Windows Defender vs Norton: Which One Should You Use?

In today’s world, it is essential to keep your PC updated, not only regarding the latest updates and drivers but also with the latest antivirus tools. While Windows OS comes built-in with Windows Defender, people still prefer opting for a third-party antivirus tool such as Norton.

Norton has been in the business for as long as you can remember talking about computers. This guide will give you a complete and comprehensive Windows Defender Vs Norton differentiation. Let us get right into this guide and get rid of the confusion.

What is Windows Defender?

When installing Windows OS on your PC, the first thing you should turn on is the Windows Defender.

As the name suggests, Windows Defender protects your PC from viruses and malware. It was introduced as a built-in tool with Windows Vista OS and has stuck with the OS since then.

Previously, it was available as a downloadable program in 2001 for Windows XP systems. It then replaced Microsoft Security Essentials in Windows 8 and evolved into Windows Defender.

It provides real-time protection against threats. Also, the SmartScreen feature will warn you if you visit a malicious website.

Installing Windows Defender separately is unnecessary as it comes pre-installed with Windows OS. Some of the notable features of Windows Defender include backing up files to OneDrive, parental control settings, tracking prevention, and more.

Here are some of the notable features of Windows Defender:

• It is available as a built-in tool, free of cost.
• Regularly updated with malware database.
• Real-time threat protection.
• Parental control settings.
• Firewall and network protection.
• Protection against fishing websites.

What is Norton Antivirus?

Norton antivirus is a name that almost goes hand-in-hand with PCs. It is a brand that has been around in this space since 1991.

It started as an antivirus and anti-malware software and later expanded into a proper internet security package known as Norton 360.

Norton antivirus protects your PC from viruses, spyware, worms, trojans, and other threats that could cause harm to your PC.

Also, Norton protects you when you visit malicious websites, download files, or open email. Norton gets updated timely so that it remains up to date with the latest threats.

Norton acquired LifeLock identity protection in 2017 and changed its name to Norton Lifelock. The latest acquisition of Norton Lifelock is with Avast Antivirus in 2021.

Some of the highlighting features of Norton antivirus include:

• Norton keeps your PC protected automatically.
• It receives continuous updates.
• Real-time threat protection.
• Smart Firewall.
• PC cloud backup.
• Parental controls.
• Password manager.
• Helps optimize the system performance.

Read more about this topic

• Microsoft Defender’s Threat Explorer is updated to become a hub for direct cyber protection actions
• Microsoft Defender will flag AIR fixes as automated actions approved by SecOps

Windows Defender Vs Norton: Comparison

Windows Defender	Norton Antivirus
Windows Defender offers real-time threat protection.	Norton provides real-time automated threat protection.
Features anti-spyware protection.	Offers anti-spyware protection.
Does not offer webcam protection.	It features webcam protection.
It does not offer banking and payment protection.	It comes with a built-in tool for banking and payment protection.
Receive antivirus database updates regularly.	Norton is updated regularly with an antivirus database.
Offers parental control features.	Comes with parental control features.
Does not offer a built-in VPN service.	It offers a built-in VPN service for internet protection.
It lets you back up your files to OneDrive.	It offers a PC cloud backup facility.
It doesn’t offer an identity threat protection feature.	Norton comes with identity threat protection.
Windows Defender is available free of cost, as a built tool with Windows OS.	To use Norton, you need to buy among the 4 subscription plans.
Effectively protects you against malware, adware, trojan, or spyware.	Offers great protection against malware, adware, trojan, or spyware.
The virus scanning abilities aren’t that great compared to Norton.	You can trust Norton to protect and remove viruses from your PC.
Takes more time when you perform a full in-depth scan.	Takes comparatively less time for a full in-depth scan.

Windows Defender vs Norton: Which one is better?

While we have gone through the comparison table above, let us understand which one in this Windows Defender vs. Norton comparison is beneficial in the real world.

1. Features

Hands down, Norton antivirus has more features than Windows Defender. However, you should note that Norton is a paid suite of antivirus tools, and Windows Defender comes free of cost.

Windows Defender is good enough to keep you safe if you aren’t involved in regular dealings with threats, downloading files from malicious websites, running pirated apps, etc.

Defender is good enough to detect most widespread malware but fails to detect the ones recently released in the market.

In such a case, Norton antivirus is the one you should opt for because it comes with better security features in its arsenal. It is better than Windows Defender and won’t leave a trace of malware or antivirus on your PC.

2. System performance impact

When selecting an antivirus tool, the one thing you should keep in mind is the impact of that tool on your system performance.

Windows Defender is an integral part of the Windows OS and doesn’t take up that many resources to protect your PC.

The good thing is that Norton, being a third-party antivirus tool also doesn’t impact much your PC’s performance.

As per an AV-Test, when Norton and Windows Defender were compared side-by-side, both tools had less impact on the system performance.

3. UI friendliness

When it comes to ease of understanding, Windows Defender has the best UI, which is straight to the point and gets the job done in a few clicks.

Not that Norton’s UI is that complicated; although it has many features, you have to use the tool before you can comment on Norton’s UI.

All features are placed perfectly in the Norton UI and have an extremely well-designed UI. So, when it comes to UI, it all depends on which software you use.

4. Pricing

This is where Windows Defender leads. Installing Windows OS on your PC gives you access to the Windows Defender free of cost.

All you need to do is enable the feature and let it protect you from threats. On the other hand, if you opt to go for Norton antivirus, you must first purchase a subscription plan and then activate it to use the tool.

As a free antivirus tool, Windows Defender is very well capable of protecting your PC. But you should also take extra precautions when dealing with things on your PC.

For Norton, if you have purchased the plan, then it is almost such that you don’t have to perform that much manual prevention to protect your PC.

Windows Defender vs Norton: Verdict

Suppose you are a business or someone involved with the internet and downloading files from all over the internet, while Windows Defender will protect you. In that case, you should opt for Norton antivirus.

Users don’t need to spend bucks on paid antivirus tools like Norton to protect their PCs.

Moreover, our advice is that when using freeware such as Windows Defender, you should also be extra careful with what you are dealing with. With Norton, you get that liberty of missing a few cues in between.

Our verdict would be casual users should stay away from Norton and continue using Windows Defender, while advanced users should check out Norton antivirus.

To learn more about the all-rounder Norton product, check out our interesting and detailed review of Norton 360 Deluxe to understand how it can protect all your devices.

We hope this guide helped you eliminate the confusion between Windows Defender and Norton. Let us know in the comments below if you have any doubts.