Norton vs Malwarebytes 2026: Features, Price & Performance
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.
Norton 360
Premium antivirus with 99.7% malware detection and unlimited VPN included
Families needing multi-device protection, users wanting all-in-one security without managing separate VPN/password manager subscriptions
Malwarebytes
Lightweight malware-focused scanner with minimal system impact.
Budget-conscious users, those with older computers needing minimal overhead, power users preferring specialized malware detection as secondary protection
Quick Answer
AI SummaryNorton 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.
Our Verdict
AI-assistedChoose 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.
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TIE — neck and neck
Choose Norton 360 if
Families needing multi-device protection, users wanting all-in-one security without managing separate VPN/password manager subscriptions
Choose Malwarebytes if
Budget-conscious users, those with older computers needing minimal overhead, power users preferring specialized malware detection as secondary protection
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Key Differences at a Glance
- Price (Annual, Single Device):✓ Malwarebytes wins($39.99 vs $49.99)
- System Performance Impact:✓ Malwarebytes wins(2-3% CPU overhead vs 6-8% CPU overhead)
- Included Features:✓ Norton 360 wins(VPN, password manager, parental controls, firewall vs Malware scanning, browser extension only)
Key Facts & Figures
14 numeric metrics compared
| Metric | Norton 360 | Malwarebytes | Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Real-Time Malware Detection Rate(%) | 99.8% | — | — |
| Entry Level Annual Price(USD) | $29.99 | — | — |
| Devices Protected (Entry Plan)(devices) | 1 device | — | — |
| Included Features Count(features) | 6 major features | — | — |
| Annual Price (Single Device)(USD) | $49.99 | $39.99 | |
| System CPU Overhead During Scan(%) | 6-8% | 2-3% | |
| Devices Covered (Standard Plan)(devices) | 10 | 1 | |
| Malware Detection Rate(%) | 99.7% | 99.2% | |
| Annual Subscription Cost (1 Device)(USD) | $99.99 | — | — |
| System Performance Impact(%) | 7% slowdown | — | — |
| Identity Theft Protection Coverage(USD) | $2,000,000 | — | — |
| Maximum Devices Covered(devices) | 10 devices | — | — |
| Customer Support Response Time(hours) | 2 hours average | — | — |
| Money-Back Guarantee Period(days) | 60 days | — | — |
Sourced from publicly available data ·
Key Differences
7 attributes compared head-to-head
- $49.99Price (Annual, Single Device)$39.99(winner)
- 6-8% CPU overheadSystem Performance Impact2-3% CPU overhead(winner)
- VPN, password manager, parental controls, firewall(winner)Included FeaturesMalware scanning, browser extension only
- 98.7% (AV-Test 2025)Malware Detection Rate99.2% (AV-Test 2025)(winner)
- 24/7 phone, chat, email(winner)Customer Support AvailabilityChat and email only (business hours)
- Up to 10 devices(winner)Devices Covered (Standard Plan)1 device (unlimited with Premium plan)
- Behavioral, signature, machine learning(winner)Real-Time ProtectionBehavioral and signature-based
- Price (Annual, Single Device)
Norton 360
$49.99
Malwarebytes
$39.99(winner)
- System Performance Impact
Norton 360
6-8% CPU overhead
Malwarebytes
2-3% CPU overhead(winner)
- Included Features
Norton 360
VPN, password manager, parental controls, firewall(winner)
Malwarebytes
Malware scanning, browser extension only
- Malware Detection Rate
Norton 360
98.7% (AV-Test 2025)
Malwarebytes
99.2% (AV-Test 2025)(winner)
- Customer Support Availability
Norton 360
24/7 phone, chat, email(winner)
Malwarebytes
Chat and email only (business hours)
- Devices Covered (Standard Plan)
Norton 360
Up to 10 devices(winner)
Malwarebytes
1 device (unlimited with Premium plan)
- Real-Time Protection
Norton 360
Behavioral, signature, machine learning(winner)
Malwarebytes
Behavioral and signature-based
Full Comparison
| Attribute | Norton 360 | Malwarebytes |
|---|---|---|
| Real-Time Malware Detection Rate(%) | 99.8% | — |
| Dark Web Monitoring | Live & Comprehensive | — |
| Ransomware Protection(layers) | Yes - Dedicated Feature | — |
| Secure/Dedicated Browser | Yes - Dedicated Browser | — |
| Entry Level Annual Price(USD) | $29.99 | — |
| Annual Price (Single Device)(USD) | $49.99 | $39.99(winner) |
| Annual Subscription Cost (1 Device)(USD) | $99.99 | — |
| VPN Speed & Data | Fast - Unlimited Data | — |
| Devices Protected (Entry Plan)(devices) | 1 device | — |
| Devices Covered (Standard Plan)(devices) | 10(winner) | 1 |
| Maximum Devices Covered(devices) | 10 devices | — |
| Malware Detection Score(rating) | High | — |
| Malware Detection Rate(%) | 99.7%(winner) | 99.2% |
| Included Features Count(features) | 6 major features | — |
| Password Manager Included | Yes | — |
| Identity Theft Protection | Yes - LifeLock 24/7 | — |
| Windows Optimization Tools(included) | Yes - Device optimizer included | — |
| Included VPN | Yes, unlimited data | No |
| Password Manager | Yes, unlimited entries | No |
Show 2 more attributesParental Controls Yes, with app blocking No VPN Included Yes, unlimited — | ||
| System Resource Impact(rating) | Moderate-High | — |
| System CPU Overhead During Scan(%) | 6-8% | 2-3%(winner) |
| System Performance Impact(%) | 7% slowdown | — |
| Expert Recommendation Ranking 2026(position) | Stronger pick | — |
| 24/7 Customer Support | Yes (phone, chat, email) | No (business hours only) |
| Customer Support Response Time(hours) | 2 hours average | — |
| Identity Theft Protection Coverage(USD) | $2,000,000 | — |
| Money-Back Guarantee Period(days) | 60 days | — |
MalwarebytesShow 2 more attributes
Pros & Cons
10 pros·4 cons across both
Norton 360
Pros
- Includes premium VPN (unlimited data) with 24/7 support
- Password manager with unlimited secure passwords stored
- Covers up to 10 devices in single subscription
- Parental controls with real-time monitoring and app blocking
- Machine learning-powered threat detection with 98.7% detection rate
Cons
- 6-8% CPU overhead during scans may impact older system performance
- Higher annual cost at $49.99 vs competitors
Malwarebytes
Pros
- Industry-leading 99.2% malware detection rate (AV-Test 2025)
- Extremely light on system resources at just 2-3% CPU overhead
- Lower annual cost at $39.99 for single device
- Browser extension protection with real-time scanning
- Excellent for supplementary protection alongside primary antivirus
Cons
- Covers only 1 device on standard plan (requires Premium for unlimited devices at $99.99/year)
- No integrated VPN or password manager requiring separate subscriptions
Frequently Asked Questions
5 questions
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.
Resources & Learn More
Curated sources to dive deeper
Where to Buy
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Wikipedia
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