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Best Security Suite
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Antivirus software offering reliable security
Simple yet powerful interface tools
Perfect protection score in third-party tests
Best for Basic Security
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Comprehensive security
30-day no-commitment free trial
We found both Trend Micro and Bitdefender to be solid antivirus programs. Trend Micro has a range of products to fit almost any budget, but no free version. Prices start at $19.95/yr for one device, but you’ll get more features like parental controls with the higher tier plans.
Bitdefender starts at a higher price point of $29.99/first yr, but packs a lot into the price, like a virtual private network (VPN), social network protection, and an anti-tracker feature.
Keep reading to find out which one of these antivirus programs checks the most boxes for you.
With Trend Micro, the basic plan is limited. It’s compatible only with Windows and covers only one device. It offers ransomware protection, internet safeguards, and a few more features.
If you want more security options, like password protection and macOS coverage, you’ll need to spring for the Maximum Security or Premium Security Suite plans. These cost $49.95/yr to $$54.95/yr respectively.
If you have a family, both plans have parental control features.
If you’re on a budget or want to try a free version first, Bitdefender is the better option. It also offers multi-device protection with all plans.
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| Starting price | Starts at $29.99/first yr | Starts at $19.95/yr |
| Free version | ||
| Max number of protected devices | 5 | 10 |
| 24/7 customer support | ||
| Compatibility | Windows, macOS, Android, iOS | Windows, macOS, Android, iOS |
| Real-time protection | ||
| Phishing protection | ||
| Ransomware protection | ||
| Learn more | Get Bitdefender | Read Trend Micro Review |
Our Pick
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| Price range | $14.99–$49.99/first yr | $19.95–$54.95/yr |
| Best value plan | Bitdefender Total Security for $49.99/first yr | Trend Micro Premium Security Suite for $54.95/yr |
| Money-back guarantee | Yes, 30 days | Yes, 30 days |
| Learn more | Get Bitdefender | Read Trend Micro Review |
Trend Micro starts at a cheaper price than Bitdefender but it costs more than Bitdefender for the highest-tiered plan. If you need security protection for up to 10 devices, Trend Micro’s Premium Security Suite is the plan for you at $54.95.
For the best value plan, we typically choose a mid-range option. But if you need an antivirus that includes features like a VPN and identity theft protection, you should get the Premium Security Suite for a few dollars more per year. It covers twice as many devices as the Maximum Security plan, and you get more features, like dark web monitoring.
Bitdefender starts at $29.99/first yr for the Antivirus Plus plan, which covers 1 to 10 PCs. The next tier, Internet Security, gives you more advanced protection, including parental controls, a privacy firewall, and more.
We chose Bitdefender Total Security as the best value because it not only protects up to 10 devices but it provides protection for macOS, Android, and iOS. For a few additional dollars, you get more features like a device optimizer and webcam protection.
Both Bitdefender and Trend Micro offer a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you’re not happy with the software, you can get a full refund.
Our Pick
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| Manual and scheduled scans | ||
| Real-time protection | ||
| Phishing protection | ||
| Ransomware protection | ||
| Firewall | ||
| Parental controls | ||
| Password manager | ||
| VPN | ||
| Ad blocker | ||
| Device optimization tools | ||
| Learn more | Get Bitdefender | Read Trend Micro Review |
Comparing these two products’ features is where the rubber meets the road. Trend Micro has the standard antivirus features, like real-time protection and phishing security.
Yet, one of the main drawbacks we found is that Trend Micro doesn’t offer a firewall. A firewall is a great asset to have in security protection because it prevents unauthorized users from connecting to your device.
Another difference between Bitdefender and Trend Micro is you can only get the VPN if you sign up for Trend Micro’s Premium plan. Bitdefender offers a VPN with all its plans.
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We should point out that both of these products have plenty to offer. Whether it’s optimization features or items like parental controls, Bitdefender and Trend Micro have options for everyone.
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When we review antivirus products, we don’t only rely on our thorough testing. To better illustrate how an antivirus performs regarding malware detection and prevention, we turn to third-party test sites for accurate, unbiased results. For this comparison, we used AV-TEST.
Our Pick
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| AV-TEST Windows scores | 18/18 | 17/18 |
| AV-TEST macOS score | 18/18 | 18/18 |
| AV-TEST Android score | 18/18 | 18/18 |
| Learn more | Get Bitdefender | Read Trend Micro Review |
For Windows, Trend Micro didn’t score quite as well as Bitdefender in the Usability section. This 5 out of 6 score was likely due to the false blockages while installing and using legitimate software.
The industry average for false blockages is 3, and Trend Micro had 6. However, Trend Micro did receive perfect scores for protection and did well when testing performance.
Alternatively, Bitdefender received 18 out of 18 for Windows, Android, and macOS. It also scored higher than the industry average for protection against zero-day malware attacks. The average is 97.6%, and Bitdefender scored 100% in November and December.
For usability, the industry average for false detections of legitimate software is 17, but Bitdefender had only 2 in November and none in December.
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| Windows | ||
| macOS | ||
| Android | ||
| iOS | ||
| Browser extensions | Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera | Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari |
| 24/7 customer support | ||
| Customer support options | Live chat, phone, email, online guides, support forums | Chat, phone, email, support forums, social media |
| Learn more | Get Bitdefender | Read Trend Micro Review |
Bitdefender was easy to use, and we found the menus organized and accessible. Although it has a feature-rich environment, we never felt overwhelmed navigating the interface.
There was no lag time when running scans, even though we gave it a good workout with numerous browser tabs open and streaming video services running. The only tiny fault we might have is that there are two parts to Bitdefender — the antivirus app and Bitdefender Central browser hub. To load the parental controls, you must swap between these two. Otherwise, there’s much more to like about this dashboard than not.
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If you’re an Apple user, there are some features you won’t get with Bitdefender. Although this is common with antivirus software, not having the firewall, file shredder, and scheduled scans removes value from the Mac product.
Trend Micro took a bit longer to run the initial scan, but that was because it checked for malware and looked for performance updates. The next scan was faster. You can also customize the scan by choosing the drives and files you want to check. The interface has plenty of features that are easy to find and test.
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Finding a better antivirus than Bitdefender is subjective to the user. For instance, if you don’t use Windows, you may want security software more centered on Apple products, like AVG or CleanMyMac X.
According to the third-party testing scores from AV-TEST, we feel Trend Micro can be trusted. It also has a Trust Center page that provides information about privacy and data protection, which shows clear transparency regarding safety practices.
You may not consider it a disadvantage, but the antivirus does lack some features if you use macOS. You won’t have access to a firewall and if you want options like the adware blocker, you’ll need to buy the Internet Security or Total Security plan.
Both Bitdefender and Trend Micro offer great features and solid antivirus protection. But based on cost, features, and third-party test results, we do think Bitdefender is better. Trend Micro is a good product, but with higher scoring from AV-TEST and standard features like a firewall and a VPN with all plans, we think Bitdefender has an edge over the competition.
If you want an antivirus that has lots of features and plans to fit most budgets, Bitdefender offers reliable security solutions you can trust. There’s a reason we consider it one of the best antivirus programs on the market, and we think you will, too.
There may be instances when neither antivirus option will suffice. You may use macOS to hammer out your work and need a software program more Apple friendly. Maybe you need fewer options or different features. Whatever it is you seek, we have some alternatives in case neither Bitdefender nor Trend Micro is your cup of cybersecurity.
Antivirus software offering reliable security
Simple yet powerful interface tools
Perfect protection score in third-party tests
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