Norton, which is made by NortonLifeLock, is a well-known brand of antivirus software. It has a number of security products, such as Norton 360, Norton AntiVirus Plus, and Norton Internet Security. Norton’s software protects you from malware, phishing, and other online threats in real time. It has features like scanning for malware, protecting websites, a firewall, a password manager, and a secure VPN (Virtual Private Network).
Norton is known for its strong ability to find and stop malware and for its easy-to-use interface. Bitdefender is another well-known company that makes antivirus software. It has a wide range of security products, such as Bitdefender Total Security, Bitdefender Internet Security, and Bitdefender Antivirus Plus. Bitdefender’s software protects you from viruses, ransomware, phishing attempts, and other online threats in a very sophisticated way. It has tools for finding threats in real time, protecting the web, a firewall, a secure VPN, a password manager, and more privacy tools. Bitdefender is known for how well it protects systems and how well it finds malware.
Norton vs Bitdefender Plans and Pricing
Norton doesn’t have a free version, but Bitdefender’s free version has some useful features and is a good choice. But Norton is cheaper than Bitdefender for the first year if you want to pay for something. Norton also has more advanced features at a lower price, which makes it a better deal.
Norton 360 AntiVirus Plus costs $19.99 per year for one Windows, macOS, Android, or iOS device, while Norton 360 Deluxe costs $49.99 per year for five devices. The first year of a Norton plan comes with a discount. Bitdefender’s Antivirus Plus plan costs $23.99 per year for 3 devices and is good for a year. The Family Pack plan costs $49.99 per year for 15 devices, while the Total Security plan costs $35.99 per year for five devices. For 3 devices, the Internet Security plan costs $32.99 per year.
Norton vs Bitdefender Comparison Table
| Feature | Norton | Bitdefender |
|---|---|---|
| Malware Protection | Excellent malware detection and removal capabilities | Strong malware detection and prevention capabilities |
| Real-time Threat Detection | Yes | Yes |
| Phishing Protection | Advanced phishing protection with safe browsing features | Robust phishing protection with anti-fraud and anti-phishing |
| Firewall | Included | Included |
| Secure VPN | Included with certain subscription plans | Included with certain subscription plans |
| Password Manager | Included | Included |
| System Performance Impact | Generally light impact on system performance | Generally light impact on system performance |
| User Interface | User-friendly and intuitive interface | User-friendly and intuitive interface |
| Pricing | Different plans available with varying features and pricing | Different plans available with varying features and pricing |
| Customer Support | 24/7 customer support via phone, chat, and email | 24/7 customer support via phone, chat, and email |
| Platforms Supported | Windows, macOS, Android, iOS | Windows, macOS, Android, iOS |
| Official link | Visit Website | Visit Website |
Norton vs Bitdefender Apps and interface
Bitdefender is neither hard to learn nor hard for new users to understand. It’s easy to set up, and there’s even a free trial option so you can test out the service. Everything is set up in separate sections that can be changed in the desktop apps, making them easy to use. The same logic applies to the mobile experience, but the iOS version feels less complete than the Android version. But this is a common problem with most security tools.
Setting up Norton 360 is much more complicated. The desktop app is basically a hub from which you can launch different services. But once you’re done setting up, the problems are pretty much gone, and having different apps for different functions becomes a feature, not a problem.
Norton vs Bitdefender Password Management
Both Bitdefender and Norton have powerful password managers, but Norton’s is better overall because it has a feature called “auto-change” that automatically updates your passwords when it finds a risk. This helps keep your accounts safer. Auto-change only works for well-known sites, though.
It’s not all bad to use Bitdefender. Its auto-fill feature is quicker than Norton’s, which makes it easier to fill out complicated website forms and payment information. Both security suites have the ability to store an unlimited number of passwords and are simple to set up and use.
Norton vs Bitdefender Web Security
Bitdefender does well when it comes to web security because of its anti-phishing and web-protection features. The anti-phishing feature works very well, and after blocking a website, it gives a summary of the blocked site and explains why it was blocked. The user can also change the system if it made a mistake. Web pages that let you download malware or have fake content are also blocked automatically. Norton also does a great job of keeping you safe on the web, thanks to its Safe Web browser extension, which blocks all phishing websites. Also, the extension works well in most tests and is available for all major browsers.
Norton vs Bitdefender Malware protection
No matter which service you choose, you’ll have a reliable way to keep it from getting on your device in the first place. Both Norton 360 and Bitdefender are complete Internet security suites, which is why they are both good choices. Both providers use online threat databases that are kept up to date and respond to dangerous threats in real time.
Bitdefender Shield, for example, uses this data along with tools that learn from behavior to find threats that haven’t been added to the database yet. It’s one of the most advanced ways to find malware, and in the near future, most of the top antivirus programs will likely use AI even more to find malware.
Norton 360’s LifeLock service, which you can buy on its own, is the only place where AI is used. Otherwise, when it comes to getting rid of malware, they use databases that already have that information. Maybe this is why Norton gives out more false positives than Bitdefender.
Norton vs Bitdefender Customer Support
Norton supports all of its products around the clock, every day of the year. There is a community forum, a Frequently Asked Questions page, and live chat support. It has support channels on both Facebook and Twitter. Norton’s phone support, on the other hand, costs extra and is not free like Bitdefender’s.Bitdefender Premium Security has a large support hub, and many answers to common problems can be found on their website or in online videos, which is great if you want a quick fix. If this isn’t possible, you can contact support by email, phone, online chat, or their expert community forums.
Norton: Pros and Cons
Pros
- Excellent malware detection and removal capabilities
- Advanced phishing protection with safe browsing features
- User-friendly and intuitive interface
- Included features like firewall, secure VPN, and password manager
- 24/7 customer support
Cons
- Pricing may be higher compared to some competitors
- Some advanced features are only available with specific subscription plans
Bitdefender: Pros and Cons
Pros
- Strong malware detection and prevention capabilities
- Robust phishing protection with anti-fraud and anti-phishing features
- User-friendly and intuitive interface
- Included features like firewall, secure VPN, and password manager
- Generally light impact on system performance
Cons
- Pricing may be higher compared to some competitors
- Some advanced features are only available with specific subscription plans
Which one should you consider?
Both programs are good for keeping an eye on your devices and have high rates of finding malware. Independent tests gave Norton a slightly better score, but Bitdefender blocked more of the samples I used in my own tests. Norton and Bitdefender both have great features on top of their antivirus engines. Which one is best for you depends on what you need the most.
Norton wins by the slimmest of margins over Bitdefender because it did better in independent tests, had less of an effect on the system, and cost less. Even though Norton is cheap and has everything most people want, Bitdefender is a better choice if you want to protect more than five devices.
FAQs
Tools for optimizing. Both antivirus programs have important tools for optimizing your computer. Bitdefender has Disk Cleanup, Registry Cleanup, and Privacy Cleanup. Norton has a Disk Optimizer, a File Cleanup, and a Startup Manager. Overall, the optimization tools from Bitdefender have a bigger effect on performance than those from Norton.
When it comes to features, there isn’t much difference between Bitdefender and Norton, but Norton has a slight edge because it lets you customize it more and costs a little less. Also, features and prices can be different depending on where you live and can change over time, so make sure to compare them yourself.
