AVG vs Bitdefender
We give AVG and Bitdefender the same GPA: 2.8 out of 4.0. They get the same grade on all five counts.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Bitdefender
Antivirus suites for computers and phones, with a free Windows tier
How we grade them
| 2.8GPAAVGGood | 2.8GPABitdefenderGood | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | CNo prices on record: avg.com turned our reader away, so there's no two-year figure for a household, and C is the grade for no stated price. Watch the add-ons: Secure VPN and TuneUp show up inside Internet Security but need their own subscriptions. | CTotal Security covers 5 devices for $119.99 for the first 2 years, about $5 a month, right at the dearer quarter of antivirus. Paid yearly it's $59.99 and then $109.99, so $169.98 over two years. Every plan renews at its full price. |
| Free plan and trial | BAVG AntiVirus Free gives a Windows PC real-time file, behavior, web and email shields, ransomware protection, a firewall and Hack Alerts. One Windows user could live on it, but the free version is Windows only. | BAntivirus Free gives a Windows PC real-time malware and ransomware protection with no time limit, and one person on Windows could live on that. Macs and phones need a paid plan, which you can try free for 30 days. |
| Features | BReal-time shields and a firewall even when free, then webcam and remote access protection, Fake Website Shield and Browser Defense on Internet Security. Nothing in the listing shows a gap in the core protection. | BAntivirus and scam protection on all four platforms, a password manager from Total Security, parental controls on family plans and identity monitoring higher up. The VPN is capped at 200 MB a day below Premium Security, but the core protection has no gap. |
| Ease of use | BNo store rating on record. It installs and starts protecting, with nothing to configure first. | B4.68 from about 38,000 App Store ratings, a whisker under the 4.7 an A needs. Even the free version wants a Bitdefender Central account first. |
| Platforms and integrations | BWindows, Mac, Android, iPhone and a browser extension, up to 10 devices on Multi-Device. A single-device licence moves only within the same platform, and there's no API on record. | BWindows, Mac, Android and iPhone, with family plans stretching to 25 devices. No web app, integration list or API on record, so it stops at B. |
| Best for | free real-time antivirus on a Windows PC | free Windows antivirus, with suites to grow into |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: AVG and Bitdefender. How we grade
Where they differ
- Only AVG lists a browser extension.
- Bitdefender also covers password manager.
At a glance
| AVG | Bitdefender | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Free plan |
| Starts at | Not published | $49.99 per year at renewal (Antivirus Plus, 1 device), after a first year for $24.99 |
| Free plan | AVG AntiVirus Free: real-time file, behavior, web and email shields, ransomware protection, network scans, a firewall and Hack Alerts on a Windows PC. | Bitdefender Antivirus Free gives real-time malware and ransomware protection for Windows PCs, with no time limit. It needs a Bitdefender Central account. |
| Free trial | None listed | 30-day free trial of Antivirus Plus and Total Security |
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Browser extension | ||
| Made by | Gen Digital Inc. | Bitdefender |
| Price read from | Not confirmed | bitdefender.com |
| Checked | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 17, 2026 |
Who each one suits
AVG
- Windows users who want real-time antivirus without paying
- Households mixing Windows, Mac and phones under one 10-device plan
- Buyers who want antivirus, VPN and PC tune-up in one bundle
Bitdefender
- Windows users who want free real-time antivirus
- Families covering up to 25 devices under one plan
- Buyers who want antivirus, a VPN and a password manager from one vendor
Worth knowing
AVG
- AVG's website refused automated reads on 2026-10-17, so its plan prices are not listed here; check avg.com before buying.
- AVG Secure VPN and TuneUp show inside Internet Security but need their own subscriptions unless you buy AVG Ultimate.
- The free antivirus is for Windows, and single-device Internet Security can move only to a device on the same platform.
- AVG Mobile Ultimate covers Android only and limits the VPN to 5 Android devices at once.
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.
Key features
AVG
- Real-time Core Shields
- File, Behavior, Web and Email shields check files, running programs, downloads and email attachments as they arrive, in the free version too.
- Ransomware protection and firewall
- The free antivirus guards chosen folders against ransomware and includes Enhanced Firewall, Network Inspector and Hack Alerts for leaked logins.
- Webcam and remote access protection
- Internet Security blocks untrusted apps from the webcam and lets you choose which IP addresses may connect to your PC remotely.
- Fake Website Shield and Browser Defense
- Internet Security guards against DNS hijacking and protects passwords and cookies stored in your browsers from theft by other apps.
- Multi-device coverage
- Internet Security (Multi-Device) adds AVG's Mac, Android and iOS apps and covers up to 10 devices at once.
- AVG Ultimate bundle
- Ultimate combines Internet Security, AVG Secure VPN, TuneUp and AntiTrack on up to 10 devices on the platforms you choose.
Bitdefender
- Multi-platform malware protection
- Antivirus, malware and ransomware protection for Windows, Mac, Android and iOS on every paid plan, from 1 device up to 25 on family plans.
- Scam protection
- Blocks phishing and fake shops as you browse. Premium Security and above add Scam Protection Pro, which checks email, chat and text messages.
- Bitdefender VPN
- Antivirus Plus and Total Security include a VPN limited to 200 MB a day per device. Premium Security and higher plans remove the limit.
- Password manager
- Total Security and the plans above it include Bitdefender's password manager, one account per member on family plans.
- Parental controls
- Family plans add content filtering, internet time limits, routines, child location and activity reports.
- Identity monitoring
- Ultimate Security watches the web and dark web for leaks of your data. Ultimate Security Plus adds identity theft insurance and credit monitoring.
Plans
AVG
Pricing could not be confirmed. See avg.com.
Bitdefender
Antivirus Free$0
Basic real-time antivirus for Windows only.
Antivirus Plus$49.99
per year for 1 device at renewal, after a first year for $24.99
Antivirus, scam protection and a VPN capped at 200 MB a day. First year $24.99; 3 devices cost $39.99 the first year, then $69.99.
Total Security$109.99
per year for up to 5 devices at renewal, after a first year for $59.99
Adds a password manager and cryptomining protection. First year $59.99. Family (25 devices, parental controls): $79.99, then $139.99.
Premium Security$129.99
per year for up to 5 devices at renewal, after a first year for $79.99
Adds unlimited VPN traffic, Scam Protection Pro, an anti-tracker and email protection. First year $79.99. Family: $99.99, then $169.99.
Ultimate Security$159.99
per year for up to 5 devices at renewal, after a first year for $89.99
Adds dark web monitoring and real-time breach alerts. First year $89.99. Family (25 devices): $119.99, then $199.99.
Ultimate Security Plus$189.99
per year for 5 devices at renewal, after a first year for $119.99
Adds $1M identity theft insurance, credit monitoring and restoration help. First year $119.99. Family: $179.99, then $269.99.
Ways to pay less
AVG
No public discounts listed.
Bitdefender
- Other savings
First-year prices on every paid plan
First year: Antivirus Plus $24.99, Total Security $59.99, Premium Security $79.99, Ultimate Security $89.99, Ultimate Security Plus $119.99. Each then renews at its full price.
- Other savings
Total Security for 2 years at $119.99
Total Security is also sold as a 2-year subscription: $119.99 for the first 2 years for 5 devices, or $159.99 for the family plan.
