For Windows 11 users looking beyond Norton, Bitdefender Total Security, Microsoft Defender Antivirus, and Malwarebytes Premium are all supported by recent independent test results. There is no single winner across every test: Bitdefender led the cited March 2026 malware-protection results, while Defender and Malwarebytes also earned strong scores in Windows 11 testing. The right choice depends on the threat scenario, false alarms, device and platform needs, and whether you want a paid suite or built-in protection.
Which Norton alternatives are worth considering?
These three options have recent Windows-focused results from AV-TEST and AV-Comparatives. The labs use different methods, so their scores should be read separately rather than combined into one ranking.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
| Option | AV-TEST, Windows 11 | AV-Comparatives, March 2026 | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bitdefender Total Security | 18/18 in April 2026 and August 2026. AV-TEST’s total includes protection, performance, and usability. AV-TEST | 99.94% online protection and 4 false alarms in the Malware Protection Test. AV-Comparatives | A strong paid-suite candidate to compare against Norton; check that its included features and device coverage match your needs. |
| Microsoft Defender Antivirus | 18/18 in April 2026 and 17.5/18 in August 2026. AV-TEST | 99.93% online protection and 3 false alarms in the March 2026 Malware Protection Test. AV-Comparatives | A built-in Windows option and useful baseline if you do not want to buy another security suite. |
| Malwarebytes Premium | 17.5/18 in April 2026 and 18/18 in August 2026. AV-TEST | 99.59% online protection and 23 false alarms in the March 2026 Malware Protection Test. AV-Comparatives | A tested alternative, with a higher false-alarm count than the other two products in that AV-Comparatives test. |
AV-TEST scores each product across protection, performance, and usability, with six points available in each category. Its Windows 11 home-user tests use current publicly available versions with default settings, allow products to update and query cloud services, and award its Top Product distinction at 17.5 points or higher. The score is not a malware-only detection percentage. AV-TEST methodology and results
AV-Comparatives’ March 2026 figures come from a different test: its percentages measure online protection against malicious files, and it records false alarms separately. A near-identical protection rate does not mean the products have identical behavior or usability. AV-Comparatives Malware Protection Test, March 2026
#1 Best Overall
![Norton 360 Deluxe 2027 Antivirus, 3 Devices, Auto-Renews [Download]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41qw3FS3qLL._SL160_.jpg)
- ONGOING PROTECTION Download instantly & install protection for 3 PCs, Macs, iOS or Android devices in minutes!
- TOP-PERFORMING VPN Faster speeds, more server locations, and greater connection control to protect your privacy across all your devices, including Smart TVs.
- ADVANCED SCAM PROTECTION Help spot hidden scams online. With the built-in Genie AI assistant, you’ll never wonder if a message or email is suspicious again.
- REAL-TIME PROTECTION Advanced security protects against existing and emerging malware threats, including ransomware and viruses, and it won’t slow down your device performance.
- DARK WEB MONITORING Identity thieves can buy or sell your information on websites and forums. We search the dark web and notify you should your information be found.
What the malware results mean for Trojan protection
A Trojan can reach a computer through a malicious link or download, or be present as a file that a user later opens. Test design matters because security software can intervene at several points: when a web address is visited, when a file downloads, when it is accessed locally, or when it runs.
File-focused protection
AV-Comparatives’ March 2026 Malware Protection Test examined malicious files that could already be on a system or arrive through sources such as a network drive or USB. Products scanned samples on access and on demand, both online and offline. Samples missed by those scans were executed with cloud access available, giving behavioral defenses a chance to act. A sample counted as a miss if the product did not prevent or reverse system changes. The result therefore reflects protection before, during, and after execution—not just signature detection before a file runs. AV-Comparatives test description
Rank #2
![Norton 360 Deluxe 2027 Antivirus, 5 Devices, Auto-Renews [Download] | Includes Scam Protection, Advanced VPN, Dark Web Monitoring, & PC Cloud Backup](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41IYV5zGyCL._SL160_.jpg)
- ONGOING PROTECTION Download instantly & install protection for 5 PCs, Macs, iOS or Android devices in minutes!
- TOP-PERFORMING VPN Faster speeds, more server locations, and greater connection control to protect your privacy across all your devices, including Smart TVs.
- ADVANCED SCAM PROTECTION Help spot hidden scams online. With the built-in Genie AI assistant, you’ll never wonder if a message or email is suspicious again.
- REAL-TIME PROTECTION Advanced security protects against existing and emerging malware threats, including ransomware and viruses, and it won’t slow down your device performance.
- DARK WEB MONITORING Identity thieves can buy or sell your information on websites and forums. We search the dark web and notify you should your information be found.
Web-driven, real-world protection
AV-Comparatives’ February–May 2026 Real-World Protection Test evaluated defenses at multiple stages, including URL access, download, local file access, and execution. Its malicious URLs included links that directly deliver malware executables and scenarios in which a user is tricked by spam or a website into installing a Trojan or other malware. That makes this test especially relevant to the path from a deceptive link to an installed threat. AV-Comparatives notes that products within a statistical cluster may be equally effective and that false-positive rates affect awards. AV-Comparatives Real-World Protection Test, February–May 2026
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →The two tests answer related but different questions. The March file test helps compare defenses against malicious files in varied states and locations; the real-world test better represents a user encountering a malicious website or download. Neither result guarantees future protection on every device or against every Trojan.
Rank #3
![Norton 360 Standard 2027 Antivirus, 1 Device, Auto-Renews [Download]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41x4znw3OyL._SL160_.jpg)
- ONGOING PROTECTION Download instantly & install protection for 1 PC, Mac, iOS or Android device in minutes!
- TOP-PERFORMING VPN Faster speeds, more server locations, and greater connection control to protect your privacy across all your devices, including Smart TVs.
- ADVANCED SCAM PROTECTION Help spot hidden scams online. With the built-in Genie AI assistant, you’ll never wonder if a message or email is suspicious again.
- REAL-TIME PROTECTION Advanced security protects against existing and emerging malware threats, including ransomware and viruses, and it won’t slow down your device performance.
- DARK WEB MONITORING Identity thieves can buy or sell your information on websites and forums. We search the dark web and notify you should your information be found.
How to choose between them
- Choose Bitdefender Total Security if you want a paid suite to compare with Norton and value its strong results in both cited labs. Review the current plan’s exact features and device limits before deciding; the lab scores do not evaluate every suite extra.
- Choose Microsoft Defender if you use Windows and want a built-in option without purchasing another suite. The cited evidence is specific to Windows 11 and does not establish how it compares on other operating systems.
- Consider Malwarebytes Premium if it suits your needs as a tested alternative, while factoring in its 23 false alarms in AV-Comparatives’ March 2026 test—more than Bitdefender or Microsoft in that same test.
Use the results as evidence, not as a guarantee. AV-TEST’s out-of-18 score includes usability and performance as well as protection; AV-Comparatives’ protection percentage and false-alarm count come from its own malware-file methodology. Avoid treating either lab’s result as a direct measure of all-day protection for every operating system.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the comparisons do not establish
The cited comparative results are Windows-focused, including Windows 11 testing, and do not establish equivalent performance on macOS, Android, or iOS. If you need protection for those systems, compare platform-specific test evidence and confirm that the product edition covers the devices you intend to protect.
Rank #4
![Norton 360 Premium 2027 Antivirus, 10 Devices, Auto-Renews [Download]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41JNWru8mYL._SL160_.jpg)
- ONGOING PROTECTION Download instantly & install protection for 10 PCs, Macs, iOS or Android devices in minutes!
- TOP-PERFORMING VPN Faster speeds, more server locations, and greater connection control to protect your privacy across all your devices, including Smart TVs.
- ADVANCED SCAM PROTECTION Help spot hidden scams online. With the built-in Genie AI assistant, you’ll never wonder if a message or email is suspicious again.
- REAL-TIME PROTECTION Advanced security protects against existing and emerging malware threats, including ransomware and viruses, and it won’t slow down your device performance.
- DARK WEB MONITORING Identity thieves can buy or sell your information on websites and forums. We search the dark web and notify you should your information be found.
Likewise, suite features such as a firewall, ransomware protection, vulnerability scanning, parental controls, VPN, or backup are separate from lab malware scores. TechRadar’s 2026 roundup discusses such suite features and recommends Bitdefender Total Security for most readers, but that is editorial guidance rather than a controlled comparative test. Feature availability, plan limits, pricing, and offers can change; confirm current details with the vendor before buying. TechRadar antivirus roundup
Quick Recap
Best Value
![Norton AntiVirus Plus 2027, 1 Device, Auto-Renews [Download]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41VAV7G019L._SL160_.jpg)
- ONGOING PROTECTION Download instantly & install protection for your PC or Mac in minutes!
- ADVANCED SCAM PROTECTION Help spot hidden scams online. With the built-in Genie AI assistant, you’ll never wonder if a message or email is suspicious again.
- REAL-TIME PROTECTION Advanced security protects against existing and emerging malware threats, including ransomware and viruses, and it won’t slow down your device performance.
- SAFEGUARD YOUR PASSWORDS Easily create, store, and manage your passwords, credit card information and other credentials online in your own encrypted, cloud-based vault.
- 2 GB SECURE PC CLOUD BACKUP Help prevent the loss of photos and files due to ransomware or hard drive failures.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
