Norton vs. Avira 2025: Security Suite or Affordable Antivirus?

Norton and Avira are two of the biggest names in antivirus software, but Norton wins by a margin. While Norton offers a full security suite, Avira also has great features at a more affordable price.

We’ve broken them down side by side for you here so you can decide which one is right for you. If you’ve been trying to decide between Norton and Avira, then you’re in the right place.

Norton vs. Avira overview

• Norton: Best for a full security suite
• Avira: Best for budget-friendly antivirus

	Best Overall
Star rating	5.0 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 $26.99/first yr
Max number of protected devices	Up to Unlimited devices	Up to 25 devices
Malware scans	Manual and scheduled	Manual and scheduled
Real-time protection
Phishing protection
Ransomware protection
24/7 customer support
Compatibility	Windows, macOS, Android, iOS	Windows, macOS, Android, iOS
Learn more	Get Norton Read Norton Review	Get Avira Read Avira Review

Norton 360 pros and cons

Norton's comprehensive list of extras is a bit mesmerizing, especially when you start looking at the bundle options. Among all of the plan options, Norton offers a bunch of ways to protect your devices from malware and other parasites.

Avira pros and cons

Avira offers both automatic and manual malware scans, protecting up to 25 devices. It does have a free plan, but it's missing the advanced features and doesn't have 24/7 support like the paid plans.

Which antivirus is the better value?

While Norton has a great suite of features, Avira is the better value with lower prices and its free plan.

		Our Pick
Price range	$29.99–$299.99/first yr	$26.99–$59.99/first yr
Best value plan	Norton 360 with LifeLock Select plan for $99.99/first yr	Avira Prime plan for $59.99/first yr
Money-back guarantee	Yes — 60 days	Yes — 60 days
Learn more	Get Norton Read Norton Review	Get Avira Read Avira Review

Avira plans

Norton and Avira’s standard plans don’t vary too much in price. Avira starts more inexpensively, tops out for less than Norton, and lets you customize based on the number of devices used, but Norton has more options when it comes to the features that come in its packages.

Avira’s best value plan is Avira Prime. This is Avira’s highest-tier plan, which allows you either five or 25 device connections. It comes with antivirus protection, a virtual private network (VPN), a password manager, and other cybersecurity tools.

Norton 360 plans

Norton tends to be more expensive overall because it offers multiple services in one package. The advantage is that you won’t have to piecemeal a security suite together; the disadvantage is that it’s pricey. Avira, on the other hand, offers a free plan so you can test out its protection for yourself before committing to its premium service.

Norton’s best value plan is Norton 360 with LifeLock Select. It’s one of Norton’s most expensive plans, but it covers unlimited devices and comes with antivirus, VPN, dark web monitoring, and more. Plus, it includes LifeLock identity theft protection.

Both services offer a 60-day evaluation period, allowing you to try their services and receive a full refund if you’re not satisfied.

Norton vs. Avira: features

Feature	Our Pick
Manual and scheduled scans
Real-time protection
Phishing protection
Ransomware protection
Firewall
Device optimization tools
Parental controls
Password manager
VPN
Ad blocker
Extras	ID theft monitoring, dark web monitoring, cloud backup, software updater, and more	Identity monitoring, file shredder, Avira Safe Shopping
Learn more	Get Norton Read Norton Review	Get Avira Read Avira Review

Norton and Avira have the standard antivirus features, including antivirus scans, real-time protection, and a firewall. The two services differ in terms of the level of cybersecurity you want bundled in one product.

Norton includes features like identity theft protection, cloud storage, and dark web monitoring, which you won’t find in Avira’s software. Coupled with other things like parental controls, a password manager, and a VPN, you have a complete, fully rounded security stack with everything you’ll need to protect yourself online and off.

With Avira, you’ll also find a password manager and a VPN as part of its paid plans. It can offer you a pretty robust security suite, but you’ll be missing the identity protection services and parental controls that you’d get with Norton.

Norton vs. Avira: test results

Third-party testing is vital for cybersecurity products to ensure that the antivirus scans work. Independent third-party sites like AV-TEST and AV-Comparatives run antivirus software through the gamut to verify that nothing is getting through.

These tests are voluntary, and cybersecurity companies can choose to submit products to these sites for testing. The lack of results doesn’t mean the product isn’t effective; it just means it hasn’t been submitted for a test.

Norton vs. Avira malware protection scores

	Our Pick
AV-TEST Windows score	18/18	18/18
AV-TEST macOS score	18/18	18/18
AV-TEST Android score	17/18	17/18
SE Labs malware protection score	100%	97%
Learn more	Get Norton Read Norton Review	Get Avira Read Avira Review

During recent AV-TEST testing, both Norton and Avira were docked for their performance on Android. However, both consistently demonstrate strong performance and protection on Windows and macOS. Norton ekes ahead with better home malware protection during the SE Labs test. 

Norton vs. Avira: compatibility and customer support

Windows
macOS
Android
iOS
Browser extensions	Chrome, Firefox, Edge	Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera
24/7 customer support
Customer support options	Phone, forums, online guides, live chat, social media	Phone, email, online guides, live chat
Learn more	Get Norton Read Norton Review	Get Avira Read Avira Review

Both services offer clean, easy-to-use dashboards. You won’t have a difficult time navigating either of them, although the more products you have with Norton, the more there will be to find. That might be the only hiccup in an otherwise robust product.

We were pleased to see that both Norton and Avira offered 24/7 support. Avira’s support does have a catch, however, as you have to have the paid version of the antivirus to use it. If you’re using Avira Free Security, you’ll have access only to the online guides for support.

Norton vs. Avira alternatives

Norton is one of the best antivirus providers we've tested. But if you need unlimited device protection or a budget-friendly suite with fewer bells and whistles, we recommend McAfee or TotalAV. Here's how Norton compares:

Norton vs. Avira FAQs

Norton vs. Avira: Which is better?

Avira is a good antivirus provider, but Norton is better. 

 

Norton offers a trustworthy security suite and a range of plans to accommodate individuals and families. The antivirus base plans include 100% Virus Protection Promise, deepfake protection, cloud backup, a password manager, and Genie Scam Protection. As the tiers increase, you'll also get a virtual private network for secure browsing and shopping, dark web monitoring for identity protection, and top-rated parental controls.