How are McAfee and Norton Antivirus Different?
McAfee Antivirus provides a range of security features for both individuals and large-scale organizations. This antivirus software is well-known for its all-encompassing security. It is an expert in device optimization, identity theft prevention, and real-time threat detection.
Norton Antivirus, on the other hand, prioritizes online security and privacy while offering strong malware protection. It is a great option for those who value security in all facets of their digital lives. This tool provides robust features like cloud backup, Dark Web monitoring, and a VPN.
Comparison Table: McAfee Antivirus vs Norton Antivirus
Comparison of McAfee Antivirus and Norton Antivirus |
Feature |
McAfee Antivirus |
Norton Antivirus |
Firewall & Virus Scanning |
Effective |
Effective |
Ransomware Protection |
Yes |
Limited |
VPN & Identity Theft Monitoring |
Available in top-tier plan |
Available in all plans |
Web Browsing Protection |
Yes |
Limited |
Data Cleanup |
Yes |
No |
Parental Controls |
No |
Yes |
Webcam Threat Detection |
No |
Limited |
Privacy Management & Security Assessments |
Advanced privacy monitoring available but security audits are unclear |
Social privacy manager available but security audits not available |
Devices Supported |
1-20 |
1-unlimited |
System Compatibility |
Windows, macOS, iOS, Android |
Windows, macOS, iOS, Android |
Support |
24/7 service with FAQ section, message forums, and live chat online |
24/7 service with Ticket Raising, Chatbot, call support |
Free Version |
Yes |
No |
Pricing |
₹799.00 for 1 year (1 Device) |
₹799.00 for 1 year (3 Devices) |
Detailed Feature Comparison of McAfee vs Norton Antivirus
- Malware Detection & Removal: McAfee offers robust virus eradication and detection features. It detects known and unknown dangers and routinely receives high marks in independent tests. Strong real-time security from McAfee guarantees that threats are stopped before they can affect your system. Norton provides superior malware detection as well, often surpassing McAfee in identifying sophisticated and zero-day threats. Its automatic upgrades contribute to ongoing defense against changing threats.
- Firewall Defense: For customers who require a simple solution, McAfee's firewall is perfect because it provides basic inbound and outbound protections. With real-time monitoring and more thorough packet inspection, Norton's firewall is more advanced. For users who need more precise control over their network, Norton is a perfect fit.
- Ransomware Protection: Effective ransomware prevention is provided by McAfee, which uses behavioral analysis to identify and stop malicious activities. With several levels of security, including cloud storage and file backup, Norton's ransomware protection is better and extremely resistant to ransomware attacks.
- VPN Protection: If you don't require a VPN software, McAfee is a more affordable antivirus alternative because it only offers VPN protection as part of its premium packages. All of Norton's subscription tiers come with premium VPN features. It helps safeguard data on public networks and preserve anonymity when browsing the internet.
- Dark Web Monitoring: Dark web monitoring is not a feature that McAfee offers by default. One notable feature of Norton is its dark web monitoring, which improves user security by warning users if their personal information is found on hidden websites.
- Parental Control: In its end-tier plans, McAfee provides parental controls with features like screen time management and content filtering. Although its offering is more extensive with activity reports and location tracking, Norton also offers parental control capabilities in its premium versions.
- Performance, Backup, and Tuning: To enhance performance, McAfee provides device optimization capabilities like disk cleansing and system tune-up tools. Norton is perfect for those who value speed without sacrificing security. It provides cloud backup and more comprehensive system scans, but its performance impact is negligible.
- Online Virus Detection Rate: McAfee has a high detection rate, particularly when it comes to fresh or developing threats. It may, however, detect more complicated malware more slowly than Norton. Norton is the industry leader in virus detection, and it ranks highly in detecting and thwarting threats thanks to its advanced heuristic system.
- Additional Features: McAfee is an all-in-one personal security solution that consists of a password manager, a file shredder, and identity theft protection. However, Norton offers identity theft protection, anti-spyware technologies, and a powerful password manager. It also provides privacy management tools and cloud backup.
- System Compatibility: Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS are just a few of the many platforms and operating systems that McAfee supports. In contrast, Norton relatively restricts support for devices up to 10, but it supports Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android.
Norton Antivirus vs McAfee Antivirus: Pricing
McAfee offers more reasonably priced solutions, particularly for families or individuals who require only the most basic antivirus protection. Although Norton's premium plans are often more expensive, they offer a greater variety of capabilities, particularly for those who require cloud backup, dark web monitoring, and advanced online privacy.
The McAfee pricing plan starts at ₹799.00 for the Basic 1 Device plan, ₹1,199.00 for the Standard 3 Devices plan, ₹1,399.00 for the Essential 5 Devices plan, and ₹1,699.00 for the Premium 10 Devices plan. These are all 1-year subscriptions, and prices may vary. On the other hand, Norton pricing plan starts at ₹ 799.00 for 1 year for 3 PCs or Macs, and prices are subject to change at the time of renewal.
Which is Better—McAfee or Norton Antivirus?
The decision between Norton Antivirus and McAfee Antivirus is mostly based on personal preferences. McAfee might be a better choice if you value economy and robust performance, along with basic security. Norton is the better option for customers looking for more advanced features like a VPN, dark web monitoring, and virus detection. Given the additional advantages, families, small enterprises, or anybody else seeking all-around protection may find that Norton's higher price point is warranted.
However, if you are looking for anti-spyware or anti-tracking features and want antivirus software for multiple users, then Norton is not the recommended option. Similarly, if parents are looking for software to want to manage their kids’ security and want a visual walkthrough for training, McAfee is not an ideal option. To resolve these issues, you can check for Norton alternatives or similar software like McAfee.
For further product-related queries, please reach out to our Techjockey Team.