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Cybersecurity · head to head

Norton 360 vs Proton Mail

Norton 360 logo

Norton 360

Cybersecurity

Powerful protection against evolving threats

From
$36/year
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Proton Mail logo

Proton Mail

Cybersecurity

Secure email that protects your privacy

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Proton Mail 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; Proton Mail paid plan pricing not displayed on vendor site

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Norton 360 and Proton Mail actually diverge.

Attributes where Norton 360 and Proton Mail differ
AttributeNorton 360Proton Mail
Starting price$36/yearFree
Pricing modelUnknownfreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWindows, macOS, Android, iOSWeb
Founded1982Unknown

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 Proton Mail

Nothing recorded that Norton 360 does not also cover.

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Norton 360

  • Antivirusnot Proton Mail
  • Internet Securitynot Proton Mail
  • Identity Protectionnot Proton Mail

Proton Mail

  • Encrypted email communicationnot Norton 360
  • Privacy-focused email servicenot Norton 360
  • Family email protectionnot 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

Proton Mail

  • Paid plan pricing not displayed on vendor site
  • Free tier limited to 1 GB storage
  • Free tier limited to single email address

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

Proton Mail

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Proton Mail review.

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.
Norton 360 review

Choose Proton Mail if

  • You want to start without paying.
Proton Mail review

Questions people ask

Is Norton 360 or Proton Mail better?
Neither clearly leads. Norton 360 starts at $36/year and Proton Mail at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Norton 360 or Proton Mail?
Proton Mail has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $36/year for Norton 360 and Free for Proton Mail.
Does Norton 360 or Proton Mail run on more platforms?
Norton 360 runs on Windows, macOS, Android, iOS. Proton Mail runs on Web.
Can I use Proton Mail for free?
Yes. Proton Mail 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 Proton Mail is typically brought in for.
What can Norton 360 do that Proton Mail 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.

Source
Proton Mail: Is there a free version of Proton Mail?

Yes, Proton Mail offers a free plan with 1 GB storage, 1 encrypted email address, and basic features like folders, labels, and filters.

Source
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).

Source
Proton Mail: What does the Mail Plus plan include?

Mail Plus includes 15 GB storage, 10 encrypted email addresses, support for 1 custom domain, 10 hide-my-email aliases, priority support, and access to Proton Calendar.

Source
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.

Source
Proton Mail: What is included in Proton Unlimited?

Proton Unlimited provides 500 GB storage, 15 email addresses, 3 custom domains, unlimited hide-my-email aliases, access to Mail, Calendar, VPN, Drive, and Pass, plus dedicated support.

Source
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).

Source
Proton Mail: Does Proton Mail offer a money-back guarantee?

Yes, Proton Mail provides a 30-day money-back guarantee for paid plans.

Source
Norton 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.

Source
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