Antivirus
Top Companies in 2025
Norton vs Sophos Home
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- Smart firewall with intrusion prevention
- Dark web monitoring
- Integrated VPN for secure browsing
- Multi-device compatibility
- Full access to all features with any plan length
- Generous 10-device coverage
- Strong phishing and identity protection
- Ransomware rollback to restore encrypted files
- Behavior-based protection
- Aggressive upselling
- High renewal costs after initial discount
- Limited features on macOS and iOS
- Resource-heavy scans can slow down older devices
- No built-in firewall
- Limited independent testing
- Fewer features available on macOS
- Lacks features like VPN or password manager
Norton Antivirus, developed by Gen Digital Inc. (formerly Symantec Corporation), has been a trusted name in cybersecurity since 1991. Headquartered in Tempe, Arizona, Norton offers a comprehensive suite of security tools designed to protect users from malware, phishing attacks, ransomware, and online threats. Their services extend beyond basic antivirus protection, incorporating features like real-time threat detection, a smart firewall, a secure VPN, dark web monitoring, cloud backup, and identity theft protection. With multi-device compatibility, Norton provides security solutions for Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS users. Independent security tests consistently rate Norton highly for their malware detection and overall performance, but user feedback is mixed. Customers appreciate their strong protection, ease of use, and frequent updates, while others criticize aggressive upselling, high renewal costs, and occasional performance slowdowns. Norton’s customer support includes 24/7 live chat, phone assistance, and an extensive knowledge base, though some users report difficulties with billing transparency and subscription management.
Sophos is a well-established name in enterprise cybersecurity, founded in 1985 and headquartered in Abingdon, England. Their expertise in large-scale threat prevention extends to individual users through Sophos Home—a consumer antivirus solution built on the same core technologies used in their business products. Sophos Home offers real-time malware protection, AI-driven threat detection, ransomware rollback, phishing prevention, and basic parental web filtering. A key feature is their cloud-based dashboard, which allows users to manage up to ten devices remotely, making them ideal for households or individuals overseeing multiple systems. Sophos Home focuses on streamlined, security-first functionality rooted in behavior-based threat prevention and enterprise-grade threat intelligence. User feedback is generally positive, especially for the clean interface, low system impact, and remote management capabilities. However, some users have noted that features can vary between platforms, with macOS lacking several tools available on Windows. Sophos Home is a simplified, no-nonsense security option for users who want powerful core protection without feature bloat. Keep reading for a deeper look into how it performs in real-world use.
- Security Rating : Excellent
- VPN : Available
- Price : Starts at $19.99 per year
- Customer Experience : Great
- Firewall : Available
- Free Trial : 7 days
- Trustpilot Score : 4.4 out of 5
- Security Rating : Fair
- VPN : Unavailable
- Price : Starts at $44.99 for one year
- Customer Experience : Good
- Firewall : As a standalone
- Free Trial : 30 days
- Trustpilot Score : 4.4 out of 5
- Lifelock identity theft protection
- Ai-based behavioral analysis
- Parental controls with web filtering and screen time
- Safecam to block unauthorized webcam access
- AI-based malware detection
- 30-day free trial and money-back guarantee
- Remote management
- Adware Removal
- Anti-Phishing
- Anti-Spam
- Anti-Theft
- Anti-Tracking
- Behavior Analysis
- Cloud Scanning
- Dark Web Scanning
- Dedicated Ransomware Protection
- E-mail Scan
- File Encryption
- Free Version
- ID Protection
- Intrusion Detection System (IDS)
- Malware Removal
- Mobile App
- On Demand Scan
- Real-Time Protection
- Spyware Removal
- Vulnerability Scanner
- Webcam Protection
- Adware Removal
- Anti-Phishing
- Anti-Spam
- Anti-Theft
- Anti-Tracking
- Behavior Analysis
- Cloud Scanning
- Dark Web Scanning
- Dedicated Ransomware Protection
- E-mail Scan
- File Encryption
- Free Version
- ID Protection
- Intrusion Detection System (IDS)
- Malware Removal
- Mobile App
- On Demand Scan
- Real-Time Protection
- Spyware Removal
- Vulnerability Scanner
- Webcam Protection
- Boot Time Scans
- Browser Cleaner
- Disk Cleaner
- Junk Files Removal
- Software/Driver Updater
- Boot Time Scans
- Browser Cleaner
- Disk Cleaner
- Junk Files Removal
- Software/Driver Updater
- Cloud Storage Backup
- Live Updates
- Parental Control
- Password Manager
- Rescue Mode
- USB Rescue Toolkit
- USB Vaccination
- Cloud Storage Backup—Undisclosed
- Live Updates—Undisclosed
- Parental Control
- Password Manager
- Rescue Mode
- USB Rescue Toolkit—Undisclosed
- USB Vaccination—Undisclosed
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- Android
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- Live Chat
- Phone
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- Community Forum
- FAQs
- Help Guides
- Live Chat
- Phone
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- Ticket