Bitdefender vs. Trend Micro 2024: Bitdefender Defends Its Position

We found both Trend Micro and Bitdefender to be some of the best 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/yr (first year only), 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.

Overview

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.

• Bitdefender: Best security suite
• Trend Micro: Best for basic security

Bitdefender vs. Trend Micro compared

Starting price	Starts at $29.99/yr (first year only)	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 Bitdefender Review	Get Trend Micro Read Trend Micro Review

Prices

	Our Pick
Price range	Free–$40.99/first yr	$19.95–$54.95/yr
Best value plan	Bitdefender Total Security for $49.99/yr (first year only)	Trend Micro Premium Security Suite for $54.95/yr
Money-back guarantee	Yes, 30 days	Yes, 30 days
Learn more	Get Bitdefender Read Bitdefender Review	Get Trend Micro 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/yr (first year only) 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.

Features

	Our Pick
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 Bitdefender Review	Get Trend Micro Read Trend Micro Review

Comparing these two products’ features is where the rubber meets the road. Trend Micro has standard antivirus features, such as 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 for 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. If you ever need to temporarily turn off either of these antivirus solutions, they both offer the option.

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.

Test results

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.

Bitdefender vs. Trend Micro malware protection scores

	Our Pick
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 Bitdefender Review	Get Trend Micro 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.

Compatibility and customer support

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 Bitdefender Review	Get Trend Micro 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.

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.

Bitdefender vs. Trend Micro alternatives

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.

• Norton: Norton offers a total security suite, which includes a VPN and password manager. Its upper-tier plans even include parental controls and identity theft protection.

  Get Norton | Read Our Norton Review

• TotalAV: TotalAV is good for anyone who wants better online privacy on a budget. It even offers a free plan with a basic malware scan that will quarantine and delete threats for free.

  Get TotalAV | Read Our TotalAV Review

• McAfee: McAfee gives you robust security software with premium features like parental control and a firewall when you want top-notch cyber protection.

  Get McAfee | Read Our McAfee Review

How we test antivirus

FAQs

Bitdefender vs. Trend Micro: which is better?

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.