Norton vs McAfee

Round by round

1. Round 1How much it blocksNorton wins
   Norton8/10

   99.3%

   AV-Comparatives Real-World Protection Test, February to May 2026

   Source: av-comparatives.org ↗

   McAfee5/10

   98.5%

   AV-Comparatives Real-World Protection Test, February to May 2026

   • 98.5%, against 99.3%

   Source: av-comparatives.org ↗

   Norton wins this round on independent review-site data, not on its own claims.

2. Round 2How much it slows your PCMcAfee wins
   Norton5/10

   5.3

   AV-Comparatives Performance Test, April 2026

   • 5.3, against 3.3

   Source: av-comparatives.org ↗

   McAfee8/10

   3.3

   AV-Comparatives Performance Test, April 2026

   Source: av-comparatives.org ↗

   McAfee wins this round on independent review-site data, not on its own claims.

3. Round 3What reviewers sayNorton wins
   Norton8/10

   4.4 out of 5

   average rating from 4,462 reviews on Capterra

   Source: capterra.com ↗

   McAfee5/10

   4.3 out of 5

   average rating from 78 reviews on Capterra

   • 4.3 out of 5, against 4.4 out of 5

   Source: capterra.com ↗

   Norton wins this round on independent review-site data, not on its own claims.

4. Round 4What customers say on TrustpilotNorton wins
   Norton8/10

   4.7 out of 5

   TrustScore from 88,968 reviews on Trustpilot

   Source: trustpilot.com ↗

   McAfee5/10

   1.3 out of 5

   TrustScore from 3,467 reviews on Trustpilot

   • 1.3 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.

5. Round 5How easy it is to useNorton wins
   Norton8/10

   4.4 out of 5

   ease-of-use rating from Capterra reviewers

   Source: capterra.com ↗

   McAfee5/10

   4.3 out of 5

   ease-of-use rating from Capterra reviewers

   • 4.3 out of 5, against 4.4 out of 5

   Source: capterra.com ↗

   Norton wins this round on independent review-site data, not on its own claims.

6. Round 6How reviewers rate its supportNorton wins
   Norton8/10

   4.2 out of 5

   customer-service rating from Capterra reviewers

   Source: capterra.com ↗

   McAfee5/10

   4.1 out of 5

   customer-service rating from Capterra reviewers

   • 4.1 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

Norton

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Best for how much it slows your pcMcAfee

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Overall score

6.5

Best

5.9

Price

See price

See price

What customers say on Trustpilot

7.8

5.0

How much it slows your PC

6.4

8.0

How much it blocks

7.3

5.0

How often it cries wolf

7.0

6.8

Is there a free version

5.7

—

Head-to-head findings

What customers say on Trustpilot

4.7 out of 5

1.3 out of 5

How much it slows your PC

5.3

3.3

How much it blocks

99.3%

98.5%

How often it cries wolf

5

4

Is there a free version

No free version

—

What reviewers say

4.4 out of 5

4.3 out of 5

How reviewers rate its support

4.2 out of 5

4.1 out of 5

How easy it is to use

4.4 out of 5

4.3 out of 5

Record

Head-to-head record

3–5–1

0–8

Head-to-heads won

38 %

0 %

Rounds won

36 %

22 %

Pros

Cons

• 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

• 98.5%, against 99.3%
• 4.3 out of 5, against 4.4 out of 5
• 1.3 out of 5, against 4.7 out of 5
• 4.1 out of 5, against 4.2 out of 5

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