Norton 360 vs. AVG 2024: Premium Cybersecurity vs. Freemium Protection

If you’re on the fence about whether you should use antivirus, the answer is a resounding “yes.” What it really comes down to is what kind of coverage you need and how much you’re willing to spend. Both Norton 360 and AVG are reliable providers, but we recommend Norton in this close matchup.

Norton 360 offers robust security features and has a plan to fit just about any budget. With AVG Ultimate, you get advanced features like a VPN and anti-tracking tools.

We've extensively tested both software and know they offer some of the best antivirus protection. But while many users may opt for AVG Antivirus Free, which offers basic protection at no cost, you may want to consider trying out Norton 360 risk-free with its 60-day money-back guarantee offered on annual subscriptions. 

To help you decide, we’ve positioned these trusted brands in a head-to-head antivirus showdown, looking at their prices, features, third-party test results, compatibility, and customer support.

Norton 360 vs. AVG review at a glance

Norton 360 doesn’t offer a free plan. While that can be a bummer for those of us who like a good free product, it does offer numerous plans to fit your budgetary constraints. Right now, you can nab Norton Antivirus Plus for one device to the tune of $29.99/first yr. That plan includes a smart firewall, a password manager, and 2 GB of cloud backup. You also have options for extra features like parental controls, webcam protection, and dark web monitoring with the other subscriptions.

AVG antivirus offers a free version that includes spyware and ransomware protection, though you'll have to upgrade for enhanced firewall protection. You will get spyware and ransomware protection, though. AVG has only two different paid plans, so that will make the decision process faster: Internet Security and the Ultimate plan. We’ll cover more of the key features you get with Norton 360 and AVG below.

• Norton 360: Best for comprehensive cybersecurity features
• AVG: Best for free basic coverage

Norton 360 vs. AVG compared

Star rating	4.8 AllAboutCookies writers and editors score products based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.	4.8 AllAboutCookies writers and editors score products based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.
Starting price	Starts at $29.99/first yr	Free or $46.68/yr (first year only)
Max number of protected devices	Up to 10 devices	Up to 10 devices
Malware scans	Manual and scheduled	Manual and scheduled
Real-time protection
Phishing protection
Ransomware protection
24/7 customer support		Yes, if you add expert care
Compatibility	Windows, Android, macOS, iOS	Windows, Android, macOS, iOS
Learn more	Get Norton 360 Read Norton 360 Review	Get AVG Read AVG Review

Norton pros and cons

Norton has a full range of products and services, and it's pretty easy to find a plan that covers your privacy and safety outside of just antivirus. The virtual private network (VPN), password manager, and ad blocker extras are all helpful for staying safe when online.

AVG pros and cons

AVG includes a firewall and offers real-time protection from various types of malware. It has reliable phishing protection and has scored well during our testing. The free plan is pretty good, too. AVG adds Wi-Fi security and payment protection for those who opt for the premium plans.

Which antivirus is the better value?

Norton is the best value due to its varied plan options and superior money-back guarantee.

	Best Value
Price range	$29.99–$99.99/first yr	Free–$59.88/first yr
Best value plan	$49.99/first yr	$46.68/yr (first year only)
Money-back guarantee	Yes, 60 days for the annual plan	Yes, 30 days
Learn more	Get Norton 360 Read Norton 360 Review	Get AVG Read AVG Review

By viewing the table above, you can see the prices are quite different between Norton 360 and AVG antivirus. Norton offers a midway plan for the best value, and we agree with that option. With Norton 360 Deluxe, you get coverage for three devices with 50 GB of cloud backup. The plan also comes with parental controls and the SafeCam feature. For $49.99/first yr, we think you get plenty of bang for your buck. It comes with a 60-day money-back guarantee, so you have adequate time to kick the tires of this antivirus and be sure it’s right for your needs.

AVG antivirus has only two paid options for the antivirus software. Users can choose between the AVG Internet Security and the AVG Ultimate subscriptions. We chose the Internet Security plan as the best value, but it covers only one device. Still, there is no happy medium with this product. The next tier covers 10 devices, but it will cost you almost twice as much. You have a 30-day money-back guarantee to test the antivirus, but we would like to see more options for users who might need complete protection for more than one device at a cheaper price than the Ultimate plan offers. AVG includes the PUA scanner that helps identify unwanted programs, and you get real-time updates, which ensure better security protection to catch the latest malware.

Norton 360 vs. AVG: features

Feature	Our Pick
Manual and scheduled scans
Real-time protection
Phishing protection
Ransomware protection
Firewall
Parental controls
Password manager
VPN		Yes, with Ultimate plan
Ad blocker
Device optimization tools		Yes, with Ultimate plan
Learn more	Get Norton 360 Read Norton 360 Review	Get AVG Read AVG Review

Both AVG and Norton 360 offer a lot of key features. The only item you won’t get with Norton 360 is an ad blocker. You will get access to plenty of other features, like the secure VPN, firewall, and parental controls. Of course, some Norton 360 features aren’t supported for macOS, like parental controls, SafeCam, and cloud backup. Apple users are accustomed to this with antivirus software, as many products offer fewer options for macOS. The included firewall was great to have for advanced online protection. It checks for data leaks and intrusions that can harm your device.

AVG gives users plenty to write home about, but some features are available only with the Ultimate plan. You won’t have the TuneUP, Secure VPN, or AntiTrack features if you choose the Internet Security subscription. AVG also doesn’t offer parental controls or a password manager with any plan. That’s the biggest difference between the two. But AVG's free plan includes limited firewall protection, while premium plans offer an enhanced firewall. 

So if you need family protection with controls you can customize, AVG may not be for you. Likewise, if you want password protection without paying more for a separate product, Norton 360 includes a password manager with all plans.

Norton 360 vs. AVG: test results

We rely on third-party tests to give our readers an objective view of how different antivirus products perform. We know that the best antivirus software will keep your device secure from malware and various online threats. That’s why we test these antivirus products and use scores from third-party vendors to give clear results on how the software stacks up against the competition. For this comparison, we used AV-TEST, which tests antivirus software against three categories: protection, performance, and usability. 

Here’s a look at how Norton 360 and AVG scored:

Norton 360 vs. AVG malware protection scores

		Our Pick
Windows	16.5/18	17.5
macOS	18	18
Android	18	18
Learn more	Get Norton 360 Read Norton 360 Review	Get AVG Read AVG Review

Neither antivirus scored poorly, but Norton didn’t do as well as AVG when testing it on Windows. Norton 360 received 5 out of 6 in the performance category, which measures the extent the product affects system performance. Norton slowed the installation of frequently used applications by 30%, double the industry average of 15%. It also slowed down when launching popular websites at 59% (up from 31% the year prior). The industry average for this test dropped to 23%. These hits could be why Norton 360 scored lower than AVG for performance. Norton had only two false blockages while installing and using legitimate software, and that wasn’t a concern because it meets the industry average.

AVG also had perfect protection scores but was dinged half a point in the performance category for slowing down when launching popular websites, just like Norton. AVG's scores were 30% and 34% for standard PCs and high-end PCs, respectively. The industry averages for the latter are 23% and 21%. And with no false detections (or flagging legitimate software as malware), AVG had a perfect score in the usability category.

Norton 360 vs. AVG: compatibility and customer support

Windows
macOS
Android
iOS
Browser extensions	Chrome, Firefox, Microsoft Edge	Chrome, Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Safari, Internet Explorer
24/7 customer support		Yes, if you add expert care
Customer support options	Phone, chat, community, social media	Phone, email, Facebook, YouTube
Learn more	Get Norton 360 Read Norton 360 Review	Get AVG Read AVG Review

AVG’s Scan Central makes it easy to choose which type of system scan you want to run. You have three options: Deep Scan, Targeted Scan, and External Storage Scan.

We tested AVG on a MacBook Air running Big Sur OS, then tested it again using Windows 10. When we ran the tests on our MacBook, the Deep Scan flew through over one million files in under 14 minutes. Similarly, when testing AVG on the Windows PC, we noticed no lag in system performance, and the scans were fast. The only issue we had with the interface was that since you can customize it with scheduled scans and other options, the ease of use may be lacking for some users.

We put Norton to a thorough test running a Quick scan and Full scan to see what it could do. Note that Norton also offers Smart scan and Custom scan options. There were no system performance problems, even when we opened numerous browser tabs. The Full Scan checked over 600,000 files on our MacBook Air in under 10 minutes. The interface was easy to navigate and user-friendly. We took advantage of the junk file cleaner that removed unneeded files to clear up some real estate on our device.

FAQs

Norton 360 vs. AVG: which antivirus software is better?

Both Norton 360 and AVG are good antivirus options with solid protection ratings, but we’d recommend Norton 360. Norton offers more advanced security features like firewall protection and parental controls for the starting price point.

If you have a family and you want parental controls, dark web monitoring, and options that center around family protection, Norton 360 is better than AVG. On the other hand, if you simply want a free product or something customizable that may take some getting used to, AVG allows you to tweak the interface to your liking. And you can’t totally beat free.

But when it comes down to it, Norton offers a whopping 60-day money-back guarantee period on annual subscriptions, so you can test out which features work best for you risk-free.

Norton 360 vs. AVG alternatives

If you’re looking for antivirus protection with a comparable price point to Norton but with more robust security features than AVG, consider these alternatives.

• McAfee: McAfee has been a trusted brand for years, with good reason. It offers all-in-one protection for your security needs. McAfee+ Premium boasts additional features like a file shredder and parental controls. Test out McAfee with its 30-day money-back guarantee on annual subscriptions.

  Get McAfee | Read Our McAfee Review

• Bitdefender: Bitdefender gives users reliable security coverage while including simple interface tools. It’s excellent for device protection and has a perfect protection score in third-party tests. Bitdefender also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.

  Get Bitdefender | Read Our Bitdefender Review

• TotalAV: TotalAV is another reputable freemium that offers security against malicious viruses, malware, and harmful websites. This software is easy to use and ideal for one or two people who each have one to three devices. You can try out TotalAV with its 14-day money-back guarantee on monthly subscriptions and a 30-day money-back guarantee on annual subscriptions.

  Get TotalAV | Read Our TotalAV Review