Norton's free trial length depends on the product: the Norton 360 plans on Norton's US downloads page come with a 7-day free trial, the Norton 360 mobile app offers a 14-day trial, and Norton AntiVirus Plus has a 30-day trial. Every one of them needs a payment method at sign-up, and your paid subscription starts automatically unless you cancel before the trial ends.
That's why so many people end up paying for Norton without meaning to. The trial is real and it's the full product, but it's a card-on-file trial, and the refund rules after you're charged are different for monthly and annual plans. Here's the whole picture before you download anything.
Which Norton trial are you getting?
| Product | Trial length | Where you start it |
|---|---|---|
| Norton 360 plans (for example Norton 360 for Gamers) | 7 days | Norton's free trials page |
| Norton 360 for Mobile | 14 days | Inside the app from the App Store or Google Play |
| Norton AntiVirus Plus | 30 days | Norton's free antivirus trial page |
Norton says all three are the full product, not a cut-down version. Its AntiVirus Plus page puts it plainly: this is no lite version. Norton also says there are no free versions of Norton 360, so once a trial ends you need a paid subscription to keep using it.
What you need to start a trial
- A Norton account. Norton says you can't sign up for a free trial without signing in or creating one.
- A payment method. Norton's offer details say a payment method is required at sign-up and will be charged at the end of the trial period unless you cancel first.
- An automatically renewing subscription. Norton's terms say that by subscribing you're buying a recurring subscription that renews automatically.
What it costs after the trial
Norton's prices change by plan and by promotion, and many of the plan cards on its downloads page load prices dynamically. The one clearly printed on the page is Norton 360 for Gamers: $44.99 for the first year after the trial, then $99.99 a year, as of October 2026. Expect the same pattern on other plans: a lower first year, then a higher renewal price.
There's one more billing detail worth knowing. Norton's offer terms say annual renewal payments can be billed up to 35 days before the renewal date. So if you plan to leave at renewal time, cancel well before the date on your account, not on it.
How to cancel a Norton trial
If you signed up on Norton's website
- Sign in to your Norton account.
- Turn off automatic renewal or cancel the subscription before the trial end date.
- Keep the confirmation email.
- If anything's unclear, Norton's refund page points to its full Cancellation and Refund Policy.
If you started the trial in the mobile app
Norton says the 14-day app trial on Google Play or the App Store needs a payment method and the activation of an annual subscription through the store, and a charge is made at the end of the trial unless you cancel first. Because the store bills you, you cancel it in your Apple or Google subscriptions, not in your Norton account. Norton's refund page confirms that in-app purchases can only be cancelled or changed from the Apple App Store, Google Play Store or Microsoft Store.
In the mobile app, Norton also shows a first-year offer instead of a trial on some plans. Its support page says that first-year offer is only available on Norton 360 Deluxe, so if you see a discounted first year rather than a free trial, that's the plan you're looking at.
If you've already been charged
Norton's refund policy gives you a way back, as long as you act within the window:
| Plan after the trial | Full refund window |
|---|---|
| Annual subscription | Within 60 days of being charged |
| Monthly subscription | Within 14 days of being charged |
| Later monthly renewals | Not refundable |
| Bought through a partner | Norton can't refund it; ask the partner |
Norton also says that after a refund, the software may deactivate automatically, and you're expected to delete it. Make sure you've got other protection installed before you ask for the refund, so your computer isn't left uncovered.
If you're comparing suites, our Bitdefender trial guide explains a trial that simply expires instead of renewing.
Is a trial the right move?
If you want to see whether Norton slows your computer down, test its VPN or check the password manager before committing, a trial is a sensible way to do it. If you're mainly after basic protection on a personal laptop, read my guide to free antivirus options first, because you may not need a paid suite at all. And if you're choosing between the big names, my Norton vs McAfee comparison covers the differences.
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For small businesses
Norton's downloads page also lists small business plans that cover devices per user. If you're protecting a team rather than a household, compare a few options in my roundup of antivirus for small businesses before you start a consumer trial that doesn't fit how you work.
My advice
Pick the trial that matches what you want to test: 30 days of AntiVirus Plus if you only need virus protection, 7 days of a Norton 360 plan if you want the VPN and identity features. Put the end date in your calendar the day you sign up, cancel a day early if you're not sure, and remember the 60-day refund on annual plans if you miss it. That refund window is generous, but it's only useful if you know it exists.
McAfee runs its own trial with a different cancel rule, set out in our McAfee trial guide.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the Norton free trial?
It depends on the product: Norton's US downloads page offers 7-day trials of Norton 360 plans, the Norton 360 mobile app offers 14 days, and Norton AntiVirus Plus offers 30 days.
Do I need a credit card for the Norton free trial?
Yes. Norton says a payment method is required at sign-up and is charged at the end of the trial unless you cancel first.
Is there a free version of Norton 360?
No. Norton says there are no free versions of Norton 360, so you need a paid subscription once the trial expires.
Can I get a refund after the Norton trial converts?
Yes. Norton says annual plans after a free trial can be refunded within 60 days of being charged, and monthly plans within 14 days of being charged.
How do I cancel a Norton trial I started in the app?
Cancel it in your Apple App Store or Google Play subscriptions. Norton says in-app purchases can only be cancelled from the store you bought them in.
