Alternatives · Antivirus
Bitdefender alternatives
Bitdefender compared with 12 alternatives: Norton 360, Malwarebytes, ESET, Kaspersky, McAfee and 7 more.
Bitdefender has a free plan. Paid plans start at $49.99 per year at renewal (Antivirus Plus, 1 device), after a first year for $24.99. 6 of the 12 alternatives are free or have a free plan. 4 more offer a free trial.
12 tools · Listings checked up to Oct 17, 2026 · Where the facts come from
At a glance
| Tool | Price | Free plan | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|
| BitdefenderThis tool | Free plan · from $49.99/yr | Yes | macOS, Windows, iOS, Android |
| Norton 360 | Free trial · from $84.99/yr | Trial only | macOS, Windows, iOS, Android |
| Malwarebytes | Free plan · from $59.99/yr | Yes | macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, Browser extension |
| ESET | Free trial · from $12.99/yr | Trial only | macOS, Windows, Android |
| Kaspersky | Free trial · from $64.99/yr | Trial only | macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android |
| McAfee | Free plan | Yes | macOS, Windows, iOS, Android |
| Avast | Free plan | Yes | macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, Browser extension |
| AVG | Free plan | Yes | macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, Browser extension |
| Avira | Free plan | Yes | Windows, iOS, Android |
| F-Secure | Free plan · from $49.99/yr | Yes | macOS, Windows, iOS, Android |
| Intego | From $39.99/yr | No | macOS, Windows, iOS |
| Sophos Home | Free trial · from $59.99/yr | Trial only | macOS, Windows, iOS, Android |
| TotalAV | From $99/yr | No | macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, Browser extension |
Price against what you get
Bitdefender starts at $4.17 a month when paid by the year and scores 3.0 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. None of the 8 alternatives on this chart both scores higher and starts lower.
Norton 360 scores higher without starting lower. ESET and Intego start lower without scoring higher.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
How each one differs from Bitdefender
- Free trial · from $84.99/yr
Norton 360
Antivirus suite with VPN, password manager and PC cloud backup
- Norton 360 starts at $84.99 per year at renewal (Standard, 1 device), after a first year from $34.99. Bitdefender starts at $49.99 per year at renewal (Antivirus Plus, 1 device), after a first year for $24.99.
- Bitdefender has a free plan. Norton 360 does not, though it has a free trial.
- Norton 360 also covers ad and tracker blocking.
Suits: Households that want antivirus, a VPN and a password manager in one subscription
- Free plan · from $59.99/yr
Malwarebytes
Malware scanner and real-time protection, with VPN and ID plans
- Malwarebytes starts at $59.99 per year for up to 3 devices (Standard). Bitdefender starts at $49.99 per year at renewal (Antivirus Plus, 1 device), after a first year for $24.99.
- Only Malwarebytes lists a browser extension.
- Malwarebytes also covers ad and tracker blocking.
- Bitdefender also covers password manager.
Suits: Cleaning up a computer that is already infected, for free
- Free trial · from $12.99/yr
ESET
Antivirus and home security plans priced by device count
- ESET starts at $12.99 per year for 1 device (Mobile Security for Android). Bitdefender starts at $49.99 per year at renewal (Antivirus Plus, 1 device), after a first year for $24.99.
- Bitdefender has a free plan. ESET does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Bitdefender lists an iOS app.
- Bitdefender also covers password manager.
Suits: Buyers who want a light antivirus for one Windows PC or Mac
- Free trial · from $64.99/yr
Kaspersky
Antivirus suites with a VPN and password manager on higher tiers
- Kaspersky starts at $64.99 per year at renewal (Standard, 1 device), after a first year for $49.99. Bitdefender starts at $49.99 per year at renewal (Antivirus Plus, 1 device), after a first year for $24.99.
- Bitdefender has a free plan. Kaspersky does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Kaspersky lists a Linux app.
- Kaspersky also covers ad and tracker blocking.
Suits: Buyers outside the US who want antivirus, VPN and passwords in one plan
- Free plan
McAfee
Antivirus, VPN and identity monitoring for PCs, Macs and phones
- Bitdefender also covers password manager.
Suits: Households that want one subscription across PCs, Macs and phones
- Free plan
Avast
Free antivirus for PC, Mac and phones, with paid Premium and Ultimate
- Only Avast lists a browser extension.
- Bitdefender also covers password manager.
Suits: Windows users who want real-time antivirus without paying
- Free plan
AVG
Free antivirus for Windows, with paid Internet Security and Ultimate
- Only AVG lists a browser extension.
- Bitdefender also covers password manager.
Suits: Windows users who want real-time antivirus without paying
- Free plan
Avira
Free antivirus suite with a VPN, PC cleaner and password manager
- Only Bitdefender lists a macOS app.
- Avira also covers ad and tracker blocking.
Suits: Windows users who want free antivirus plus cleanup and update tools
- Free plan · from $49.99/yr
F-Secure
Finnish antivirus and VPN suite that renews at the new-customer price
- F-Secure starts at $49.99 per year for 1 device (Internet Security). Bitdefender starts at $49.99 per year at renewal (Antivirus Plus, 1 device), after a first year for $24.99.
Suits: Buyers who want a renewal price that matches the advertised one
- From $39.99/yr
Intego
Mac antivirus and firewall suite, with a VPN and a Windows edition
- Intego starts at $39.99 per year at renewal (Essential, 1 Mac), after a first year for $29.99. Bitdefender starts at $49.99 per year at renewal (Antivirus Plus, 1 device), after a first year for $24.99.
- Bitdefender has a free plan. Intego does not.
- Only Bitdefender lists an Android app.
- Intego also covers disk cleanup.
- Bitdefender also covers password manager.
Suits: Mac owners who want antivirus and a firewall built for macOS
- Free trial · from $59.99/yr
Sophos Home
Business-grade antivirus for up to 10 Windows PCs and Macs
- Sophos Home starts at $59.99 per year for 10 computers at renewal, after a first year for $44.99. Bitdefender starts at $49.99 per year at renewal (Antivirus Plus, 1 device), after a first year for $24.99.
- Bitdefender has a free plan. Sophos Home does not, though it has a free trial.
- Bitdefender also covers password manager and vPN.
Suits: Families who look after the computers of relatives in other homes
- From $99/yr
TotalAV
Antivirus with tune-up tools, plus VPN and ad blocking on higher plans
- TotalAV starts at $99 per year for up to 4 devices (Plus). Bitdefender starts at $49.99 per year at renewal (Antivirus Plus, 1 device), after a first year for $24.99.
- Bitdefender has a free plan. TotalAV does not.
- Only TotalAV lists a browser extension.
- TotalAV also covers disk cleanup and ad and tracker blocking.
Suits: Households that want antivirus, VPN and ad blocker in one bill
Limits worth knowing in Bitdefender
- Paid plans renew automatically at the full price after the first year: Total Security goes from $59.99 to $109.99, for example.
- Antivirus Free runs on Windows only; Mac and mobile protection need a paid plan.
- The VPN in Antivirus Plus and Total Security is capped at 200 MB a day per device.
- Refunds are available within 30 days of the first purchase or of an automatic renewal.
Common questions
What are the alternatives to Bitdefender?
The alternatives to Bitdefender in this directory are Norton 360, Malwarebytes, ESET, Kaspersky, McAfee, Avast, AVG, Avira, F-Secure, Intego, Sophos Home and TotalAV. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with Bitdefender.
Is there a free alternative to Bitdefender?
Yes. Malwarebytes, McAfee, Avast, AVG, Avira and F-Secure have a free plan alongside paid ones.
Which Bitdefender alternatives work on Linux?
The Bitdefender listing does not include a Linux app. Kaspersky lists one.
When were these prices checked?
Every listing on this page was checked on Oct 17, 2026, against the pages it cites. Vendors change prices without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.