Surfshark vs. Norton: which antivirus is better for your cybersecurity?

When comparing Surfshark vs. Norton, users are often looking at more than one product category. Some want to compare VPNs, others want to look at antivirus tools, and many want to understand how the two stack up as broader cybersecurity bundles.

This guide compares Surfshark and Norton side by side across both VPN and antivirus capabilities, along with pricing, bundled features, testing, and support, so you can decide which one better fits your needs.

Surfshark vs. Norton at a glance

Here’s a quick overview of how Surfshark and Norton compare across both VPN (Virtual Private Network) and antivirus-related categories:

VPN

Antivirus

Want an in-depth look at Surfshark’s tools? Take a look at our VPN review and Antivirus review pages.

Surfshark vs. Norton: VPN comparison

When comparing Surfshark and Norton as VPN services, users are looking at two different approaches to online privacy. Surfshark VPN is a feature-rich tool that emphasizes performance and customization, while Norton VPN is a more streamlined add-on to a broader security ecosystem.

Device connections

One of the most noticeable differences between Surfshark and Norton is the number of simultaneous connections they allow.

Surfshark lets users enjoy unlimited simultaneous connections on a single account. This makes it a practical choice for households with lots of devices or users who want to protect phones, laptops, tablets, smart TVs, and more at once.

Norton’s VPN access is tied to plan-based limits. For standalone VPN plans, the cap is between five and 10 devices. Bundled 360 plans limit users to between three and 10 computers, tablets, or phones. This may be enough for smaller households, but it’s less flexible than Surfshark’s offer.

Server network

Surfshark VPN is built around a wide international footprint, with 4,500+ servers in 100 countries. This broad scope gives users plenty of options for masking their IP (Internet Protocol) addresses for greater online privacy.

Norton’s VPN network has an undisclosed number of physical servers in 65+ countries. This narrower range is suitable for general browsing and everyday protection on public Wi-Fi, but it doesn’t provide the global VPN experience many users may expect.

Streaming capabilities

Surfshark VPN offers users streaming-friendly performance thanks to its broad platform support. With native apps for streaming devices like Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV Stick, and Android TV, Surfshark is a natural fit for users who want a VPN for both privacy and entertainment. It also supports router installation, which means you can extend VPN coverage to streaming devices that don’t support VPN apps directly.

With more server locations worldwide, Surfshark is also a good option when you’re on the go. If you’re traveling abroad, Surfshark makes it easy for you to connect to a VPN server in your home country to help you access your favorite online content.

Norton VPN may be sufficient for casual streaming, but it doesn’t really focus on streaming versatility. It supports Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and Android TV, but it doesn’t support router installation. This limits its reach on devices that need network-level VPN coverage.

Disclaimer: Please note that using Surfshark services for any illegal activities is strictly forbidden and violates our Terms of Service. Make sure that any use of Surfshark services for your particular activities conforms to all relevant laws and regulations, including those of any service providers and websites you access using Surfshark.

Security features

Both VPN providers cover the security essentials, but they serve different user expectations. Both have strong encryption, a kill switch, and double VPN functionality for an extra layer of privacy. These core features help protect your traffic and reduce data exposure.

Surfshark, however, has many advanced features worth noting:

• GPS override on Android: aligns your device’s GPS location with your VPN location;
• The Clean Web ad blocker: combines ad, tracker, and malware domain blocking into a single feature that works across both the VPN app and browser extension;
• RAM-only hardware: its entire server network runs on RAM-only hardware, meaning all data is wiped automatically on every server reboot;
• The Bypasser split tunneling feature: lets you decide which apps or websites use the VPN and which bypass it;
• The Dausos protocol: Surfshark’s proprietary protocol is fully post-quantum resilient and offers speeds up to 30% faster than other industry-standard options;
• Rotating IP: automatically changes your IP address every five minutes without dropping your VPN connection;
• FastTrack route optimization technology: helps maintain peak connection speeds and stability, even on high-traffic networks.

While Norton VPN offers the core security features along with its Mimic protocol and rotating IP feature, it lacks more advanced privacy extras:

• No built-in GPS spoofing: it doesn’t include native GPS spoofing functionality;
• Split ad blocking tools: its Tracker Blocker can be accessed in the VPN app, but the Ad Blocker is only available in browser extensions;
• Traditional server infrastructure: its servers run on a traditional hard-drive infrastructure rather than RAM-only hardware, so data isn’t automatically wiped on reboot;
• Limited split tunneling: its split tunneling is less flexible, focusing on excluding selected apps rather than giving more control over what goes through the VPN tunnel and what stays out.

Surfshark vs. Norton: antivirus comparison

Here’s how Surfshark Antivirus and Norton AntiVirus stack up in terms of malware detection, real-time protection, and essential safeguards.

Malware detection and real-time protection

Both Surfshark Antivirus and Norton AntiVirus provide core antivirus protections such as malware scans, behavioral scans, and real-time threat detection.

Surfshark Antivirus covers major threat categories like malware, ransomware, spyware, and adware. It’s designed to be lightweight and easy to use, making it appealing to users who want dependable protection without a heavily layered interface.

Norton AntiVirus, on the other hand, offers a more comprehensive antivirus environment. It detects various kinds of malware and includes an automated software updater that scans for outdated programs to close security holes and a firewall to block malicious network traffic.

Advanced security features

Surfshark Antivirus includes additional security functionality like:

• Webcam protection: safeguards against unauthorized access to your Windows or macOS device’s camera;
• Multidevice protection: a single Surfshark One or Surfshark One+ account lets you protect five devices;
• Drag-and-drop scans: scan files or folders by dragging them directly into the app;
• Web protection: available on Windows, this feature shields you from malware and phishing sites before you download anything or click a URL.

Norton’s broader antivirus ecosystem includes unique protections as well. Depending on the plan, Norton AntiVirus includes firewall protection, cloud backup, iOS support, and the ability to cover up to 10 devices at once. Users can also choose to get just the standalone antivirus software if they don’t want any bundled products.

That said, Norton’s webcam protection is available only on Windows, and some antivirus plans protect just one device.

Surfshark vs. Norton: pricing and plans

While Surfshark and Norton structure their plans differently, it’s worth looking at their various plans to see which provider offers you the best value.

Surfshark pricing

Surfshark VPN and Antivirus aren’t available as standalone products. Instead, they come bundled with other cybersecurity tools. VPN is available in Surfshark Starter, One, and One+ plans, while Antivirus is part of One and One +.

Here’s the pricing breakdown for each of these bundles with a one-month, one-year, or two-year subscription:

Device coverage differs by tool. Surfshark VPN allows for unlimited simultaneous connections, while Surfshark Antivirus is limited to five devices. All plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Norton pricing

Norton’s pricing varies depending on what you need. You can purchase Norton VPN or AntiVirus separately or choose an all-in-one 360 product.

Here’s the breakdown for Norton VPN plans, which are only offered through an annual subscription:

Next, here are the prices for the Norton AntiVirus Plus plan, also available exclusively through annual subscriptions:

Finally, here’s the pricing for Norton’s 360 bundles, which include both VPN and AntiVirus. Again, only annual subscriptions are available:

All Norton plans include a 60-day money-back guarantee.

Surfshark vs. Norton: bundled products

Surfshark’s and Norton’s VPN and antivirus services share many similarities, but each provider’s bundled products highlight a more unique offering.

Surfshark’s bundled products

Surfshark VPN is included in three plans: Starter, One, and One+.

With the Surfshark Starter plan, users also get access to the Alternative ID masked email and personal detail generator. This lets you use alternative contact data on sites you don’t trust, letting you mask your name and primary email to avoid spam and unwanted attention.

Along with Antivirus, the Surfshark One plan also includes:

• Data leak monitoring from Alert;
• Phishing protection from our email scam checker;
• Safer and cleaner browsing from our web content blocker.

Surfshark’s most comprehensive bundle is One+. Along with VPN, Antivirus, and everything else from One, One+ includes:

• Identity theft coverage up to $1M;
• The Incogni data removal service.

Norton’s bundled products

Norton offers three primary cybersecurity bundles, all of which include Norton VPN and AntiVirus.

Norton 360 Standard comes with:

• Cloud backup;
• Scam protection;
• Deepfake protection;
• Dark web monitoring;
• A password manager.

The next tier is Norton 360 Deluxe. This includes everything in the Standard plan as well as:

• Parental controls;
• A privacy monitor.

Lastly, Norton 360 with LifeLock Select Plus features everything from the Deluxe plan, along with:

• Identity theft protection;
• Stolen wallet protection;
• Credit monitoring coverage;
• Stolen funds reimbursement;
• Social Security and credit alerts.

Surfshark vs. Norton: testing

Feature lists only tell part of the story, so it helps to look at how both servers perform in real-world testing.

VPN testing

In independent speed tests by Cybernews, Surfshark VPN outperformed Norton VPN in both download speeds and upload speeds.

Speed test results

While upload speeds are similar, Surfshark VPN posted download speeds roughly 5% faster than Norton VPN, showing it’s a more reliable choice for high-speed connections.

When it comes to streaming tests, Surfshark also came out on top. The same Cybernews tests found that Surfshark was compatible with more streaming services than Norton VPN.

Streaming compatibility results

Surfshark was able to open all major streaming platforms, while Norton VPN struggled to access several services.

Overall, Surfshark performed stronger in independent VPN testing, especially in areas like speed retention and streaming access.

Antivirus testing

Designed for fast, efficient operation, Surfshark Antivirus consistently performs well in tests. It includes multiple scan options — quick, full, and custom drag-and-drop — and covers viruses, trojans, and ransomware. Through heuristic detection, Surfshark Antivirus identifies new or modified malware strains, providing protection against evolving threats and zero-day attacks — new threats that haven’t yet been added to malware databases.

In their independent review of Surfshark Antivirus, All About Cookies found the software successfully detected nearly 100% of malware samples. It also had a flawless track record with real-time protection, identifying threats before they finished downloading. Notably, in a testing scenario, the tool performed remarkably fast, posting the following times:

• Quick scan: 1 minute, 6 seconds
• Full scan: 9 minutes, 21 seconds

Overall, All About Cookies scored Surfshark Antivirus 4.7 stars out of 5, praising its streamlined performance and effective detection.

All About Cookies also reviewed Norton AntiVirus, giving it high marks for its detection rates and ability to identify complex threats. Its multi-layered security includes behavior-based detection, which enhances its ability to spot zero-day attacks.

Norton detected 100% of malware during testing, including sophisticated and lesser-known threats. It ultimately received a score of 5 out of 5.

Surfshark vs. Norton: customer support

Reliable customer support can make a significant difference, especially for less tech-savvy users. Surfshark and Norton both provide multiple support options, but they vary in availability and response time.

Surfshark

Surfshark’s customer support is available via live chat, email, and an extensive online knowledge base. Responses are quick and helpful, often resolving issues within a few minutes on chat or hours over email, making it ideal for users needing fast, reliable support.

Norton

Norton’s support options include live chat, phone support, and a comprehensive online help section. Phone support can be a valuable asset for users who prefer real-time assistance, particularly those who need help with the extensive features Norton offers.

Final verdict: which should you choose?

After comparing Surfshark and Norton across both VPN and antivirus performance, the best choice depends on whether you prioritize a feature-rich, high-performance VPN or a deeply established antivirus suite.

Surfshark is the better choice for users who lead with a VPN and want lightweight antivirus protection bundled into a single subscription. If that sounds like you, Surfshark One gives you everything you need — a VPN, Antivirus, and privacy tools — at a price that makes it easy to get started.

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