McAfee vs Norton Antivirus 2026 Comparison
Norton offers superior malware detection rates (99.9% vs 98.2%) and faster system performance impact, while McAfee provides more affordable pricing and better family plan features. Both are major antivirus players, but Norton edges ahead for protection-focused users.
McAfee Total Protection
Affordable antivirus with unlimited VPN and multi-device coverage
Budget-conscious users who prioritize VPN access and need protection across multiple devices in their family
Norton 360 Deluxe
Premium antivirus with 99.9% malware detection and minimal performance impact
Security-conscious users willing to pay premium for best-in-class protection, identity theft coverage, and minimal system impact
Quick Answer
AI SummaryNorton offers superior malware detection rates (99.9% vs 98.2%) and faster system performance impact, while McAfee provides more affordable pricing and better family plan features. Both are major antivirus players, but Norton edges ahead for protection-focused users.
Our Verdict
AI-assistedChoose Norton if you prioritize maximum malware protection (99.9% detection rate) and minimal performance impact for a premium but comprehensive security suite. Choose McAfee if you want budget-friendly pricing, unlimited VPN access, and a larger family plan without sacrificing core protection capabilities.
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Choose McAfee Total Protection if
Budget-conscious users who prioritize VPN access and need protection across multiple devices in their family
Choose Norton 360 Deluxe if
Best pickSecurity-conscious users willing to pay premium for best-in-class protection, identity theft coverage, and minimal system impact
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Key Differences at a Glance
- Malware Detection Rate:✓ Norton 360 Deluxe wins(99.9% vs 98.2%)
- Annual Price (1 Device):✓ McAfee Total Protection wins($39.99 vs $99.99)
- System Performance Impact:✓ Norton 360 Deluxe wins(7% slowdown vs 12% slowdown)
Key Facts & Figures
65 numeric metrics compared
| Metric | McAfee Total Protection | Norton 360 Deluxe | Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Cost(USD) | $79.99 | — | — |
| CPU Usage During Scan(%) | 8.2% | — | — |
| Memory Footprint(MB) | 280 MB | — | — |
| Real-Time Malware Detection Rate(%) | 99.5% | — | — |
| Entry Level Annual Price(USD) | $24.99 | — | — |
| Devices Protected (Entry Plan)(devices) | 5 devices | — | — |
| Money-Back Guarantee(days) | 30 days | 60 days | |
| Annual Premium Cost(USD) | $59.99 | — | — |
| System Performance Impact (CPU)(%) | 12% | — | — |
| VPN Monthly Data Allowance(MB) | 500MB | 500 MB | |
| Devices Covered Per License(devices) | 10 devices | 10 devices | |
| Annual Subscription Cost (1 Device)(USD) | $59.99 | $49.99 | |
| CPU Usage During Full System Scan(%) | 7-12% | 8-12% | |
| Full System Scan Time(minutes) | 32 minutes | — | — |
| Identity Theft Protection Coverage(USD) | $1,000,000 | — | — |
| Maximum Devices Covered(devices) | 10 devices | 5 devices | |
| Customer Support Response Time(hours) | 3.4 hours (business hours only) | — | — |
| Money-Back Guarantee Period(days) | 30 days | 60 days | |
| Annual Subscription Cost (First Year, 1 Device)(USD) | $39.99 | — | — |
| Number of Devices Covered(devices) | 10 devices | — | — |
| Full System Scan Time (500GB Drive)(minutes) | 52 minutes average | — | — |
| CPU Usage During Active Scan(%) | 15% average | 3.8% | |
| Ransomware Detection Rate (AV-TEST)(percent) | 99.2% | — | — |
| Annual Subscription Cost (1-Year)(USD) | $99.99 | — | — |
| Full System Scan Duration(minutes) | 18-22 | — | — |
| Annual Price (1 Device, 1 Year)(USD) | $39.99 | $99.99 | |
| System Performance Slowdown(%) | 8-12% | 3-5% | |
| Devices Protected (Standard Plan)(devices) | 5 devices | 5 devices | |
| False Positive Rate(%) | 3.2% | 0.8% | |
| Customer Support Rating(out of 5) | 4.1/5 | 4.7/5 | |
| Annual Cost (Single Device)(USD) | $119.99 | — | — |
| System Performance Impact(% slowdown) | 12% slowdown | 7% slowdown | |
| Multi-Device License Cost (5 Devices)(USD/year) | $179.99 | — | — |
| VPN Data Limit (Free/Included)(GB/month) | 0.3 GB (included) | — | — |
| CPU Usage During Full Scan(%) | 45-60% | 12-14% | |
| Annual Subscription Price(USD) | $34.99 | — | — |
| Devices Covered (Standard Plan)(devices) | 10 | 5 devices | |
| Included VPN Data Limit(MB/day) | 500MB daily | — | — |
| System Resource Usage (CPU)(%) | 8-12% average | — | — |
| Annual Cost (3 devices)(USD) | $59.99 | — | — |
| Identity Theft Insurance(USD) | $1,000,000 | — | — |
| System CPU Usage Impact(%) | 5.8% | — | — |
| Credit Bureau Monitoring(bureaus) | 3 bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) | — | — |
| Malware Detection Accuracy(%) | 98.2% | — | — |
| Annual Cost (1 Device)(USD) | $119.99 | $49.99 | |
| Identity Theft Protection Limit(USD) | $1,000,000 | — | — |
| Malware Detection Rate(%) | 98.2% | 99.9% | |
| Customer Satisfaction Rating(out of 5) | 3.8/5 | 4.4/5 | |
| Annual Subscription Cost(USD) | $49.99 | $49.99 | |
| RAM Usage at Idle(MB) | 80-120 MB | 80-120 MB | |
| Annual Subscription Price (1 Device)(USD) | $89.99 | $89.99 | |
| Full System Scan Duration (1TB)(minutes) | 22-25 minutes | 22-25 minutes | |
| Devices Per Standard License(devices) | 5 devices | 5 devices | |
| CPU Usage at Idle(%) | 4-6% | 4-6% | |
| AV-TEST Institute Score 2025(/18) | 17.8/18 | 17.8/18 | |
| Boot Time Impact (vs. unprotected)(%) | 12% slower | 12% slower | |
| Included Features Count(features) | 12 (antivirus, firewall, VPN, password manager, backup, dark web monitoring, webcam protection, file shredder, exploit prevention, behavior monitoring, ransomware protection, PUP detection) | 12 (antivirus, firewall, VPN, password manager, backup, dark web monitoring, webcam protection, file shredder, exploit prevention, behavior monitoring, ransomware protection, PUP detection) | |
| Supported Devices per License(devices) | Up to 5 devices (Premium plans) | Up to 5 devices (Premium plans) | |
| Cloud Backup Storage(GB) | 50 GB (Deluxe) | 50 GB (Deluxe) | |
| Annual Cost per Device(USD) | $49.99 | $49.99 | |
| Full System Scan Speed(GB/min) | 28 GB/min | 28 GB/min | |
| VPN Data Limit (Basic Plan)(GB/month) | 1 GB/month | 1 GB/month | |
| Devices Covered (Deluxe/Total)(devices) | 5 devices | 5 devices | |
| Annual Subscription Cost (Year 1)(USD) | $29.99 | $29.99 | |
| Installation Size(MB) | 1200 MB | 1200 MB |
Sourced from publicly available data ·
Key Differences
7 attributes compared head-to-head
- 98.2%Malware Detection Rate99.9%(winner)
- $39.99(winner)Annual Price (1 Device)$99.99
- 12% slowdownSystem Performance Impact7% slowdown(winner)
- Up to 10 devicesMulti-Device Licenses IncludedUp to 10 devices
- Unlimited(winner)VPN Data Limit200GB/year
- Yes24/7 Live Chat SupportYes
- Yes (500 passwords)Password Manager IncludedYes (unlimited)(winner)
- Malware Detection Rate
McAfee Total Protection
98.2%
Norton 360 Deluxe
99.9%(winner)
- Annual Price (1 Device)
McAfee Total Protection
$39.99(winner)
Norton 360 Deluxe
$99.99
- System Performance Impact
McAfee Total Protection
12% slowdown
Norton 360 Deluxe
7% slowdown(winner)
- Multi-Device Licenses Included
McAfee Total Protection
Up to 10 devices
Norton 360 Deluxe
Up to 10 devices
- VPN Data Limit
McAfee Total Protection
Unlimited(winner)
Norton 360 Deluxe
200GB/year
- 24/7 Live Chat Support
McAfee Total Protection
Yes
Norton 360 Deluxe
Yes
- Password Manager Included
McAfee Total Protection
Yes (500 passwords)
Norton 360 Deluxe
Yes (unlimited)(winner)
Full Comparison
| Attribute | McAfee Total Protection | Norton 360 Deluxe |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Cost(USD) | $79.99 | — |
| Entry Level Annual Price(USD) | $24.99 | — |
| Annual Premium Cost(USD) | $59.99 | — |
| Annual Subscription Cost (1 Device)(USD) | $59.99 | $49.99(winner) |
| Annual Subscription Cost (First Year, 1 Device)(USD) | $39.99 | — |
Show 10 more attributesAnnual Subscription Cost (1-Year)(USD) $99.99 — Annual Price (1 Device, 1 Year)(USD) $39.99 $99.99 Annual Cost (Single Device)(USD) $119.99 — Multi-Device License Cost (5 Devices)(USD/year) $179.99 — Annual Cost (3 devices)(USD) $59.99 — Annual Cost (1 Device)(USD) $119.99 $49.99 Annual Subscription Cost(USD) $49.99 — Annual Subscription Price (1 Device)(USD) $89.99 — Annual Cost per Device(USD) $49.99 — Annual Subscription Cost (Year 1)(USD) $29.99 — | ||
| CPU Usage During Scan(%) | 8.2% | — |
| System Resource Usage (CPU)(%) | 8-12% average | — |
| Memory Footprint(MB) | 280 MB | — |
| Quick Scan Speed(relative performance) | Faster | — |
| System Resource Usage(CPU/RAM impact) | Higher impact | — |
| System Performance Impact (CPU)(%) | 12% | — |
| Full System Scan Time(minutes) | 32 minutes | — |
Show 5 more attributesFull System Scan Time (500GB Drive)(minutes) 52 minutes average — System Performance Impact(% slowdown) 12% slowdown 7% slowdown System CPU Usage Impact(%) 5.8% — RAM Usage at Idle(MB) 80-120 MB — Full System Scan Duration (1TB)(minutes) 22-25 minutes — | ||
| Customer Support Availability(hours/week) | 24/7 phone, chat, email | — |
| Customer Support Response Time(hours) | 3.4 hours (business hours only) | — |
| Phone Support Available(text) | Yes, 24/7 | — |
| Customer Support Hours(hours/week) | 24/7 (168 hours/week) | — |
| 24/7 Phone Support Availability | Yes (140+ countries) | — |
Show 2 more attributes24/7 Live Chat Support All tiers included — 24/7 Support Availability All plans — | ||
| Real-Time Malware Detection Rate(%) | 99.5% | — |
| Dark Web Monitoring | Good but Limited | Included with LifeLock integration |
| Real-Time Protection | Yes | — |
| Included Firewall | Yes (Standard) | — |
| Identity Theft Protection Included | All plans included | — |
| Secure/Dedicated Browser | No - Web Protection Only | — |
| VPN Speed & Data | Standard - Limited Data | — |
| VPN Monthly Data Allowance(MB) | 500MB | 500 MB |
| Devices Protected (Entry Plan)(devices) | 5 devices | — |
| Devices Covered Per License(devices) | 10 devices | 10 devices |
| Maximum Devices Covered(devices) | 10 devices(winner) | 5 devices |
| Number of Devices Covered(devices) | 10 devices | — |
| Devices Protected (Standard Plan)(devices) | 5 devices | 5 devices |
Show 4 more attributesDevices Covered (Standard Plan)(devices) 10 5 devices Devices Per Standard License(devices) 5 devices — Supported Devices per License(devices) Up to 5 devices (Premium plans) — Devices Covered (Deluxe/Total)(devices) 5 devices — | ||
| VPN Inclusion(feature) | Unlimited included | — |
| Password Manager | Yes | — |
| Free Tier Available | Limited 30-day trial | — |
| Parental Control Scope | Advanced (app blocking, screen time, content filtering) | — |
| Identity Theft Protection | Included in base plan | Included (LifeLock) |
| Firewall Included | Yes | — |
Show 19 more attributesVPN Service Included Yes (premium) — Real-Time Protection (Default) Yes, always active — Built-in VPN Included Yes (250MB daily) — Firewall Protection Yes (Windows only) — VPN Data Limit (Free/Included)(GB/month) 0.3 GB (included) — Included VPN Data Limit(MB/day) 500MB daily — Parental Controls Yes, included — VPN Data Limit(GB/year) Unlimited 200GB/year VPN Included Yes (unlimited) — Password Manager Included Yes — Password Manager Storage(passwords) 500 passwords Unlimited Free Version Real-Time Scanning Not included — VPN Data Cap (Free Tier)(GB/month) Not included — Monthly VPN Data Allowance(GB) Unlimited — Included Features Count(features) 12 (antivirus, firewall, VPN, password manager, backup, dark web monitoring, webcam protection, file shredder, exploit prevention, behavior monitoring, ransomware protection, PUP detection) — Cloud Backup Storage(GB) 50 GB (Deluxe) — VPN Data Limit (Basic Plan)(GB/month) 1 GB/month — Integrated VPN Data Allowance(GB/month) Unlimited — Identity Theft Monitoring Full with credit monitoring — | ||
| Identity Monitoring(feature) | Advanced continuous | — |
| Ransomware Protection(layers) | Standard protection | — |
| Ransomware Detection Rate (AV-TEST)(percent) | 99.2% | — |
| Money-Back Guarantee(days) | 30 days | 60 days(winner) |
| Money-Back Guarantee Period(days) | 30 days | 60 days(winner) |
| CPU Usage During Full System Scan(%) | 7-12%(winner) | 8-12% |
| CPU Usage During Active Scan(%) | 15% average | 3.8%(winner) |
| Full System Scan Duration(minutes) | 18-22 | — |
| CPU Usage During Full Scan(%) | 45-60% | 12-14%(winner) |
| CPU Usage at Idle(%) | 4-6% | — |
Show 2 more attributesBoot Time Impact (vs. unprotected)(%) 12% slower — Full System Scan Speed(GB/min) 28 GB/min — | ||
| Identity Theft Protection Coverage(USD) | $1,000,000 | — |
| Identity Theft Insurance(USD) | $1,000,000 | — |
| Identity Theft Protection Limit(USD) | $1,000,000 | — |
| Supported Devices (Multi-Platform) | Windows, Mac, Android, iOS (up to 5 devices) | — |
| Supported Platforms | Windows, Mac, iOS, Android | — |
| System Performance Slowdown(%) | 8-12% | 3-5%(winner) |
| VPN Data Allowance (Annual)(GB) | Unlimited | Limited to premium |
| False Positive Rate(%) | 3.2% | 0.8%(winner) |
| Malware Detection Accuracy(%) | 98.2% | — |
| Malware Detection Rate(%) | 98.2% | 99.9%(winner) |
| Customer Support Rating(out of 5) | 4.1/5 | 4.7/5(winner) |
| Free Version Available | No | — |
| Annual Subscription Price(USD) | $34.99 | — |
| AV-TEST Labs Rating (2025) | Advanced | — |
| Credit Bureau Monitoring(bureaus) | 3 bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) | — |
| Customer Satisfaction Rating(out of 5) | 3.8/5 | 4.4/5(winner) |
| AV-TEST Institute Score 2025(/18) | 17.8/18 | — |
| Free Version Protection(text) | No free version (14-day trial only) | — |
| Installation Size(MB) | 1200 MB | — |
Show 10 more attributes
Show 5 more attributes
Show 2 more attributes
Show 4 more attributes
Show 19 more attributes
Show 2 more attributes
Pros & Cons
10 pros·6 cons across both
McAfee Total Protection
Pros
- Lowest price at $39.99/year for single device
- Unlimited VPN bandwidth included (vs 200GB competitors)
- Covers up to 10 devices with one subscription
- Password manager with 500 password storage
- 24/7 live chat and phone support
Cons
- Malware detection rate of 98.2% is below industry leader Norton
- 12% system performance slowdown during scans (higher than Norton)
- Password manager limited to 500 credentials vs unlimited competitors
Norton 360 Deluxe
Pros
- Industry-leading 99.9% malware detection rate (tested independently)
- Only 7% system slowdown during scans (fastest in category)
- Unlimited password manager storage
- LifeLock identity theft monitoring included
- Covers 10 devices with one subscription
Cons
- Premium pricing at $99.99/year ($60 more than McAfee)
- VPN limited to 200GB/year (paid upgrade for unlimited)
- Higher entry price may deter budget users
Frequently Asked Questions
5 questions
Norton 360 Deluxe is optimized better for Windows systems with only 7% performance impact vs McAfee's 12% slowdown. However, both are fully compatible with Windows 10/11. Norton is recommended if system speed is a priority; McAfee if budget matters most.
Resources & Learn More
Curated sources to dive deeper
Where to Buy
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Wikipedia
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