Norton vs. Trend Micro 2024: Norton Has the Inside Track

Norton and Trend Micro are two of the most well-known antivirus products on the market. Norton wins this head-to-head comparison with its comprehensive security suite and features ranging from antivirus to parental controls to identity protection. On the other hand, Trend Micro is best if you need only antivirus protection.

In our comparative review of Norton vs. Trend Micro, we review pricing, third-party test results, and essential features to help you determine which antivirus software best meets your needs.

Norton vs. Trend Micro overview

Choosing the right antivirus product that fits your budget and protects your device from malware can feel overwhelming. Norton and Trend Micro are two antivirus programs that provide comprehensive cybersecurity protection.

Norton is one of the most recognizable names for antivirus and malware protection. It offers several plans at different price points and protects against malware, ransomware, and other cyberthreats. We like that all of its Norton 360 plans — from Standard to Deluxe — include parental controls and a firewall for advanced protection.

Trend Micro has many features, but the Maximum Security plan offers the most bang for your buck. It’s the most expensive, but it comes with performance optimization, a password manager, and more compatibility options. However, Trend Micro doesn’t offer a firewall with any plan.

• Norton: Best for a comprehensive antivirus program
• Trend Micro: Best for a la carte antivirus protection

Norton vs. Trend Micro 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.	4.7 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	Starts at $19.95/yr
Max number of protected devices	Unlimited	10
Malware scans	Manual and scheduled	Manual and scheduled
Real-time protection
Phishing protection
Ransomware protection
24/7 customer support
Compatibility	Android, iOS, Windows, macOS	Android, iOS, Windows, macOS
Learn more	Get Norton Read Norton Review	Get Trend Micro Read Trend Micro Review

Norton 360 pros and cons

Norton has such a comprehensive set of features paired with its varied plans that nearly everyone can find something that fits the bill. Its real-time protection and extra features like cloud backup and a password manager give users a pretty big safety net.

Trend Micro pros and cons

Trend Micro scored well during third-party testing and has four tiers of plans, all of which offer manual and scheduled malware scans. Parental controls help parents keep an eye on their children's internet usage, and optimization tools keep the surfing experience smooth.

Which antivirus is the better value?

Norton has the best value due to its vast features and multiple plans.

	Our Pick
Price range	$29.99–$99.99/first yr	$19.95–$54.95/yr
Best value plan	Norton 360 Deluxe for $49.99/first yr	Trend Micro Maximum Security for $49.95/yr
Money-back guarantee	Yes — 60 days	Yes — 30 days
Learn more	Get Norton Read Norton Review	Get Trend Micro Read Trend Micro Review

Norton 360 Deluxe has the best value, supporting up to five devices, and includes features like a VPN, dark web monitoring, parental controls, and privacy monitoring for $49.99/first yr. Its lowest tier Antivirus Plus plan at $29.99/first yr provides only cloud backup and a password manager as extra features.

Norton 360 Standard, priced at $39.99/first yr, has similar benefits as 360 Deluxe, but it lacks parental controls and privacy monitoring. If you don’t need parental controls, you may want to consider the Norton 360 Standard plan to save money.

Trend Micro offers four plans. Although the Maximum Security plan is priced higher, we think it’s the best value for your money.

The Maximum Security plan protects up to five devices and is compatible with Windows, iOS, macOS, Android, and Chromebook. It comes with all essential antivirus protections, plus performance optimization, mobile device security, and dark web monitoring.

Trend Micro’s basic plan costs $19.95/yr, secures one device, and is only Windows compatible. It comes with basic antivirus protection.

Norton 360 offers a 7-day free trial and a 60-day money-back guarantee for annual plans. Trend Micro has an impressive 30-day risk-free trial and a 30-day money-back guarantee. Trend Micro doesn’t require a credit card for the free trial, so you can test it without worrying about canceling.

Norton vs. Trend Micro: features

Feature	Our Pick
Manual and scheduled scans
Real-time protection
Phishing protection
Ransomware protection
Firewall
Parental controls
Password manager
VPN
Ad blocker
Device optimization tools
Learn more	Get Norton Read Norton Review	Get Trend Micro Read Trend Micro Review

Norton and Trend Micro offer many of the same security and protection features, such as ransomware and malware protection, phishing protection, a password manager, parental controls, and more. However, while they offer similar benefits, there are a few key differences to note.

Norton embeds firewall protection in its software, a key differentiator between the two products. Trend Micro has a firewall booster to enhance Windows’ firewall functionality. If Trend Micro isn't running, you must turn on the Windows firewall for the booster to work.

Unfortunately, Trend Micro doesn’t come with a VPN; it’s offered at an additional cost. Norton 360 Standard, Deluxe, and Select with LifeLock all come with Norton Secure VPN.

Norton vs. Trend Micro: test results

Third-party testing is a rigorous and reliable tool for evaluating the performance of antivirus software. It pushes the software to its maximum limits to validate the product's claims.

We use AV-TEST as an independent, unbiased third-party review site. AV-TEST assigns scores from 0 to 6 in three categories — protection, performance, and usability. The maximum number of total points a product can receive is 18. At 10 points or higher, the product gets the AV-TEST approval seal, a sign of certified security.

Norton vs. Trend Micro malware protection scores

Feature		Our Pick
AV-TEST Windows score	16.5/18.0	17.5/18.0
AV-TEST macOS score	18.0/18.0	18.0/18.0
AV-TEST Android score	18.0/18.0	18.0/18.0
Learn more	Get Norton Read Norton Review	Get Trend Micro Read Trend Micro Review

Norton and Trend Micro both received perfect scores on their AV-TESTs for macOS and Android. However, the Windows platforms were docked points.

Norton received a 5.0 for performance and a 5.5 for protection. Compared to the industry average, Norton significantly slowed down computer speeds when launching popular websites, launching standard software, and installing frequently used apps. Norton also had two false positives while working with legitimate software compared to the industry average of 0.

Trend Micro received a 5.5 for performance, but that was its only markdown. Compared to the industry average, Trend Micro slowed down computer speeds when launching popular sites and installing frequently used apps.

Norton vs. Trend Micro: compatibility and customer support

Windows
macOS
Android
iOS
Browser extensions	Yes — Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Safari	Yes — Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox, Safari
24/7 customer support
Customer support options	Live chat, phone, online guides, forums, social media	Live chat, phone, email, online guides
Learn more	Get Norton Read Norton Review	Get Trend Micro Read Trend Micro Review

When testing Norton, we didn’t have difficulty using or navigating any of the features. There were no scanning issues or lags with running programs during scans.

While Norton is compatible with macOS, some security features aren’t available for Macs. This includes the Power Eraser and Proactive Exploit Protection (PEP).

Trend Micro’s interface is easy to use. Some initial scans took longer because they checked for malware, but the following scan was faster. You can also customize the files and drives you want scanned.

Norton and Trend Micro provide 24/7 customer support. Norton is available 24/7 via phone and live chat, while Trend Micro is available 24/7 via phone (premium plans only). Norton has a help center and a community forum. You can message its team on Facebook or Twitter with questions, and the chatbot and phone support are available 24/7.

We were impressed by Trend Micro’s help center. The dashboard is intuitive and easy to navigate, with a complete library of information. You can also connect with its support team via phone, email, chatbot, and Messenger.

FAQs

Norton vs. Trend Micro: Which is better?

Both Norton and Trend Micro are reliable antivirus programs. Trend Micro is improving its third-party testing and reviews. Norton is an OG in the antivirus software market and continues to adapt to the ever-changing security threats.

It’s a close call between the two, but Norton is our preferred pick. Norton’s features, such as a secure VPN, a firewall, and dark web monitoring, wrapped into their Standard and Deluxe plans, make it stand out from the competition.

Norton vs. Trend Micro alternatives

Even though Norton and Trend Micro offer a full suite of security features and pricing plans, they may not meet your needs. We’ve thoroughly tested and reviewed three other alternatives for you to consider.

Antivirus
Best for	Overall protection	Parental controls	Phishing protection
Starting price	Starts at $29.00/yr (first year only)	Starts at $39.99/first 2 yrs	Starts at $29.99/yr (first year only)
Additional features	Password manager, ad blocker, a VPN, device optimization tools	Identity and credit monitoring, a VPN, file shredder, parental controls	Password manager, a VPN, parental controls, safe online banking
Learn more	Get TotalAV	Get McAfee	Get Bitdefender