All About Cookies is an independent, advertising-supported website. Some of the offers that appear on this site are from third-party advertisers from which All About Cookies receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear).
All About Cookies does not include all financial or credit offers that might be available to consumers nor do we include all companies or all available products. Information is accurate as of the publishing date and has not been provided or endorsed by the advertiser.
The All About Cookies editorial team strives to provide accurate, in-depth information and reviews to help you, our reader, make online privacy decisions with confidence. Here's what you can expect from us:
Best Security Suite
/images/2023/03/03/logo-bitdefender_large.png){kind=logo}
Super reliable antivirus software with a non-intrusive free version
Simple yet powerful interface tools
Perfect protection score in third-party tests
Best for Basic Security
/images/2023/07/07/trendmicro-ogsocial.png)
More affordable than Norton, McAfee, Bitdefender, and more top providers
Aced all internal tests and recent third-party tests
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.
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.
|
|
|
| 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 | Get Trend Micro |
Our Pick
|
| |
| Price range | Free–$49.99/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 | Get Trend Micro |
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.
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 | Get Trend Micro |
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.
/images/2023/01/20/bitdefender-antivirus-review_11.png)
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.
/images/2023/07/07/trendmicro-review_07.png)
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
|
| |
| 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 | Get Trend Micro |
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.
|
|
| |
| 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 | Get Trend Micro |
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.
/images/2023/01/20/bitdefender-antivirus-review_06.png)
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.
/images/2023/07/07/trendmicro-review_01.png)
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.
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.
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.
Super reliable antivirus software with a non-intrusive free version
Simple yet powerful interface tools
Perfect protection score in third-party tests
/images/2023/06/15/guardio_review.jpg)
/images/2023/01/27/norton-antivirus-review.png)
/images/2024/06/20/totalav_vs._kaspersky.jpg)
/images/2024/06/14/norton_vs._aura_antivirus.jpg)
/images/2024/06/07/norton_vs._trend_micro.jpg)
/images/2024/05/31/totalav_vs._malwarebytes.jpg)
/images/2024/05/31/norton_vs._avira.jpg)
/images/2024/05/27/totalav-vs-avast.png)
/authors/patti-croft.png){kind=small}
/authors/mary-james_allaboutcookies-author.jpg){kind=small}
/authors/steph-trejos-allaboutcookies-editor.jpg){kind=small}
/images/2023/03/03/logo-bitdefender_large.png){kind=logo}
/authors/patti-croft.png)
/authors/mary-james_allaboutcookies-author.jpg)