vs Malwarebytes","reviewBody":"Norton is a comprehensive full-suite antivirus offering broader protection across devices with VPN, password manager, and 24/7 support, while Malwarebytes specializes in malware detection with lighter system impact and lower pricing, making it ideal as a secondary scanner or budget option.","datePublished":"2026-06-30T18:16:35.117Z","dateModified":"2026-06-30T18:16:35.167Z","reviewRating":{"@type":"Rating","ratingValue":5,"worstRating":1,"bestRating":5,"alternateName":"High Confidence"},"author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/#organization","name":"A Versus B","url":"https://www.aversusb.net"},"itemReviewed":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/norton-vs-malwarebytes","url":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/norton-vs-malwarebytes","name":"Norton vs Malwarebytes","inLanguage":"en-US"}}}