Software · head to head
Microsoft Defender vs Norton 360
Microsoft Defender
Software
Always-on protection for you and your family's data and devices
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Microsoft Defender the overview page names Business, Business Premium and Enterprise tiers but publishes no per-seat figure on the page itself, routing every plan to a separate pricing page instead; Norton 360 device limit of 3 devices on Standard plan; higher tiers needed for family with multiple devices
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Microsoft Defender and Norton 360 actually diverge.
| Attribute | Microsoft Defender | Norton 360 |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | On request | $36/year |
| Pricing model | quote | Unknown |
| Platforms | Web | Windows, macOS, Android, iOS |
| Founded | Unknown | 1982 |
Identical on both: free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in Microsoft Defender
Nothing recorded that Norton 360 does not also cover.
Only in Norton 360
- Real-time threat protection
- Ransomware protection
- Firewall
- Password Manager
- Secure VPN
- Cloud backup
- Dark Web Monitoring
- Parental Controls
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Microsoft Defender
No use cases recorded yet. See the Microsoft Defender review.
Norton 360
- Antivirusnot Microsoft Defender
- Internet Securitynot Microsoft Defender
- Identity Protectionnot Microsoft Defender
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Microsoft Defender
- The overview page names Business, Business Premium and Enterprise tiers but publishes no per-seat figure on the page itself, routing every plan to a separate pricing page instead
- Full family and business protection requires a Microsoft 365 Family, Personal or Premium subscription rather than being included with the free built-in Windows version
Norton 360
- Device limit of 3 devices on Standard plan; higher tiers needed for family with multiple devices
- Parental controls unavailable on Standard plan, requiring purchase of separate Norton Family app
- No HIPAA compliance or BAA support for regulated industries
- Exploit Prevention works only on Windows devices, not available for macOS
- Limited account recovery options if master password is forgotten
Pricing, plan by plan
Microsoft Defender
On requestNo published plan breakdown. See the Microsoft Defender review.
Norton 360
$36/year- Norton 360 Standard$36/year
- Antivirus and malware protection
- VPN
- Dark web monitoring
- Norton 360 Deluxe$49.99/year
- All Standard features
- 50 GB cloud backup
- Parental controls
- Norton 360 Premium$54.99/year
- All Deluxe features
- 250 GB cloud backup
- LifeLock identity theft protection
Which should you pick?
Choose Microsoft Defender if
Nothing in the data separates Microsoft Defender from Norton 360 on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.
Choose Norton 360 if
- You need real-time threat protection.
- You work on Windows, macOS, Android, iOS.
- You also want ransomware protection.
Questions people ask
- Is Microsoft Defender or Norton 360 better?
- Neither clearly leads. Microsoft Defender starts at On request and Norton 360 at $36/year, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Microsoft Defender or Norton 360?
- Microsoft Defender starts at On request and Norton 360 at $36/year.
- Does Microsoft Defender or Norton 360 run on more platforms?
- Microsoft Defender runs on Web. Norton 360 runs on Windows, macOS, Android, iOS.
- What can Microsoft Defender do that Norton 360 cannot?
- Norton 360 covers Real-time threat protection, Ransomware protection, Firewall, Password Manager.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Norton 360: What operating systems does Norton 360 Standard support?
Windows 7 SP1 through Windows 11, macOS 10.13 and later, Android 10.0 or later, and current plus two previous iOS versions. Not all features are available on all platforms.
SourceNorton 360: How much cloud backup storage is included in Norton 360 Standard?
2 GB of cloud backup storage is included with Norton 360 Standard. Higher tiers offer 50 GB (Deluxe) and 250 GB (Premium).
SourceNorton 360: Does Norton 360 include a VPN?
Yes. All Norton 360 plans include a VPN for secure browsing. The VPN is available on Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android devices.
SourceNorton 360: Is Norton 360 HIPAA compliant?
No. Norton 360 does not offer HIPAA compliance or Business Associate Agreements (BAA), making it unsuitable for healthcare organizations handling protected health information (PHI).
SourceNorton 360: What is the renewal price after the first year?
First year pricing is discounted. Standard renews at 94.99 USD per year, Deluxe at 119.99 USD per year. This represents a 140% increase over Deluxe's first-year rate of 49.99 USD.
SourceRelated pages
More on Microsoft Defender
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