How to Cancel Norton 360 (2026 Guide) — Windows Defender Does the Job Free

Updated 2026-02-15 · 5 min read

Norton 360 costs $49.99-299.99/year after the first-year promo expires. Here's the uncomfortable truth the antivirus industry doesn't want you to know: Windows Defender (built into Windows, completely free) scores identically to Norton in independent lab tests. Mac users need antivirus even less. Here's how to cancel and stay protected for $0.

💰 The Renewal Shock

Norton's intro pricing is a bait-and-switch. Norton 360 Standard: $29.99 first year → $89.99/year after. Norton 360 Deluxe: $49.99 first year → $119.99/year. Norton 360 with LifeLock: $99.99 → $249.99/year. Your bill could triple at renewal.

How to Cancel Norton 360

Turn Off Auto-Renewal Online

Go to my.norton.com/extspa/subscriptions
Sign in
Find your subscription and click Manage
Click Turn Off Automatic Renewal
Confirm
Your protection stays active until the current period ends

Cancel and Get a Refund

Norton offers a 60-day money-back guarantee on annual subscriptions:

Call 1-800-745-6054 (24/7)
Or use live chat at support.norton.com
Request cancellation AND refund
Be firm — they will offer discounts. Decline if you want out

⚠️ Uninstall Norton After Canceling

Norton doesn't automatically uninstall when you cancel. It stays on your computer, nagging you to resubscribe. Use Norton's Norton Remove and Reinstall Tool (search for it on their site) for a clean removal. Standard uninstall often leaves residual files.

Norton 360 Plans (2026 — After Intro Price)

Plan	Year 1	Year 2+
Standard (1 device)	$29.99	$89.99
Deluxe (5 devices)	$49.99	$119.99
with LifeLock Select	$99.99	$179.99
with LifeLock Ultimate Plus	$199.99	$349.99

Do You Actually Need Paid Antivirus in 2026?

The short answer: probably not. Here's why:

Windows Defender (free, built into Windows 10/11) scores 99.7% in AV-TEST lab tests — identical to Norton
macOS has built-in XProtect and Gatekeeper. Macs rarely get traditional viruses
Browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Edge) have built-in phishing and malware protection
Most malware in 2026 comes from social engineering (phishing emails, fake sites) — no antivirus stops you from entering your password on a fake site

Free Security Stack (Replaces Norton 360)

Norton Feature	Free Alternative
Antivirus	Windows Defender (built-in)
VPN	Cloudflare WARP or Proton VPN (free tier)
Password manager	Bitwarden (free) or Apple Keychain
Dark web monitoring	HaveIBeenPwned.com (free)
Cloud backup	Google Drive (15GB free) or iCloud (5GB free)
Identity theft protection	Free credit freezes at all 3 bureaus + Credit Karma monitoring

🔒 The Best Free Security Setup

Keep Windows Defender ON (it's already there)
Use a password manager (Bitwarden — free)
Enable 2FA on important accounts
Freeze your credit at all 3 bureaus (free)
Don't click suspicious links

This $0 setup is more secure than paying $120+/year for Norton.

✅ Bottom Line

Norton 360 is paying for peace of mind you already have for free. Windows Defender scores identically in lab tests, and the other Norton features (VPN, password manager, backup) all have free alternatives that are equally good. Cancel Norton, save $90-350/year, and use the free tools above.

How much are you spending on security software?

Antivirus, VPN, identity protection — upload your bank statement to find all security subscriptions.

Find All Subscriptions →

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Quick Cancel Guide: Norton 360

Direct cancel link + step-by-step instructions