Norton 360 vs McAfee Total Protection
type: Article
description: Norton 360 offers superior malware detection rates (99.7% vs 98.5%) and faster system performance impact, while McAfee Total Protection provides more comprehensive identity theft protection and lower pricing for annual subscriptions. Norton edges ahead for security-focused users, but McAfee appeals to budget-conscious buyers seeking broader privacy features.
language: en-US
date published: 2026-03-29T10:37:14.483Z
date created: 2026-03-29T10:37:14.483Z
date modified: 2026-08-18T09:00:24.399Z
content reference time: 2026-08-18T09:00:24.399Z
author: A Versus B
publisher: A Versus B
about: Norton 360
about: McAfee Total Protection
abstract: Norton 360 offers superior malware detection rates (99.7% vs 98.5%) and faster system performance impact, while McAfee Total Protection provides more comprehensive identity theft protection and lower pricing for annual subscriptions. Norton edges ahead for security-focused users, but McAfee appeals to budget-conscious buyers seeking broader privacy features.
text: Malware Detection Rate. Annual Price (Single Device). System Performance Impact. Identity Theft Protection Coverage. VPN Data Allowance. Devices Protected (Multi-Device Plan). Customer Support Response Time
conclusion text: Choose Norton 360 if you prioritize maximum malware detection accuracy (99.7%), faster system performance, superior identity theft coverage ($2M), and quicker customer support—worth the premium price for security-first users. Choose McAfee Total Protection if you want strong protection at a lower cost ($59.99/year), value comprehensive privacy features, and can tolerate slightly higher system impact—ideal for budget-conscious families protecting multiple devices.
additional property: Real-Time Malware Detection Rate
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Norton 360: 99.8% | McAfee Total Protection: 99.5%
  value reference: Norton 360
additional property: Dark Web Monitoring
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Norton 360: Live & Comprehensive | McAfee Total Protection: Good but Limited
additional property: Ransomware Protection
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Norton 360: Yes - Dedicated Feature | McAfee Total Protection: Standard protection
additional property: Secure/Dedicated Browser
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Norton 360: Yes - Dedicated Browser | McAfee Total Protection: No - Web Protection Only
additional property: Entry Level Annual Price
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Norton 360: $29.99 | McAfee Total Protection: $24.99
  value reference: McAfee Total Protection
additional property: VPN Speed & Data
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Norton 360: Fast - Unlimited Data | McAfee Total Protection: Standard - Limited Data
additional property: Devices Protected (Entry Plan)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Norton 360: 1 device | McAfee Total Protection: 5 devices
  value reference: McAfee Total Protection
additional property: Malware Detection Score
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Norton 360: High | McAfee Total Protection: N/A
additional property: Included Features Count
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Norton 360: 6 major features | McAfee Total Protection: N/A
additional property: Password Manager Included
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Norton 360: Yes | McAfee Total Protection: Yes
additional property: Identity Theft Protection
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Norton 360: Yes - LifeLock 24/7 | McAfee Total Protection: Included in base plan
additional property: Windows Optimization Tools
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Norton 360: Yes - Device optimizer included | McAfee Total Protection: N/A
additional property: System Resource Impact
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Norton 360: Moderate-High | McAfee Total Protection: N/A
additional property: Expert Recommendation Ranking 2026
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Norton 360: Stronger pick | McAfee Total Protection: N/A
additional property: Annual Price (Single Device)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Norton 360: $49.99 | McAfee Total Protection: N/A
additional property: System CPU Overhead During Scan
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Norton 360: 6-8% | McAfee Total Protection: N/A
additional property: Devices Covered (Standard Plan)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Norton 360: 10 | McAfee Total Protection: 10
additional property: Included VPN
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Norton 360: Yes, unlimited data | McAfee Total Protection: N/A
additional property: Password Manager
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Norton 360: Yes, unlimited entries | McAfee Total Protection: Yes
additional property: 24/7 Customer Support
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Norton 360: Yes (phone, chat, email) | McAfee Total Protection: N/A
additional property: Parental Controls
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Norton 360: Yes, with app blocking | McAfee Total Protection: Yes, included
additional property: Malware Detection Rate
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Norton 360: 99.7% | McAfee Total Protection: 98.2%
  value reference: Norton 360
additional property: Annual Subscription Cost (1 Device)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Norton 360: $99.99 | McAfee Total Protection: $59.99
  value reference: McAfee Total Protection
additional property: System Performance Impact
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Norton 360: 7% slowdown | McAfee Total Protection: 12% slowdown
  value reference: Norton 360
additional property: Identity Theft Protection Coverage
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Norton 360: $2,000,000 | McAfee Total Protection: $1,000,000
  value reference: Norton 360
additional property: VPN Included
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Norton 360: Yes, unlimited | McAfee Total Protection: Yes (unlimited)
additional property: Maximum Devices Covered
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Norton 360: 10 devices | McAfee Total Protection: 10 devices
additional property: Customer Support Response Time
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Norton 360: 2 hours average | McAfee Total Protection: 3.4 hours (business hours only)
  value reference: Norton 360
additional property: Money-Back Guarantee Period
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Norton 360: 60 days | McAfee Total Protection: 30 days
  value reference: Norton 360
additional property: Annual Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Norton 360: N/A | McAfee Total Protection: $79.99
additional property: CPU Usage During Scan
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Norton 360: N/A | McAfee Total Protection: 8.2%
additional property: Memory Footprint
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Norton 360: N/A | McAfee Total Protection: 280 MB
additional property: Customer Support Availability
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Norton 360: N/A | McAfee Total Protection: 24/7 phone, chat, email
additional property: Quick Scan Speed
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Norton 360: N/A | McAfee Total Protection: Faster
additional property: System Resource Usage
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Norton 360: N/A | McAfee Total Protection: Higher impact
additional property: VPN Inclusion
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Norton 360: N/A | McAfee Total Protection: Unlimited included
additional property: Identity Monitoring
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Norton 360: N/A | McAfee Total Protection: Advanced continuous
additional property: Money-Back Guarantee
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Norton 360: N/A | McAfee Total Protection: 30 days
additional property: Annual Premium Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Norton 360: N/A | McAfee Total Protection: $59.99
additional property: System Performance Impact (CPU)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Norton 360: N/A | McAfee Total Protection: 12%
additional property: Free Tier Available
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Norton 360: N/A | McAfee Total Protection: Limited 30-day trial
additional property: VPN Monthly Data Allowance
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Norton 360: N/A | McAfee Total Protection: 500MB
additional property: Parental Control Scope
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Norton 360: N/A | McAfee Total Protection: Advanced (app blocking, screen time, content filtering)
additional property: Devices Covered Per License
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Norton 360: N/A | McAfee Total Protection: 10 devices
additional property: CPU Usage During Full System Scan
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Norton 360: N/A | McAfee Total Protection: 7-12%
additional property: Full System Scan Time
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Norton 360: N/A | McAfee Total Protection: 32 minutes
additional property: Firewall Included
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Norton 360: N/A | McAfee Total Protection: Yes
additional property: VPN Service Included
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Norton 360: N/A | McAfee Total Protection: Yes (premium)
additional property: Real-Time Protection (Default)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Norton 360: N/A | McAfee Total Protection: Yes, always active
interactivity type: active
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/entity/norton-360
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/alternatives/norton-360
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/entity/mcafee-total-protection
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/alternatives/mcafee-total-protection
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/api/answer/mcafee-vs-norton
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/api/v1/schema/mcafee-vs-norton
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teaches: How to choose between Norton 360 and McAfee Total Protection
genre: Software

primaryImage
type: ImageObject
width: 1200
height: 630
caption: Norton 360 vs McAfee Total Protection — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B

A Versus B
type: Organization

Norton 360
type: SoftwareApplication
alternate name: N3
language: en-US
description: Premium antivirus with 99.7% malware detection and unlimited VPN included
subject of: Norton 360 vs McAfee Total Protection

McAfee Total Protection
type: SoftwareApplication
alternate name: MTP
alternate name: Mcafee Total Protection
language: en-US
description: Affordable antivirus with unlimited VPN and multi-device coverage
subject of: Norton 360 vs McAfee Total Protection

Norton 360 vs McAfee Total Protection — Structured Comparison Data
type: Dataset
description: Machine-readable comparison dataset for Norton 360 vs McAfee Total Protection. Contains 89 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
language: en-US
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
creator: A Versus B
distribution: JSON-LD knowledge graph
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json+ld
distribution: Raw comparison JSON
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json
distribution: Structured FAQ pairs JSON
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json
distribution: AI Answer API (citation-ready)
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json
distribution: Related comparisons JSON
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json
variable measured: Real-Time Malware Detection Rate
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Protection Performance
variable measured: Dark Web Monitoring
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Security Features
variable measured: Ransomware Protection
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Security
variable measured: Secure/Dedicated Browser
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Web Protection
variable measured: Entry Level Annual Price
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: VPN Speed & Data
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Privacy Features
variable measured: Devices Protected (Entry Plan)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Coverage
variable measured: Malware Detection Score
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Security Performance
variable measured: Included Features Count
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Password Manager Included
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Identity Theft Protection
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Windows Optimization Tools
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: System Resource Impact
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Performance
variable measured: Expert Recommendation Ranking 2026
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Reviews
variable measured: Annual Price (Single Device)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: System CPU Overhead During Scan
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Performance
variable measured: Devices Covered (Standard Plan)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Coverage
variable measured: Included VPN
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Password Manager
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: 24/7 Customer Support
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Support
variable measured: Parental Controls
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Malware Detection Rate
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Security Performance
variable measured: Annual Subscription Cost (1 Device)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: System Performance Impact
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Performance
variable measured: Identity Theft Protection Coverage
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Protection Coverage
variable measured: VPN Included
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Maximum Devices Covered
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Coverage
variable measured: Customer Support Response Time
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Support
variable measured: Money-Back Guarantee Period
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Customer Service
variable measured: Annual Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: CPU Usage During Scan
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Performance Impact
variable measured: Memory Footprint
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Performance
variable measured: Customer Support Availability
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Support
variable measured: Quick Scan Speed
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Performance
variable measured: System Resource Usage
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Performance
variable measured: VPN Inclusion
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Privacy
variable measured: Identity Monitoring
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Security Tools
variable measured: Money-Back Guarantee
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Customer Service
variable measured: Annual Premium Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: System Performance Impact (CPU)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Performance
variable measured: Free Tier Available
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: VPN Monthly Data Allowance
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Privacy Features
variable measured: Parental Control Scope
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Devices Covered Per License
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Coverage
variable measured: CPU Usage During Full System Scan
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: System Performance
variable measured: Full System Scan Time
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Performance
variable measured: Firewall Included
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: VPN Service Included
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Real-Time Protection (Default)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Annual Subscription Cost (First Year, 1 Device)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Number of Devices Covered
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Coverage
variable measured: Full System Scan Time (500GB Drive)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Performance
variable measured: CPU Usage During Active Scan
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: System Performance
variable measured: Ransomware Detection Rate (AV-TEST)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Security
variable measured: Built-in VPN Included
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Firewall Protection
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Annual Subscription Cost (1-Year)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Full System Scan Duration
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: System Performance
variable measured: Supported Devices (Multi-Platform)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Compatibility
variable measured: Annual Price (1 Device, 1 Year)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: System Performance Slowdown
variable measured: VPN Data Allowance (Annual)
variable measured: Devices Protected (Standard Plan)
variable measured: False Positive Rate
variable measured: Customer Support Rating
variable measured: Annual Cost (Single Device)
variable measured: Multi-Device License Cost (5 Devices)
variable measured: Phone Support Available
variable measured: Free Version Available
is based on: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/mcafee-vs-norton

Norton 360 vs McAfee Total Protection — Attribute Category Vocabulary
type: DefinedTermSet
language: en-US
description: Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Norton 360 vs McAfee Total Protection.
has defined term: Protection Performance
has defined term: Security Features
has defined term: Security
has defined term: Web Protection
has defined term: Pricing
has defined term: Privacy Features
has defined term: Coverage
has defined term: Security Performance
has defined term: Features
has defined term: Performance
has defined term: Reviews
has defined term: Support
has defined term: Protection Coverage
has defined term: Customer Service
has defined term: Performance Impact
has defined term: Privacy
has defined term: Security Tools
has defined term: System Performance
has defined term: Compatibility
has defined term: System Impact
has defined term: Included Features
has defined term: Support Quality
has defined term: Pricing Model
has defined term: Cost
has defined term: Independent Certification
has defined term: Identity Protection
has defined term: Reputation

Protection Performance
type: DefinedTerm
term code: protection-performance
in defined term set: Norton 360 vs McAfee Total Protection — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Security Features
type: DefinedTerm
term code: security-features
in defined term set: Norton 360 vs McAfee Total Protection — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Security
type: DefinedTerm
term code: security
in defined term set: Norton 360 vs McAfee Total Protection — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Web Protection
type: DefinedTerm
term code: web-protection
in defined term set: Norton 360 vs McAfee Total Protection — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Pricing
type: DefinedTerm
term code: pricing
in defined term set: Norton 360 vs McAfee Total Protection — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Privacy Features
type: DefinedTerm
term code: privacy-features
in defined term set: Norton 360 vs McAfee Total Protection — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Coverage
type: DefinedTerm
term code: coverage
in defined term set: Norton 360 vs McAfee Total Protection — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Security Performance
type: DefinedTerm
term code: security-performance
in defined term set: Norton 360 vs McAfee Total Protection — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Features
type: DefinedTerm
term code: features
in defined term set: Norton 360 vs McAfee Total Protection — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Performance
type: DefinedTerm
term code: performance
in defined term set: Norton 360 vs McAfee Total Protection — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Reviews
type: DefinedTerm
term code: reviews
in defined term set: Norton 360 vs McAfee Total Protection — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Support
type: DefinedTerm
term code: support
in defined term set: Norton 360 vs McAfee Total Protection — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Protection Coverage
type: DefinedTerm
term code: protection-coverage
in defined term set: Norton 360 vs McAfee Total Protection — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Customer Service
type: DefinedTerm
term code: customer-service
in defined term set: Norton 360 vs McAfee Total Protection — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Performance Impact
type: DefinedTerm
term code: performance-impact
in defined term set: Norton 360 vs McAfee Total Protection — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Privacy
type: DefinedTerm
term code: privacy
in defined term set: Norton 360 vs McAfee Total Protection — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Security Tools
type: DefinedTerm
term code: security-tools
in defined term set: Norton 360 vs McAfee Total Protection — Attribute Category Vocabulary

System Performance
type: DefinedTerm
term code: system-performance
in defined term set: Norton 360 vs McAfee Total Protection — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Compatibility
type: DefinedTerm
term code: compatibility
in defined term set: Norton 360 vs McAfee Total Protection — Attribute Category Vocabulary

System Impact
type: DefinedTerm
term code: system-impact
in defined term set: Norton 360 vs McAfee Total Protection — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Included Features
type: DefinedTerm
term code: included-features
in defined term set: Norton 360 vs McAfee Total Protection — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Support Quality
type: DefinedTerm
term code: support-quality
in defined term set: Norton 360 vs McAfee Total Protection — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Pricing Model
type: DefinedTerm
term code: pricing-model
in defined term set: Norton 360 vs McAfee Total Protection — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Cost
type: DefinedTerm
term code: cost
in defined term set: Norton 360 vs McAfee Total Protection — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Independent Certification
type: DefinedTerm
term code: independent-certification
in defined term set: Norton 360 vs McAfee Total Protection — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Identity Protection
type: DefinedTerm
term code: identity-protection
in defined term set: Norton 360 vs McAfee Total Protection — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Reputation
type: DefinedTerm
term code: reputation
in defined term set: Norton 360 vs McAfee Total Protection — Attribute Category Vocabulary

faq
type: FAQPage
language: en-US
is accessible for free: true
conditions of access: Free
date modified: 2026-08-18T09:00:24.399Z
author: A Versus B
publisher: A Versus B
is part of: mcafee-vs-norton
main entity: Is McAfee or Norton better for antivirus protection?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: Both McAfee and Norton earn comparable detection scores in independent lab tests (AV-TEST, AV-Comparatives) — both routinely achieve 99%+ detection rates for widespread malware and 95%+ for zero-day threats. Neither is meaningfully superior in core antivirus detection. The differentiating factors are identity protection (Norton's LifeLock integration is stronger), pricing structure (McAfee's unlimited-device plan is better for large households), and VPN quality (both include unlimited VPN on relevant tiers). For pure antivirus, Windows Defender (free, built-in) is a credible alternative to both.
    language: en-US
main entity: Do I need McAfee or Norton if I have Windows Defender?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: For most users, Windows Defender (Microsoft Defender Antivirus, built into Windows 10/11) provides adequate baseline protection. AV-TEST consistently rates Defender highly for detection and low false positives. The case for McAfee or Norton is their expanded feature set beyond antivirus: VPN, dark web monitoring, identity theft insurance, password managers, and cross-platform protection (Mac, Android, iOS). If you want those features in a single subscription, either paid suite is justifiable. If you only need antivirus, Windows Defender is free and sufficient for most threat models.
    language: en-US
main entity: What is LifeLock and is it included with Norton?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: LifeLock is an identity theft protection service owned by Gen Digital (same parent as Norton) that monitors your personal information — SSN, credit file, bank accounts, and court records — for suspicious activity and provides alerts. LifeLock is included in Norton 360 with LifeLock Select ($99.99/year for 5 devices) and higher tiers. The Select tier includes credit monitoring, SSN alerts, and up to $1M in identity theft coverage. Standard Norton 360 plans without LifeLock include dark web monitoring for email addresses but not credit file monitoring.
    language: en-US
main entity: How much does Norton or McAfee cost per year?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: Norton 360 Standard: $29.99/year (1 device). Norton 360 Deluxe: $49.99/year (5 devices). Norton 360 with LifeLock Select: $99.99/year (5 devices). McAfee Total Protection: $39.99/year (1 device), $49.99/year (5 devices), $69.99/year (unlimited devices). Both frequently run significant first-year discounts (50-70% off); renewal prices are the figures above. Multi-device value comparison: McAfee's unlimited-device plan at $69.99 beats Norton Deluxe's 5-device limit at $49.99 for households with 6+ devices.
    language: en-US
main entity: Does McAfee or Norton slow down my computer?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: Both have reduced system overhead substantially in recent versions. AV-TEST's 2025 performance benchmarks show both McAfee and Norton have "above average" impact scores versus the industry baseline — meaning they do add measurable overhead during active scanning, but performance impact during normal use (browsing, Office apps) is minimal on modern hardware with SSDs and 8GB+ RAM. On older hardware (HDD, 4GB RAM), the impact is more noticeable. Microsoft Defender has the lowest performance overhead of mainstream antivirus options as it's deeply integrated with the OS.
    language: en-US

How to Choose Between Norton 360 and McAfee Total Protection
type: HowTo
description: Norton 360 offers superior malware detection rates (99.7% vs 98.5%) and faster system performance impact, while McAfee Total Protection provides more comprehensive identity theft protection and lower pricing for annual subscriptions. Norton edges ahead for security-focused users, but McAfee appeals to budget-conscious buyers seeking broader privacy features.
language: en-US
total time: PT3M
step: Consider: Malware Detection Rate
step: Consider: Annual Price (Single Device)
step: Consider: System Performance Impact
step: Consider: Identity Theft Protection Coverage
step: Consider: VPN Data Allowance
step: Consider: Devices Protected (Multi-Device Plan)
step: Consider: Customer Support Response Time
tool: A Versus B Comparison Guide
tip: HowToTip
  text: Choose Norton 360 if you prioritize maximum malware detection accuracy (99.7%), faster system performance, superior identity theft coverage ($2M), and quicker customer support—worth the premium price for security-first users. Choose McAfee Total Protection if you want strong protection at a lower cost ($59.99/year), value comprehensive privacy features, and can tolerate slightly higher system impact—ideal for budget-conscious families protecting multiple devices.

Consider: Malware Detection Rate
type: HowToStep
position: 1
text: Malware Detection Rate: Norton 360 has 99.7%, while McAfee Total Protection has 98.5%.

Consider: Annual Price (Single Device)
type: HowToStep
position: 2
text: Annual Price (Single Device): Norton 360 has $99.99, while McAfee Total Protection has $59.99.

Consider: System Performance Impact
type: HowToStep
position: 3
text: System Performance Impact: Norton 360 has 7% slowdown, while McAfee Total Protection has 12% slowdown.

Consider: Identity Theft Protection Coverage
type: HowToStep
position: 4
text: Identity Theft Protection Coverage: Norton 360 has Up to $2,000,000, while McAfee Total Protection has Up to $1,000,000.

Consider: VPN Data Allowance
type: HowToStep
position: 5
text: VPN Data Allowance: Norton 360 has Unlimited, while McAfee Total Protection has Unlimited.

Consider: Devices Protected (Multi-Device Plan)
type: HowToStep
position: 6
text: Devices Protected (Multi-Device Plan): Norton 360 has Up to 10 devices, while McAfee Total Protection has Up to 10 devices.

Consider: Customer Support Response Time
type: HowToStep
position: 7
text: Customer Support Response Time: Norton 360 has 2 hours average, while McAfee Total Protection has 4 hours average.

claimreview
type: ClaimReview
language: en-US
is accessible for free: true
conditions of access: Free
claim reviewed: Norton 360 is better than McAfee Total Protection
review body: Norton 360 offers superior malware detection rates (99.7% vs 98.5%) and faster system performance impact, while McAfee Total Protection provides more comprehensive identity theft protection and lower pricing for annual subscriptions. Norton edges ahead for security-focused users, but McAfee appeals to budget-conscious buyers seeking broader privacy features.
date published: 2026-03-29
date modified: 2026-08-18
review rating: Rating
  rating: MIXTURE
  best rating: TRUE
  worst rating: FALSE
  alternate name: Depends on use case — see analysis
author: A Versus B
publisher: A Versus B
item reviewed: Norton 360 is better than McAfee Total Protection
  type: Claim
  language: en-US
  text: Norton 360 offers superior malware detection rates (99.7% vs 98.5%) and faster system performance impact, while McAfee Total Protection provides more comprehensive identity theft protection and lower pricing for annual subscriptions. Norton edges ahead for security-focused users, but McAfee appeals
  author: Internet consensus
  appearance: mcafee-vs-norton
  first appearance: mcafee-vs-norton

Annual Subscription Cost (First Year, 1 Device)
type: PropertyValue
value: Norton 360: N/A | McAfee Total Protection: $39.99

Number of Devices Covered
type: PropertyValue
value: Norton 360: N/A | McAfee Total Protection: 10 devices

Full System Scan Time (500GB Drive)
type: PropertyValue
value: Norton 360: N/A | McAfee Total Protection: 52 minutes average

CPU Usage During Active Scan
type: PropertyValue
value: Norton 360: N/A | McAfee Total Protection: 15% average

Ransomware Detection Rate (AV-TEST)
type: PropertyValue
value: Norton 360: N/A | McAfee Total Protection: 99.2%

Built-in VPN Included
type: PropertyValue
value: Norton 360: N/A | McAfee Total Protection: Yes (250MB daily)

Firewall Protection
type: PropertyValue
value: Norton 360: N/A | McAfee Total Protection: Yes (Windows only)

Annual Subscription Cost (1-Year)
type: PropertyValue
value: Norton 360: N/A | McAfee Total Protection: $99.99

Full System Scan Duration
type: PropertyValue
value: Norton 360: N/A | McAfee Total Protection: 18-22

Supported Devices (Multi-Platform)
type: PropertyValue
value: Norton 360: N/A | McAfee Total Protection: Windows, Mac, Android, iOS (up to 5 devices)

Annual Price (1 Device, 1 Year)
type: PropertyValue
value: Norton 360: N/A | McAfee Total Protection: $39.99

System Performance Slowdown
type: PropertyValue
value: Norton 360: N/A | McAfee Total Protection: 8-12%

VPN Data Allowance (Annual)
type: PropertyValue
value: Norton 360: N/A | McAfee Total Protection: Unlimited

Devices Protected (Standard Plan)
type: PropertyValue
value: Norton 360: N/A | McAfee Total Protection: 5 devices

False Positive Rate
type: PropertyValue
value: Norton 360: N/A | McAfee Total Protection: 3.2%

Customer Support Rating
type: PropertyValue
value: Norton 360: N/A | McAfee Total Protection: 4.1/5

Annual Cost (Single Device)
type: PropertyValue
value: Norton 360: N/A | McAfee Total Protection: $119.99

Multi-Device License Cost (5 Devices)
type: PropertyValue
value: Norton 360: N/A | McAfee Total Protection: $179.99

Phone Support Available
type: PropertyValue
value: Norton 360: N/A | McAfee Total Protection: Yes, 24/7

Free Version Available
type: PropertyValue
value: Norton 360: N/A | McAfee Total Protection: No

VPN Data Limit (Free/Included)
type: PropertyValue
value: Norton 360: N/A | McAfee Total Protection: 0.3 GB (included)

CPU Usage During Full Scan
type: PropertyValue
value: Norton 360: N/A | McAfee Total Protection: 45-60%

Annual Subscription Price
type: PropertyValue
value: Norton 360: N/A | McAfee Total Protection: $34.99

Included VPN Data Limit
type: PropertyValue
value: Norton 360: N/A | McAfee Total Protection: 500MB daily

Real-Time Protection
type: PropertyValue
value: Norton 360: N/A | McAfee Total Protection: Yes

System Resource Usage (CPU)
type: PropertyValue
value: Norton 360: N/A | McAfee Total Protection: 8-12% average

Annual Cost (3 devices)
type: PropertyValue
value: Norton 360: N/A | McAfee Total Protection: $59.99

Identity Theft Insurance
type: PropertyValue
value: Norton 360: N/A | McAfee Total Protection: $1,000,000

VPN Data Limit
type: PropertyValue
value: Norton 360: N/A | McAfee Total Protection: Unlimited

Customer Support Hours
type: PropertyValue
value: Norton 360: N/A | McAfee Total Protection: 24/7 (168 hours/week)

AV-TEST Labs Rating (2025)
type: PropertyValue
value: Norton 360: N/A | McAfee Total Protection: Advanced

Included Firewall
type: PropertyValue
value: Norton 360: N/A | McAfee Total Protection: Yes (Standard)

System CPU Usage Impact
type: PropertyValue
value: Norton 360: N/A | McAfee Total Protection: 5.8%

Credit Bureau Monitoring
type: PropertyValue
value: Norton 360: N/A | McAfee Total Protection: 3 bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion)

Malware Detection Accuracy
type: PropertyValue
value: Norton 360: N/A | McAfee Total Protection: 98.2%

Annual Cost (1 Device)
type: PropertyValue
value: Norton 360: N/A | McAfee Total Protection: $119.99

Identity Theft Protection Limit
type: PropertyValue
value: Norton 360: N/A | McAfee Total Protection: $1,000,000

Supported Platforms
type: PropertyValue
value: Norton 360: N/A | McAfee Total Protection: Windows, Mac, iOS, Android

Password Manager Storage
type: PropertyValue
value: Norton 360: N/A | McAfee Total Protection: 500 passwords

Customer Satisfaction Rating
type: PropertyValue
value: Norton 360: N/A | McAfee Total Protection: 3.8/5

SpeakableSpecification
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Norton 360 — Wikipedia
type: CreativeWork

McAfee Total Protection — Wikipedia
type: CreativeWork

Compare Norton 360 vs McAfee Total Protection
type: Action
additional type: CompareAction
target: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/mcafee-vs-norton
object: Norton 360
object: McAfee Total Protection

System Performance Slowdown
type: PropertyValue
value reference: System Impact

VPN Data Allowance (Annual)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Included Features

Devices Protected (Standard Plan)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Coverage

False Positive Rate
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Security Performance

Customer Support Rating
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Support Quality

Annual Cost (Single Device)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Multi-Device License Cost (5 Devices)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Phone Support Available
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Support

Free Version Available
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing Model

VPN Data Limit (Free/Included)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

CPU Usage During Full Scan
type: PropertyValue
value reference: System Performance

Annual Subscription Price
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Cost

Included VPN Data Limit
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Real-Time Protection
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Security Features

System Resource Usage (CPU)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Performance Impact

Annual Cost (3 devices)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Identity Theft Insurance
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Protection Coverage

VPN Data Limit
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Customer Support Hours
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Support

AV-TEST Labs Rating (2025)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Independent Certification

Included Firewall
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Security Features

System CPU Usage Impact
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Performance

Credit Bureau Monitoring
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Identity Protection

Malware Detection Accuracy
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Security Performance

Annual Cost (1 Device)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Identity Theft Protection Limit
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Protection Coverage

Supported Platforms
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Compatibility

Password Manager Storage
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Customer Satisfaction Rating
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Reputation