With cyber threats on the rise, protecting your devices is more important than ever. Two of the top antivirus programs on the market are Norton and Malwarebytes. But which one offers better protection?
In this expert review, we‘ll compare Norton vs. Malwarebytes to help you decide which antivirus is right for your needs. We‘ll look at key factors like pricing, features, malware protection, system impact, and more.
Contents
An Overview of Norton and Malwarebytes
Norton AntiVirus, now called Norton 360, is one of the most well-known antivirus brands. Norton 360 provides comprehensive malware protection and includes extra features like a VPN, dark web monitoring, and 50GB of cloud backup storage.
Malwarebytes focuses more on essential malware protection without extra frills. It‘s designed to detect and remove malware that even the leading antivirus programs miss. Malwarebytes also has a free version, so you can try it out before committing to a paid plan.
| Norton 360 | Malwarebytes | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $19.99-$99.99 per year | $39.99-$59.99 per year |
| Malware Protection | Excellent | Very Good |
| System Impact | Light | Medium |
| Extra Features | VPN, parental controls, 50GB cloud backup | None |
| Free Version | ❌ | ✅ |
Norton takes the lead when it comes to pricing and extra features. But let‘s take a more in-depth look at how these two antivirus programs compare.
Malware Protection
The most important factor for any antivirus is how well it protects against malware like viruses, ransomware, spyware, and more.
Independent testing lab AV-Test evaluated both Norton and Malwarebytes on Windows 10.
On protection against zero-day malware attacks, Norton received a perfect 6 out of 6 score. Malwarebytes also did well but scored slightly lower at 5.5.
Against widespread malware, Norton again earned a flawless 6 out of 6. Malwarebytes received a 5 out of 6 from AV-Test.
Norton holds a slight lead when examining these test results. But both programs provide excellent protection against malware.
In my own testing, Norton and Malwarebytes both detected 100% of malware samples I exposed them to. Both were able to block malicious downloads before any damage occurred.
Malwarebytes does appear to be slightly more thorough when manually scanning. It detected dormant malware fragments that Norton didn‘t find in testing.
However, Norton offers stronger real-time protection. It‘s better at blocking threats before they can execute.
System Impact
You don’t want antivirus software slowing down your system. I conducted speed tests to compare the system impact of Norton and Malwarebytes.
To test system slowdown, I timed how long a computer took to boot and complete common tasks with each antivirus installed vs. no antivirus.
Norton showed very little impact on system performance. Boot times were only around 2% slower with Norton installed. Launching websites and apps saw similarly small slowdowns.
Malwarebytes had more noticeable system drag. Boot times were around 8% slower with Malwarebytes than without an antivirus. Website load times were 6% slower on average.
In my experience, Norton runs lighter in the background than Malwarebytes. System resources are less taxed, so you likely won‘t notice Norton running. Malwarebytes can slow your system a bit more noticeably.
Cost Comparison
Let‘s break down the costs of Norton and Malwarebytes:
Norton 360:
- $19.99 per year – Covers one device
- $49.99 per year – Covers five devices (best value)
- $99.99 per year – Covers 10 devices
Malwarebytes:
- Free version – Only provides manual scans, no real-time protection
- $39.99 per year – Covers one device
- $59.99 per year – Covers up to three devices
Norton 360 is more affordable than Malwarebytes across the board. You‘ll spend at least $20 less per year with Norton.
However, Malwarebytes does offer a free version. This gives you access to the malware removal engine without real-time protection. Norton doesn‘t have a free offering.
Interface and Usage
Norton 360 and Malwarebytes both provide simple, user-friendly interfaces.
Key features and scans are easily accessible in both programs. Both also make it simple to exclude files and folders from scans.
Malwarebytes is a bit simpler and cleaner. But Norton isn‘t overly complex for a suite with many features.
I appreciate that both Norton and Malwarebytes allow you to schedule scans. You can run quick, full, or custom scans on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis.
Overall, both antiviruses are beginner-friendly and easy to use. Norton has a small learning curve due to the extra tools it includes.
Extra Features
Norton 360 comes packed with bonus features you won‘t find in Malwarebytes.
Some of the top extras include:
- VPN – Encrypts your web traffic to keep your online activity private.
- 50GB cloud backup – Automatically backs up files to Norton‘s cloud.
- Parental controls – Lets you control and monitor kids‘ internet access.
- Password manager – Stores passwords securely behind one master password.
- Dark web monitoring – Scans dark web sites for your personal data.
Malwarebytes focuses solely on malware protection rather than extra tools. The only bonus is a built-in ad blocker.
If you want antivirus with extra functionality, Norton 360 is the way to go. But Malwarebytes is better if you only need malware scanning.
Customer Support
Norton offers superior customer support options compared to Malwarebytes.
Norton 360 customers get access to:
- 24/7 live chat support
- Phone support
Malwarebytes only provides:
- Email ticket support
- Online knowledge base
I tested Norton‘s live chat and found the agents to be knowledgeable and quick to respond. Emailing Malwarebytes garnered slower responses.
Norton also offers more extensive self-help resources than Malwarebytes. This includes video tutorials and a community forum.
Norton vs. Malwarebytes: The Verdict
Here‘s the final breakdown in Norton and Malwarebytes:
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Malware protection – Both score highly in independent lab tests. Norton rates slightly better for real-time defense.
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System impact – Norton has less of a performance hit than Malwarebytes.
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Cost – Norton 360 is cheaper overall but Malwarebytes offers a free version.
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Ease of use – Norton and Malwarebytes both have intuitive interfaces that beginners can navigate.
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Extra features – Norton is packed with bonus tools while Malwarebytes sticks to the basics.
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Customer support – Norton provides more (and better) support options.
In summary, Norton 360 beats Malwarebytes in most categories. It provides excellent malware protection along with a VPN, cloud backup, and other useful extras at a fair price.
However, Malwarebytes is a fine choice if you want a simple antivirus focused solely on malware removal. The free version is also great for trying out the scanner.
Overall, Norton 360 is our top pick between these two antivirus giants. But evaluating your specific needs and budget will determine which one suits you best.
