Norton vs McAfee
Norton and McAfee both target the same all-in-one home security niche — VPN, identity tools, and multi-device licensing — but they split on detection consistency and how many devices one plan actually covers.
Norton 360 Deluxe
A dense feature set — sandbox virtualization, a no-throttle VPN, and dark-web monitoring — wrapped around…
McAfee Total Protection
Broad identity-theft coverage and unlimited-device licensing on the top tier make this the pick for large…
The numbers
| Criterion | Norton 360 Deluxe | McAfee Total Protection |
|---|---|---|
| Lab score | 9.6/10 | 9.1/10 |
| Protection rate | 100% | 98% |
| System performance | 97% | 94% |
| Devices covered | 5 | Unlimited |
| VPN data cap | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Annual price | $34.99/yr | $39.99/yr |
Common questions
Which is better for a large family with many devices?
McAfee — its top tier covers an unlimited number of devices on a single subscription, versus five on Norton.
Which has better malware detection?
Norton edged out McAfee in our latest test cycle, posting a 100% detection rate against 98% for McAfee.
Do both include a VPN?
Yes, both bundle an unmetered VPN at no extra cost, which is uncommon at this price point.
Which is cheaper?
Norton 360 Deluxe lists at $34.99/yr versus McAfee Total Protection at $39.99/yr for a comparable single-household plan.
Which one should you get?
Pick Norton for the strongest detection score and a tighter household of up to five devices. Pick McAfee if you need to cover more than five devices on one plan and want stronger identity-theft remediation support.