Bitdefender vs Kaspersky
We give Bitdefender a 2.8 GPA and Kaspersky a 2.2, out of 4.0. Bitdefender grades higher on value for money and the free plan. They get the same grade on features, 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
Kaspersky
Antivirus suites with a VPN and password manager on higher tiers
How we grade them
| 2.8GPABitdefenderGood | 2.2GPAKasperskyFair | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | DOutside the US, Standard for 5 devices is $58.99 the first year, then $85.99, so two years cost $144.98, about $6.04 a month. A US reader can't count on that: the US site says renewal isn't available to US customers, so there's no second year to buy there. |
| 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. | DNo free plan on record. The 30-day trial of Standard or Premium rolls into a paid year unless you cancel, so you're signing up to pay from day one. |
| 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. | BAntivirus, a firewall, and scam and payment protection on every plan, then an unlimited VPN and a password manager from Plus, and identity protection, 24/7 remote IT help and Safe Kids on Premium. Standard has no VPN, but the core protection has no gap. |
| 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. It's a program you install and it starts protecting, with nothing to build first. |
| 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, Android and iPhone, so it's one of the few here with Linux. The VPN can't be activated in some countries, including China and India, and there's no API on record. |
| Best for | free Windows antivirus, with suites to grow into | antivirus with a VPN, outside the US |
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 Kaspersky. 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. Kaspersky starts at $5.42 a month when paid by the year and scores 3.0.
They score the same, and Bitdefender starts $1.25 a month lower. Of the other antivirus apps on the chart, none scores higher than Bitdefender for less, and none scores higher than Kaspersky 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 starts at $49.99 per year at renewal (Antivirus Plus, 1 device), after a first year for $24.99. Kaspersky starts at $64.99 per year at renewal (Standard, 1 device), after a first year for $49.99.
- 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.
At a glance
| Bitdefender | Kaspersky | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Free trial |
| Starts at | $49.99 per year at renewal (Antivirus Plus, 1 device), after a first year for $24.99 | $64.99 per year at renewal (Standard, 1 device), after a first year for $49.99 |
| 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 | 30-day free trial of Standard or Premium; a paid yearly plan starts unless you cancel |
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Made by | Bitdefender | Kaspersky |
| Price read from | bitdefender.com | kaspersky.com |
| Checked | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 17, 2026 |
Who each one suits
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
Kaspersky
- Buyers outside the US who want antivirus, VPN and passwords in one plan
- Households that also run Linux computers
- People who want remote help from support staff with PC problems
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.
Kaspersky
- Kaspersky's US site says renewal is unavailable for US customers and points non-US buyers to kaspersky.com; it shows no US prices.
- Prices here are the US-dollar prices on the global site; each plan renews automatically at the higher standard price after the first term.
- Standard has no VPN or password manager; those start at Plus.
- The free trial turns into a paid yearly plan at the introductory price unless cancelled within 30 days.
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.
Kaspersky
- Real-time antivirus and firewall
- Every plan blocks viruses, malware and ransomware, removes existing infections and includes a two-way firewall.
- Scam and payment protection
- AI-based scam protection, anti-phishing and a protected mode for online banking and shopping, plus crypto threat and stalkerware detection.
- Unlimited VPN
- Plus and Premium include Kaspersky's VPN with no data cap. It cannot be downloaded or activated in some countries, including China and India.
- Password manager
- Plus and Premium add a password manager and vault that autofills addresses and card details, with a password safety check.
- Identity and remote support
- Premium adds an identity protection wallet, smart home Wi-Fi monitoring, 24/7 remote IT support and expert virus removal.
- Kaspersky Safe Kids
- Premium includes a year of Safe Kids parental controls with GPS location, website filters and screen time limits.
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.
Kaspersky
Standard$64.99
per year for 1 device at renewal, after a first year for $49.99
Antivirus, firewall, scam and payment protection. First year $49.99; 3 devices $52.99 then $74.99, 5 devices $58.99 then $85.99.
Plus$79.99
per year for 1 device at renewal, after a first year for $61.99
Adds unlimited VPN, a password manager, data leak checks and a disk health monitor. 5 devices: $73.99 the first year, then $106.99.
Premium$98.99
per year for 1 device at renewal, after a first year for $64.99
Adds identity protection, remote access detection and 24/7 remote IT support. $64.99 also buys 15 months. 10 devices: $101.99, then $157.99.
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.
Kaspersky
- Other savings
First-year prices on every plan
For 1 device: Standard $49.99, Plus $61.99 and Premium $64.99 for the first year, against renewal prices of $64.99, $79.99 and $98.99.
- Other savings
Premium for 15 months at the 1-year price
Premium for 1 device is also sold as a 15-month term for $64.99, the same as the first year, before renewing at $98.99 a year.
