Norton vs Malwarebytes
Norton comes out ahead of Malwarebytes on 5 of the 8 things that decide this, going by what each company publishes and what independent review sites report. The one that matters for you may be one the leader loses.
The verdict
Norton takes it, 5–3 on rounds.
On the published figures and the independent review sites, Norton takes 5 of 8 rounds. Treat that as a starting point and check the current figures on both pages, because prices and plans move.
Choose Norton if…
- • You want Norton's edge on how much it blocks and how often it cries wolf
Choose Malwarebytes if…
- • You want Malwarebytes's edge on is there a free version and what reviewers say
Round by round
- Round 1How much it blocksNorton winsNorton8/10
99.3%
AV-Comparatives Real-World Protection Test, February to May 2026
Source: av-comparatives.org ↗
Malwarebytes5/1098.8%
AV-Comparatives Real-World Protection Test, February to May 2026
- 98.8%, against 99.3%
Source: av-comparatives.org ↗
Norton wins this round on independent review-site data, not on its own claims.
- Round 2How often it cries wolfNorton wins
Norton wins this round on independent review-site data, not on its own claims.
- Round 3How much it slows your PCNorton winsMalwarebytes5/10
17.6
AV-Comparatives Performance Test, April 2026
- 17.6, against 5.3
Source: av-comparatives.org ↗
Norton wins this round on independent review-site data, not on its own claims.
- Round 4Is there a free versionMalwarebytes wins
Malwarebytes wins this round on independent review-site data, not on its own claims.
- Round 5What reviewers sayMalwarebytes winsNorton5/10
4.4 out of 5
average rating from 4,462 reviews on Capterra
- 4.4 out of 5, against 4.5 out of 5
Source: capterra.com ↗
Malwarebytes wins this round on independent review-site data, not on its own claims.
- Round 6What customers say on TrustpilotNorton winsMalwarebytes5/10
4.5 out of 5
TrustScore from 5,662 reviews on Trustpilot
- 4.5 out of 5, against 4.7 out of 5
Source: trustpilot.com ↗
Norton wins this round on independent review-site data, not on its own claims.
- Round 7How easy it is to useMalwarebytes winsNorton5/10
4.4 out of 5
ease-of-use rating from Capterra reviewers
- 4.4 out of 5, against 4.6 out of 5
Source: capterra.com ↗
Malwarebytes wins this round on independent review-site data, not on its own claims.
- Round 8How reviewers rate its supportNorton winsMalwarebytes5/10
4 out of 5
customer-service rating from Capterra reviewers
- 4 out of 5, against 4.2 out of 5
Source: capterra.com ↗
Norton wins this round on independent review-site data, not on its own claims.
Side by side
- 5.3, against 3.3
- 99.3%, against 99.5%
- 4.4 out of 5, against 4.6 out of 5
- 4.2 out of 5, against 4.5 out of 5
- 98.8%, against 99.3%
- 39, against 5
- 17.6, against 5.3
- 4.5 out of 5, against 4.7 out of 5