Bitdefender vs. Kaspersky 2024: Bitdefender Offers Better Security

Bitdefender is one of the best antivirus software, and it’s great for users who want to enjoy some premium features at an affordable price. On the other hand, Kaspersky has perfect third-party test scores, but it has some unclear data-sharing practices that may not be worth the subscription. In this matchup, Bitdefender wins.

Let’s compare Bitdefender vs. Kaspersky to determine which product is right for you. 

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 that you may not be comfortable using it. 

Further, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) even named Kaspersky a possible cybersecurity threat due to Russian ties.

• Bitdefender: Best for premium features
• Kaspersky: Best for proven antivirus protection

Bitdefender vs. Kaspersky review at a glance

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.	4.1 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.
Starting price	Free or $49.99/yr (first year only)	Free or $27.99/first yr
Max number of protected devices	10	10
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 Kaspersky Read Kaspersky Review

Bitdefender pros and cons

Bitdefender offers a variety of privacy tools including parental controls, a firewall, phishing protection, and a virtual private network (VPN). 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 $27.99/first yr, while Bitdefender's starts at $49.99/yr (first year only).

Kaspersky pros and cons

Kaspersky has its own line of privacy features including optimization tools and an ad blocker. Like Bitdefender, Kaspersky also has a VPN, password manager, and parental controls. 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. 

Which antivirus is the better value? 

Bitdefender wins this one easily as it's much more affordable.

	Our Pick
Price range	Free–$40.99/first yr	$27.99–$38.99/first yr
Best value plan	Bitdefender Total Security for $49.99/yr (first year only)	Kaspersky Premium for $38.99/first yr
Money-back guarantee	Yes — 30 days	Yes — 30 days
Learn more	Get Bitdefender Read Bitdefender Review	Get Kaspersky Read Kaspersky Review

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 an affordable price. The Bitdefender Total Security plan protects five devices for only a few dollars more than Bitdefender Internet Security, which only covers three devices. With Total Security, you get compatibility with Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS devices. The cheaper plans only offer protection for Windows.

The Kaspersky Premium plan comes with a virtual private network (VPN), password manager, and 24/7 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.

Which antivirus has better features?

This one is simply too close to call. It's a tie.

Feature
Manual and scheduled scans
Phishing protection
Ransomware protection
Firewall	Yes — PC only	Yes — PC only
Parental controls
Password manager
VPN
Ad blocker
Device optimization tools
Learn more	Get Bitdefender Read Bitdefender Review	Get Kaspersky Read Kaspersky Review

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 either allows up to 200MB/day of use or offers unlimited traffic depending on your plan. 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

Windows score	18/18	18/18
macOS score	18/18	18/18
Android score	18/18	18/18
Learn more	Get Bitdefender Read Bitdefender Review	Get Kaspersky Read Kaspersky Review

Bitdefender and Kaspersky had perfect scores for all three categories. The test was scored based on performance, protection, and usability. Kaspersky had one false positives when installing and using legitimate software on Windows. It also slowed computer speed more than the industry average while launching popular websites. The industry average was 21% and Kaspersky’s score was 22% in September and 26% in October.

Bitdefender also had one 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 17% in September and 16% in October.

Bitdefender vs. Kaspersky: Compatibility and customer support

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

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.

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.

FAQs

Bitdefender vs. Kaspersky: Which is better?

Bitdefender and Kaspersky both have some good points, but Bitdefender wins. 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.

Bitdefender vs. Kaspersky alternatives

You may have read through our comparison of Bitdefender vs. Kaspersky and determined neither is right for you. Luckily, there are plenty of top-notch antivirus products on the market. Here are some recommendations for you to consider:

• Norton: Norton is a user-friendly option if you're a beginner to antivirus. It has a clean layout, plenty of guides to walk you through, as well as bonus features like a VPN and dark web monitoring for a full cybersecurity suite.

  Get Norton 360 | Read Our Norton 360 Review

• McAfee: McAfee is great if you want antivirus for the whole family. You can install it on unlimited devices, including your children's devices, and it offers plenty of safety features for kids, like parental controls and identity theft protection.

  Get McAfee | Read Our McAfee Review