Best for premium features with affordable pricing

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On Bitdefender's website

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• Simple yet powerful interface tools
• Perfect protection score in third-party tests
• Premium features incur additional subscription fees

Best for proven antivirus protection

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On Kaspersky's website

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• Competitive introductory price
• Unique features such as an on-screen keyboard
• Unclear data sharing practices

Getting the proper antivirus is a challenge many people face. You already know you should use an antivirus, but finding one that fits your needs isn’t always easy. Bitdefender is one of the best antivirus software, and it’s great for users who aren’t cost-averse and want to enjoy some premium features. Another antivirus product is Kaspersky, which comes with some unique features like an on-screen keyboard and is easy to use from the beginning.

Let’s look at these antivirus programs to see which one you want and which software you might not need to get at all. Don’t add to your shopping cart before you read this article to learn more.

Bitdefender vs. Kaspersky at a glance

Both Bitdefender antivirus and Kaspersky antivirus have worthwhile features. Either software could be ideal for PC users who want to get into the antivirus game.

One difference between these products is that Kaspersky has some unclear data-sharing practices that might give you pause. There’s a lot of legal jargon that may be hard for the average user to sort through without the help of an attorney. The software collects so much private data you may not be comfortable using it. Further, the FCC even named Kaspersky a possible cybersecurity threat due to Russian ties.

• Bitdefender: Best for premium features with affordable pricing
• Kaspersky: Best for proven antivirus protection

Bitdefender vs. Kaspersky review at a glance

	Bitdefender Our Pick	Kaspersky
Starting price	Starts at $19.99/first yr	Starts at $41.99/first yr
Max number of protected devices	10	10
24/7 customer support
Compatibility	Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge	Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, Chrome, Firefox, Edge
Free version
Phishing protection
Ransomware protection
Ad blocker
Learn more	Get Bitdefender Read Bitdefender Review	Get Kaspersky Read Kaspersky Review

Aside from privacy, Bitdefender is also better for your wallet, as it’s much cheaper than Kaspersky. Kaspersky offers the same amount of device coverage as Bitdefender, but you’ll pay more for Kaspersky. Kaspersky's starts at $41.99/first yr, while Bitdefender's starts at $19.99/first yr.

As far as extra features, Bitdefender comes with network protection. Kaspersky has web tracking tools that show you what sites are keeping tabs on your internet browsing. Yet, if you’re concerned about data privacy, you may be a bit concerned when you see a notification regarding the legal issues of using Kaspersky.

If you’re an Apple user, you may not be thrilled with either of these antivirus programs. While Bitdefender and Kaspersky have good features and decent prices, both are designed more for PC use. With Kaspersky, you get only partial or no Safari support for phishing protection. That could be a deal breaker for Mac users, although we are used to antivirus software being more available to Windows users.

Bitdefender vs. Kaspersky prices

From the table above, you can get a clear picture of the price difference between these two antivirus programs. Bitdefender is much cheaper than Kaspersky. Even if you opt for the highest Bitdefender tier, it’ll still come out cheaper than the lowest-priced plan Kaspersky offers.

When we pick the best value plan, we aim to get the one that provides value at a price you can afford. The Bitdefender Total Security plan protects five devices for only $3.00 more per year than Bitdefender Internet Security, which only covers three devices. With Total Security, you get compatibility with Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS devices. The other plans only offer protection for Windows.

The Kaspersky Plus plan comes with a virtual private network (VPN), password manager, and remote IT support. It also comes with Kaspersky Safe Kids, free for one year. However, Kaspersky Safe Kids will renew after the first year for $149.99/yr. With Safe Kids, you get GPS tracking and alerts, website filters, and settings to adjust screen times for your children.

If you’re concerned about buying an antivirus that you may not like, both products come with a free antivirus plan and a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try them out and then get your money refunded if you don’t like them. Bitdefender’s free plan protects one device and is compatible with Windows. Kaspersky’s free plan protects one device and is compatible with Windows, Android, and iOS. Both free versions can scan and clean your device.

Bitdefender vs. Kaspersky: features

Bitdefender and Kaspersky offer similar security features, like manual and scheduled scans, phishing protection, and ransomware protection. With both products, the firewall is only available for Windows users, so you’ll lose out on that function if you’re running macOS.

One of Kaspersky’s unique features is an on-screen keyboard to protect against keylogging. Keylogging happens when hackers access the actual keys you’ve pressed on your physical keyboard.

Kaspersky also comes with a web tracking feature to spot internet trackers and block them. Our results showed that 40% of those attempts weren’t blocked.

As far as extra features, Bitdefender offers safe online banking, real-time protection, and a secure VPN service that allows up to 200MB/day of use. One thing we’d like to mention is that some of Bitdefender’s features are only offered through its premium security suites. For instance, you won’t get all the protection designed for your Mac unless you opt for the Total Security plan.

Bitdefender vs. Kaspersky: test results

We rely on third-party tests to find out how an antivirus performs regarding malware detection and prevention. For this review, we used the test scores from AV-TEST because it evaluates software based on real-world scenarios. AV-TEST performs thousands of these comparisons each year and puts products through rigorous testing. Using third-party testing can give you an objective view so you can make an informed decision before you purchase antivirus software.

Bitdefender vs. Kaspersky AV-TEST scores

Bitdefender and Kaspersky had perfect scores for all three categories. The test was scored based on Performance, Protection, and Usability. Kaspersky had two false positives when using legitimate software on Windows. It also slowed the operating system down more than the industry average when tested in March and April. The industry average is 21% and Kaspersky’s score was 30% in March and 25% in April.

Bitdefender also had two false positives when using legitimate software on Windows. Yet, when investigating how much it would slow down the operating system, Bitdefender scored less than the 21% industry average, with 14% in March and 16% in April.

Bitdefender vs. Kaspersky: compatibility and ease of use

Reviewed by Patti Croft

“If you’re an Apple user, you may not be thrilled with either of these antivirus programs. While Bitdefender and Kaspersky have good features and decent prices, both are designed more for PC use. With Kaspersky, you get only partial or no Safari support for phishing protection. That could be a deal breaker for Mac users, although we are used to antivirus software being more available to Windows users.”

Bitdefender’s user interface is easy to navigate. You get a clear view of your protection options and only need to toggle them on to make the features work. You can use the protection features with minimal, if any, impact on your device.

We will note that the Mac version comes with fewer features than the Windows version. If you’re an Apple user and don’t see the Scheduled scanning option, that’s why.

The only difficulty of using the interface was realizing that parental controls must be accessed and maintained by way of the Bitdefender Central browser hub. You’re essentially using two apps, Bitdefender and Bitdefender Central. But once you get to the parental controls interface, setting everything up is seamless.

The Kaspersky interface is clean and well-organized, and the scan feature was intuitive. Yet, this software is not conducive to macOS users. We had to search the website for answers, which was time-consuming. Since some features don’t work for Mac, we went through the chatbox prompts with questions and tried to navigate through the support questions, which got to be frustrating after a while.

We also had to enable the browser extension for the web monitoring tools to work. The installation wasn’t difficult, but it would’ve been nice to know this upfront. However, the on-screen keyboard was simple and didn’t present any issues. It was also easy to see what was protected by referring to the interface under the Protection tab.

Bitdefender vs. Kaspersky: customer service

Both Bitdefender and Kaspersky offer multiple methods of customer support. When placing a call to Bitdefender, we found the rep to be helpful and kind. He was surprised to find out the macOS version didn’t come with all the features that are available for Windows. He even apologized for the inconvenience, but it’s surprising he wasn’t aware of that difference.

Kaspersky also has numerous avenues for support. When you send a chat message, you get an automatic reply that gives you the option to call for service. Interestingly, the chat also makes you agree to receive marketing communications, which seems odd when trying to get help from support. When we called support, the representative was knowledgeable and ready to assist us. It took about 15 minutes from start to finish. However, you will need the Premium version if you want 24/7 device support.

Bitdefender vs. Kaspersky FAQs

Bitdefender vs. Kaspersky: which is better?

Bitdefender and Kaspersky both have some good points. They both scored well with AV-TEST when put through real-world testing. When looking at which software is better, one fundamental point that sticks out is pricing. Bitdefender offers similar features for a much lower price. It’s hard to justify paying more for equal features.

Although both programs offer fewer features for Mac users, we found the experience with Bitdefender to be better. Another reason we think Bitdefender is the better choice is because of the national security threat Kaspersky could pose. If the FCC considers the software a threat, we aren’t sure we can recommend it in good conscience. If you’re looking for an all-around solid antivirus software that’s designed more for the avid Windows user, we think Bitdefender is the better antivirus software. 

And if you're still searching for an antivirus program for macOS, you can read our guide on the best antivirus for Mac.

Learn More

On Bitdefender's website

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• Simple yet powerful interface tools
• Perfect protection score in third-party tests
• Premium features incur additional subscription fees

Author Details

Patti Croft

About the Author

Patti Croft is a freelance writer who specializes in all things technology. Her expertise includes antivirus software, online security strategies, and safety practices. She has a degree in Computer Information Systems and extensive experience working in the IT field. In her spare time, Patti is an avid reader and researcher, and loves spending time with her pets. She currently shares an office with her cat, Beau.