Bitdefender vs Moonlock (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 2.0.
Checked Oct 17, 2026 and Nov 12, 2026 · graded Oct 17, 2026 and Nov 12, 2026 by ToolGPA
Bitdefender grades higher on the free plan and platforms. They get the same grade on value for money, features and ease of use.
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
Moonlock
Mac antivirus with real-time scanning, a VPN and a scam checker
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 Moonlock if
- Fits if you have one Mac and want a scanner built only for macOS
- Works for a household of 1, 2 or 5 Macs that wants a one-time purchase option
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you also use Windows, iPhone or Android, as there is no app for them
- Watch out: the 7-day trial charges $54 on its own when it ends unless you cancel
- Pricey if you pay monthly, at $13.50 against $54 for the year
- Watch out: the one-time $150 may not include major upgrades and new features, and 2- and 5-Mac prices only show at checkout
How we grade them
| 2.8GPABitdefenderGood | 2.0GPAMoonlockFair | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | C$54 a year for 1 Mac, which works out to $4.50 a month. That sits right at the middle of what antivirus charges ($4.50), neither cheap nor dear. The one-time $150 is more than two years of that middle price. |
| 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. | D7 days free, and it starts on the yearly plan, so $54 is charged automatically when it ends unless you cancel. No free version of the app. |
| 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. | BReal-time scanning, a manual scanner, a VPN, a network inspector that can block countries, a scam checker and a settings advisor. Nothing in the listing is missing from the job an antivirus does. |
| 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 is an app you install and run, with nothing to set up before it starts scanning. |
| 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. | DmacOS 13 or later only. The site mentions no Windows, iPhone or Android app, and no integrations. |
| Best for | free Windows antivirus, with suites to grow into | antivirus for a single Mac |
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 Moonlock. 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. Moonlock starts at $4.50 a month when paid by the year and scores 2.3.
Bitdefender scores higher and starts $0.33 a month lower. Of the other antivirus apps on the chart, none scores higher than Bitdefender for less, and 9 score higher than Moonlock 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.
At a glance
| Bitdefender | Moonlock | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Free trial |
| Starts at | $49.99 per year at renewal (Antivirus Plus, 1 device), after a first year for $24.99 | $54 per year for 1 Mac ($13.50 billed monthly) |
| 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 | 7 days free, then billed at the plan chosen |
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Made by | Bitdefender | MacPaw Way Ltd. |
| Price read from | bitdefender.com | pay.macpaw.com |
| Checked | Oct 17, 2026 | Nov 12, 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.
Moonlock
- Mac only: the system requirements list macOS 13 or later, and the site mentions no Windows, iOS or Android app.
- The 7-day trial starts on a yearly plan and charges $54 automatically when it ends unless cancelled.
- Prices for the 2- and 5-device options were not shown without selecting them, so only the 1-device prices are listed here.
- The one-time purchase may not include major upgrades and new features, according to the checkout page.
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.
Moonlock
- Real-time protection
- Scans in the background, even when the app is closed, and checks files, apps and Mail attachments. It neutralizes a risky file but leaves the decision to remove it to you.
- Malware scanner
- A manual scan of the Mac that quarantines detected malware, and explains what it found, why it is dangerous and what to do next.
- VPN and network inspector
- A VPN encrypts the connection on untrusted networks, and the network inspector can cut connections to countries the user chooses.
- Scam Detector
- Paste a suspicious message and the AI-powered detector says whether it looks like a scam.
- System protection and Security Advisor
- Checks the Mac's security settings and walks through the ones to tighten, plus short advice on safer habits.
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.
Moonlock
Yearly$54
per year for 1 device ($13.50 billed monthly)
Shown as $4.50 a month billed yearly. The 7-day free trial starts on this plan. 2- and 5-device options also exist.
Monthly$13.50
per month for 1 device, billed monthly
Month-to-month billing for one Mac. Prices for the 2- and 5-device options were not readable without choosing them in checkout.
One-time purchase$150
for 1 device, paid once, one-time
Paid once with no renewal. The checkout says it may not include major upgrades and new features.
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.
Moonlock
- Annual discount
Yearly billing is $4.50 a month
The checkout lists the yearly plan at $54 billed yearly against $13.50 a month when billed monthly.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Bitdefender or Moonlock?
As of Nov 12, 2026, Bitdefender is cheaper to start with: $4.17 a month when paid by the year, against $4.50 a month when paid by the year for Moonlock. Bitdefender starts at $49.99 per year at renewal (Antivirus Plus, 1 device), after a first year for $24.99, and Moonlock starts at $54 per year for 1 Mac ($13.50 billed monthly).
Which has a free plan, Bitdefender or Moonlock?
As of Nov 12, 2026, only Bitdefender has a free plan. Moonlock does not, though it has a free trial.
Which platforms do Bitdefender and Moonlock run on?
As of Nov 12, 2026, only Bitdefender lists Windows, iOS and Android apps. Both list a macOS app. 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.