Bitdefender vs Dr.Web (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, we pick Bitdefender: it is second in our ranking of antivirus apps, and it grades higher too, 2.8 against 2.6.
Checked Oct 17, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 · graded Oct 17, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
Bitdefender grades higher on the free plan and features. Dr.Web grades higher on value for money. They get the same grade on ease of use and platforms.
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
Dr.Web
Antivirus for Windows, macOS, Linux and Android from Doctor Web
Which one is for you
Pick Bitdefender if
- Fits if you're on Windows and want real-time antivirus without paying
- Works for families with lots of devices, as family plans cover up to 25
Look elsewhere if
- Pricey if you pay yearly, as Total Security jumps from $59.99 to $109.99 at renewal and every plan renews at full price
- Skip it if you want a full VPN on Antivirus Plus or Total Security, which cap it at 200 MB a day per device
- Not for you if you want free protection on a Mac or phone, as the free version is Windows only
- Watch out: identity insurance and credit monitoring sit on Ultimate Security Plus, $189.99 a year after a $119.99 first year
- Tight if you'd rather not make an account, as even the free antivirus needs a Bitdefender Central sign-up
Pick Dr.Web if
- Fits if you want a cheap antivirus and run Windows or Linux
- Works for families that want parental controls and webcam or microphone blocking
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you want an iPhone app, as none is listed
- Not for you if you want support during the trial: the demo comes with none
- Too light on Mac and Linux, whose feature lists are shorter than Windows
- Watch out: prices exclude VAT, and the page loads the figure by script so only the entry price was read
How we grade them
| 2.8GPABitdefenderGood | 2.6GPADr.WebGood | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | 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. | BFrom $31 a year excluding VAT, about $2.58 a month, which is the edge of the cheapest quarter. The price changes with term and number of PCs. |
| Free plan and trial | 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. | CA free 1-month demo of Security Space for one computer, with no technical support. There is no free plan. |
| Features | 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. | CMalware cleaning, web and spam filtering, firewall, exploit and ransomware blocking, but the Mac and Linux editions list a shorter set than Windows. |
| Ease of use | 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. | BNo store rating on record, but it is an antivirus you install and run with little setup. |
| Platforms and integrations | 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. | BWindows, Mac, Linux and Android, but no iPhone and no integrations are listed. |
| Best for | free Windows antivirus, with suites to grow into | a cheap antivirus on Windows, Mac or Linux |
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: Bitdefender and Dr.Web. How we grade
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. Dr.Web starts at $2.58 a month when paid by the year and scores 2.7.
Bitdefender scores higher, and starts $1.59 a month higher: the question is whether the extra is worth that to you. Of the other antivirus apps on the chart, none scores higher than Bitdefender for less, and 3 score higher than Dr.Web for less.
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
Where they differ
- Bitdefender also covers password manager and vPN.
- Dr.Web also covers site & app blocker.
At a glance
| Bitdefender | Dr.Web | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Free trial |
| Starts at | $49.99 per year at renewal (Antivirus Plus, 1 device), after a first year for $24.99 | $31 per year and up, excluding VAT |
| Free plan | Bitdefender Antivirus Free gives real-time malware and ransomware protection for Windows PCs, with no time limit. It needs a Bitdefender Central account. | None |
| Free trial | 30-day free trial of Antivirus Plus and Total Security | Free 1-month demo of Security Space, with no technical support |
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Made by | Bitdefender | Doctor Web |
| Price read from | bitdefender.com | products.drweb.com |
| Checked | Oct 17, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 |
Worth knowing
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.
Dr.Web
- The price changes with the term and the number of computers; the page loads the figure with script, so only the entry price could be read.
- The one-month demo covers one computer and comes with no technical support.
- The Mac and Linux editions list a shorter feature set than the Windows edition.
- Prices exclude VAT, which is added at checkout once a country is chosen.
Key features
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.
Dr.Web
- Malware detection and cure
- Scans for malware and cleans infected systems, with protection against new threats, targeted attacks and zero-day vulnerabilities according to the vendor.
- Web and spam filtering
- Checks visited pages against Doctor Web's cloud to warn about phishing and dangerous sites, and filters spam in mail traffic.
- Firewall and exploit blocking
- A firewall blocks unauthorized access, and a separate module stops malware from using software flaws to get in.
- Ransomware and file protection
- Protects against file-encrypting ransomware and can keep files in chosen folders safe from changes or deletion once configured.
- Parental controls and device blocking
- Restricts sites by URL keywords, and can block webcam, microphone and USB device access.
Plans
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.
Dr.Web
Dr.Web Security Space$31
per year and up, excl. VAT; price depends on term and number of PCs
Computer protection with a firewall, ransomware and exploit blocking, spam filter, parental controls and camera and microphone blocking.
Dr.Web Security Space for mobileCustom
Edition for phones, tablets, Smart TVs and game consoles; its price is chosen by term and number of devices and could not be read as text.
Ways to pay less
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.
Dr.Web
- Other savings
25% off license renewals
Customers with an existing Dr.Web license can renew it at 25% off, as shown on the Security Space page.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Bitdefender or Dr.Web?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Dr.Web is cheaper to start with: $2.58 a month when paid by the year, against $4.17 a month when paid by the year for Bitdefender. Bitdefender starts at $49.99 per year at renewal (Antivirus Plus, 1 device), after a first year for $24.99, and Dr.Web starts at $31 per year and up, excluding VAT.
Which has a free plan, Bitdefender or Dr.Web?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only Bitdefender has a free plan. Dr.Web does not, though it has a free trial.
Which platforms do Bitdefender and Dr.Web run on?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only Bitdefender lists an iOS app and only Dr.Web lists a Linux app. Both list macOS, Windows and Android apps. A platform missing from a listing is one its maker's pages did not mention.
More comparisons
How this page was made
- The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
- The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
- Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
- The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.