Bitdefender vs. Avira 2025: With Bitdefender, Protection Meets Value

Bitdefender and Avira both offer a free service that can be upgraded for additional features at a monthly or annual price. Bitdefender Antivirus Free is primarily available for Windows users, whereas Avira Antivirus is available for both Windows and Mac users at no cost. But based on in-house and third-party testing, overall, Bitdefender is the better antivirus.

We’ll dive into Bitdefender vs. Avira and discuss their competitive pricing plans, malware protection abilities, bonus features like a virtual private network (VPN), and more, so you can focus on protecting your devices with the right antivirus for you.

Bitdefender vs. Avira review at a glance

• Bitdefender: Best for complete online protection
• Avira: Best for a hands-off experience

	Our Pick
Star rating	5.0 AllAboutCookies writers and editors score products based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.	4.8 AllAboutCookies writers and editors score products based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.
Price	Free or $24.99–$64.99/first yr	Free or $26.99–$59.99/first yr
Max number of protected devices	Up to 25	Up to 25
Malware scans	Manual and scheduled	Manual and scheduled
Real-time protection
Phishing protection
Ransomware protection
24/7 customer support
Compatibility	Windows, macOS, Android, iOS	Windows, macOS, Android, iOS
Learn more	Get Bitdefender Read Bitdefender Review	Get Avira Read Avira Review

Bitdefender pros and cons

Upgrading to Bitdefender’s Premium Security unlocks a lot more security features. It protects hard drives and SSDs from ransomware attacks and also has features like credit card fraud alerts. Bitdefender not only protects your computer with antivirus software across multiple platforms but also safeguards your physical and digital belongings that are important to you.

Bitdefender’s Premium Security plan costs $64.99/first yr and its features both protect you and predict when threats are on their way. These include identity theft protection, proprietary Scam Copilot, a password manager, unlimited VPN, and more. Protection features also include multi-layered ransomware blockers, anti-phishing, and advanced threat defense.

Avira pros and cons

If you opt to pay for a plan, Avira’s mighty sword comes with plenty of features, and the free version sets up a great antivirus foundation. Avira Prime comes with features like VIP customer support, a password manager, data breach scans, and an unlimited VPN. Plus, it runs scans to block malware and phishing threats. Avira Prime’s price ranges from $59.99/first yr depending on how many devices you wish to protect. 

You can start by protecting up to five devices, but a 25-device subscription option is also available if you need to protect more devices. If you are a Mac user, Avira runs natively on Apple’s M-series silicon chips, as well as on Windows 11 and current versions of Android and iOS.

Which antivirus is the better value?

While both offer reliable free plans, Bitdefender has more competitive prices for its paid services than Avira.

	Our Pick
Price range	$24.99–$64.99/first yr	$26.99–$59.99/first yr
Best value plan	Bitdefender Premium Security for $64.99/first yr	Avira Prime for $59.99/first yr
Money-back guarantee	Yes — 30 days	Yes — 60 days
Learn more	Get Bitdefender Read Bitdefender Review	Get Avira Read Avira Review

The biggest difference between Bitdefender and Avira is in the cost of their premium security suites. Avira Prime can cost anywhere between . It comes with comprehensive antivirus software, a PC cleaner (also known as a junk cleaner for macOS), an unlimited VPN, and a password manager. 

Bitdefender Premium Security at $64.99/first yr also comes with the antivirus, plus security features that protect you from malware, tracking, identity fraud, and other cyberthreats.

From a financial standpoint, Bitdefender offers significantly more value for a comparable price. Bitdefender Premium Security protects up to five devices, while Avira Prime also starts by protecting five. If you choose to cover up to 25 devices with Avira Prime, you'll still get fewer security features than with Bitdefender. 

When it comes to their free versions, Avira has the advantage over Bitdefender by offering more features to test out before deciding to upgrade. With fewer features, the only true way to try out Bitdefender is to take advantage of its 30-day money-back guarantee. This contrasts with Avira’s 60-day money-back guarantee.

Which antivirus has better features?

Bitdefender offers a more comprehensive list of features in its paid plans.

	Our Pick
Manual and scheduled scans
Phishing protection
Ransomware protection
Firewall	Yes (Windows only)	Yes (Windows only)
Device optimization tools
Parental controls
Password manager
VPN
Ad blocker	Yes (with VPN)
Extras	Scam Copilot, scam prevention and detection, email protection, cryptomining protection, webcam protection	Identity monitoring, file shredder, Avira Safe Shopping
Learn more	Get Bitdefender Read Bitdefender Review	Get Avira Read Avira Review

If you choose to test out the free versions of Bitdefender and Avira, you’ll find scanning for phishing attempts, ransomware, and malware. However, Bitdefender Free is only compatible with Windows PCs. For macOS, we found Bitdefender’s Virus Scanner in the Apple App Store. This app can scan for malware and quarantine dangerous files, just like the Windows counterpart.

Now, if detecting viruses is all you need, then both programs will suffice. But if you want more protection while surfing the internet, then Avira has got you covered with a VPN and a password manager, so you can feel more secure with your day-to-day online activities.

Another Avira feature that can help your device is the Junk Cleaner. It scans all storage devices to ensure there are no files that could clutter or be hidden, potentially harming your system. Downloading files from the internet can be risky; one download could contain a virus that sneaks onto your SSD.

With Avira Prime, you also get Avira Phantom VPN and get dark web monitoring. This feature checks if your information has been compromised and is available for sale on the dark web, a notorious underground black market. You also get alerts anytime your identity has been compromised in security breaches.

However, Bitdefender Premium Security comes with unique features, including comprehensive identity theft protection and identity theft insurance. Bitdefender watches for your Social Security, credit and debit cards, address, and even medical records to see if they’re being used by someone you didn’t authorize. It also includes parental controls, allowing you to filter potentially dangerous or inappropriate internet content and manage your children’s screen time.

Other tested Bitdefender features:

• Bitdefender SecurePass password manager
• Bitdefender VPN

Bitdefender vs. Avira: Test results

When dealing with services that protect people’s personal information, it’s best to consult an objective third party so that our faith in these products is not swayed by biases or sponsored opinions. 

That’s why we use a trusted, certified third-party tester like AV-TEST. Its antivirus testing is rigorous and ensures each product has undergone quality control, so the marketing of the product is correct in its claims. We also see how antivirus software protects against home malware, as reported by SE Labs.

Bitdefender vs. Avira AV-TEST scores

	Our Pick
Windows score	18/18	18/18
macOS score	18/18	18/18
Android score	18/18	17/18
SE Labs malware protection results	100%	97%
Learn more	Get Bitdefender Read Bitdefender Review	Get Avira Read Avira Review

Both Bitdefender and Avira were tested on Windows, macOS, and Android for the AV-TEST tests. Both scored well for performance, usability, and protection for Windows and macOS operating systems. However, Bitdefender outperformed Avira in both Android testing and overall home malware protection. This is no surprise considering Bitdefender offers some of the most advanced scam protection available today. 

Which antivirus has the better compatibility and customer support?

Both Bitdefender and Avira offer cross-device compatibility, but Bitdefender offers more accessible support

	Our Pick
Windows
macOS
Android
iOS
Browser extensions	Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge	Chrome, Firefox, Opera
24/7 customer support
Customer support options	Live chat, phone, email, forums, online guides	Live chat, phone, email, forums, online guides
Learn more	Get Bitdefender Read Bitdefender Review	Get Avira Read Avira Review

When it comes to ease of use, both Avira and Bitdefender are equally user-friendly. From personal testing, both programs were relatively easy to use, and both feature a sidebar that facilitates searching for the right tool. You can schedule scans, track the protection status on your device, and find optimization tools to help your device’s performance.

While both antiviruses offer great user experiences, Avira has an advantage over Bitdefender due to its more feature-rich free version. Downloading Avira is quick, and it can start scanning and cleaning drives before you even have a chance to think about plans.

As far as customer support, only Bitdefender offers 24/7 support. Additionally, with Avira, a paid subscription is required to receive phone support. You can reach Avira and Bitdefender via text, email, and/or phone call. In our experience, both customer support teams were polite and eager to help with the problems that were presented to them.

It’s also common for tech companies to provide knowledge bases to help users self-diagnose and troubleshoot problems. Avira’s knowledge base offers guides, categorized by the system you’re having trouble with, along with step-by-step instructions. Bitdefender offers the same, plus video tutorials for troubleshooting.

Bitdefender vs. Avira alternatives

Bitdefender is one of the best antivirus software we've tested, particularly in terms of robust scam prevention and protection. But if you need unlimited devices, a lower impact on device performance, or even a more robust security suite, here are other top antivirus software we've tested:

FAQs

Bitdefender vs. Avira: Which is better?

Bitdefender is the better antivirus based on our experience. 

Although both antiviruses are robust and user-friendly tools that can detect and eliminate malware threats, the differences between free and paid versions can be substantial. For paid options, Bitdefender Premium Security stands out due to its extensive list of safety features, higher AV-TEST scores, and competitive pricing.