With cyber threats on the rise, protecting your devices and data is more important than ever. Two popular antivirus programs, Norton and PC Matic, both aim to keep your information secure. But which one does a better job?
In this expert review, we’ll compare Norton vs. PC Matic to help you decide which antivirus is right for your needs and budget. We’ll look at key factors like pricing, features, malware protection, system performance, ease of use, and customer support.
Contents
- Norton vs. PC Matic: At a Glance
- Norton vs. PC Matic: Pricing
- Norton vs. PC Matic: Features
- Norton vs. PC Matic: Malware Protection
- Norton vs. PC Matic: System Performance
- Norton vs. PC Matic: Ease of Use
- Norton vs. PC Matic: Customer Support
- Norton vs. PC Matic: Which Is Better in 2022?
- Top 5 Alternatives to Norton and PC Matic
- Bottom Line
Norton vs. PC Matic: At a Glance
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Norton offers more security features like a VPN, password manager, and parental controls. It has more pricing options starting at just $19.99 per year. Norton gets excellent marks for malware protection but can slow down system performance.
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PC Matic relies on whitelisting technology to identify safe software. With just two pricing plans, it‘s a simpler antivirus option focused on core malware protection. But PC Matic trails Norton in independent testing.
| Norton 360 | PC Matic | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $19.99/year | $100/year |
| Features | Antivirus, VPN, firewall, parental controls, password manager | Antivirus, optimization tools, ad blocker |
| Malware Protection | Excellent | Very Good |
| System Impact | Moderate | Light |
| Ease of Use | Excellent | Good |
| Customer Support | 24/7 phone, chat, forums | Limited free options |
When it comes to extra security features and independent testing results, Norton leads the way. But PC Matic still offers robust malware protection at a competitive price point, making it a good choice for budget-focused users.
Norton vs. PC Matic: Pricing
One of the biggest differences between Norton and PC Matic is the pricing and plan options:
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Norton 360 plans range from $19.99 to $99.99 per year, with discounts for the first year. There are four plan tiers with varying features and device limits.
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PC Matic only has two pricing options: $50 per year or a $150 lifetime subscription after the first year.
Norton offers much more flexibility to find the right plan. Budget users can start with the basic $19.99 Norton 360 Standard plan. At the top end, Norton 360 Deluxe at $49.99 per year for 5 devices is an excellent value.
PC Matic doesn‘t have low-end pricing options. However, the lifetime plan could save money in the long run.
Both Norton and PC Matic back their products with money-back guarantees. Norton offers 60 days, while PC Matic guarantees 30 days.
Winner: Norton – With four tiers and introductory discounts, Norton provides more affordable pricing options.
Norton vs. PC Matic: Features
When choosing an antivirus, you‘ll want to look at the full range of security features and extra tools included:
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Core Antivirus Features – Both Norton and PC Matic include essentials like real-time scanning, malware prevention, phishing/ransomware protection.
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Extra Features – Norton has a clear advantage, with a VPN, intelligent firewall, cloud backup, parental controls, password manager, and more depending on the plan.
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Performance Tools – PC Matic fights back with PC optimization tools, device checkup, cleaning tools, and a built-in ad blocker.
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Technology – PC Matic uses application whitelisting to recognize trusted apps. Norton leverages AI and machine learning for more advanced threat detection.
PC Matic beats Norton on device performance features. But most users will benefit more from Norton‘s wide range of security extras like parental controls and a VPN. Norton also uses smarter technology like artificial intelligence for malware detection.
Winner: Norton – With vastly more security features across its plans, Norton is the winner for overall features.
Norton vs. PC Matic: Malware Protection
According to the latest tests from AV-Comparatives, both Norton and PC Matic offer stellar protection against malware:
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In the March-May 2022 Malware Protection Test, Norton received a perfect 100% protection score.
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In January-February 2022 testing, PC Matic detected 100% of malware samples with zero false positives.
However, in the Performance Test conducted in February 2022, PC Matic saw a high false positive rate, detecting 12 legitimate files as malware. Norton had a perfect score with no false positives.
For core antivirus capabilities, Norton and PC Matic are evenly matched. But Norton maintains an edge with better results for detecting legitimate software properly.
Winner: Tie – Norton and PC Matic both provide excellent malware protection, with Norton showing better performance in recent tests.
Norton vs. PC Matic: System Performance
Antivirus software can tax system resources, slowing down your PC. In AV-Comparatives testing:
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Norton received an Advanced+ rating for performance, but saw moderate slowdowns during benchmarks.
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PC Matic earned the highest Advanced++ rating for having a low impact on system performance.
In real-world use, PC Matic is likely to have less of a performance hit. Norton provides much more security, so slightly slower speeds may be an acceptable trade-off for most users.
Gaming PCs or other high-performance systems may benefit from PC Matic‘s lighter footprint. But for everyday use, Norton won‘t cause a significant lag.
Winner: PC Matic – With minimal system slowdowns, PC Matic is the winner for performance.
Norton vs. PC Matic: Ease of Use
Having an intuitive interface can make your antivirus easier and less frustrating to use:
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Norton has a clean, modern dashboard that makes all features and options easy to access. Scans, tools, and settings are just a click away.
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PC Matic has an older looking interface that can be more confusing to navigate at first. Some options like adding devices are buried under menus.
Norton also provides more useful reports after scans. PC Matic lacks details on how many files were scanned. Norton‘s reports summarize total files checked and problems resolved.
Overall, Norton delivers the smoother user experience. PC Matic gets the job done, but takes more effort to master.
Winner: Norton – With its streamlined design, Norton is easier for most users to use effectively.
Norton vs. PC Matic: Customer Support
If you ever get stuck while using your antivirus, quality customer support is essential. Here‘s how Norton and PC Matic compare:
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Norton provides 24/7 live chat support and phone assistance. You can also get help via Facebook, Twitter, and community forums.
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PC Matic offers standard support via email. But phone, live chat, and remote access require paying $100 extra for the VIP "Support Unlimited" plan.
While both companies offer sufficient help resources, Norton once again is more user-focused. Norton‘s wide range of free support options exceeds PC Matic‘s email-only basic help.
Winner: Norton – With phone, chat, social media, and forum support, Norton sweeps this category.
Norton vs. PC Matic: Which Is Better in 2022?
While both Norton and PC Matic deliver excellent malware protection, Norton is the winner in this face-off.
Here‘s a quick recap of why we recommend choosing Norton 360 over PC Matic as your antivirus:
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Affordable Pricing – Norton starts at just $19.99 per year with discounts available.
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Superior Features – Norton offers a full security suite with VPN, firewall, cloud backup, parental controls, and more.
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Strong Test Results – Independent testing shows Norton provides watertight malware protection.
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Top-Notch Support – Robust customer support options include 24/7 live chat and phone assistance.
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User-Friendly Experience – From the interface to device scans, Norton is easier to use effectively.
PC Matic isn‘t a bad choice. It‘s a basic, budget-focused antivirus. But it lacks extra security tools and falls short of Norton in independent testing.
For a better overall antivirus package, Norton 360 is worth the extra investment for complete security.
Top 5 Alternatives to Norton and PC Matic
While Norton leads in this matchup, competition is fierce among antivirus software. Here are some other top contenders to consider:
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Bitdefender – Packed with premium tools yet cheaper than Norton, Bitdefender is a top choice for robust security.
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Kaspersky – Kaspersky Internet Security starts under $25 per year with real-time ransomware protection.
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Trend Micro – Excellent phishing prevention from Trend Micro makes it ideal for households with vulnerable users.
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Webroot – Webroot SecureAnywhere is a great lightweight option focused on malware scanning.
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McAfee Total Protection – McAfee bundles unlimited VPN and identity monitoring for all-around digital defense.
Bottom Line
Choosing antivirus software can be challenging, but understanding key differences between top brands like Norton and PC Matic makes the decision easier. Based on pricing, features, malware protection, ease of use, and customer support, Norton 360 is the winner in this comparison and your best option for complete internet security in 2022.
