Norton vs Kaspersky
A detailed head-to-head comparison of Norton and Kaspersky based on our 100-point scoring system.
Winner
Norton
Norton 360 Deluxe
88/100
Very Good4.4
22,850 reviews
Kaspersky
Kaspersky Total Security
84/100
Very Good4.1
24,300 reviews
Side-by-Side Comparison
Metric
Norton
Kaspersky
Overall Score
88/100
84/100
Price
$34.99
$30.00
Customer Rating
4.4/5
4.1/5
Review Count
22,850
24,300
Best For
Best Comprehensive Security Suite
Best Detection Rate
About Page
Yes
Yes
Contact Info
Yes
Yes
Norton — Score Breakdown
Protection Quality24/25
Performance Impact11/15
Feature Set15/15
Price & Value13/15
Ease of Use9/10
Customer Support8/10
Update Frequency8/10
Kaspersky — Score Breakdown
Protection Quality0/25
Performance Impact0/15
Feature Set18/15
Price & Value0/15
Ease of Use5/10
Customer Support3/10
Update Frequency0/10
Pros & Cons
Norton
Unlimited bundled VPN with no daily data cap, a genuine differentiator in a category where most competitors impose significant usage limits.
Broad feature set covering antivirus, firewall, VPN, password manager, dark web monitoring, parental controls, and cloud backup under one license.
Strong independent lab scores with a 99.8% detection rate across multiple AV-TEST evaluation rounds in 2025.
Medium performance impact rating means users on older hardware may notice system slowdowns during scans and real-time monitoring activity.
No free version available, which makes it harder to evaluate the software before committing to an annual subscription.
Renewal pricing increases significantly after the introductory first-year rate, which can make the long-term cost less competitive than it initially appears.
Kaspersky
99.9% malware detection rate from independent AV-TEST and AV-Comparatives certifications places Kaspersky at the very top of consumer antivirus detection performance.
Comprehensive feature set at $30/year for 5 devices — VPN, password manager, parental controls, and file backup included — delivers strong value relative to competitors charging similar prices for fewer features.
Low system performance impact means Kaspersky provides maximum protection without the slowdowns that some heavier security suites introduce, particularly on older hardware.
US government ban on Kaspersky sales (effective 2024) makes it unavailable for new US customers and raises legitimate geopolitical concerns about data routing and potential government access for users in any country.
VPN is limited to 300MB/day in the base plan — sufficient for occasional private browsing but not for streaming or continuous use without upgrading to Kaspersky Plus or Premium.
The brand's reputational position in Western markets has been materially damaged by government security warnings from the US, UK, and EU, creating trust friction that competitors headquartered in Western Europe do not face.
Our Verdict
Norton comes out ahead with a score of 88/100 compared to 84/100. Norton is best for best comprehensive security suite. However, Kaspersky may be a better fit if you prioritize best detection rate.
No cybersecurity software can guarantee 100% protection. Always practice safe browsing habits and keep your software up to date. Results may vary based on system configuration.