Bitdefender vs. Trend Micro 2025: Bitdefender Defends Its Position

Trend Micro is a good option for those who want a comprehensive security program, and aren’t bothered by potential lower third-party ratings. On the other hand, Bitdefender offers reliability and almost-perfect protection scores.
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Best Security Suite

2025 Editor’s Choice
Best Antivirus for Scam Protection
5.0
Editorial Rating
Learn More
On Bitdefender's website

Antivirus Software
Bitdefender
PROMOTION: Save Up to 50%
  • Consistently near-perfect test scores across all third-party testers
  • Comprehensive scam protection, including AI-powered Scam Copilot and phishing defense
  • Includes extra features like safe banking, VPN, and more

Best for Basic Security

4.7
Editorial Rating
Learn More
On Trend Micro's website

Antivirus Software
Trend Micro
  • More affordable than Norton, McAfee, Bitdefender, and more top providers
  • Aced all internal tests and recent third-party tests
  • No firewall, only boosts Microsoft Defender

As one of the top-rated antivirus programs we've tested, Bitdefender is the better option over Trend Micro overall. Bitdefender starts at a higher price point of $34.99/first yr, but packs a lot into the price, like a virtual private network (VPN), social network protection, and an anti-tracker feature. Not to mention it also has a free plan for your basic needs.

Trend Micro has a range of products to fit almost any budget, but no free version. Prices start at $24.95/yr for one device, but you’ll get more features like ID theft protection with the higher tier plans.

Keep reading to find out which one of these antivirus programs checks the most boxes for you.

In this article
Overview
Prices
Features
Test results
Compatibility and customer support
Top alternatives
FAQs
Bitdefender vs. Trend Micro: which is better?

Bitdefender vs. Trend Micro compared

Bitdefender logo
Our Pick
Trend Micro logo
Starting price
5.0
4.7
Starting price Starts at $34.99/first yr Starts at $24.95/yr
Free version
Max number of protected devices 25 10
Real-time protection
Phishing protection
Ransomware protection
Extras VPN, cryptomining protection, parental controls, webcam protection Password manager, identity theft protection, VPN
24/7 customer support
Compatibility Windows, macOS, Android, iOS Windows, macOS, Android, iOS
Learn more Get Bitdefender

Read Bitdefender Review

Get Trend Micro

Read Trend Micro Review

How we test and rate antivirus software

We use our proprietary grading rubric in all of our testing, which considers ease-of-use, third-party testing scores, internal testing scores, price, compatibility, and features offered, among other metrics. 

This means that our testing process is designed to ensure that the product isn't too confusing, protects as it claims, and offers you a lot for a reasonable price. We download and run each program on our own computers on home networks, just like you would. Our ratings reflect the real-world performance of the antivirus product. This ensures that we can recreate a similar experience for you and give our best advice on whether or not it's worthwhile.

To learn more about how we test, check out our full antivirus testing methodology here.

Which antivirus software is the better value?

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 logo
Our Pick
Trend Micro logo
Price range $24.99–$64.99/first yr $24.95–$54.95/yr
Best value plan Bitdefender Total Security for $54.99/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 Bitdefender Review

Get Trend Micro

Read Trend Micro Review

Trend Micro starts at a cheaper price than Bitdefender but the plan is extremely limited. It’s compatible only with Windows and covers only one device. It also costs more than Bitdefender for the highest-tiered plan. 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.

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 $34.99/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.

Winner: Bitdefender is the winner. Although Trend Micro has a lower starter price, you get more bang for your buck with Bitdefender with a free plan and features like a firewall, VPN, and more.

Which antivirus offers the better features?

While both products do their core features well, Bitdefender has a more expansive selection of options that give you far more potential.

Bitdefender logo
Our Pick
Trend Micro logo
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.

The basic version of Bitdefender VPN only allowed us to use the automatic location feature, where the application chooses where your virtual connection is located.

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.

Trend Micro details page with settings to fix security vulnerabilities, remove potentially incompatible programs, reduce computer startup time, regain disk space, clean privacy data, and protect browser passwords.

Winner: Bitdefender. We think Trend Micro has some outstanding options, but Bitdefender has so many features offered with all its plans, so we believe you’ll get more features for your money with Bitdefender.

Bitdefender vs. Trend Micro 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 logo
Our Pick
Trend Micro logo
AV-TEST Windows scores 18/18 18/18
AV-TEST macOS score 18/18 18/18
AV-TEST Android score 18/18 17/18
AV-Comparatives malware protection score (Windows) 99.97% 98.07%
SE Labs score 100% 95%
EICAR score 3/3 3/3
Learn more Get Bitdefender

Read Bitdefender Review

Get Trend Micro

Read Trend Micro Review

While both products tested well, Bitdefender did outperform Trend Micro in a number of categories. That could mean the difference between infection and safety, so it's hard not to celebrate the slight edge Bitdefender has overall.

Winner: Bitdefender wins. Trend Micro scored high but not quite as high as Bitdefender.

Compatibility and customer support

Both products are easy to use and offer a wealth of customer support options and compatibility.

Bitdefender logo Trend Micro logo
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.

Bitdefender’s Parental Controls are accessed and managed through the browser hub Bitdefender Central.

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.

Trend Micro's dashboard with options for a quick scan, a full scan, and a custom scan.

Winner: This one is a draw. Bitdefender and Trend Micro have interfaces that are simple to use and packed with plenty of features.

Top 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.

Antivirus
TotalAV

McAfee

Norton 360
Star rating
4.7
4.9
5.0
Price $19.00–$49.00/first yr $29.99–$249.99/yr $29.99–$299.99/first yr
# of devices protected 4 - 8 Unlimited 1 - 10
Real-time protection
Malware scans Manual and scheduled Manual and scheduled Manual and scheduled
Firewall
EICAR test results 2/3 3/3 3/3
Phishing protection
Compatibility Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Chrome, Edge, Opera Windows, macOS, Android, iOS Windows, macOS, Android, iOS
Extras Password manager, ad blocker, VPN Parental controls, performance optimization tools, VPN Password manager, VPN, dark web monitoring, parental controls, privacy monitor, identity theft protection, cloud backup
Learn more Get TotalAV Get McAfee Get Norton 360

FAQs

Is there a better antivirus than Bitdefender?

While Bitdefender ranks highly among all the antivirus software we've tested, there are a few tools that we rank higher in our best antivirus list.

Can Trend Micro be trusted?

According to the third-party testing scores from sites like AV-TEST as well as our own in-house testing, we feel Trend Micro can be trusted. On top of that, it also has a Trust Center page that provides information about privacy and data protection, which shows clear transparency regarding safety practices.

Are there any disadvantages to using Bitdefender?

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.

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.

Bitdefender logo
Our Pick
Trend Micro logo
Value
Features
Test results
Compatibility & customer support
Learn more Get Bitdefender

Read Bitdefender Review

Get Trend Micro

Read Trend Micro Review

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.

Near-Perfect Defense Against the Toughest Threats
5.0
Editorial Rating
Learn More
On Bitdefender's website
2025 Editor’s Choice
Best Antivirus for Scam Protection
Antivirus Software
Bitdefender
PROMOTION: Save Up to 50%
  • Consistently near-perfect test scores across all third-party testers
  • Comprehensive scam protection, including AI-powered Scam Copilot and phishing defense
  • Includes extra features like safe banking, VPN, and more
Author Details
Patti Croft is a seasoned writer specializing in technology, with over three years of experience. With a B.S. in Computer Science and a background as a technical analyst and security specialist, she covers a range of topics like data security and parental control software.
Mary is a seasoned cybersecurity writer with over seven years of experience. With a B.S. in Liberal Arts from Clarion University and an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from Point Park University, she educates audiences on scams, antivirus software, and more. Her passion lies in educating audiences on helpful ways to protect their data.