Kaspersky vs Norton 360
An honest side-by-side comparison of two of our top antivirus software picks — pricing, strengths, weaknesses, and who each one is really for.
Kaspersky
Ranked #4 of 15 in this directory
Powerful antivirus with excellent malware detection but geopolitical concerns
Norton 360
Ranked #1 of 15 in this directory
All-in-one security suite with antivirus, VPN, dark web monitoring, and cloud backup
Our pick: Norton 360. Our editors rank Norton 360 higher overall in Antivirus Software — but Kaspersky can be the better fit depending on your budget and use case below. How we review
Compare the details
| Kaspersky | Norton 360 | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Paid | Paid |
| Starting price | See website | See website |
| Category | Consumer | Internet Security |
| Editorial rank | #4 of 15 | #1 of 15 |
Strengths
Kaspersky
- ✓Top-tier malware detection — consistently scores 99-100% in lab tests
- ✓Excellent web protection and anti-phishing capabilities
- ✓Light system footprint with fast scanning
- ✓Strong privacy tools including webcam protection
- ✓Affordable pricing compared to Norton and McAfee
Norton 360
- ✓Consistently top-rated by AV-TEST and AV-Comparatives labs
- ✓All-in-one: antivirus, VPN, password manager, cloud backup, identity protection
- ✓LifeLock identity theft coverage up to $1M
- ✓Minimal system performance impact with smart scanning
- ✓Dark web monitoring alerts if your info appears in breaches
Watch out for
Kaspersky
- !Banned in the US by Commerce Department in 2024 due to Russian ties
- !Many Western businesses and governments prohibit its use
- !Geopolitical concerns may affect long-term viability in some markets
- !Some features vary significantly by region
Norton 360
- !Expensive at full price — $99-349/year depending on tier
- !Auto-renewal at higher rates if not manually canceled
- !VPN has limited server locations compared to dedicated VPN services
- !Can be resource-heavy during full system scans
Best use cases
Kaspersky
- →Users in regions where Kaspersky is available wanting top detection rates
- →Budget-conscious users prioritizing malware detection quality
- →Technical users who trust independent lab results over geopolitical concerns
Norton 360
- →Families wanting complete protection across multiple devices
- →Users concerned about identity theft needing dark web monitoring
- →Home users wanting antivirus bundled with VPN and backup
About each tool
Kaspersky
Kaspersky consistently achieves top marks in independent malware detection tests alongside Bitdefender. Its technology is widely respected in the cybersecurity community. However, the company's Russian origins have led to bans by the US government and some Western organizations due to national security concerns. In 2024, the US Commerce Department banned Kaspersky sales in the US. Despite the political concerns, the underlying technology remains among the most effective antivirus solutions available.
Norton 360
Norton 360 is one of the most comprehensive security suites available, combining antivirus, firewall, VPN, dark web monitoring, password manager, cloud backup, and identity theft protection. Norton's SONAR behavior-based detection catches zero-day threats, and the suite consistently earns top scores from independent testing labs (AV-TEST, AV-Comparatives). The LifeLock identity protection add-on provides credit monitoring, SSN alerts, and up to $1M in identity theft coverage. Norton protects over 80 million devices worldwide.
Still deciding? Browse all 15 options with honest pros, cons, and pricing.
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