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Bitdefender antivirus is a popular option for anyone looking to protect against cyberthreats. If you’re wondering what the differences are between Bitdefender Free and Bitdefender’s paid plans, we’ve got a breakdown to help you decide which is best for you.
Bitdefender Free comes with ransomware and phishing protection, but it includes ads that some users don’t like. Bitdefender paid plans don’t have ads, but they can get pricey, depending on how many devices and users you want to register. Whichever you choose, you’ll get real-time protection against viruses, Trojans, and malware. But only with premium Bitdefender plans do you get a robust cybersecurity suite for complete protection.
Super reliable antivirus software with a non-intrusive free version
Simple yet powerful interface tools
Perfect protection score in third-party tests
Not all free antivirus products are made the same. That’s why we recommend Bitdefender free antivirus for web protection because it’s reliable and secure. But what if you need more from your antivirus? Which Bitdefender antivirus product is the best for you?
We’ve compared the free and paid versions of Bitdefender to help you decide.
| Bitdefender Free |
Bitdefender Antivirus Plus | Bitdefender Internet Security |
Bitdefender Total Security |
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| Price for first year | Free | $29.99/first yr | $42.49/first yr | $49.99/first yr |
| # devices supported | 1 | 3 | 3 | 10 |
| Compatible with | Free downloads for Windows, macOS, Android | Windows | Windows | Windows, macOS, Android, iOS |
| Manual and scheduled scan | ||||
| Real-time protection | ||||
| Ransomware protection | ||||
| Phishing protection | ||||
| Firewall | ||||
| Password manager | ||||
| Parental controls | ||||
| VPN | Yes — 200 MB/day data cap | Yes — 200 MB/day data cap | Yes — 200 MB/day data cap | |
| Learn more | View plan | View plan | View plan | View plan |
While Bitdefender offers great protection with all of its products, the paid plans have more features and services. Advanced threat protection, anti-tracker technology, a vulnerability scan, web attack prevention, webcam protection, and more essential features are available with Bitdefender’s comprehensive protection.
Antivirus tools are personal, so it’s important to know what you need before signing up for any antivirus. Take a look at each of these categories to see which product fits your needs.
The Bitdefender free edition does have ads, and Bitdefender promises they aren’t annoying or intrusive. They’re more like “personalized recommendations” than true ads, but they’re still advertisements and suggestions to upgrade. The paid plans don’t have any of these.
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Obviously, the free Bitdefender antivirus product has pricing everyone will like, but Bitdefender Total Security and Antivirus Plus both offer various tiers, so you can find one that works for your budget.
Pricing will vary depending on how many devices you need to cover and how long of a subscription you purchase up front, but mostly you’ll find each tier to be reasonably priced.
We think the Antivirus Plus tier is a great compromise between the budget-friendly free plan and the more robust Total Security plan.
This is one of the biggest differences between the free and paid plans. The free plan allows you one device, while the paid plans can accommodate up to 10. If you’re a family with several computers or need to register more than one user, then you’ll need one of the paid Bitdefender antivirus plans.
“Why not just have everyone sign up for the free version?” you might say. You could, but most people have more than one device, and there would be no synchronization between any of the antivirus software on them. It seems manageable, but trying to keep up with individual devices for your family can get really old, really fast.
We were impressed that Bitdefender Free protects against ransomware and phishing attacks. That’s not something you find on every free antivirus.
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But if you want more features like Bitdefender VPN (which is really good for a bundled VPN), a firewall, gaming mode, parental controls, webcam and microphone protection, or access to a secure password manager, you’ll need to upgrade to a paid plan.
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Considering the paid plans come with 30-day free trials, you get a chance to try out all these features without making a commitment.
Even the free version of Bitdefender offers 24/7 live chat support. There’s really no upgrade needed here because you’ll have fantastic Bitdefender support no matter which product you choose. The largest difference is compatibility. Bitdefender Free is missing an iOS app, while the paid version covers iOS devices.
Depending on your needs, one Bitdefender plan may be better than the others, but bouncing between all the different product pages can be exhausting and confusing.
If you’re in need of solid but simple security, you’d probably find the free plan to be acceptable. If you want more features, need parental controls, have a variety of devices to cover, or want advanced features, then Bitdefender Total Security is likely more your speed.
Finally, Bitdefender Antivirus Plus is a nice compromise between both of these plans for people who want more features without a higher price tag.
| Bitdefender plan | Free | Antivirus Plus | Total Security |
| Pros |
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| Cons |
|
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| Best for | Security on a budget | Compromise between budget and performance | Additional features and advanced security |
| Learn more | View Plan | View Plan | View Plan |
If Bitdefender antivirus isn’t for you, that’s okay. We’ve reviewed all of the best antivirus solutions available and have recommendations for other services you can use. Antivirus can come down to personal preference, so finding one with the right features and protections can feel like a hassle.
Check out our recommendations below, then decide what works for you and your family.
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Excellent protection against malware, ransomware, and hacking with perfect test results
Full security suite available to protect every aspect of your digital life
Protect with confidence thanks to their 100% virus removal guarantee
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Premium antivirus, scam, and web protection, plus a VPN, identity monitoring, and secure password manager
Added peace of mind with 24/7 expert online support and McAfee’s Virus Protection Pledge
Compatible with Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, and ChromeOS on up to 5 devices
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Perfect third-party test results, verifying comprehensive antivirus, ransomware, and malware protection
Includes advanced security features like a VPN, firewall, data breach alerts, privacy tools, device optimization, and more
The biggest differences between Bitdefender’s free and paid plans are the amount and quality of features you receive. Bitdefender offers basic protection in its free product that protects against ransomware, viruses, Trojans, zero-day exploits, crypto-jacking, and more. Bitdefender Free is incredibly robust, but Bitdefender's premium coverage offers a full cybersecurity suite. The additional security tools include webcam and microphone protection, remote device access, performance enhancement tools, and more. You'll also get access to a solid VPN, parental controls, and a secure password manager, to name a few. Depending on what you want from an antivirus provider, you could be very happy with the free version of Bitdefender. It’s good if you need protection but are on a budget. For individuals, this is probably a great option. If you want your family to have coordinated protection, more advanced features, and ways to organize everyone’s security from a central location, then Bitdefender Total Security would be the better option. The premium tier offers increased device coverage and advanced security features like a secure password manager and parental controls. Yes. We've independently tested 30+ antivirus solutions and think Bitdefender is one of the best. If you want more advanced protection tools and access to a complete online security suite, then Bitdefender is worth paying for as a protection service. Bitdefender has won various awards, including the 2022 Product of the Year award from AV-Comparatives, an independent antivirus testing site. This means it has been tested and shown to be more than effective against different malware that plague the internet.
What is the difference between free and paid Bitdefender?
Is the Bitdefender free version good enough?
Is Bitdefender worth paying for?
For our time and money, we would go with a paid Bitdefender plan. The Bitdefender Antivirus Plus is a nice compromise between frugality and functionality, and we love that we get a VPN. Bitdefender Total Security, on the other hand, includes enhanced protection, anti-theft tools, and other security tools. Increasing online privacy means beating back spam, identity thieves, and online tracking.
Bitdefender Free is a great product with surprisingly sound security, but it does have its limitations. Between the ad experience, which some people refuse to tolerate, and the limited number of devices, you may end up needing to purchase a paid tier to get everything you want. That works with Bitdefender because it has several premium versions, and you get more protection and features as you pay more. Plus, we've independently tested over 30 antivirus programs and ranked Bitdefender in our top 5 picks, so it's highly recommended.
Super reliable antivirus software with a non-intrusive free version
Simple yet powerful interface tools
Perfect protection score in third-party tests
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