By Bitdefender sells five antivirus software packages. The company’s two top security packages – Total (including the Family Pack version of Total) and Premium – are compatible with multiple operating systems. Only the Premium package offers unlimited VPN services. All other Bitdefender antivirus packages include a limited VPN service, which covers only 200 MB of data per day, per device.
None of Bitdefender’s antivirus software packages includes identity theft protection. Bitdefender sells its limited identity theft software separately.
Below are Bitdefender’s current antivirus packages. Two prices indicate both the discounted introductory prices as well as the corresponding renewal prices, while single prices reflect non-discounted prices with no introductory discount. Note that discounts and renewal prices vary throughout the year:
- Bitdefender Antivirus Plus (Windows-only) includes an impressive laundry list of both basic malware, spyware, adware, and ransomware protections and app- and function-specific features including: a dedicated browser that is said to secure banking and shopping transactions to prevent fraud; web filtering technology to block known harmful websites and links; anti-phishing protection, anti-fraud warnings, and an anti-spam filter. This plan also comes with an anti-tracker extension, social network protection, a password manager, a file shredder to permanent delete files without leaving any traces, a vulnerability assessment that scans and suggests fixes for outdated and vulnerable software, missing Windows security patches, and potentially unsafe system settings, and more.
The pricing for Bitdefender Antivirus Plus is:
- One device: one year $19.99 for the first year and $39.99 for each subsequent year, two years $41.99/$69.99, three years $53.99/$89.99
- Three devices: one year $29.99/$59.99, two years $53.99/$89.99, three years $71.99/$119.99
- Five devices: one year $69.99, two years $109.99, three years $149.99
- Ten devices: one year $79.99, two years $129.99, three years $179.99
Bitdefender also sells an identically-priced Antivirus for Mac package ($19.99/$39.99 for one device and one year, also available in three-device subscription, for one, two, or three years).
- Bitdefender Internet Security (Windows-only) includes all the features of Antivirus Plus, as well as parental controls, a firewall, a microphone monitor, webcam protection, and file encryption.
The pricing for Bitdefender Internet Security is:
- One device: one year $24.99/$59.99, two years $53.99/$89.99, three years $77.99/$129.99
- Three devices: one year $34.99/$79.99, two years $71.99/$119.99, three years $89.99/$149.99
- Five devices: one year $84.99, two years $129.99, three years $169.99
- Ten devices: one year $89.99, two years $149.99, three years $199.99
Bitdefender Total Security offers the same protections as Bitdefender Internet Security, including the limited 200 MB daily per device VPN, but it offers protection for Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS devices.
- Five devices: one year $39.98/$89.99, two years $89.99/$149.99, three years $119.99/$199.99
- Ten devices: one year $44.99/$99.99, two years $101.99/$169.99, three years $137.99/$229.99
Bitdefender Family Pack is the family version of Bitdefender Total Security.
- Fifteen devices: one year $49.99/$119.99, two years $119.99/$199.99, three years $149.99/$249.99
Bitdefender Premium Security is Bitdefender’s top internet security package. It offers the same multi-operating system and threat protections as the Total Security package, but it also includes unlimited VPN and priority support, which lets you skip the line and connects you with a dedicated support team.
- Ten devices: one year $64.99/$149.99
Bitdefender’s five different antivirus packages, each with different prices depending on the number of devices (usually three, five, or 10) and subscription length (one, two, or three years). These packages range in price from $19.99/$39.99 for one device for one year for Antivirus Plus to $64.99/$149.99 for 10 devices for one year for Bitdefender Premium Security.
Check out the top Bitdefender coupons.
Bitdefender is our top-rated antivirus software of 2021. Depending on the package and price, Bitdefender can defend your PC against a wide variety of cyber threats. These include various types of malware such as viruses, spyware, adware, and ransomware. Bitdefender can also defend against phishing attempts and spam. In addition, it includes a variety of privacy protections such as monitoring which apps can access your webcam and microphone, an anti-tracking feature to keep browsing data private, safe banking tools, a firewall to keep hackers from hijacking your internet connection, a virtual file shredder to permanently delete sensitive documents and files, parental controls, and a password manager. Finally, a rescue mode lets you clean up and restore a heavily-infected PC. Bitdefender’s top Premium Security suite adds an unlimited VPN, anti-theft features to help lock, locate, or wipe lost devices, and priority access to customer care.
Bitdefender offers a limited no-cost Antivirus Free edition that supplies basic antivirus protection. Alternatively, you can download 30-day free trials of any of the company’s packages to try out the more advanced features of each.
Bitdefender antivirus software doesn’t appreciably impact system performance; you should notice little difference in how speedy your system is with Bitdefender software installed. Unfortunately, Bitdefender’s VPN is limited to only 200 MB per day, per device, which means you need to manually turn the VPN on and off and monitor the VPN’s data usage to make sure you’re protected when you want to be. To get an unlimited VPN, you either have to opt for its most expensive Premium Security package or add the separate Bitdefender Premium VPN subscription ($6.99 a month or an annual subscription of $29.99 for the first year and $49.99 thereafter a year) to Bitdefender’s lower-priced antivirus software packages.
Unlike competitors such as Norton with LifeLock and McAfee, Bitdefender also doesn’t include identity theft protections bundled with antivirus software. Bitdefender’s standalone Digital Identity Protection software ($59.99 for the first year and $79.99 a year thereafter) monitors and sends alerts for potential personal data theft threats, impersonations, or breaches from websites, social media, and other online sources. However, it doesn’t monitor credit agencies or financial accounts, nor does it offer any loss recovery insurance or methodologies. The company says it plans to include credit card account monitoring sometime this year.
Bitdefender’s antivirus software is updated regularly. Users can activate automatic updates so the software updates itself when a new version becomes available. In addition, Bitdefender says it checks for new virus definitions every 15 minutes and automatically updates all subscribers several times a day when necessary with new protections, without users needing to do anything or even knowing an update has taken place. Subscribers can manually check for updates in the Settings menu of the main interface.
Bitdefender does not include a “disable all” switch for security reasons; malware often attempts to disable antivirus protection, and having a “disable all” option would facilitate this. But users can manually toggle different Bitdefender antivirus features on and off.