Software · head to head
Norton 360 vs Private Internet Access
Private Internet Access
Software
Long-standing VPN service with a large server network and flexible multi-year plans
- From
- $11.99/month
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Norton 360 device limit of 3 devices on Standard plan; higher tiers needed for family with multiple devices; Private Internet Access monthly plan is priced noticeably higher than the discounted multi-year commitments, penalizing short-term users.
- They diverge on capability: Norton 360 covers Real-time threat protection, Private Internet Access covers Split tunneling.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Norton 360 and Private Internet Access actually diverge.
| Attribute | Norton 360 | Private Internet Access |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $36/year | $11.99/month |
| Pricing model | Unknown | subscription |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Android, iOS | windows, mac, linux, ios, android |
| Founded | 1982 | Unknown |
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 Norton 360
- Real-time threat protection
- Ransomware protection
- Firewall
- Password Manager
- Secure VPN
- Cloud backup
- Dark Web Monitoring
- Parental Controls
Only in Private Internet Access
- Split tunneling
- Kill switch
- Ad and tracker blocking
- Dedicated IP add-on
- Bundled antivirus add-on
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Norton 360
- Antivirusnot Private Internet Access
- Internet Securitynot Private Internet Access
- Identity Protectionnot Private Internet Access
Private Internet Access
- Encrypting traffic on public Wi-Fi with a kill switchnot Norton 360
- Blocking ads and trackers network-wide via MACEnot Norton 360
- Maintaining a consistent connection identity with a dedicated IP add-onnot Norton 360
- Committing to a long-term plan for a lower effective monthly ratenot 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
Private Internet Access
- Monthly plan is priced noticeably higher than the discounted multi-year commitments, penalizing short-term users.
- Dedicated IP and antivirus are paid add-ons rather than included features.
- Headquartered in a jurisdiction whose privacy reputation some competitors market against, despite audited no-logs claims.
- App interface is less streamlined than some higher-priced premium VPN competitors.
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
Private Internet Access
$11.99/month- Monthly$11.99/month
- Billed month to month
- Full server network access
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- 1-Year$3.1/month
- Billed annually at $37.19
- Full server network access
- 2-Year$2.19/month
- Lowest advertised rate, billed every 2 years
- Full server network access
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 Private Internet Access if
- You need split tunneling.
- You work on windows, mac, linux, ios, android.
- You also want kill switch.
Questions people ask
- Is Norton 360 or Private Internet Access better?
- Neither clearly leads. Norton 360 starts at $36/year and Private Internet Access at $11.99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Norton 360 or Private Internet Access?
- Norton 360 starts at $36/year and Private Internet Access at $11.99/month.
- Does Norton 360 or Private Internet Access run on more platforms?
- Norton 360 runs on Windows, macOS, Android, iOS. Private Internet Access runs on windows, mac, linux, ios, android.
- 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 Private Internet Access is typically brought in for.
- What can Norton 360 do that Private Internet Access cannot?
- Norton 360 covers Real-time threat protection, Ransomware protection, Firewall, Password Manager. Private Internet Access covers Split tunneling, Kill switch, Ad and tracker blocking, Dedicated IP add-on.
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 Private Internet Access
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