If you’ve researched online safety software, you’ve probably seen “Norton” and “LifeLock” mentioned together so often it’s easy to assume they’re the same product wearing two names. They’re not — and understanding the actual difference matters for picking the right protection.
They’re Related, But Different Products
Norton and LifeLock share a parent company, Gen Digital, but they cover genuinely different ground:
Norton 360 is device protection software — antivirus, a firewall, a VPN, a password manager — all focused on protecting your computer, phone, and tablet from malware and online threats.
LifeLock is identity theft protection — credit monitoring, dark web monitoring, identity theft insurance, restoration support — focused on protecting your personal and financial identity rather than your devices.
Because of the shared ownership, the two get bundled together often, sold as combined plans (“Norton 360 with LifeLock”), but you can also buy Norton 360 device protection entirely on its own, no LifeLock identity features attached.
What Norton 360 Alone Covers
Standalone Norton 360 plans (Standard, Deluxe, Premium) focus purely on device and online protection:
- Antivirus and malware protection
- A firewall
- A secure VPN
- A password manager
- Cloud backup (storage varies by tier)
- Coverage for multiple devices, typically 5 or more depending on plan
These plans skip credit monitoring, dark web monitoring, and identity theft insurance entirely — that’s specifically what LifeLock brings to the table.
What LifeLock Adds
LifeLock reworked its plan structure in 2026, now organized as Core, Advanced, and Total tiers, focused on identity protection:
- Credit monitoring (one, two, or three bureaus depending on tier)
- Dark web monitoring for your personal information
- Identity theft insurance, ranging from roughly $25,000 on entry-level individual plans up to $3 million combined across categories on the top-tier LifeLock Total / Ultimate Plus plans
- U.S.-based restoration specialists to help you recover if your identity gets stolen
- Bank and credit card activity alerts
When LifeLock gets bundled with Norton 360, you also get the antivirus, VPN, and password manager features thrown in.
Should You Buy Them Bundled or Separately?
The bundle makes sense if you want both device protection and identity monitoring under one subscription, with one company to deal with — this is how most people actually buy these products.
Norton 360 alone makes sense if you specifically need device protection but already have identity monitoring elsewhere (your bank, an employer, or a service like Aura) and don’t want to pay for overlapping identity features.
LifeLock on its own isn’t typically sold without at least some Norton 360 device protection included — even entry-level LifeLock plans bundle in baseline Norton security features.
A Note on Pricing
Both brands commonly advertise discounted first-year promotional pricing that jumps significantly at renewal — sometimes 30-50% or more. As of 2026, standalone Norton 360 plans generally run from around $30 to $190 for the first year depending on tier, renewing considerably higher (Deluxe, for instance, renews around $125). Combined Norton 360 with LifeLock plans span a wider range — roughly $90 for entry-level individual coverage up to $300 or more for the top family plans with the maximum $3 million insurance ceiling. Pricing and promotions shift often, so it’s worth checking the current official pricing page directly before buying, and specifically checking the renewal price, not just the first-year promo rate.
The Bottom Line
Norton 360 protects your devices; LifeLock protects your identity — and while they’re commonly bundled together under the same parent company, they serve genuinely different purposes. Need just one or the other? Standalone Norton 360 is readily available, while LifeLock is generally purchased as part of a combined plan that includes at least some Norton device protection too.
Note: This article reflects publicly available pricing and feature information as of 2026, which is subject to change. Always confirm current plans, pricing, and coverage details directly on Norton’s and LifeLock’s official websites before purchasing.