Security & Cybersecurity · head to head
Norton 360 vs Windscribe
Norton 360
Security & Cybersecurity
Powerful protection against evolving threats
- From
- $36/year
- Rated
- -
Windscribe
Security & Cybersecurity
VPN and firewall service with a generous free data tier and a customizable Build-A-Plan option
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Windscribe 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; Windscribe free tier's 10GB cap still requires email confirmation and social sharing to unlock, unlike some no-strings-attached competitors.
- They diverge on capability: Norton 360 covers Real-time threat protection, Windscribe covers Firewall / default block.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Norton 360 and Windscribe actually diverge.
| Attribute | Norton 360 | Windscribe |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $36/year | Free |
| Pricing model | Unknown | freemium |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Android, iOS | windows, mac, linux, ios, android, web |
| Founded | 1982 | Unknown |
Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Security & 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 Windscribe
- Firewall / default block
- Unlimited simultaneous devices
- Build-A-Plan
- R.O.B.E.R.T. content blocker
- Static IP and port forwarding add-ons
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Norton 360
- Antivirusnot Windscribe
- Internet Securitynot Windscribe
- Identity Protectionnot Windscribe
Windscribe
- Running a free VPN across unlimited personal devicesnot Norton 360
- Buying access to just a few specific server locations cheaplynot Norton 360
- Blocking ads and trackers at the DNS level while browsingnot Norton 360
- Preventing IP leaks with a default-block firewall rulenot 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
Windscribe
- Free tier's 10GB cap still requires email confirmation and social sharing to unlock, unlike some no-strings-attached competitors.
- Build-A-Plan's low cost only covers selected locations, so broad global coverage still requires the full Pro plan.
- Server speeds and streaming reliability are inconsistent compared to larger premium VPN providers.
- Customer support is primarily ticket/community-based rather than live chat for lower tiers.
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
Windscribe
Free- FreeFree
- 10GB of data per month with confirmed email
- 10 server countries
- Unlimited devices
- Build-A-Plan$3/month
- Pay per selected server location ($1/location)
- $3 minimum purchase
- Unlimited data on selected locations
- Pro$9/month
- Unlimited data
- 69+ countries
- $69/year on annual billing
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 Windscribe if
- You need firewall / default block.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on windows, mac, linux, ios, android, web.
- You also want unlimited simultaneous devices.
Questions people ask
- Is Norton 360 or Windscribe better?
- Neither clearly leads. Norton 360 starts at $36/year and Windscribe at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Norton 360 or Windscribe?
- Windscribe has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $36/year for Norton 360 and Free for Windscribe.
- Does Norton 360 or Windscribe run on more platforms?
- Norton 360 runs on Windows, macOS, Android, iOS. Windscribe runs on windows, mac, linux, ios, android, web.
- Can I use Windscribe for free?
- Yes. Windscribe 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 Windscribe is typically brought in for.
- What can Norton 360 do that Windscribe cannot?
- Norton 360 covers Real-time threat protection, Ransomware protection, Firewall, Password Manager. Windscribe covers Firewall / default block, Unlimited simultaneous devices, Build-A-Plan, R.O.B.E.R.T. content blocker.
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
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