Independent Antivirus Reviews, Comparisons & Buying Guides
A side-by-side look at how Norton, Avast, and McAfee compare on protection, core features, and value, using the same scoring criteria we apply across every review on zeroglitch.
| Feature | Norton | Avast | McAfee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Score | 8.6/10 | 7.9/10 | 7.7/10 |
| Malware Protection | Yes — strong | Yes — strong | Yes — solid |
| Firewall | Yes | Limited — paid tiers | Yes |
| VPN Included | Limited — data cap varies by plan | Limited — separate add-on | Yes — mid-to-top plans |
| Password Manager | Yes | Limited — paid tiers | Yes |
| Parental Controls | Limited — select plans | No | Yes |
| Cloud Backup | Yes | No | Limited — select plans |
| Identity Monitoring | Yes | No | Yes |
| Device Limit | Varies by plan (up to several devices) | Varies by plan | Varies by plan (unlimited on most plans) |
| Free Version Available | No | Yes | No — trial only |
| Performance Impact | Low to moderate | Low | Moderate |
| Best For | All-round protection with bundled extras | Budget-conscious users, strong free tier | Multi-device households |
Not sure where to start? These are the three most common decision points.
Highest overall score on zeroglitch, thanks to consistently strong protection and a deep bundle of extras.
The strongest free tier of the three, with real-time protection and a Wi-Fi Inspector at no cost.
Unlimited-device plans and strong parental controls make it the pick for larger households.
Read the complete, in-depth reviews for Norton, Avast, and McAfee, each scored on the same five criteria.
Read the Full ReviewsIndependent publication. zeroglitch is developed and operated by Thynkr Labs. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, or authorized by Gen Digital Inc. (Norton), Avast Software s.r.o., McAfee, LLC, or any other company whose products are discussed here. All product names, logos, and brands are the property of their respective owners and are used for identification purposes only.
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