Avast Antivirus vs Norton AntiVirus Plus

Updated November 2026 · AppBreakup editorial

Avast Antivirus

Widely used free antivirus for Windows and Mac, with paid tiers adding firewall, VPN and cleanup tools.

Free plan + paid

Visit Avast Antivirus Avast Antivirus profile

Norton AntiVirus Plus

Gen Digital's entry-level paid antivirus for Windows and Mac, the base of the Norton 360 range.

Paid

Visit Norton AntiVirus Plus Norton AntiVirus Plus profile

The short answer

Avast suits home users who want free real-time antivirus on Windows, with free apps for Mac, Android and iPhone and optional paid upgrades. Norton AntiVirus Plus suits people who want a paid, long-established product for one PC or Mac that includes a firewall and password manager. Both are owned by Gen Digital; the biggest difference is that Avast has a free tier and Norton does not.

Avast Antivirus or Norton AntiVirus Plus: our take

Avast and Norton now belong to the same company, Gen Digital, and share much of their technology, so the choice is less about detection engines and more about what you pay for and what comes in the box. Avast Free Antivirus for Windows scans files, downloads, email and websites in real time and runs Smart Scan, which checks for malware, risky browser add-ons and weak settings in one pass. It supports Windows 7 SP1 to Windows 11, and Avast Security for Mac plus free Android and iPhone apps cover other devices. Norton AntiVirus Plus is Norton's cheapest plan and covers a single Windows PC or Mac with real-time scanning, a firewall, a password manager and a small cloud backup allowance; phones are covered by separate Norton Mobile Security apps for Android and iOS.

The pricing models differ. Avast's free edition is genuinely usable, but a firewall, ransomware shields, webcam protection and a VPN need a paid tier such as Premium Security, Ultimate or Avast One. Norton has no free tier; it is a yearly subscription with a free trial, first-year prices are usually discounted, and renewal is at a higher rate with auto-renewal switched on. Larger Norton 360 bundles add more devices, a VPN, dark web monitoring, parental controls and, in the US, LifeLock identity protection.

Both push upgrades. Avast's free version shows frequent offers and setup can suggest extra Avast apps, while Norton prompts users to move up to Norton 360 plans. Norton's strengths are a familiar brand, consistent independent lab results and phone support.

Pick Avast for free real-time protection across Windows and Mac, if upgrade prompts don't bother you. Pick Norton AntiVirus Plus for a paid product with a firewall and password manager included on one computer, and check the renewal price before the first year ends.

Choose Avast Antivirus if…

Home users who want a free real-time antivirus for Windows or Mac
You want a free option (Norton AntiVirus Plus is paid only)
You need Android and iOS, which Norton AntiVirus Plus doesn't list
Free edition includes real-time protection, not just scans
Covers Windows, Mac, Android and iPhone

Choose Norton AntiVirus Plus if…

Home users who want a well-known paid antivirus for one computer with support to call on
Long-established brand with consistent results in independent lab tests
Includes a firewall and password manager, not just a virus scanner

What is Avast Antivirus?

Avast Antivirus is one of the best-known consumer security suites. The free edition for Windows scans files, downloads, email and websites in real time and runs a Smart Scan that looks for malware, risky browser add-ons and weak settings in one pass. Avast Security for Mac and free mobile apps for Android and iPhone cover other devices. Paid tiers (Premium Security, Ultimate and the Avast One bundle) add a firewall, ransomware shields, webcam protection, a VPN and PC cleanup tools. Avast is owned by Gen Digital, the company behind Norton and AVG, so the products share much of their technology. It suits home users who want solid free protection and don't mind upgrade prompts; people who dislike in-app offers for other Avast products may prefer a quieter option.

What is Norton AntiVirus Plus?

Norton AntiVirus Plus is the current form of Norton AntiVirus, one of the longest-running consumer antivirus brands, now owned by Gen Digital (the company formed from NortonLifeLock and Avast). It is the cheapest Norton plan and covers a single Windows PC or Mac with real-time malware scanning, a firewall, a password manager and a small allowance of cloud backup. Bigger bundles in the Norton 360 range add more devices, a VPN, dark web monitoring, parental controls and, in the US, LifeLock identity theft protection. Phones are covered by separate Norton Mobile Security apps for Android and iOS. It is sold as a yearly subscription with a free trial; there is no free tier, and first-year prices are usually discounted before renewing at a higher rate with auto-renewal switched on. It suits home users who want a familiar name and phone support rather than relying only on the antivirus built into Windows or macOS.

Side by side

Attribute	Avast Antivirus	Norton AntiVirus Plus
Pricing	Free plan + paid	Paid
Open source	No	No
Self-hostable	No	No
Platforms	Windows, macOS, Android, iOS	Windows, macOS
Best for	Home users who want a free real-time antivirus for Windows or Mac	Home users who want a well-known paid antivirus for one computer with support to call on
Status	Active	Active

Verified facts, compared

Facts both apps publish, checked on each vendor's own site.

Fact	Avast Antivirus	Norton AntiVirus Plus
Owner	Gen Digital	Gen Digital