Written by Ria du Plessis - Web Developer Updated on August 12 , 2021 |
\When searching for protection for your computer, you want an antivirus solution to block malware of every type, from spyware to viruses, phishing, worms, or trojans. Our research will show you that Norton appears on most lists of recommended software, but Malwarebytes is also popular. Let's take a look at which is the best antivirus when comparing Norton vs Malwarebytes.
| Our verdict on overall best antivirus program is Norton |
Norton 360 Pros | Malwarebytes Pros |
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Norton 360 Cons | Malwarebytes Cons |
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Malwarebytes Premium version provides real-time protection against malware, and the free version will only detect or get rid of malware once it has already infected your computer.
Norton has some features that Malwarebytes does not have, such as webcam protection, a file shredder, and identity theft protection.
Norton is more expensive and does not have a free version but offers a 30-day free trial.
Overall winner: When it comes to Norton vs Malwarebytes, Norton has more features. It provides comprehensive anti-malware protection against viruses, phishing, identity theft, spam, social, and other online threats.
| Norton 360 | Malwarebytes Premium |
Virus Scanner | Yes | Yes |
Threat Protection | Yes | Yes |
Malware Removal | Yes | Yes |
Phishing Detection | Yes | Yes |
Spyware Protection | Yes | Yes |
Ransomware Protection | Yes | Yes |
Cloud Backup | Yes | Yes |
Firewall | Yes | No |
VPN | Yes | Yes |
Browser Protection | Yes | Yes |
Webcam Protection | Yes | No |
Password Manager | Yes | No |
Identity Theft Protection | Yes | No |
Parental Control | Yes | No |
Safe Banking | Yes | No |
Performance Optimization | Yes | No |
Cleaning Tools | Yes | Yes |
File Shredder | Yes | No |
Game Mode | Yes | Yes |
Mobile App | Yes | Yes |
The table above clarifies that while Malwarebytes Premium now offers serious malware detecting software, Norton has far more features than Malwarebytes.
Norton 360 comes with a secure VPN, a SafeCam feature, monitoring of the Dark Web, and a lot of online storage for PC backups and files.
Norton 360 Features;
Malwarebytes offers an excellent basic Free antivirus solution that can detect and remove many different types of malware. You can run it alongside other antivirus software without conflicts.
Malwarebytes Premium offers more features and will keep your devices protected with strong anti-malware removal capabilities. It will remove some viruses but won't cure files with attached virus bodies. It doesn't scan scripts so it might miss a whole class of viruses.
Users have also complained that Malwarebytes slows down their computers and uses a lot of system resources. The current version, Malwarebytes Premium 4.3, blocks Windows Defender and takes over as the primary antivirus protector.
| Best for antivirus features: With far more features than Malwarebytes, Norton is the best program. |
Malwarebytes Premium has become a high-level, secure and capable antivirus program that offers real-time protection against all threats to your devices from malware.
Norton gets top scores from independent labs as a detector and remover of malware. It also has the most negligible impact on the performance of your system.
Let's take a look at the independent test results of the AV-Test website done in April 2021.
Malwarebytes Results;
Norton results;
| Best for malware protection: Norton |
Norton. Although Malwarebytes costs more, Norton is in high demand by people who don't mind paying extra for quality features. Norton's ability to track and destroy all kinds of malware and other threats is well known.
Users have reported in the past that Malwarebytes uses too much memory, which can cause performance degradation and system slowdown.
Malwarebytes can use up to 90 percent of a computer's resources like memory and CPU, which will make a computer run painfully slow.
Some forums suggest a reinstall of Malwarebytes to solve the system problems.
Norton will slow down if another antivirus program is running on your computer. If both are running, you might have communication and scanning conflicts.
This can cause Norton to use a lot of system memory, which will slow computer performance.
You can configure Norton to stop sending alert messages and suspend background tasks that slow performance when playing games in full-screen mode or watching movies. You can also boost your computer speed with its performance management and optimization tools.
Let’s take a look at independent performance test results performed by AV-Test;
Malwarebytes Results;
Norton Results;
| Best for system performance: Norton. |
Malwarebytes and Norton can both slow down your computer, but Norton has tools that can fix this.
Norton is more expensive than Malwarebytes, but users justify paying extra because it has many more features. Norton does not offer a free version, but it does allow a 30-day free trial.
Malwarebytes has a free version, and experts rate the free version very high as it can run alongside Windows Defender, which gives double protection.
Norton and Malwarebytes both offer annual subscriptions with extra features. Let's take a look at the prices below;
Norton Subscriptions | Device (s) | Annual Subscription |
Norton AntiVirus Plus | 1 | $59.99 |
Norton 360 Standard | 1 | $84.99 |
Norton 360 Deluxe | 5 | $104.99 |
Norton 360 with LifeLock Select | 5 | $149.99 |
Malwarebytes subscriptions | Device (s) | Annual Subscription |
Malwasrebytes premium | 1 5 | $39.99 $79.99 |
Best price: Malwarebytes, but Norton offers the best value for money. |
Norton is very user-friendly, with an interface that is easy to navigate. The features are easy to access, and you can navigate the program in an intuitive control panel with five different modules.
Under security, you will find the system scans, webcam, and other protection features. Internet Security contains browser extensions, real-time protection against threats, as well as a password manager.
Performance allows you to check on and improve aspects of your computer's performance.
The Norton Interface;
Malwarebytes has a clean and straightforward interface. The window has three panels across the bottom and one at the top. The top panel will tell you if your device is infected or not.
On the left, you can see the statistics for the latest scan. The panel in the center will allow you to launch a new scan. On the right, you can control four layers of protection against malware.
Malwarebytes Interface;
| Most user-friendly provider: Both brands have equally user-friendly interfaces, so it is a tie. |
Norton offers support online, via chat, or by phone 24/7. Chatting with an agent is the fastest way to solve any problems you might have as the agents can help with remote assistance with little or no wait time.
Malwarebytes offers phone support, or you can select the live chat option which is quick, and you can apply solutions in real-time. The Malwarebytes' live chat facility is available from Monday to Friday.
| Best customer support: Both Norton and Malwarebytes have good customer support, so it is a tie. |
Norton 360 is full-blown antivirus software that comes with a significant number of advanced features and utilities. Malwarebytes free provides a much lower level of protection, although it can work with Windows Defender.
Malwarebytes Premium offers much better protection than the free version when it comes to eliminating malware and has advanced features.
Norton consistently earns excellent scores on independent tests while Malwarebytes doesn't rate as highly with independent testing labs, so we would argue that Norton wins this comparison.
