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Bitdefender antivirus is a popular option for anyone looking for protection from cyberthreats. If you’re wondering what the differences are between Bitdefender Free and Bitdefender’s paid plans, we’ve got a breakdown that can help you decide which is best for you.
The Bitdefender free edition does come 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 computers and users you want to register. Whatever you choose, you’ll need to keep protected from viruses, Trojans, and malware.
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 Paid | |
| Starting price | Free | Starts at $29.99/first yr |
| Number of devices | 1 | Up to 10 |
| 24/7 customer support | ||
| Compatibility | Windows, macOS, Android | Windows, macOS, Android, iOS |
| Real-time protection | ||
| Phishing protection | ||
| Ransomware protection | ||
| Learn more | Get Bitdefender Free | Get Bitdefender Paid |
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.
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 the free plan protects against ransomware and phishing attacks. That’s not something you find on every free antivirus.
But if you want more features like Bitdefender’s virtual private network (VPN), gaming mode, parental controls, anti-spam anti-phishing, or a myriad of other features, you’ll need to upgrade to a paid plan. Considering the paid plans come with 30-day free trials, you get a chance to try out all these features without making a commitment.
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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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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 ok. 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.
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.
It’s incredibly robust, but the paid versions offer even more protection in the form of advanced tools. The additional features include webcam and microphone protection, remote device access, performance enhancement tools, and more.
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 free may not be enough.
If you want more advanced protection tools, a variety of features, and identity protection, then, yes, Bitdefender is worth paying for as a protection service. Bitdefender has won a variety of 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 a variety of malware types that plague the internet.
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.
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.
There are millions of viruses and malware floating around the internet, so whatever plan you decide to choose, just make sure you use antivirus software to stay safe online.
Antivirus software offering reliable security
Simple yet powerful interface tools
Perfect protection score in third-party tests
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