The ongoing battle between Norton and McAfee in the antivirus realm has spanned generations, encompassing individual users, small enterprises, and large corporations. These two names gained popularity during the late 1990s alongside the rise of Windows 95 and subsequent operating systems, attracting attention from hackers keen on unleashing viruses and other malicious entities into the PC ecosystem.
As a PC owner, chances are you have encountered both Norton and McAfee at some point while safeguarding your devices. Having personally employed both antivirus solutions on my various machines, I can attest to their efficacy.
Fast forward twenty-five years, and the antivirus landscape has transformed significantly. Innumerable antivirus options now exist, catering to a diverse range of threats requiring mitigation. Despite this evolution, antivirus software remains a fundamental pillar of cybersecurity. The enduring presence of Norton and McAfee underscores the effectiveness of their antivirus suites. But which one is superior?
- Norton Antivirus Plus: Ideal for users seeking robust antivirus protection integrated with a password manager and cloud storag, and all priced to offer exceptional value.
- McAfee Total Protection: Tailored for individuals in need of reliable antivirus capabilities, bundled with a VPN, identity surveillance, and an advanced firewall, all at an attractive price point.
In-Depth Analysis: Norton Antivirus Plus vs. McAfee Total Protection
| Our assessment (out of 5) | ||
| Starting cost | ||
| Antivirus and malware protection | ||
| Scan speed | ||
| False detection instances | ||
| Additional perks | ||
Norton Antivirus Plus vs Norton Total Protection: Pricing
Champion: Norton AV Plus
Pricing of Norton Antivirus Plus
- The regular price of Norton AV Plus is $85 per year for five devices. It is currently discounted to $30 per year if you opt for an annual payment upfront. I tried the seven-day trial, although finding it on the website was a bit of a treasure hunt. The company seemed more keen on me purchasing the service with a 60-day money-back guarantee rather than signing up for a free trial.
If you desire more than the basic consumer-level AV plan, you have the option to include 50 GB of additional cloud storage, a password manager, and more for $50 per year, or get the Lifelock identity protection service, a VPN, and an array of other security features for $100 per year.
Pricing of McAfee Total Protection
- McAfee Total Protection is priced at $120 per year, discounted to $40 on a special promotion. It includes a VPN, firewall, and identity monitoring, making a direct comparison quite challenging. The free trial I enrolled in lasts for 30 days, with a 30-day money-back guarantee also provided.
Pricing can get intricate due to the range of versions available. For $50 per year, you get AI-powered AI, while $90 adds a million dollars of identity theft protection and bank/credit card monitoring. Spending $200 gives you all of the aforementioned features, increases the ID protection to two million, and adds $25,000 in ransomware protection along with additional security measures for financial accounts.
Norton Antivirus Plus vs McAfee Total Protection: Feature comparison
Antivirus and malware protection
Champion: Tie
I appreciated the wide array of protections covered by Norton Antivirus Plus, encompassing scam, antivirus, malware, ransomware, and hacking protection. Upgrading to the pricier packages unlocks additional features like encryption, Wi-Fi security, ad blocking, dark web monitoring, and more. Nonetheless, the fundamental protection features included in AV Plus suffice for standard security needs.
SEE: NordVPN Review (2024): Is NordVPN Worth the Cost? (TechRepublic)
McAfee Total Protection also covers a similar range of protections and introduces a protection score and firewall. However, Norton AV Plus offers cloud backup and a password manager. The differences between them are negligible.
Speed of Scanning
Champion: Norton AV Plus
Norton Antivirus Plus and McAfee Total Protection have undergone extensive testing across various speed tests and benchmarks. Norton AV Plus excels in scanning speed, with its full and quick AV and malware scans sometimes completing in about half the time compared to those in McAfee Total Protection. However, scan duration is generally of little concern to me as I tend to run scans in the background while handling other tasks.
That being said, McAfee tends to utilize fewer system resources for scanning compared to Norton. There are pros and cons to each approach. Overall, Norton Antivirus Plus gets the upper hand in terms of scanning speed.
Untrue positives
Victor: McAfee Total Protection
Untrue positives can be a headache for security systems. Occasionally, an excessive number of notifications can become too much to handle. Especially when some of these notifications are bogus, it can lead to unnecessary effort.
Over the past 25 years, I have observed both McAfee and Norton tools being culpable of producing an excessive amount of notifications, many of which were insignificant. However, things have changed. Both Norton Antivirus Plus and McAfee Total Protection perform well in reducing untrue positives, but McAfee produces fewer deceptive alerts.
Extra characteristics
Champion: Tie
Due to variations in the compositions in terms of what is encompassed in each bundle, making a direct comparison between McAfee vs Norton on AV can be challenging. There are numerous resemblances, but each incorporates distinct components in addition to their fundamental AV/malware provision. Norton Antivirus Plus offers a 2 GB cloud backup and a respectable password manager. McAfee Total Protection features VPN, web protection, and identity monitoring.
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Which is the most effective basic package? It varies. Individuals lacking a password manager and desiring hassle-free cloud backup space are likely to prefer Norton. Those seeking a VPN and identity monitoring might lean towards McAfee. However, in both cases, for a slightly higher cost, you can typically integrate more of the additional security features you crave.
Norton Antivirus Plus strengths and weaknesses
Advantages of Norton Antivirus Plus
- More economical than McAfee Total Protection.
- Rapid scans that cover a complete array of possible AV and malware risks.
- 2 GB of cloud backup storage with an option to upgrade to 50 GB by paying an extra $10.
- Inclusive password manager.
Disadvantages of Norton Antivirus Plus
- Scanning utilizes computational resources that sometimes affect user experience.
- Occasional occurrence of untrue positives.
McAfee Total Protection strengths and weaknesses
Advantages of McAfee Total Protection
- Complimentary VPN included.
- Broad array of security features, encompassing AV, malware scanning, identity monitoring, and a firewall.
- Relatively small occurrence of untrue positives.
Disadvantages of McAfee Total Protection
- Pricier compared to Norton AV Plus.
- Slower scanning speed than Norton.
Norton Antivirus Plus vs McAfee Total Protection on Reddit
Reddit users express a range of opinions in the Norton vs McAfee comparison. One user stated: “I would select Norton over McAfee but wouldn’t personally endorse either.” Another commented, “For me McAfee [is the best] because I used to employ it a long time ago.”
Whenever my computer is infected with viruses, I find myself having to reboot and reinstall all my drivers at least twice a year. However, ever since I switched to McAfee nearly 15 years ago, I have not encountered this issue.
SEE: The 6 Best Antivirus Software Providers for Mac in 2024 (TechRepublic)
Another individual expressed a differing viewpoint, stating, “Norton is subpar. It simply fails to detect threats. I transitioned from Norton to McAfee, which proved to be more effective.” Several discerning Reddit users were critical of both products. It is important to note that Reddit’s user base mainly comprises advanced IT users and power users, hence their perspective on consumer-oriented tools is typically negative.
Is Norton Antivirus Plus or McAfee Total Protection better for your business?
If you opt for Norton Antivirus Plus:
- You prefer a cost-effective antivirus suite.
- You do not currently use a password manager or are considering a change.
- You are in need of a cloud backup service or want to switch to a new one.
If you choose McAfee Total Protection:
- You want an antivirus tool that has minimal impact on system resources during scans.
- You are concerned about false positives.
- You desire identity monitoring and a firewall without extra charges.
Common Queries
Should I run both Norton and McAfee simultaneously on my system?
No, it is not necessary. Pick one of the two. The features offered by both products are quite similar, and the decision between them is negligible. Running both concurrently would result in redundant costs. Moreover, having two antivirus tools may lead to interference as they tend to compete to be the primary antivirus software, potentially canceling each other out.
Does McAfee come with a VPN service?
A VPN service is included in McAfee Total Protection, making it an ideal choice for users seeking basic antivirus and malware protection along with a VPN.
Does Norton effectively eliminate all viruses?
While Norton’s virus and malware signatures are extensive, there is still a slight possibility of an infiltration, particularly with the latest emerging threats. McAfee Total Protection faces a similar scenario.
Can McAfee block advertisements?
Absolutely. Ad blocking functionality is part of McAfee Total Protection.
What additional features does Norton Antivirus Plus offer?
In addition to antivirus protection, Norton provides a password manager and cloud backup storage at no extra cost.
Assessment Approach
I undertook a comparison of both products by downloading and analyzing them. Additionally, I referenced analyst reports, expert evaluations, peer feedback, reviews from TechRepublic and TechnologyAdvice, speed tests, and independent lab assessments of each product. This comprehensive assessment involved evaluating the features, pricing, and real-world performance of each product.
Verdict: Norton Antivirus Plus or McAfee, which comes out on top?
After testing both products, I found it difficult to discern a significant difference between the two. Although Norton received a slightly higher rating, it was not substantial enough to sway a user’s preference towards one product over the other. Both solutions are capable of fulfilling their intended purpose. The decision ultimately rests on minor distinctions between the products and how well they align with the user’s requirements and preferences.
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