Kaspersky vs Norton AntiVirus Plus

Updated November 2026 · AppBreakup editorial

Kaspersky

Consumer antivirus and security suite, the successor to Kaspersky Anti-Virus and Internet Security.

Paid

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Norton AntiVirus Plus

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

Paid

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The short answer

Kaspersky suits home users outside the US who want one subscription covering Windows, Mac, Android and iOS, with VPN and parental controls on higher plans. Norton AntiVirus Plus suits people, including in the US, who want a familiar paid antivirus for a single Windows PC or Mac. The biggest difference: Kaspersky is no longer sold or updated in the United States, while Norton is.

Kaspersky or Norton AntiVirus Plus: our take

Kaspersky folded its old Anti-Virus, Internet Security and Total Security products into three plans: Standard, Plus and Premium. Every plan has real-time protection against viruses, ransomware and spyware, payment protection and cleanup tools, and higher tiers add an unlimited VPN, a password manager, identity protection and Safe Kids parental controls. One subscription covers Windows, macOS, Android and iOS, with Linux support for some distributions. It scores well in independent lab tests and comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee. The major caveat is that sales and updates in the United States ended in 2024 after a US government ban, and some organisations elsewhere avoid it for similar reasons. Mobile features are limited in some countries, and the bundled extras add clutter for anyone who only wants antivirus.

Norton AntiVirus Plus, from Gen Digital, is the entry plan in the Norton range. It covers one Windows PC or Mac with real-time malware scanning, a firewall, a password manager and a small amount of cloud backup. Phones need the separate Norton Mobile Security apps for Android and iOS, and more devices, a VPN, dark web monitoring, parental controls and LifeLock identity protection in the US come with the larger Norton 360 bundles. It is a yearly subscription with a free trial; first-year prices are usually discounted before renewing higher, and the app often prompts upgrades.

Both are paid-only, and both have solid lab results. In the US, Norton is the practical choice since Kaspersky no longer receives updates there. Elsewhere, Kaspersky's mid and top plans offer more under one subscription across desktop and mobile, while Norton AntiVirus Plus suits someone protecting one computer who may step up to Norton 360 later. Anyone whose employer or government restricts Kaspersky should go with Norton.

Choose Kaspersky if…

Home users outside the US who want a full security suite with VPN and parental controls bundled
You need Android, iOS and Linux, which Norton AntiVirus Plus doesn't list
Strong results in independent antivirus lab tests
Higher plans bundle VPN, password manager and parental controls

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 Kaspersky?

Kaspersky is a long-running antivirus brand from the Russian-founded company Kaspersky Lab. Its older standalone products, Kaspersky Anti-Virus, Internet Security and Total Security, were folded into three subscription plans: Standard, Plus and Premium. All of them include real-time scanning against viruses, ransomware and spyware, plus payment protection and cleanup tools such as a duplicate and large-file finder. Higher tiers add an unlimited VPN, a password manager, identity protection and the Safe Kids parental controls. It runs on Windows, macOS, Android and iOS, with Linux support listed for some distributions. Plans are paid yearly subscriptions with a money-back period rather than a free tier. Kaspersky products score well in independent lab tests, but sales and updates in the United States ended in 2024 after a US government ban, and some organisations elsewhere avoid it for similar policy reasons.

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	Kaspersky	Norton AntiVirus Plus
Pricing	Paid	Paid
Open source	No	No
Self-hostable	No	No
Platforms	Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux	Windows, macOS
Best for	Home users outside the US who want a full security suite with VPN and parental controls bundled	Home users who want a well-known paid antivirus for one computer with support to call on
Status	Active	Active