Malwarebytes vs Norton 2026: Lightweight Specialist vs All-in-One Suite

Comparing Malwarebytes to Norton is like comparing a specialized scalpel to a Swiss Army knife. They’re both security tools, but they’re designed for fundamentally different purposes.

Norton 360 is a comprehensive security suite that bundles antivirus, VPN, password manager, cloud backup, dark web monitoring, and parental controls into one package. Malwarebytes is a focused, lightweight malware specialist that excels at finding and removing threats that other antivirus programs miss.

Understanding this distinction is crucial before choosing between them. Many security experts actually recommend using both together.

Quick verdict: Norton 360 is better as your primary antivirus if you want comprehensive, all-in-one protection with extras like VPN and identity monitoring. Malwarebytes is better as a secondary scanner or if you prioritize lightweight performance and want a no-bloat malware specialist. For maximum protection, consider running both: Norton as your primary defense, Malwarebytes for on-demand scanning.

Head-to-Head Comparison

The Fundamental Difference: Suite vs. Specialist

Before diving into specifics, you need to understand what you’re actually comparing.

Norton 360 is a complete security ecosystem. When you subscribe, you get antivirus protection, a full-featured VPN with unlimited data, a password manager, 50GB of cloud backup, dark web monitoring that alerts you when your personal information appears in data breaches, parental controls, and webcam protection. It’s designed to be your only security subscription.

Malwarebytes takes the opposite approach. It does one thing extremely well: detect and remove malware. The company built its reputation as a second-opinion scanner that finds threats traditional antivirus programs miss. Even the Premium version stays focused on malware detection rather than adding unrelated features.

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Malware Protection: Norton Wins on Detection Rates

When it comes to raw malware detection, Norton consistently outperforms Malwarebytes in independent lab tests. However, Malwarebytes has unique strengths that lab tests don’t fully capture.

AV-TEST Results (2025)

In the latest AV-TEST evaluations:

• Norton 360: Perfect 18/18 score (6/6 Protection, 6/6 Performance, 6/6 Usability)
• Malwarebytes Premium: 16.5/18 score (5.5/6 Protection, 6/6 Performance, 5/6 Usability)

Norton achieved 100% detection of both zero-day malware attacks and widespread malware samples. Malwarebytes detected 98% of threats, with occasional misses on newer, less common threats.

AV-Comparatives Results (2025)

AV-Comparatives tells a similar story:

• Norton: 99.96% malware detection with 8 false positives
• Malwarebytes: 97.8% malware detection with 2 false positives

Norton catches more threats, but Malwarebytes produces fewer false alarms. For users who find constant security alerts annoying, this matters.

Where Malwarebytes Excels

Lab tests don’t tell the whole story. Malwarebytes has specific advantages:

1. PUP Detection: Malwarebytes aggressively identifies potentially unwanted programs (PUPs), browser hijackers, and adware that other antivirus programs often ignore. These aren’t technically malware, but they degrade your computing experience.

2. Rootkit Removal: Malwarebytes’ anti-rootkit technology is among the industry’s best at removing deeply embedded threats that survive normal antivirus scans.

3. Second-Opinion Scanning: When you suspect an infection that your primary antivirus missed, Malwarebytes’ on-demand scanner frequently finds it. Security professionals regularly recommend it as a second-line defense.

4. Ransomware Rollback: Malwarebytes Premium includes ransomware protection that can actually recover encrypted files by rolling back changes made by ransomware.

Winner: Norton (for comprehensive protection), Malwarebytes (for specialized malware hunting)

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System Performance: Malwarebytes Wins Decisively

If system performance matters to you, Malwarebytes has a significant advantage. It was designed from the ground up to be lightweight.

Resource Usage Comparison

Independent testing reveals stark differences:

Malwarebytes Premium:

• RAM usage: 150-200 MB during idle operation
• CPU usage: 0.1-0.5% during background operation
• Boot time impact: Minimal (1-2 seconds added)
• Full scan time: 5-10 minutes

Norton 360 Deluxe:

• RAM usage: 300-400 MB during idle operation
• CPU usage: 1-3% during background operation, spikes to 8%+ during updates
• Boot time impact: Moderate (3-5 seconds added)
• Full scan time: 20-30 minutes

Why the Difference?

Norton’s heavier footprint comes from running multiple services simultaneously: the antivirus engine, VPN client, backup service, and monitoring tools. You’re not just running antivirus protection; you’re running an entire security suite.

Malwarebytes runs a single, optimized protection engine. Even with real-time protection enabled, it barely registers on system resources.

Gaming and Performance-Sensitive Use

For gamers or users with older hardware:

• Malwarebytes is essentially invisible during gameplay. Many gamers run it specifically because it doesn’t interfere with frame rates.
• Norton includes a Gaming Mode that suspends non-essential activities, but even in Gaming Mode, you’ll notice more resource consumption than Malwarebytes.

Winner: Malwarebytes (significantly lighter on system resources)

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Features Comparison: Norton’s Comprehensive Suite

This is where Norton justifies its higher price. Malwarebytes is intentionally minimalist; Norton packs in everything.

What Norton 360 Includes

VPN (Unlimited Data): Norton’s VPN provides 256-bit AES encryption, 2,000+ servers in 29 countries, a kill switch, and split tunneling. Unlike many antivirus-bundled VPNs, it’s genuinely usable for daily browsing. No data caps mean you can use it all day, every day.

Password Manager: Full-featured password vault with autofill, secure sharing, and cross-device sync. It’s not as sophisticated as dedicated managers like 1Password or Bitwarden, but it’s competent and included.

Cloud Backup (50GB): Automatic cloud backup protects your important files from ransomware and hardware failure. Norton handles encryption and versioning.

Dark Web Monitoring: Norton scans data breach databases and underground marketplaces for your personal information (email, SSN, credit cards). When your data appears in a breach, you get alerted.

Parental Controls: Web filtering, screen time limits, and activity monitoring for families with children.

SafeCam: Alerts you when applications try to access your webcam.

What Malwarebytes Includes

Real-Time Protection: Guards against malware, ransomware, and exploit attacks in real time (Premium only).

Browser Guard (Free Extension): Blocks malicious websites, trackers, and scams. Works even with the free version.

Exploit Protection: Shields vulnerable applications from exploit attacks that target software vulnerabilities.

That’s essentially it. Malwarebytes doesn’t include a VPN, password manager, backup, parental controls, or identity monitoring. By design.

Winner: Norton (vastly more features included)

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Pricing Comparison

Pricing reveals different philosophies. Norton uses the typical antivirus model (steep discounts, painful renewals). Malwarebytes keeps pricing simple and consistent.

Norton 360 Pricing (2025)

Plan	First Year	Renewal	Devices
Norton 360 Standard	$29.99	$89.99	3 devices
Norton 360 Deluxe	$49.99	$119.99	5 devices
Norton 360 Premium	$59.99	$149.99	10 devices
Norton 360 with LifeLock	$99.48	$149.99	10 devices

Malwarebytes Pricing (2025)

Plan	Price	Devices
Malwarebytes Free	$0	1 device
Malwarebytes Premium	$44.99/yr	1 device
Malwarebytes Premium	$79.99/yr	5 devices
Malwarebytes Premium + Privacy VPN	$99.99/yr	5 devices

Value Analysis

First-year cost: Malwarebytes Premium (5 devices) costs $79.99; Norton 360 Deluxe (5 devices) costs $49.99. Norton wins on first-year pricing.

Renewal cost: Malwarebytes stays at $79.99; Norton jumps to $119.99. Malwarebytes saves you $40/year ongoing.

Over 3 years:

• Malwarebytes: $239.97 total
• Norton: $289.97 total ($49.99 + $119.99 + $119.99)

However, Norton includes a VPN worth $40-100/year, cloud backup, and dark web monitoring. If you’d buy these separately, Norton is actually the better deal.

Winner: Malwarebytes (lower ongoing cost), Norton (better value if you use all features)

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Who Should Choose Norton?

Choose Norton 360 if you:

• Want all-in-one protection: Norton eliminates the need for separate antivirus, VPN, password manager, and backup subscriptions. One dashboard, one bill.

• Need maximum malware detection: Norton’s 100% detection rate in AV-TEST means it catches threats that Malwarebytes might miss.

• Value identity protection: Dark web monitoring alerts you to data breaches. LifeLock tiers add credit monitoring and identity theft insurance.

• Have a family to protect: Parental controls, multiple device licenses, and comprehensive protection make Norton practical for households.

• Aren’t highly technical: Norton’s all-inclusive approach means less configuration and management. It just works.

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Who Should Choose Malwarebytes?

Choose Malwarebytes Premium if you:

• Want lightweight protection: Malwarebytes is nearly invisible on system resources. Ideal for older computers, gaming rigs, or anyone who hates bloatware.

• Need a second-opinion scanner: Many users run Malwarebytes alongside their primary antivirus to catch threats others miss. The free version works perfectly for this.

• Prefer focused software: If you already have a VPN, password manager, and backup solution, you don’t need Norton’s bundle. Malwarebytes does malware protection without extras you won’t use.

• Handle adware and PUPs: Malwarebytes excels at removing potentially unwanted programs, browser hijackers, and other nuisances that bloat your system.

• Have a limited budget: Malwarebytes Free provides on-demand scanning at no cost. Premium offers real-time protection at a lower long-term price than Norton.

• Experienced a stubborn infection: When other tools fail to remove malware, security professionals often turn to Malwarebytes. Its removal capabilities are exceptional.

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Can You Use Both Together?

Running two real-time antivirus programs simultaneously usually causes conflicts, crashes, and performance issues. Malwarebytes is the exception. Its engine is designed to coexist with other security software.

The recommended setup:

1. Install Norton 360 as your primary antivirus with real-time protection
2. Install Malwarebytes Free (or Premium with real-time protection disabled)
3. Run Malwarebytes scans weekly or whenever you suspect an infection

This provides Norton’s comprehensive protection plus Malwarebytes’ specialized detection for PUPs, adware, and deeply embedded threats.

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Malwarebytes: Pros and Cons

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Norton 360: Pros and Cons

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Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use Malwarebytes and Norton at the same time?

Yes, and many security professionals recommend this combination. Malwarebytes is specifically designed to run alongside other antivirus programs without conflicts. The typical setup uses Norton as your primary real-time protection while running Malwarebytes for weekly on-demand scans. This catches threats that either product alone might miss. If you use Malwarebytes Premium, disable its real-time protection to avoid redundancy with Norton.

Is Malwarebytes alone enough for protection?

Malwarebytes Premium with real-time protection can serve as standalone antivirus, but it's not ideal. Its 98% detection rate lags behind Norton's 100%, and it lacks the comprehensive features (VPN, backup, identity monitoring) that modern threats require. Malwarebytes works best as a second-layer defense alongside a full antivirus suite. That said, Malwarebytes Premium is better than no protection, and significantly better than relying on Windows Defender alone for high-risk users.

Is the free version of Malwarebytes worth using?

Absolutely. Malwarebytes Free is one of the best on-demand malware scanners available. It detects and removes malware, PUPs, and adware effectively. The limitation is that it lacks real-time protection, so it won't prevent infections - only clean them up afterward. For users with another antivirus handling real-time protection, Malwarebytes Free is an excellent second-opinion scanner. Run it weekly or whenever you suspect an infection.

Why does Norton score higher in lab tests than Malwarebytes?

Norton invests heavily in threat intelligence and detection engines to ensure maximum protection. Its SONAR behavioral detection technology identifies threats based on behavior, even if specific malware signatures aren't in the database. Malwarebytes takes a different approach, focusing on known threat patterns and PUP detection. Both philosophies have merit, but lab tests favor Norton's comprehensive detection methodology. Malwarebytes excels in areas lab tests don't measure, like removing stubborn infections.

Does Norton slow down your computer more than Malwarebytes?

Yes. Norton uses 300-400 MB of RAM and 1-3% CPU during normal operation, with spikes during updates and scans. Malwarebytes uses only 150-200 MB of RAM and under 0.5% CPU. This difference is noticeable on older systems or during resource-intensive tasks like gaming. Norton includes a Gaming Mode that helps, but Malwarebytes remains the lighter option. On modern systems with 16GB+ RAM, both run acceptably.

Which is better for removing existing malware infections?

Malwarebytes has a stronger reputation for malware removal. Security professionals often recommend it specifically for cleaning infected systems because it excels at removing rootkits, deeply embedded malware, and threats that survive other antivirus scans. Its free version can remove infections without requiring a subscription. Norton is excellent at prevention but Malwarebytes is often the go-to tool when prevention has already failed.

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Final Verdict

Norton 360 is the better choice for primary protection. Its perfect malware detection scores, comprehensive feature set (VPN, backup, identity monitoring), and all-in-one convenience make it the smarter choice for users who want complete security from a single subscription. Yes, it costs more and uses more resources, but you get significantly more protection and features.

Malwarebytes is the better choice as a secondary scanner or for users who prioritize lightweight performance. Its minimal system impact, exceptional removal capabilities, and PUP detection make it invaluable as a second layer of defense. The free version alone is worth installing on every computer.

The ideal setup for maximum security: Run Norton 360 as your primary antivirus with real-time protection, VPN, and all the extras. Install Malwarebytes Free for weekly on-demand scans to catch anything Norton misses. This layered approach provides comprehensive protection with specialized malware hunting.