Windows Defender is free, built-in, and a legitimately capable antivirus engine. Norton 360 costs money and layers substantially more on top. Here's exactly what that extra layer buys you.
Core Malware Protection
Both score well in independent testing for baseline malware detection — this isn't the area where Norton pulls meaningfully ahead of Defender's free protection.
What Norton Adds
- Full, unlimited VPN included on most plans
- Dark web monitoring (alerts if your personal data appears in known data breaches)
- Cloud backup for ransomware resilience
- More advanced ransomware remediation and rollback tools
- Cross-platform coverage (Mac, iOS, Android) under one subscription
What Defender Doesn't Do at All
No VPN of any kind, no dark web monitoring, no cloud backup — these aren't reduced versions of Norton's features, they simply don't exist in Defender in any form.
At a Glance
| Feature | Windows Defender | Norton 360 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free (built-in) | Paid subscription |
| Core malware detection | Strong | Strong |
| VPN | Not included | Included, unlimited |
| Dark web monitoring | Not included | Included |
| Cloud backup | Not included | Included |
Our Verdict
Defender is a legitimately solid free baseline. Norton 360 is worth paying for specifically if you'd otherwise be buying a VPN and backup service separately — at that point, the bundle often costs less than those tools individually.