Cybersecurity · head to head
Norton 360 vs Ory Kratos
Norton 360
Cybersecurity
Powerful protection against evolving threats
- From
- $36/year
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Ory Kratos has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Norton 360 device limit of 3 devices on Standard plan; higher tiers needed for family with multiple devices; Ory Kratos headless means you build every screen, which is significant work compared with a hosted login page
- They diverge on capability: Norton 360 covers Real-time threat protection, Ory Kratos covers Headless API.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Norton 360 and Ory Kratos actually diverge.
| Attribute | Norton 360 | Ory Kratos |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $36/year | Free |
| Pricing model | Unknown | Open-source self-hosted, with a paid managed network |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Android, iOS | Linux, Docker, Kubernetes, Self-hosted |
| Founded | 1982 | Unknown |
Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Cybersecurity).
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 Norton 360
- Real-time threat protection
- Ransomware protection
- Firewall
- Password Manager
- Secure VPN
- Cloud backup
- Dark Web Monitoring
- Parental Controls
Only in Ory Kratos
- Headless API
- Self-service flows
- Multi-factor authentication
- Pluggable identity schemas
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Norton 360
- Antivirusnot Ory Kratos
- Internet Securitynot Ory Kratos
- Identity Protectionnot Ory Kratos
Ory Kratos
- Products needing complete control over the look and flow of authenticationnot Norton 360
- Applications that must not hand user identity data to a third partynot Norton 360
- Teams building identity as infrastructure across several servicesnot Norton 360
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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
Ory Kratos
- Headless means you build every screen, which is significant work compared with a hosted login page
- More moving parts than a monolithic IAM: Kratos handles identity, and OAuth2 needs Ory Hydra alongside
- Documentation assumes real familiarity with identity concepts and is not a gentle introduction
- Self-hosting identity carries the security and availability burden that hosted providers absorb
Pricing, plan by plan
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
Ory Kratos
Free- Self-hostedFree
- Full identity server
- All flows
- Community support
Which should you pick?
Choose Norton 360 if
- You need real-time threat protection.
- You work on Windows, macOS, Android, iOS.
- You also want ransomware protection.
Choose Ory Kratos if
- You need headless api.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Linux, Docker, Kubernetes, Self-hosted.
- You also want self-service flows.
Questions people ask
- Is Norton 360 or Ory Kratos better?
- Neither clearly leads. Norton 360 starts at $36/year and Ory Kratos at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Norton 360 or Ory Kratos?
- Ory Kratos has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $36/year for Norton 360 and Free for Ory Kratos.
- Does Norton 360 or Ory Kratos run on more platforms?
- Norton 360 runs on Windows, macOS, Android, iOS. Ory Kratos runs on Linux, Docker, Kubernetes, Self-hosted.
- Can I use Ory Kratos for free?
- Yes. Ory Kratos has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Norton 360 starts at $36/year.
- What is Norton 360 best used for?
- Norton 360 is most often used for antivirus, internet security, identity protection. Of those, antivirus and internet security are not what Ory Kratos is typically brought in for.
- What can Norton 360 do that Ory Kratos cannot?
- Norton 360 covers Real-time threat protection, Ransomware protection, Firewall, Password Manager. Ory Kratos covers Headless API, Self-service flows, Multi-factor authentication, Pluggable identity schemas.
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.
SourceOry Kratos: Is Ory Kratos free?
Yes, open source and free to self-host. Ory Network is a paid managed service.
Norton 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).
SourceOry Kratos: What does headless mean here?
Kratos provides identity flows as APIs and no user interface. You build the login, registration and recovery screens yourself.
Norton 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.
SourceOry Kratos: Does Kratos do OAuth2?
No. Kratos handles user identity; OAuth2 and OpenID Connect provider functionality is Ory Hydra, a separate component.
Norton 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
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