# Norton vs McAfee for antivirus software

Norton and McAfee are closely matched for core workflows. Both offer a trial; both support windows protection, macos protection, android protection, and ios protection. Norton has confirmed ransomware protection. McAfee has confirmed renewal price of 109.99 and web protection. First-year price is $59.99 for Norton and $39.99 for McAfee.

## Key decision points

- First-year price is $59.99 for Norton and $39.99 for McAfee.
- McAfee has confirmed renewal price of 109.99; renewal price is not yet confirmed for Norton.
- Norton has confirmed ransomware protection; ransomware protection is not yet confirmed for McAfee.
- McAfee has confirmed web protection; web protection is not yet confirmed for Norton.

## Choose Norton if…

- Choose Norton if confirmed ransomware protection matters to you; this detail is not yet confirmed for McAfee.

## Choose McAfee if…

- Choose McAfee if the lower first-year price is the deciding factor.
- Choose McAfee if confirmed renewal price of 109.99 matters to you; this detail is not yet confirmed for Norton.
- Choose McAfee if confirmed web protection matters to you; this detail is not yet confirmed for Norton.

## Platforms

| Feature | Norton | McAfee |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Windows protection | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://us.norton.com/feature/antivirus-for-windows-10)) | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://www.mcafee.com/en-us/consumer-support/help/system-requirement.html)) |
| macOS protection | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://us.norton.com/feature/antivirus-for-mac)) | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://www.mcafee.com/en-us/consumer-support/help/system-requirement.html)) |
| Android protection | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://us.norton.com/)) | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://www.mcafee.com/en-us/consumer-support/help/system-requirement.html)) |
| iOS protection | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://us.norton.com/)) | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://www.mcafee.com/en-us/consumer-support/help/system-requirement.html)) |

## Features

| Feature | Norton | McAfee |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Real-time malware protection | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://us.norton.com/feature/antivirus-for-windows-10)) | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://www.mcafee.com/en-us/antivirus/mcafee-total-protection.html)) |
| Ransomware protection | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://us.norton.com/feature/antivirus-for-windows-10)) | Not confirmed |
| Phishing protection | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://us.norton.com/feature/antivirus-for-windows-10)) | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://www.mcafee.com/en-us/antivirus/mcafee-total-protection.html)) |
| Web protection | Not confirmed | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://www.mcafee.com/)) |
| Firewall | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://us.norton.com/feature/antivirus-for-windows-10)) | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://www.mcafee.com/)) |
| VPN included | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://us.norton.com/)) | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://www.mcafee.com/)) |
| Password manager | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://us.norton.com/feature/antivirus-for-windows-10)) | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://www.mcafee.com/)) |
| Identity monitoring | Not confirmed | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://www.mcafee.com/en-us/identity-theft/protection.html)) |
| Dark web monitoring | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://us.norton.com/)) | Not confirmed |
| Parental controls | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://us.norton.com/)) | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://www.mcafee.com/learn/family-plans/)) |

## Capacity

| Feature | Norton | McAfee |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Number of devices | 1 (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://us.norton.com/feature/antivirus-for-mac)) | 5 (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://www.mcafee.com/en-us/antivirus/mcafee-total-protection.html)) |

## Pricing

| Feature | Norton | McAfee |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Free trial | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://us.norton.com/feature/antivirus-for-mac)) | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://www.mcafee.com/en-us/consumer-support/activate-product-key.html)) |
| Money-back guarantee | 60 (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://us.norton.com/)) | 30 (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://www.mcafee.com/en-us/consumer-support/activate-product-key.html)) |
| First-year price | $59.99 (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://us.norton.com/)) | $39.99 (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://www.mcafee.com/en-us/consumer-support/activate-product-key.html)) |
| Renewal price | Not confirmed | 109.99 (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://www.mcafee.com/en-us/consumer-support/activate-product-key.html)) |

## Evidence

- **Norton — Windows protection:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://us.norton.com/feature/antivirus-for-windows-10. Evidence: “Norton AntiVirus Plus helps to protect your Windows 10 device”
- **McAfee — Windows protection:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://www.mcafee.com/en-us/consumer-support/help/system-requirement.html. Evidence: “X64 processors: Microsoft Windows 11 and Windows 10 (RS5) and newer”
- **Norton — macOS protection:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://us.norton.com/feature/antivirus-for-mac. Evidence: “Norton AntiVirus Plus offers protection for 1 PC, Mac®, smartphone, or tablet.”
- **McAfee — macOS protection:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://www.mcafee.com/en-us/consumer-support/help/system-requirement.html. Evidence: “Build 4.23 or higher: macOS 13.x and above”
- **Norton — Android protection:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://us.norton.com/. Evidence: “Norton Mobile Security for Android”
- **McAfee — Android protection:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://www.mcafee.com/en-us/consumer-support/help/system-requirement.html. Evidence: “Google Android smartphones and tablets 10 or higher”
- **Norton — iOS protection:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://us.norton.com/. Evidence: “Norton Mobile Security for iOS”
- **McAfee — iOS protection:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://www.mcafee.com/en-us/consumer-support/help/system-requirement.html. Evidence: “Apple iOS 16 or later”
- **Norton — Real-time malware protection:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://us.norton.com/feature/antivirus-for-windows-10. Evidence: “Real-time protection for 1 PC against ransomware, viruses, spyware, phishing, and other online threats.”
- **McAfee — Real-time malware protection:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://www.mcafee.com/en-us/antivirus/mcafee-total-protection.html. Evidence: “Automatic, real-time protection with McAfee+”
- **Norton — Ransomware protection:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://us.norton.com/feature/antivirus-for-windows-10. Evidence: “Real-time protection for 1 PC against ransomware, viruses, spyware, phishing, and other online threats.”
- **Norton — Phishing protection:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://us.norton.com/feature/antivirus-for-windows-10. Evidence: “Anti-Phishing Protection Helps protect against fraudulent versions of legitimate websites”
- **McAfee — Phishing protection:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://www.mcafee.com/en-us/antivirus/mcafee-total-protection.html. Evidence: “Scam protection and antivirus for automatic protection against fake messages, deepfake scams, viruses, malware, and more”
- **McAfee — Web protection:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://www.mcafee.com/. Evidence: “Web Protection”
- **Norton — Firewall:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://us.norton.com/feature/antivirus-for-windows-10. Evidence: “Smart Firewall for PC Monitors communications between your computer and other computers and helps block unauthorized traffic.”
- **McAfee — Firewall:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://www.mcafee.com/. Evidence: “Firewall”
- **Norton — VPN included:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://us.norton.com/. Evidence: “Norton 360 Standard ... VPN private internet connection”
- **McAfee — VPN included:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://www.mcafee.com/. Evidence: “Virtual Private Network (VPN)”
- **Norton — Password manager:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://us.norton.com/feature/antivirus-for-windows-10. Evidence: “Password Manager Easily generate and more securely store and manage your passwords”
- **McAfee — Password manager:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://www.mcafee.com/. Evidence: “Password Manager”
- **McAfee — Identity monitoring:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://www.mcafee.com/en-us/identity-theft/protection.html. Evidence: “24/7 identity monitoring and alerts”
- **Norton — Dark web monitoring:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://us.norton.com/. Evidence: “Norton 360 Standard ... Dark Web Monitoring §”
- **Norton — Parental controls:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://us.norton.com/. Evidence: “Norton 360 Deluxe ... Parental Control ‡”
- **McAfee — Parental controls:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://www.mcafee.com/learn/family-plans/. Evidence: “Parental controls to help parents provide the supervision kids need to stay safe online.”
- **Norton — Number of devices:** 1. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://us.norton.com/feature/antivirus-for-mac. Evidence: “Norton AntiVirus Plus offers protection for 1 PC, Mac®, smartphone, or tablet.”
- **McAfee — Number of devices:** 5. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://www.mcafee.com/en-us/antivirus/mcafee-total-protection.html. Evidence: “Essential 5 Devices”
- **Norton — Free trial:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://us.norton.com/feature/antivirus-for-mac. Evidence: “30-day free trial”
- **McAfee — Free trial:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://www.mcafee.com/en-us/consumer-support/activate-product-key.html. Evidence: “Free Trial Terms: At the end of your trial period you will be charged $39.99 for the first term.”
- **Norton — Money-back guarantee:** 60. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://us.norton.com/. Evidence: “60-day money-back guarantee”
- **McAfee — Money-back guarantee:** 30. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://www.mcafee.com/en-us/consumer-support/activate-product-key.html. Evidence: “You will be provided a full refund upon request, by contacting Customer Support within 30 days of your initial purchase or 60 days of auto-renewal.”
- **Norton — First-year price:** $59.99. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://us.norton.com/. Evidence: “Norton AntiVirus Plus $59.99 0% OFF* $59.99 first yr.”
- **McAfee — First-year price:** $39.99. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://www.mcafee.com/en-us/consumer-support/activate-product-key.html. Evidence: “At the end of your trial period you will be charged $39.99 for the first term.”
- **McAfee — Renewal price:** 109.99. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://www.mcafee.com/en-us/consumer-support/activate-product-key.html. Evidence: “After the first term, you will be automatically renewed at the renewal price (currently $109.99/yr).”