Expert’s Rating
Pros
- Strong antivirus safety
- Essential safety towards main on-line threats
- Simple, easy options
Cons
- Performance affect on some PCs
- User interface would profit from Consolidation
- Upselling of extra companies
Our Verdict
A one-device limitation can really feel tight to many individuals, but when that’s all you want, Norton Antivirus Plus offers loads of worth for its worth. This entry-level antivirus suite is reasonably priced and dependable whereas nonetheless costing much less but providing extra options than rivals. If you’ll be able to work comfortably with its quirks and probably heavy efficiency impact, it may be perfect software program for digital minimalists.
Price When Reviewed
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Best Pricing Today
$39.99
Price When Reviewed
$29.99
Best Prices Today: Norton Antivirus Plus
$39.99
Antivirus makers stuff a ton of options into their most touted-plans, however not everybody wants these further bells and whistles. Maybe all you search is the fundamentals for on-line safety in a single software program bundle—and for only one system.
Norton Antivirus Plus is one slimmed down possibility that hits these notes precisely, with malware safety and a password supervisor because the standout options. As an reasonably priced entry-level suite, you’ll be able to skip the extraneous items of costlier plans with out sacrificing what you actually need. The solely caveat: You can acclimate to Norton’s quirks, together with an app with two totally different interfaces.
What does Norton Antivirus Plus embody?
Though its identify lacks the reference, Norton Antivirus Plus is a part of Norton’s 360 lineup—albeit as probably the most stripped down model, each in options and variety of gadgets supported. Its major focus is on direct threats to your on-line safety, with the antivirus engine defending you towards malware and the firewall blocking community threats. The app screens for harmful hyperlinks and attachments as properly.
This subscription additionally affords 2GB of cloud backup storage, entry to Norton’s password supervisor, and PC utilities that embody the flexibility to clear momentary information and monitor for outdated software program.
Norton’s introductory pricing can range—however typically you’ll discover it between $20 and $30 for the primary yr.
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As an entry-level software program suite, Norton Antivirus Plus is an reasonably priced, dependable possibility for many who don’t thoughts its twin set of interfaces.
How a lot does Norton Antivirus Plus value?
If you purchase by Norton, the Norton Antivirus Plus plan prices $30 for the primary yr, after which will increase to $60 thereafter. You can attempt the software program for 30 days earlier than committing, although you’ll need to put down a bank card. Subscriptions additionally include a 60-day money-back assure. Be conscious that Norton routinely enrolls you into auto-renewal at sign-up.
Norton Antivirus Plus (1 system)
- $30 for the primary yr
- $60 per yr thereafter
Norton Antivirus Plus helps PC, macOS, Android, and iOS, however this plan limits you to only one system.
You can save much more on Norton Antivirus Plus if you are going to buy your license by third-party retailers like Amazon and even PCWorld’s own software store—typically the worth hovers round 75 p.c off the conventional worth, and typically with further bonus months.
Key options of Norton Antivirus Plus
Installation and consumer interface
After buying a subscription to Norton Antivirus Plus, you’ll get entry to the set up file, which routinely downloads.
After set up, the My Norton window will probably be the very first thing you see—it’s one among two interfaces you’ll work together with. It has a recent look and serves as a springboard to an important options. You can begin scans, replace the app and its virus definitions, leap over to the password supervisor, handle your cloud backups, and hearth up the safe browser. You also can run the software program updater, in addition to dig into a number of program settings. (Tip: Turn off notifications for “Special offers” within the settings whereas rooting round.)
Generally, this view is easy and easy, with one exception. You get no again button whereas navigating by submenus (like in settings).
For a deeper dive into this system, you should change to the Classic view by clicking on the Open button inside the Device Security a part of My Norton. A second window with a extra outdated vibe will seem. Selecting any 4 of the tiles (Security, Internet Security, Backup, and Performance) reveals the complete lineup of options associated to that matter. The fifth tile takes you again to the My Norton view.
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Also inside the Classic view are the characteristic settings (like conduct of antivirus scans). You can alter how antivirus scans, the firewall, and backups behave, in addition to the protections for e-mail and apps, and a a number of app settings.
This twin interface setup may be complicated initially—however it turns into much less of an issue the extra you utilize this system.
Virus, malware, and menace safety
Real-time safety
Norton Antivirus Plus protects your PC in actual time by scanning new or modified information, waiting for uncommon app conduct, and screening for malicious scripts, attachments, and hyperlinks in downloads and native e-mail. Additional defenses (like protected folders, when you have a selected concern about ransomware) are solely accessible on increased plans—although lately, ransomware is less of a concern for most individuals.
To keep away from phishing websites and different malicious pages (together with ones that trigger your PC to routinely obtain sketchy information) whereas searching, you should first set up the Norton Safe Web extension. It blocks harmful websites and offers visible indicators for the way reliable a hyperlink is.
Scheduled and guide scans
By default, Norton Antivirus Plus will run a full scan of your PC as soon as per thirty days. Scheduling may be very exact—if you wish to run one each 13 hours, it’s potential. You also can set a schedule for the opposite default scan varieties (Quick Scan, Drive Scan, Folder Scan, File Scan), in addition to for any customized scans you’ve created.
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For guide scans, you’ll be able to select Scan Options from the Device Security dropdown menu within the My Norton view, or click on on Scans within the Classic view. Norton consists of the choice to scan for hard-to-find threats, in addition to get diagnostic reviews and suggestions on which of your information ought to be examined.
Advanced customers might discover scan settings too simplified—for instance, the complete scan solely permits you to change if it appears inside compressed information, scans community drives, removes contaminated folders routinely, and wipes low threat and monitoring cookie information. The different default scans have even fewer settings. You can also’t select to examine over all information, even when unchanged.
Browser extensions
Rare is the PC that isn’t constantly linked to the web. Since net browser use is a every day prevalence for many everybody, Norton consists of a number of browser extensions to spice up on-line security: Norton Home Page, Norton Safe Search, and Norton Safe Web.
Norton Home Page switches your default to Norton’s personal begin web page, whereas Norton Safe Search adjustments your default to Norton’s search engine. Meanwhile, Norton Safe Web scans hyperlinks outcomes for malicious content material and in addition provides a visible badge to Google and Bing outcomes displaying if it’s secure to click on (inexperienced is nice, pink is harmful). Of this set, Norton Safe Web is probably the most helpful—most individuals have already got their very own most popular residence web page and search engine.
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A fourth browser extension, Norton Password Manager, permits you to handle your passwords. While not strictly crucial (you’ll be able to entry the service by the web site), it’s probably the most polished of all accessible extensions and simple to make use of.
Cloud backup
Having backups of your most vital information is a sensible transfer—even for those who’re not afraid of ransomware locking you out, untimely storage drive dying or a misplaced system all the time loom as risks. Norton makes an attempt to assist on this entrance by permitting you to avoid wasting copies of your paperwork to its servers.
By default, cloud backups will add all however e-mail and video information in your Windows doc folders (i.e., Documents, Pictures, Music, and so on). You can add or exclude file varieties, in addition to particular information and folders. Norton additionally permits the creation of various backup guidelines (known as a “Backup Set”), which is helpful since you’ll be able to solely save to at least one location per backup set.
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Note that for the Norton Antivirus Plus plan, you don’t get a lot included storage—simply 2GB. That gained’t be sufficient to again up music or a even a average picture assortment, however ought to adequately cowl your vital text-based paperwork.
You also can create backups that save to an area drive—however in my expertise, this selection is buggy. On multiple pc, Norton would declare it had saved information to an exterior drive, however the information wouldn’t really seem. You’re higher off establishing your own system for local backups.
Password supervisor
Though easy, Norton’s password supervisor is nice—a pleasing distinction to companies that really feel too stripped down. Setup is simple, with Norton prompting you to create a separate vault password, then to obtain a restoration key. (If you overlook your vault password, you’ll want this key to get better the account.)
This double login system (as soon as along with your customary Norton credentials, then your vault password) would usually be a ache, however utilizing passwordless authentication by the Norton Password Manager cellular app nips that within the bud. It’s seamless, if fractionally sluggish with authentication approval requests. You can entry your vault by the web site, a browser extension, or the cellular app.
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Note that for the browser extension, you’ll be able to’t set the clipboard to routinely clear a copied password after a sure time. That’s a characteristic normally supplied by rival password managers.
PC utilities
Norton features a handful of PC instruments in its antivirus suite, which replicate present Windows options, typically in a extra restricted method.
Optimize Disk is one such instance. It’s Norton’s model of the Windows Optimize Drives utility, however extra restricted—it solely defragments arduous disk drives. Windows’ native software is the higher name, because it handles each HDDs and SSDs with the appropriate protocols. (Solid-state drives don’t profit from conventional defragmentation.)
File Cleanup wipes momentary information in Windows, together with any undesirable Internet Explorer information. (If the latter is relevant to you, it’s time to improve your working system.) Again, you’re higher off utilizing the native Windows utility for this process.
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Startup Manager controls which apps launch routinely when Windows begins up—however you’ll be able to simply handle this in Windows by typing startup apps in Windows search.
Graphs is the one fascinating one of many lot, displaying a historical past of system use (installations, downloads, optimization, virus detections, fast scans, and alerts). If you prefer to know precisely what your system is doing within the background, this overview makes these particulars simply accessible.
For these 4 instruments, you should dig into Norton’s Classic view to seek out them. An extra software lives within the My Norton view—Software Updater retains monitor of outdated apps and allows you to replace them instantly from the interface. (Our suggestion: Use the utility as a notification system, after which manually replace your self, to keep away from potential software program points down the street.) Overall, Norton’s inclusion of those options is a pleasant thought, however not what sells the suite.
Secure browser
If you’re cautious of Chrome, Norton Antivirus Plus consists of an alternate known as Norton Secure Browser. It’s additionally primarily based on the identical Chromium code as Google’s browser, however with a extra curated expertise.
Norton Secure Browser drops onto your PC preconfigured with the Norton Privacy Guard (which blocks trackers and a few adverts, however not sponsored search outcomes), Norton Password Manager, and Coupons add-ons already put in. You can solely uninstall the Password Manager and Coupon extensions.
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If you wish to add extra add-ons, Norton affords a pared-down storefront—however you will get extra by scrolling all the best way to the underside for a hyperlink to the Chrome Web Store (or simply hop on Google or Bing search). That’ll assist you to set up stronger ad-blocking add-ons like uBlock Origin, if you’d like extra complete screening.
Customer assist
Help with Norton Antivirus Plus is out there inside the app, each from the My Norton and Classic views. Of the 2, the Classic view is simpler to navigate, however the My Norton view places the solutions to generally requested issues proper upfront.
You also can search for info on Norton’s support pages and community forums, and get technical assist by chat, social media, and phone assistance. The in-app assist and assist pages are place to begin, whereas the boards and firm assist are higher choices for troubleshooting.
Updates and upkeep
Norton routinely updates the virus definitions and app model, however the LiveUpdate characteristic inside the app additionally permits you to manually examine for pending updates. It appears for any adjustments to the antivirus safety, Norton app, and course of safety.
If you have to discover the model of your Norton app, you’ll be able to entry it by Help > About within the Classic view.
Performance
Norton typically performs properly in assessments carried out by main safety analysis institutes—for on-line safety, a minimum of. It caught 100 p.c of the threats in AV-Test’s zero-day assault and malware assessments for March and April 2025 (probably the most present outcomes launched), blocking all 459 zero-day assault samples. For lately widespread and prevalent malware, it detected 100 p.c of the 18,722 samples.
In AV-Comparatives’ real-world safety take a look at for February through May 2025, Norton noticed 99.5 p.c of the 423 take a look at circumstances, with 9 false positives. (Rival ESET had simply three false positives, for comparability.) The samples had been a mixture of exploits (like drive-by downloads), malicious net addresses, and URLs linking on to malware. Effectively, Norton will defend towards harmful web sites, however its sensitivity can find yourself blocking legit web sites or downloads.
AV-Comparatives’ real-world take a look at outcomes for February by May 2025.
AV-Comparatives
When dealing with AV-Comparatives’ March 2025 malware safety take a look at and its 10,030 samples, Norton scored a 97.7 p.c offline detection price, 99.3 p.c on-line detection price, and a 99.96 p.c on-line safety price, with 10 false positives. Of these outcomes, the web safety rating issues most, because it represents how properly antivirus software program stops threats that reside in your PC—and Norton’s is among the many prime on the chart.
In AV-Comparatives’ June 2025 anti-phishing certification take a look at, Norton detected 95 p.c of the 228 phishing URLs thrown at it.
Norton didn’t take part in AV-Comparatives’ October 2024 Advanced Threat Protection Test, which evaluates a safety suite’s resistance to extra subtle, focused assault strategies like malicious scripts and fileless assaults.
AV-Comparatives’ malware take a look at outcomes for March 2025.
AV-Comparatives
As for PC efficiency, Norton Antivirus Plus can have a notable impact on widespread duties—if operating full scans whilst you’re lively on the pc. The affect is softer throughout on a regular basis actions, as proven by our PCMark 10 take a look at. This benchmark simulates net searching, video chatting, gaming, and file enhancing in open-souce packages like GIMP and LibreOffice. When idle within the background, waiting for real-time threats, Norton Antivirus Plus had just about no affect on PCMark 10’s take a look at scores. But when a full scan ran concurrently all through the benchmark, the outcomes decreased by about 6 p.c.
That efficiency drop elevated throughout our UL Procyon benchmark, which simulates doc enhancing in Microsoft Office apps like Excel, Word, and PowerPoint. Benchmark outcomes fell about 6 p.c at idle, and nearly 10 p.c throughout a full scan. That distinction swelled for our Handbrake encoding take a look at, with a 11 p.c lower on idle and a large 22 p.c tumble throughout a full scan.
However, these numbers don’t replicate how Norton sometimes handles full scans. After an preliminary full scan, subsequent ones solely look at new or modified, which quickens the scan time and reduces the hit to system assets. And by default, full scans are scheduled for off-hours.
Still, for those who’re typically copying to or altering information in your PC, Norton’s have an effect on on system efficiency is one thing to think about—particularly for those who use a mid-range or finances pc.
Should you purchase Norton Antivirus Plus?
As an entry-level software program suite, Norton Antivirus Plus is an reasonably priced, dependable possibility for many who don’t thoughts its twin set of interfaces. Its one-device limitation may be tight in an period the place most individuals personal a minimum of a pc and a smartphone, however it’s cheaper than related rival plans whereas providing extra options. If you don’t want further gadgets or options — smartphones are very safe even with out third-party antivirus safety lately — this may be a great antivirus answer.