Bitdefender vs Panda Dome (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, we pick Bitdefender: it is second in our ranking of antivirus apps, and they share a 2.8 GPA.
Checked Oct 17, 2026 and Nov 12, 2026 · graded Oct 17, 2026 and Nov 12, 2026 by ToolGPA
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
Panda Dome
Antivirus range from a free edition to a VPN and password bundle
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 Panda Dome if
- Fits if you want a free antivirus and may add a VPN later
- Works for a household with a mix of Windows, Mac and phones on one licence
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you want to know the real yearly price before you buy: the tier pages show promo prices
- Tight if you stay on the free VPN, because it stops at 150 MB a day
- Watch out: the renewal-price promise on the site was not checked against the terms
- Watch out: which features come with which tier is on separate pages, so check before buying
How we grade them
| 2.8GPABitdefenderGood | 2.8GPAPanda DomeGood | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | CNo paid price is recorded: the tier pages show several dollar figures by device count and term, behind a 30% to 60% discount with a countdown. Without a clear price it sits in the middle. |
| 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. | BPanda Dome Free is offered, with real-time antivirus and a VPN capped at 150 MB a day. One person could live on the antivirus part. |
| 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, firewall, phishing and ransomware protection, parental control, a password manager and a VPN across four tiers. Nothing in the listing shows a gap in the core work. |
| 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 installed software that starts protecting once it is on. |
| 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, Android and iPhone, with multi-device licences. No integrations or API listed. |
| Best for | free Windows antivirus, with suites to grow into | antivirus with a free edition |
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 Panda Dome. How we grade
Where they differ
At a glance
| Bitdefender | Panda Dome | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Free plan |
| Starts at | $49.99 per year at renewal (Antivirus Plus, 1 device), after a first year for $24.99 | Not published |
| 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. | Panda Dome Free antivirus is offered. |
| Free trial | 30-day free trial of Antivirus Plus and Total Security | None listed |
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Made by | Bitdefender | Panda Security |
| Price read from | bitdefender.com | Not confirmed |
| 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.
Panda Dome
- Prices are not recorded: the tier pages show several US-dollar figures that depend on device count and term, and the figures read from India could not be matched to US list prices.
- The tier pages promote a discount of 30% to 60% with a countdown, so shown prices may be promotional.
- The site says it will keep the price the same at renewal, a claim that was not checked against the terms.
- Which features come with which tier is listed on the tier pages; check them before buying.
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.
Panda Dome
- Antivirus, firewall and phishing protection
- Essential lists antivirus, a firewall, phishing protection, Wi-Fi protection and USB virus scanning.
- Ransomware protection and parental control
- Advanced adds ransomware protection and parental control on top of Essential.
- Password manager and file tools
- Complete adds PC optimization, a password manager, and file encryption and shredding.
- VPN
- Panda Dome VPN is listed as a product, and the tier pages list a VPN among their features.
- Multi-device licenses
- Tier pages let buyers pick 1, 3, 5, 10 or unlimited devices and 1, 2 or 3 years.
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.
Panda Dome
Pricing could not be confirmed. See pandasecurity.com.
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.
Panda Dome
No public discounts listed.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Bitdefender or Panda Dome?
As of Nov 12, 2026, Bitdefender starts at $49.99 per year at renewal (Antivirus Plus, 1 device), after a first year for $24.99, and Panda Dome has no price we could confirm.
Which has a free plan, Bitdefender or Panda Dome?
As of Nov 12, 2026, both Bitdefender and Panda Dome have a free plan.
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.