Malwarebytes vs Norton AntiVirus Plus

Updated November 2026 · AppBreakup editorial

Malwarebytes

Anti-malware suite for Windows, Mac, Android and iOS, with a free cleanup scanner and paid real-time protection.

Free plan + 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

Visit Norton AntiVirus Plus Norton AntiVirus Plus profile

The short answer

Malwarebytes suits people who want a free cleanup scanner and one subscription that covers Windows, Mac, Android and iOS. Norton AntiVirus Plus suits home users who want a paid antivirus for a single computer with a firewall and password manager included. The biggest difference is the free option: Malwarebytes has a free scanner, while Norton has only a free trial.

Malwarebytes or Norton AntiVirus Plus: our take

Malwarebytes started as a scanner for cleaning up machines that are already infected, and that free version still exists. Many people keep it next to the antivirus built into Windows or macOS. Real-time protection against viruses, ransomware, exploits and phishing needs Premium Security, which also includes the Browser Guard extension for blocking scam sites, ads and trackers. Norton AntiVirus Plus, owned by Gen Digital, is paid from the start. It covers one Windows PC or Mac with real-time scanning, a firewall, a password manager and a little cloud backup.

The two are priced in different ways. Malwarebytes publishes yearly prices: Standard is $59.99 a year for 3 devices, Plus is $79.99 a year and adds a VPN, and the Standard Family plan is $119.99 a year for 10 devices. All come with a 60-day money-back guarantee. Norton AntiVirus Plus is the cheapest Norton plan. First-year prices are usually discounted and then renew at a higher rate with auto-renewal on, and the app often prompts upgrades to the bigger Norton 360 bundles, which add a VPN, dark web monitoring, parental controls and, in the US, LifeLock identity protection.

Platform coverage is the clearest practical gap. One Malwarebytes plan protects a mix of Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices, though features differ by platform. Norton AntiVirus Plus covers only computers; phones need the separate Norton Mobile Security apps for Android and iOS, or a Norton 360 bundle.

Malwarebytes is the better fit for cleaning up an infected machine for free, or for one subscription across computers and phones. Norton AntiVirus Plus fits a household with one computer that wants a long-established brand with a firewall and password manager built in, plus phone support. With either, check the renewal price before the first year ends.

Choose Malwarebytes if…

People who want a familiar anti-malware scanner across several platforms
You want a free option (Norton AntiVirus Plus is paid only)
You need Android and iOS, which Norton AntiVirus Plus doesn't list
Free scanner is handy for cleaning up an already infected machine
One subscription covers Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices

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 Malwarebytes?

Malwarebytes is one of the best-known consumer anti-malware brands. Its free version is a scanner that finds and removes infections that are already on a computer. The paid Premium Security subscription adds real-time protection against viruses, ransomware, exploits and phishing, quarantines threats automatically and bundles the Browser Guard extension for blocking scam sites, ads and trackers. Higher tiers add a VPN and identity theft protection. It covers Windows, Mac, Android and iOS, with exact features varying by platform, and a single plan can protect several devices. People often install the free scanner to clean up a machine and keep it alongside the antivirus built into Windows or macOS. Paid plans are sold as yearly subscriptions with a money-back guarantee, and there is a separate Teams product for small businesses.

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	Malwarebytes	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	People who want a familiar anti-malware scanner across several platforms	Home users who want a well-known paid antivirus for one computer with support to call on
Status	Active	Active