Norton 360 vs. AVG 2025: Premium Cybersecurity vs. Freemium Protection

Norton is a trusted name in cybersecurity, while AVG is known for its surprisingly high-quality free antivirus protection. Both offer solid antivirus coverage with different features and price points.
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Best for Comprehensive Cybersecurity

2025 Editor’s Choice
Best Overall Antivirus
5.0
Editorial Rating
Learn More
On Norton 360 Antivirus's website

Antivirus Software
Norton 360 Antivirus
PROMOTION: Save up to 58%
  • Backed by a 100% Virus Protection Promise
  • Tested protection against hackers, viruses, malware, and ransomware
  • Includes VPN, parental controls, and more

Best for Free Basic Coverage

2025 Editor’s Choice
Best Performance & Speed Antivirus
4.6
Editorial Rating
Learn More
On AVG's website

Antivirus Software
AVG
PROMOTION: Save 75%
  • Award-winning antivirus, malware, and ransomware protection for up to 10 devices
  • Includes webcam protection, safe browsing and email, automatic updates, and 24/7 protection
  • Suite of protection benefits including a secure VPN, anti-tracking capabilities, safeguards against phishing sites, and more

If you’re on the fence about whether you should use an 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 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. Although many users opt for AVG Antivirus Free, which provides basic protection at no cost, you might consider trying Norton 360 risk-free with its 60-day money-back guarantee 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.

In this article
Norton 360 vs. AVG review at a glance
Prices
Features
Test results
Compatibility and customer support
Top alternatives
FAQs
Norton 360 vs. AVG: Which antivirus software is better?

Norton 360 vs. AVG review at a glance

  • Norton 360: Best for comprehensive cybersecurity features
  • AVG: Best for free basic coverage
Norton 360 Antivirus logo
Best Overall
AVG logo
Star rating
5.0
4.6
Starting price Starts at $29.99/first yr Free or $31.20/first yr
Max number of protected devices Up to Unlimited 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, macOS, Android, iOS Windows, macOS, Android, iOS
Learn more Get Norton 360

Read Norton 360 Review

Get AVG

Read AVG Review

How we test and rate antivirus software

We use our proprietary grading rubric in all of our testing, which considers ease-of-use, third-party testing scores, internal testing scores, price, compatibility, and features offered, among other metrics. 

This means that our testing process is designed to ensure that the product isn't too confusing, protects as it claims, and offers you a lot for a reasonable price. We download and run each program on our own computers on home networks, just like you would. Our ratings reflect the real-world performance of the antivirus product. This ensures that we can recreate a similar experience for you and give our best advice on whether or not it's worthwhile.

To learn more about how we test, check out our full antivirus testing methodology here.

Norton pros and cons

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.

Pros
  • Protection against all malware, ransomware, and hacking
  • Cloud backup and password manager included with all plans
  • Includes parental controls
Cons
  • No free version
  • Multi-tab navigation may be overwhelming at first when using the portal

AVG pros and cons

AVG antivirus offers a free version that includes spyware and ransomware protection, though you'll have to upgrade for enhanced firewall protection. AVG offers only two paid plans, making the decision process faster: Internet Security and the Ultimate plan. AVG also includes reliable phishing protection and has scored well during our testing. For those who opt for the premium plans, AVG adds Wi-Fi security and payment protection.

Pros
  • Free version comes with malware protection
  • Real-time phishing protection
  • Includes unsafe email attachment blocking
  • All paid versions come with Wi-Fi security
Cons
  • 24/7 support only for paid versions
  • Various scanning options may be confusing for antivirus beginners

Which antivirus is the better value?

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

Norton 360 Antivirus logo
Best Value
AVG logo
Price range $29.99–$299.99/first yr $31.20–$59.99/first yr
Best value plan $49.99/first yr $31.20/first yr
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

Norton 360 plans

By viewing the table above, you can see that the prices are quite different between Norton 360 and AVG antivirus. Norton offers a mid-tier 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 ample time to test this antivirus and ensure it meets your needs.

AVG plans

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.

Winner: Norton wins this round with better options to fit most needs and a longer money-back guarantee.

Norton 360 vs. AVG: features

Feature Norton 360 Antivirus logo
Our Pick
AVG logo
Manual and scheduled scans
Real-time protection
Phishing protection
Ransomware protection
Firewall
Device optimization tools Yes, with Ultimate plan
Parental controls
Password manager
VPN Yes, with Ultimate plan
Ad blocker
Extras ID theft monitoring, dark web monitoring, cloud backup, software updater, and more Sensitive Data Shield, webcam protection, AntiTrack, WiFi scanner
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. With Norton, you get access to plenty of other features, like Norton Secure VPN, Norton Family parental controls, and a firewall, to name a few. 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.

Norton 360 deluxe dashboard

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. 

AVG home screen

If you need family protection with customizable controls, AVG might not be the best fit for you. Likewise, if you want password protection without paying more for a separate product, Norton 360 includes a password manager with all plans.

Winner: Norton wins. The antivirus offers premium features, such as a firewall and parental controls, that many users want, all at no additional cost.

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. 

Norton 360 vs. AVG malware protection scores

Norton 360 Antivirus logo
Our Pick
AVG logo
Windows 18/18 17.5/18
macOS 18/18 18/18
Android 17/18 17/18
Learn more Get Norton 360

Read Norton 360 Review

Get AVG

Read AVG Review

Third-party and in-house testing prove that AVG doesn't heavily impact device performance. But during the latest third-party testing, AVG failed to perform as well as Norton. Historically, AVG has actually achieved higher results against Norton when it comes to performance, protection, and usability, but Norton scored better this time around. 

Winner: Norton outperformed AVG in third-party testing, although not by much. Historically, AVG performed better during the Windows tests but failed to deliver this quarter.

Norton 360 vs. AVG: compatibility and customer support

Norton 360 Antivirus logo AVG logo
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.

AVG Internet Security main dashboard with scan options dropdown open

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 utilized the junk file cleaner to remove unneeded files, freeing up some real estate on our device.

Norton 360 app menu showing list of security and scam protection

Winner: Draw. Both Norton 360 and AVG have interfaces that are easy to use. Some users may notice a slight learning curve with AVG's customization options, but we don’t think it’s a significant issue.

Norton 360 vs. AVG alternatives

Norton and AVG are two of the best antivirus providers we've tested. We recommend Norton as the best overall, but AVG offers strong performance and a good free antivirus solution. If you need unlimited device coverage or a budget-friendly suite that includes a VPN, password manager, and ad blocker, we recommend either McAfee or TotalAV. Here's how Norton compares:

Antivirus
TotalAV

McAfee

Norton 360
Star rating
4.7
4.9
5.0
Price $19.00–$49.00/first yr $29.99–$249.99/yr $29.99–$299.99/first yr
# of devices protected 4 - 8 Unlimited 1 - 10
Real-time protection
Malware scans Manual and scheduled Manual and scheduled Manual and scheduled
Firewall
EICAR test results 2/3 3/3 3/3
Phishing protection
Compatibility Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Chrome, Edge, Opera Windows, macOS, Android, iOS Windows, macOS, Android, iOS
Extras Password manager, ad blocker, VPN Parental controls, performance optimization tools, VPN Password manager, VPN, dark web monitoring, parental controls, privacy monitor, identity theft protection, cloud backup
Learn more Get TotalAV Get McAfee Get Norton 360

FAQs

Is AVG owned by Norton?

AVG is not owned by Norton. It is owned by Avast and was purchased in 2016. Both AVG and Avast offer top freemium antivirus software.

Does Norton 360 or AVG slow down your computer?

From the reports in AV-TEST, both of these have the potential to slow down the launching of websites. When we tested them on multiple devices, we didn’t notice either causing a system performance issue.

How does AVG Free compare to paid Norton?

There isn’t much of a comparison between AVG Free and Norton’s paid plans. You get much more with Norton’s plans, like a password manager, file shredder, parental controls, cloud backup, and a firewall, to name a few.

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.

5.0
2025 Editor’s Choice
Best Overall Antivirus
Antivirus Software
Norton 360 Antivirus
  • Backed by a 100% Virus Protection Promise
  • Tested protection against hackers, viruses, malware, and ransomware
  • Includes VPN, parental controls, and more
Learn More

If you have a family and want parental controls, dark web monitoring, and options that focus on family protection, Norton 360 is a better choice than AVG. 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.

Protect Every Aspect of Your Digital Life — Even Your Time
4.7
Editorial Rating
Learn More
On TotalAV's website
2025 Editor’s Choice
Best Antivirus With Web Protection
Antivirus Software
TotalAV
  • Real-time protection from viruses, malware, and malicious websites
  • Includes the #1 ad blocker and also monitors for data breaches
  • Comes with a full suite of performance optimization tools to keep your device fast

Author Details
Patti Croft is a seasoned writer specializing in technology, with over three years of experience. With a B.S. in Computer Science and a background as a technical analyst and security specialist, she covers a range of topics like data security and parental control software.