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Best for Mac Users
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Real-time protection from viruses, malware, and online threats
Blocks tracking cookies and ads, proactively monitors for data breaches, and option to schedule smart scans
100% compatible with Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS operating systems on up to 3 devices
Best for Budget-Conscious Users
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Antivirus software offering reliable security
Simple yet powerful interface tools
Perfect protection score in third-party tests
TotalAV's user-friendly interface offers a seamless user experience and comprehensive features across all platforms. It's an apt choice for those who prefer a straightforward cybersecurity approach without compromising protection.
On the other hand, Bitdefender, with its competitive pricing and perfect scores in malware protection tests, provides top-tier security without stretching your wallet.
The choice between TotalAV and Bitdefender boils down to personal preferences, financial considerations, and the level of cybersecurity you aspire to have.
While TotalAV and Bitdefender both offer solid protection against many cyberthreats, they cater to different user preferences and needs.
Bitdefender is an excellent choice for individuals seeking a cost-effective solution with various advanced features. TotalAV shines with a user-friendly interface and a range of protection options for a slightly higher price. It's also more inclusive when it comes to providing features for its macOS software.
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| Starting price | Starts at $29.00/yr (first year only) | Starts at $29.99/yr (first year only) |
| Free version | ||
| Max number of protected devices | 8 | 10 |
| 24/7 customer support | ||
| Compatibility | Windows, macOS , Android, iOS | Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and more |
| Real-time protection | ||
| Phishing protection | ||
| Ransomware protection | ||
| Learn more | Get TotalAV | Get Bitdefender |
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Our Pick
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| Price range | $29.00–$49.00/yr (first year only) | $14.99–$49.99/first yr |
| Best value plan | Antivirus Pro plan for $29.00/yr (first year only) | Antivirus Plus plan for $29.99/yr (first year only) |
| Money-back guarantee | Yes — 30 days for the annual plan, 14 days for the monthly plan | Yes — 30 days |
| Learn more | Get TotalAV | Get Bitdefender |
In terms of price range, Bitdefender is much more affordable for the first year compared to TotalAV. Even at the renewal price, Bitdefender's plans stay significantly lower than TotalAV's.
TotalAV does offer a 30-day free trial for all of its plans, so you can test out the software before committing to a purchase. Additionally, both companies offer discounts for longer subscription periods, so it may be worth considering a longer commitment for added savings.
TotalAV’s best value plan is the Antivirus Pro plan at $29.00/yr (first year only). It provides protection against phishing scams, ransomware, potentially unwanted applications (PUAs), and it can eliminate any viruses, trojans, and malware it finds.
For Bitdefender, the Antivirus Plus plan stands out as the best value at $29.99/yr (first year only). It offers ransomware protection, web attack prevention, anti-phishing protection, anti-fraud protection, and cybersecurity extras like a virtual private network (VPN) and safe online banking.
TotalAV offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can test the waters without financial risk. Bitdefender extends a 30-day money-back guarantee as well.
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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 TotalAV | Get Bitdefender |
TotalAV and Bitdefender are both well-equipped to tackle many cyberthreats. As far as core antivirus features, both offer manual and scheduled scans, as well as real-time protection against malware, phishing, and ransomware.
Both also come with a password manager and a VPN, which support your digital safety and privacy. With Bitdefender, you get Bitdefender VPN with all tiers but the lower tiers only allow for up to 200 MB per day. With Total VPN, you get its Safe Browsing VPN with the Internet Security and Total Security tiers.
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Digging into additional features is where the differences between these two services lie. Bitdefender provides both a firewall and parental controls, while TotalAV doesn’t. Bitdefender's parental controls allow you to filter out inappropriate content from your child's browsing and develop screen time routines.
On the other hand, Bitdefender only has ad-blocking capabilities when you use the VPN. TotalAV comes with Total Adblock, which has proven to effectively block ads and trackers based on our testing.
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Device optimization tools in Bitdefender are confined to Windows, whereas TotalAV offers its system tune-up tools across all platforms. These features, although not imperative, are nice to have as they provide an added layer of protection and device performance enhancement.
In the world of antivirus software, third-party testing is a vital element to gauge the effectiveness of a program in malware detection and prevention. It provides an unbiased lens through which we can compare the performance of different antivirus solutions under various threat scenarios.
For our comparison, we have referred to the test results from AV-TEST, a reputable independent IT security institute, to understand how TotalAV and Bitdefender fare in real-world malware protection across different operating systems.
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Our Pick
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| AV-TEST Windows score | 17.0/18.0 | 18.0/18.0 |
| AV-TEST macOS score | N/A | 18.0/18.0 |
| AV-TEST Android score | 18.0/18.0 | 18.0/18.0 |
| Learn more | Get TotalAV | Get Bitdefender |
Upon reviewing the test results, it’s apparent that Bitdefender is a trustworthy antivirus. Bitdefender aced its most recent AV-TESTs with a perfect score in malware protection, performance, and usability across all platforms.
TotalAV was a point behind Bitdefender in its Windows test results. On the malware protection tests, TotalAV scored 98.2% in January and 100% in February for protecting against 0-day malware attacks. Although its score was below the industry average (99.9%), it's a good sign that TotalAV increased to a perfect score in the second month of testing.
TotalAV was also docked points on the performance tests. TotalAV had slower rates for installation of frequently-used applications as well as slowing down when launching popular websites compared to the industry average.
We were also disappointed that TotalAV hasn’t tested its macOS platform since March 2022. Although we understand that these third-party tests are expensive, we'd love to see scores for TotalAV's Mac app after two years.
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| Windows | ||
| macOS | ||
| Android | ||
| iOS | ||
| Browser extensions | Yes — Chrome, Firefox, Edge | Yes — Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari |
| 24/7 customer support | ||
| Customer support options | Phone, live chat, email, online guides | Phone, live chat, email, online guides |
| Learn more | Get TotalAV | Get Bitdefender |
When it comes to user interface and ease of navigation, both TotalAV and Bitdefender have invested in ensuring a user-friendly experience. The settings in both antiviruses are structured logically, making it relatively straightforward to configure the software to one's liking.
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TotalAV and Bitdefender also excel in customer support, offering 24/7 assistance through various channels such as phone support, live chat, email and extensive online resources. Bitdefender slightly edges out with text and video tutorials, providing an extra medium to understand and resolve issues independently.
Additionally, both antivirus solutions showcase broad compatibility across major operating systems, mobile devices, and browsers, reducing the likelihood of encountering compatibility issues. The browser extensions further enhance web protection, making browsing safer from potential online threats.
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TotalAV provides robust antivirus protection coupled with a user-friendly interface. It offers a variety of useful features like real-time protection, phishing protection, and additional tools like a VPN and ad blocker for enhanced online privacy.
We consider Bitdefender to be one of the best antivirus based on its consistently great third-party test scores and budget-friendly pricing. However, the "best" antivirus can vary based on personal needs. Some may find other solutions like Norton or McAfee more suited to their specific requirements or preferences.
Yes, TotalAV is a trustworthy and legitimate antivirus. It performs well in various third-party tests for malware detection and protection, ensuring a reliable defense against many cyberthreats.
Based on its AV-TEST results, Bitdefender wont slow down your computer. While any antivirus has the potential to slightly slow down a computer during active scans, Bitdefender's optimized performance ensures that any slowdown is kept to a minimum.
Bitdefender wins, but TotalAV and Bitdefender both present comprehensive antivirus solutions with features designed to protect against cyberthreats. TotalAV stands out with its user-friendly interface and comprehensive features available across all platforms, including device optimization tools. It's an excellent choice for those who prefer simplicity alongside effective antivirus protection, making it less daunting for individuals who might not be as tech-savvy.
On the other hand, Bitdefender shines with its perfect scores in third-party malware protection tests, signifying its superior ability to detect and neutralize threats. Its competitive pricing, especially the lower starting price, makes it a cost-effective choice for budget-conscious individuals.
With a slightly wider range of customer support options and exceptional malware protection scores, Bitdefender edges out as the better antivirus solution overall. It's well suited for individuals seeking top-tier malware protection without breaking the bank.
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Antivirus software offering reliable security
Simple yet powerful interface tools
Perfect protection score in third-party tests
If neither TotalAV nor Bitdefender aligns with your specific needs, fret not. The antivirus market has many alternative solutions, each with unique functions and capabilities. Below are some of the best antivirus software that could be viable alternatives:
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| Best for | All-in-one software | Comprehensive security | Best value |
| Starting price | $35.99/first yr | $29.99/yr (first year only) | $3.19/mo (billed annually) |
| Features | Antivirus protection, VPN, password manager, security for multiple devices | Antivirus, malware, ransomware, and hacking protection, Cloud backup, password manager | Antivirus protection, VPN, private search engine, data leak alerts |
| Learn more | Get Aura | Get Norton 360 Antivirus | Get Surfshark Antivirus |
Antivirus software offering reliable security
Simple yet powerful interface tools
Perfect protection score in third-party tests
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