Webroot vs Norton

Webroot vs Norton - The Ultimate Comparison

Written by Ria du Plessis - Web Developer

Updated on August 12 , 2021

Identity theft is on the rise, and new threats are appearing every day.  There are many different choices for protection software available, so it can be hard to make the right choice.  That is where we come in; we have compared Webroot vs Norton to determine which is the better choice in the end.

Software
Features
  • Game mode
  • Smartphone optimizer
  • Real-time monitoring of malware
  • Fast scanning
  • Real-time malware protection
  • Around-the-clock support
  • Strong privacy protection
  • Safe web browsing

Overall Comparison

Our verdict on overall best antivirus program is Norton Antivirus

Webroot Pros

Norton Micro Pros

  • Has excellent malware and phishing protection.            
  • Very light on resources, so it won’t slow your machine down.
  • Can remediate ransomware damage.
  • Include firewall and webcam protection.
  • Provides a 14-day trial with no strings attached.
  • Includes an option for gamers.
  • Provides excellent protection against viruses, worms, spyware, trojans, and ransomware.
  • Norton 360 will enhance performance and secure digital accounts and payment details.
  • Come with an Integrated VPN, smart firewall, parental control, password manager, and cloud backup.

Webroot Cons

Norton Micro Cons

  • Not as well known 
  • Doesn’t include parental controls, VPN, or identity theft monitoring. 
  • Doesn’t scan emails, although it will check links if you click on them.
  • Amount of online storage provided is low at 25 GB for all packages.
  • Will only hide the traces of your online activity if you have the top of the range product.
  • Pricey
  • Have been complaints of poor support.
  • Non-technical users may find it difficult to install.
  • The software has detected false positives.

Related Links

Webroot Vs Avast

Norton Vs Malwarebytes

Both Webroot and Norton provide adequate protection against basic malware threats. Norton provides better security overall, mainly because of the inclusion of identity protection.  

While Webroot provides less expensive protection, Norton is packed with beneficial features. The ease of use and level of support is about the same for both. 

Overall winner: Norton

Norton is the overall winner because of its better security and built-in features.

Key Features 

Feature

Webroot

Norton

Virus Scanner

Yes, very fast cloud-based

yes

Threat Protection

yes

yes

Malware Removal

yes

yes

Phishing Protection

yes

yes

Spyware Protection

yes

yes

Ransomware Protection

yes

Yes, with a promise to reimburse you

Cloud Backup

25GB on the Internet Security Complete package

Yes (amount varies according to the package 10GB-500GB)

Firewall

Yes, also monitors outgoing traffic

Yes; includes advanced delete and repair, as well as intrusion blocking

VPN

No, VPN can be purchased separately

Yes, built-in

Browser Protection

yes

yes

Webcam protection

yes

yes

Password Manager

Yes, in some packages 

Yes, built-in

Identity Theft Protection

yes

yes

Parental Control

no

yes

Safe Banking

yes

yes

Performance Optimization

Yes, it runs quickly using minimal resources

Yes, generally good, particularly with Norton 360  for Gamers

Cleaning Tools

Yes, with SecureAnywhere

Can be purchased separately, with Norton Utilities

File Shredder

no

Can be purchased separately, with Norton Utilities

Game Mode

yes

Yes, but only if you purchase Norton 360 for Gamers

Mobile App

yes

yes

Dark web monitoring

Not sure if it’s been released yet

Yes; the extent depends on the package chosen

Key Features Compared

Both of these providers cover the essential protection expected from an antivirus solution, including safeguarding against viruses, worms, trojans, ransomware, and phishing. 

Webroot is arguably a little faster across all packages and comes at a more affordable price. Webroot lacks VPN and parental controls, except in the most expensive packages, which may be an issue for families.

Norton encrypts financial and private details and has a firewall while it also provides more backup space, which could be a significant differentiator. 

Webroot Features;

Webroot Features

Norton Features;

Norton Features

Best for antivirus features: Norton, due to all the extra features included.

Malware Protection Capabilities 

Webroot is a cloud-based antivirus, so most of the work is done in the Cloud, ensuring that your scans are quick. 

Norton offers excellent malware protection, just like Webroot. However, additional protections, like identity theft prevention, give it an edge. 

Norton scans your device, comparing files against its extensive malware directory, and uses machine learning to detect malware, offering you three levels of protection. 

Let’s take a look at third-party testing done by AV-Test;

Webroot Results;

These are the latest Webroot results from a test done in June 2019, which means that it cannot be that trustworthy.

Webroot Results

Webroot only detected 66.5% of the 307 zero-day sample malware attacks that were used in the test.

In the detection of the widespread malware attacks over 4 weeks, Webroot performed a little better. The software detected 98.9% of the 2428 samples

Norton Test Results;

These are the latest Norton results from a test done in April 2021.

Norton Test Results

Norton performed really well in these tests; the software detected 100% of all 278 zero-day malware samples that were used and 100% of the 16990 samples that were used over 4 weeks.

Best for malware protection:  Norton wins as the software was last tested in February 2021 and received top scores. Webroot has not been tested recently. 

System Performance 

Webroot Performance 

Let's take a look at the results for the latest AV-Test, which was done in June 2019; 

AV-Test scored Webroot a possible five and a half out of a potential six in the last test they participated in. 

The test is self-explanatory when looking at the results above; AV-Test used various samples of software and spent time on the web while Webroot was performing tasks in the background. 

This was done to test the software’s impact on the device’s performance. The percentages will show you how big the impact on each system is;  the lower the percentage the better.

Webroot Performance 

Norton Performance

There’s a perception that Norton will slow down your device, but while that may have been true in the past, it’s no longer the case. 

Let's take a look at test results from the latest test done by AV-Test in April 2021;

Norton Performance

Best for system performance: Norton received better test results than Norton, but it is important to remember that this is outdated. According to our research, Webroot wins this section because it is cloud-based.

Pricing

Webroot Pricing

Webroot has pricing plans that start at $39.99 for one device, then the more devices you add, the more you pay. The complete family pack for ten devices is the most expensive package available at $159.99. 

Norton Pricing

Norton's pricing plan starts at $59.99/year for 1 device with the Norton Antivirus Plus package. The Norton 360 Standard package is $84.99/year for 1 device, the Norton 360 Deluxe package is  $104.99/year for 5 devices, and the Norton 360 with LifeLock Select package is $149.99/year for 5 devices. 

Ease of Use and User Friendliness

Webroot Interface

Webroot's interface is clean and uncluttered, and it has all the functionality you need on one dashboard. You can even join the community chat and stay up-to-date with all the latest news.

The colors are dark but still easy on the eye, and you can see the security status of your device at a glance in the right-hand panel. Overall, Webroot is intuitive and easy to navigate. 

Webroot Interface

Norton Interface

The default for the Norton interface is cloud-based with a design made to help with performance. You can, however, download an offline interface to your device. 

The appearance and functionality are the same in both versions, so it’s entirely up to you which one you prefer. 

In our opinion, the Norton graphic takes up a bit too much screen space on the main dashboard, but the status and controls are clear, with a lot of white space. 

You’ll find additional advanced features behind each control. These are self-explanatory, but help is at hand if you need it with just a click of the question mark icon.

Norton Interface

Most user-friendly provider: Norton

Customer Support 

Webroot support offers a knowledge base search, FAQs, Ask the Community section, support ticketing, 24/7 message assistance, and phone customer service at regional support centers (United States, Ireland, Australia ), which is only available during Webroot office hours.

Norton also has several customer service avenues you can access, like, the community of users, live chat, forums, phone support, and a list of top solutions to previously reported problems. On top of that, there are rescue tools and free access to technicians for support with tricky malware removal.

Best customer support: Norton

Overall, Norton support gets the thumbs-up. However, there have been some complaints, particularly concerning canceling subscriptions.

Conclusion 

Webroot is competitive and a compelling option due to its innovations, but Norton is the better choice. It offers more security-enhancing features and utilities in its security products. The independent tests have also shown that Norton is better than Webroot in terms of malware detection and the impact on system performance.

Which antivirus do you think is for you? Choose Now!

Webroot ButtonNorton Button

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