Norton 360 vs Scanguard (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, we pick Norton 360: it is third in our ranking of antivirus apps, and it grades higher too, 2.8 against 2.0.
Checked Oct 17, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 · graded Oct 17, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
Norton 360 grades higher on the free plan, features and ease of use. They get the same grade on value for money and platforms.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Norton 360
Antivirus suite with VPN, password manager and PC cloud backup
Scanguard
Antivirus and cleanup suite for Windows, Mac and iPhone
Which one is for you
Pick Norton 360 if
- Fits if you want your PC's files backed up by the same app that guards it
- Works for US buyers who want identity theft cover with their antivirus, on the LifeLock plans
Look elsewhere if
- Pricey if you renew, as Deluxe goes from $39.99 to $104.99 a year for 5 devices, and Standard from $34.99 to $84.99
- Not for you if you're on a Mac and want the cloud backup or Norton Family parental controls
- Skip it if you want something free, as there's no free version and the iPhone app's trial is 7 days
- Watch out: Norton's order pages show different first-year prices in different sections, and its main site refused our reader
- Tight if you're outside the US and want LifeLock, as it relies on US credit bureaus and an identity check first
Pick Scanguard if
- Fits if you want one plan covering Windows, Mac and iPhone
- Works for people who like a cleanup tool bundled with an antivirus
Look elsewhere if
- Pricey if you compare $99 a year with the $4.50 middle of this category
- Skip it if you use Android, as no app is listed
- Not for you if you want to try before you buy: no free plan or trial is on record
- Watch out: plans renew at the then-regular rate and introductory pricing may apply
- Watch out: refunds need the subscription fully terminated, 30 days on annual plans
How we grade them
| 2.8GPANorton 360Good | 2.0GPAScanguardFair | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | CDeluxe covers 5 devices for $39.99 the first year and $104.99 the next, so $144.98 over two years, about $6 a month. That's above the middle of antivirus apps but short of the dearest tenth. | C$99 a year, about $8.25 a month, near the dearest tenth of this category, which starts at $8.99, for one plan with no cheaper step. |
| Free plan and trial | CA 30-day trial on Norton's US order pages, and the listing doesn't say whether it wants a card. The iPhone app gives 7 days with an annual plan. There's no free version. | FNothing free on record: no free plan and no trial, and a demo request is not a trial. A refund window is not a trial. |
| Features | BReal-time protection on four platforms, a VPN for every device on the plan, a password manager, PC cloud backup and parental controls, plus a refund if its experts can't remove a virus. The gaps are on Mac, which gets no backup and no Norton Family. | CReal-time antivirus, scheduled scans, WebShield, junk cleanup, an email breach scanner and gaming mode. The listing shows one plan only. |
| Ease of use | A4.7 from about 183,000 App Store ratings, which meets the line for an A: 4.7 or better from at least 1,000 ratings. | BNo store rating on record, but it is a consumer antivirus you install and run. |
| Platforms and integrations | BWindows, Mac, Android and iPhone. Cloud backup is for Windows PCs only, and there's no API or integration list on record, so it stops at B. | BWindows, Mac and iPhone, with no Android and no integrations. |
| Best for | antivirus, a VPN and PC backup in one | Windows, Mac and iPhone antivirus with a cleanup suite |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: Norton 360 and Scanguard. How we grade
Price against what you get
Norton 360 starts at $7.08 a month when paid by the year and scores 3.3 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. Scanguard starts at $8.25 a month when paid by the year and scores 2.7.
Norton 360 scores higher and starts $1.17 a month lower. Of the other antivirus apps on the chart, none scores higher than Norton 360 for less, and 9 score higher than Scanguard for less.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
Where they differ
- Norton 360 also covers password manager, vPN and ad and tracker blocking.
- Scanguard also covers disk cleanup.
At a glance
| Norton 360 | Scanguard | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free trial | Paid |
| Starts at | $84.99 per year at renewal (Standard, 1 device), after a first year from $34.99 | $99 per year |
| Free plan | None | None |
| Free trial | 30-day trial on Norton's US order pages; the iPhone app offers 7 days with an annual plan | None listed |
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Made by | Gen Digital Inc. | Total Security Limited |
| Price read from | buy-static.norton.com | scanguard.com |
| Checked | Oct 17, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 |
Worth knowing
Norton 360
- Prices come from one of Norton's US order pages, where first-year prices vary between sections; the main site refused automated reads on 2026-10-17.
- Norton's order pages say plans are priced for an introductory term and then renew automatically at a higher renewal price.
- Cloud backup is for Windows PCs, and Norton Family parental controls do not work on Mac.
- LifeLock identity features rely on US credit bureaus such as Equifax and need your identity verified first.
Scanguard
- No Android app is listed; compatibility is stated as Windows 7+, macOS 10.9+ and iOS.
- Plans renew automatically at the then-regular rate, and introductory pricing may apply to first-time customers.
- Refunds require fully terminating the subscription: 30 days on annual and biannual plans, 14 days on monthly and quarterly ones.
- The pricing page shows one plan; monthly, quarterly and biannual prices were not displayed.
Key features
Norton 360
- Real-time device protection
- Protects against ransomware, viruses, spyware and other malware on Windows, Mac, Android and iOS, with Norton's Virus Protection Promise of a refund if its experts cannot remove a virus.
- Secure VPN and ad-tracker blocker
- Norton 360 plans include a VPN for as many devices as the plan covers, plus anonymous browsing and blocking of advertising trackers.
- PC cloud backup
- Plans include cloud storage for backing up files from a Windows PC, from 2 GB on the smallest plans up to 500 GB on Ultimate Plus.
- Password manager and parental controls
- A password manager is included, and Deluxe and higher plans add Norton Family parental controls, which are not supported on Mac.
- Scam protection on phones
- The mobile apps check web pages, text messages and email for scams, and the iPhone app blocks scam and junk calls. Norton Genie answers safety questions.
- LifeLock identity protection
- Norton 360 with LifeLock plans add SSN and credit alerts, credit monitoring from one or three bureaus, and stolen funds reimbursement of up to $25,000 to $1 million.
Scanguard
- Real-time antivirus
- Scans devices continuously for malware, ransomware, spyware and phishing, plus on-demand and scheduled scans.
- WebShield
- Filters aimed at phishing and scam sites and malicious downloads, active on desktop platforms.
- Data breach monitoring
- Scans an email address and alerts you if the credentials appear in known breaches.
- Junk and speed cleanup
- Clears junk files, manages startup programs and offers a gaming mode and system boost.
- iPhone and iPad app
- The pricing page says iOS protection is included, with app-based features built for iPhone and iPad.
Plans
Norton 360
Norton 360 Standard$84.99
per year for 1 device at renewal, after a first year
Antivirus, VPN and password manager for one device. Norton's US order page shows the first year from $34.99, then $84.99 a year.
Norton 360 Deluxe$104.99
per year for up to 5 devices at renewal, after a first year
The same protection on up to 5 devices, with cloud backup and parental controls. First year from $39.99 on Norton's US order page.
Scanguard
Scanguard Premium$99
per year
Real-time antivirus, scheduled scans, WebShield, junk cleanup, email breach scanner and gaming mode.
Ways to pay less
Norton 360
- Other savings
Cheaper first year
Norton's US order page shows Norton 360 Standard from $34.99 and Deluxe from $39.99 for the first year, before renewing at $84.99 and $104.99.
Scanguard
No public discounts listed.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Norton 360 or Scanguard?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Norton 360 is cheaper to start with: $7.08 a month when paid by the year, against $8.25 a month when paid by the year for Scanguard. Norton 360 starts at $84.99 per year at renewal (Standard, 1 device), after a first year from $34.99, and Scanguard starts at $99 per year.
Which has a free plan, Norton 360 or Scanguard?
As of Nov 13, 2026, neither Norton 360 nor Scanguard has a free plan. Norton 360 has a free trial.
Which platforms do Norton 360 and Scanguard run on?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only Norton 360 lists an Android app. Both list macOS, Windows and iOS apps. A platform missing from a listing is one its maker's pages did not mention.
More comparisons
How this page was made
- The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
- The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
- Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
- The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.