After thoroughly testing these security apps, I was impressed with both, but Norton easily outperformed Microsoft Defender in most categories. It has better malware detection, more features, and offers protection for more platforms. So, even though Microsoft Defender provides excellent protection for free, it’s still worthwhile to get Norton because of its comprehensive security. Also, you can try Norton completely risk-free as it’s backed by a 60-day money-back guarantee. Try Norton risk-free for 60 days
No Time? Here’s a 1-Minute Summary of Category Winners
I put both security apps through rigorous testing, and Norton emerged as the better antivirus. Its flawless 100% malware detection rate, better feature variety, responsive customer support, and customizable firewall make it the better choice. Microsoft Defender is also a decent option if you want solid base-level security, but it isn’t a comprehensive security solution like Norton. Try Norton risk-free
How I Tested and Compared Norton vs Microsoft Defender
I compared Norton and Microsoft Defender across 14 different categories to find out the best antivirus. These include the following: Secure your system with Norton
1. Virus Scanner — Norton’s Scans Detect and Eliminate 100% Of Malware
I was impressed with how effective both antiviruses’ scans are, but Norton’s virus scans performed much better in my tests. I hid various malware files across my test system, and Norton detected 100% of them. On the other hand, Microsoft Defender’s scans had a detection rate of 99%, which is impressive but not flawless like Norton’s. You’ll get the following virus scans with each antivirus: Norton: Microsoft Defender: The scans are mostly the same, except for Microsoft Defender’s Offline Scan, which reboots your system and attempts to remove stubborn malware before the OS loads. You won’t find this scan in Norton, but this isn’t an issue because Norton’s scans can remove all malware without requiring a reboot. Another thing that gives Norton the edge here is that it doesn’t flag false positives. Throughout all my tests, Norton didn’t flag any safe files as malicious, while Microsoft Defender highlighted some false positives. As for speeds, I found Norton’s scans a lot faster than Microsoft Defender’s scans. For example, Norton’s Full System scan took just over 20 minutes, while Microsoft Defender’s Full Scan needed more than an hour on the same system. Since Norton’s scans are faster, detect more malware, and don’t flag false positives, it’s the winner here. Remove malware with Norton
2. Real-Time Malware Protection — Norton Blocks 100% Of Real-Time and 0-Day Malware
Both Norton and Microsoft Defender provide excellent protection against real-time threats. Still, Norton is more effective at defending against 0-day malware. Microsoft Defender’s detection rate against real-time threats is 99%, while Norton’s is flawless at 100%. I tested both security apps’ protection by attempting to download malware samples from EICAR while they ran in the background. Norton successfully blocked all attempted malware downloads, even those in zip files. However, while Microsoft Defender stopped most malware downloads, it failed to detect malware in zip files. Both security apps have reliable web protection to keep you from opening malicious websites as you surf the web. Norton’s web protection works on Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and Safari. I also like Norton’s Safe Search extension, which detects unsafe links and marks them accordingly. Microsoft Defender’s web protection is also effective, but it’s only available on Chrome and Edge. During my tests, it stopped me from opening unsafe websites and displayed an error message highlighting the potential risks if I proceeded. Overall, Norton provides reliable real-time protection against every threat, while Microsoft Defender sometimes fails to detect malware hidden in zip files. Also, Norton’s web protection supports more browsers, so it wins here. Secure your system with Norton
3. System Performance — Neither Antivirus Noticeably Slows Down Device Performance
I was pleased to see that neither of these apps significantly affects system performance. Throughout my tests, I never experienced any slowdowns while using Norton or Microsoft Defender. I tested them by letting both apps idle in the background and doing tasks like opening web pages, playing video games, and copying files. Afterward, I tested their resource usage during scans. Both antiviruses have higher CPU, RAM, and disk usage during full scans, but it’s never high enough to slow down your browsing, streaming, or other activities. Overall, you won’t notice any major performance slowdowns while using either of these antiviruses, meaning it’s a tie here.
4. VPN — Norton’s Built-in VPN Effectively Secures Your Online Activity
Microsoft Defender doesn’t have a VPN, but I was pleased to see that Norton offers a reliable built-in VPN to keep you safe on the web. During my tests, Norton’s VPN delivered impressive results in terms of security, connection speeds, and streaming performance. Norton’s VPN has servers across 30+ countries, and each server provides fast connection speeds. On average, my connection speeds only dropped around 25% while connected to its servers and roughly 35% on long-distance servers. My team and I also tested its streaming performance and found that Norton’s VPN unblocks popular platforms like Netflix, HBO Max, Disney+, and Prime Video. Alongside its excellent speeds and streaming performance, Norton’s VPN offers the following features:
AES 256-bit Encryption — Industry-standard encryption to safeguard your online activity. Kill Switch — Disconnects you from the internet to protect your identity if the VPN connection drops. Split Tunneling — Lets you choose exactly which apps have their traffic encrypted. No-logs Policy — Norton never stores logs of your activity on its servers.
I’m quite pleased with the security Norton’s VPN offers. I even ran multiple leak tests with the VPN active, and my location and IP address were never compromised. So, since Norton’s VPN is so effective and Microsoft Defender doesn’t have one, the winner is clear here. Browse safely with Norton
5. Parental Controls — You Can Use Norton’s Parental Controls to Secure Your Kids’ Online Activity
While both these security apps offer parental controls, I found Norton’s parental controls a lot more thorough and useful. Microsoft Defender’s parental controls are effective but basic. It offers tools to specify which sites your kids can visit and provides weekly activity reports of your children’s online activity. I also like that you can use Microsoft Defender’s parental controls to set exactly how much screen time your kids should have. One downside to Microsoft Defender’s parental controls is that they only work with Microsoft accounts. So, you can’t use them if your kids have devices with other operating systems. Norton’s parental controls are much more thorough and useful. You can easily set them up on your kids’ devices and use them to track their activity. These tools let you specify which websites your kids can visit, filter what apps they can use, and monitor your children’s screen time. You can also use these Norton parental controls to monitor your kids’ location. Plus, there’s a helpful School Time feature that blocks distracting apps and only lets your kids use the internet for online learning. Of course, you can also set different rules for each child or choose from presets for various age groups. Overall, Norton’s parental controls offer more features and cover more platforms, so it wins this category. Protect your kids with Norton
6. Firewall — Norton’s Firewall Is a Lot More Intuitive and Customizable
Although you get a secure firewall with both antiviruses, Norton’s firewall is much easier to configure. The default configuration provides excellent security, and its settings offer various toggles that you can switch on or off for additional customization. Also, you can use it to set specific rules for individual apps or deny internet access to some apps. Norton’s firewall also helps improve WiFi security. It detects and blocks SSL strip attacks, man-in-the-middle attacks, and spoofing to secure your network and all its devices from cyber threats. Microsoft Defender’s firewall is also secure, and you can configure it for a domain, as well as private and public networks, but its advanced settings aren’t user-friendly. It’s pre-configured by default to safeguard against most cyber threats, but it’s hard to create new rules for inbound and outbound connections because of the dated interface. Even though Microsoft Defender’s firewall offers adequate protection, it’s not as robust as Norton’s firewall and is harder to configure. So, Norton wins here. Safeguard your devices with Norton
7. Password Manager — Norton’s Password Manager Provides Effective Security for Your Credentials
Microsoft Defender doesn’t provide a password manager, but I was impressed with the reliability of Norton’s password manager. It provides AES 256-bit encryption and unlimited storage to safeguard all your logins, notes, credit cards, and other sensitive information. Alongside storing and securing your passwords, Norton’s password manager provides an insightful dashboard that lets you know the strength of your stored passwords. Also, it offers various other features, including the following:
Auto-fill to help save time filling forms on websites Secure password generator Checks if any of your passwords were compromised in data breaches Easily imports stored logins from other password managers and browsers
One of the best features of Norton’s password manager is its auto-change function. This feature conveniently lets you change weak passwords on websites without manually logging into each one. Since Microsoft Defender doesn’t have a password manager, Norton easily wins this one. But don’t be fooled by the fact that Norton won this round “by default” because Norton’s password manager is extremely capable. Secure your credentials with Norton
8. Gaming Mode — Norton GO Helps Boost Gaming Performance
For all avid gamers, Norton GO (Game Optimizer) is an excellent way to improve gaming performance. It’s worth noting that it’s only available in the Norton 360 for Gamers plan but is worth getting if you want the best performance. Norton GO automatically detects games and allocates more resources to ensure you don’t experience slowdowns while gaming. I also like that it has full-screen detection, which automatically all but critical security notifications to ensure you enjoy uninterrupted gaming sessions. While testing Norton’s Game Optimizer with various games like Apex Legends, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare ll, and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, I saw clear performance improvements. I got up to 10 more FPS with it enabled, thus showing it provides a noticeable boost that can be the difference-maker in clutch situations. Game Optimizer is among the most impactful gaming modes I’ve tested on an antivirus, so Norton wins here. Try Norton risk-free
9. Optimization Tools — You’ll Find Multiple Optimization Tools in Norton
While you won’t find any optimization tools in Microsoft Defender, Norton is packed with various optimization tools, including the following:
Optimize Disk — Defragments drives and helps improve performance. File Cleanup — Finds and removes temporary files to free up space. Startup Manager — Helps disable startup programs to improve boot time.
The best thing about Norton’s optimization tools is that they’re all 1-click tools that do everything for you after you’ve launched them. I also like the helpful Graphs feature that monitors device performance to let you know what needs optimization. Overall, Norton’s effective optimization tools and Microsoft Defender’s complete lack of any make Norton the winner. Optimize your system with Norton
10. Other Features — Norton Offers a Much Wider Variety of Features for Added Layers of Security
Norton provides many extra features for extra security, while Microsoft Defender doesn’t offer much. In Microsoft Defender, you’ll find a cloud backup feature that lets you save important files onto OneDrive (Microsoft’s cloud storage service), thus keeping them safe in case of ransomware attacks. Also, there’s a secure browsing feature that opens Microsoft Edge in an isolated environment, meaning it provides safety while using banking apps. On the other hand, Norton provides various extra features, including the following:
Dark Web Monitoring — Lets you check if your credentials have been leaked in data breaches. PC SafeCam — Prevents unauthorized access to your system’s webcam. Software Updater — Automatically keeps your apps up-to-date. ID Theft Protection — Monitors your information to secure you against fraud and identity theft.
Among Norton’s best features is its excellent secure cloud backup that lets you safeguard all your sensitive files on its servers. Norton’s most premium plan provides 250GB (in the US) of cloud storage, which is more than enough to protect your files and documents. Also, it lets you schedule automatic backups on a weekly, monthly, or manually defined schedule. So, since Norton offers a much wider variety of features, it’s the winner here. Secure your system with Norton
11. Device Compatibility — You Can Use Norton on All Major Platforms
Norton protects all major platforms, including Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android. I also like that it offers intuitive apps with beginner-friendly designs, thus making it easy to use all of Norton’s features. All of Norton’s apps are easy to install. The setups on Windows and macOS have simple steps that don’t require you to do much. Also, you can easily install the app on Android and iOS from the respective app stores. Although Microsoft Defender offers solid base-level security, one downside to it is that it only protects Windows, Android, and iOS devices. There’s also Microsoft Defender for Endpoint on all platforms, but this is an enterprise-focused security solution that isn’t for individuals. So, since Norton supports more platforms than Microsoft Defender, it wins in this category. Protect your devices with Norton
12. Customer Service — Both Antiviruses Provide Excellent Support if You Ever Need Help
In terms of customer support, both antiviruses are impressive and provide various channels you can use to get help with any issues. Norton offers 24/7 live chat, phone, and email support, with knowledgeable agents always ready to assist you. When I contacted Norton’s support via live chat, I connected with an agent in under a minute, and they gave me all the answers I needed. Norton’s phone support is available in 50+ countries. My call took a few minutes to connect to an agent, but they provided all the help I needed once I got in touch. Of course, there’s also a helpful knowledge base filled with information about common issues you might face when using Norton. Microsoft Defender’s customer support was also helpful every time I contacted them. It took no more than 2 minutes to find an agent when I used Microsoft Defender’s 24/7 live chat, who then provided detailed replies to all my questions. Microsoft Defender’s live chat support also took my number in case the chat was interrupted. While they didn’t need to contact me via phone since everything went smoothly, I appreciated this extra step. I was also pleased to learn that Microsoft Defender has a detailed knowledge base with information about using the security app and fixing common issues. It’s one of the most detailed online knowledge bases I’ve seen for an antivirus, meaning it should help you with most problems you face. Overall, both antiviruses offer excellent customer support, so it’s a tie here.
13. Price — Microsoft Defender Is Completely Free
Microsoft Defender wins here by default because it’s completely free. However, I found that Norton offers many affordable plans that deliver excellent value for money. Its plans include the following:
Antivirus Plus — Norton’s basic plan with its core antivirus, firewall, 2GB of cloud storage, and protection for 1 device. 360 Standard — Protects 3 devices, has all of Antivirus Plus’ features, and includes Norton’s VPN, Dark Web Monitoring, and PC SafeCam. 360 Deluxe — Has everything in 360 Standard, increases the cloud storage to 50GB, has Norton’s Privacy Monitor and parental controls, and protects up to 5 devices. 360 Select — Offers all the above features, protects up to 10 devices, includes Norton’s ID theft protection, and increases the cloud storage to 250GB.
Norton’s plans are well-priced, considering you can subscribe for as low as $19.99/year, but I found 360 Deluxe to be the best value proposition. It protects up to 5 devices, has Norton’s unlimited VPN, and offers all its other key features, including 50GB (in the US) of cloud storage. Even though Norton’s plans provide excellent value for money, Microsoft Defender is completely free, so it wins here.
14. Money-Back Guarantee — Norton Has a Generous 60-Day Money-Back Guarantee
Microsoft Defender doesn’t need a money-back guarantee as it’s completely free. However, Norton offers an impressive 60-day-long money-back guarantee. It’s among the longest guarantees available for any premium antivirus nowadays, and claiming a refund is effortless. To test its refund policy, I used Norton for a few weeks and contacted its 24/7 live chat to request a refund. The agent asked me to reconsider and even offered some free extra time on my subscription but quickly processed my refund after I declined. Afterward, I had my money back in my account in 5 working days. While Microsoft Defender is free and doesn’t need a money-back guarantee, I’m still calling Norton the winner. Alongside providing one of the longest guarantees I’ve seen, Norton makes claiming refunds quick and easy, and it’s hard finding an antivirus that does better. Try Norton risk-free for 60 days
And the Winner Is… Norton
After my tests, Microsoft Defender won in 1 category, Norton won in 11, and there were 2 ties. So, it’s clear that Norton is the better choice for comprehensive security across all your devices.
Virus Scanner — Norton Real-Time Malware Protection — Norton System Performance — Tie VPN — Norton Parental Controls — Norton Firewall — Norton Password Manager — Norton Gaming Mode — Norton Optimization Tools — Norton Other Features — Norton Device Compatibility — Norton Customer Service — Tie Price — Microsoft Defender Money-Back Guarantee — Norton
Overall, although I was impressed with the protection both antiviruses offer, Norton is ultimately the better choice for comprehensive security. Microsoft Defender delivers good base-level protection thanks to its accurate malware scans and reliable real-time protection. Also, its firewall is an excellent first line of defense against cyber threats. Unfortunately, it doesn’t offer additional features to provide extra layers of protection, meaning it’s not a comprehensive security solution. While Norton isn’t free like Microsoft Defender, its plans are affordable and worthwhile, especially considering the protection they provide. Norton’s industry-leading 100% malware detection, impressive feature variety, and top-tier customer support make it the best security app you can get. Plus, Norton offers a 60-day money-back guarantee, meaning you can test its features risk-free. Try Norton risk-free
How to Install Norton on Windows
Since Norton is the superior choice for better overall protection, I’m now going to explain how you can easily install it. I’ve used Windows as the base for this how-to, as it’s the most popular platform. However, you can just as easily install the security app on macOS, iOS, and Android. Try Norton risk-free for 60 days
Summary — The Overall Best Antivirus Software in 2023
So, even though you might get Norton and Microsoft defender to work together, there’s no need for this. Also, Microsoft Defender usually disables itself if you install Norton or any other top-tier antivirus.
