Bitdefender vs TotalAV
We give Bitdefender a 2.8 GPA and TotalAV a 2.0, 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
TotalAV
Antivirus with tune-up tools, plus VPN and ad blocking on higher plans
How we grade them
| 2.8GPABitdefenderGood | 2.0GPATotalAVFair | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | DFive devices means Internet Security, $129 a year for up to 6, so two years cost $258, about $10.75 a month. That's in the dearest tenth of antivirus. Plus covers 4 for $99 a year, and identity protection is a $99 add-on on top. |
| 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. | FNo free plan, and the pricing page lists no free trial. A refund within 30 days on a yearly plan doesn't count as 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. | BReal-time antivirus, phishing and ransomware protection and cleanup tools on every plan, then Total VPN and Total Adblock, and a password manager on Total Security. Nothing in the listing shows a gap in the core protection. |
| 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. | B4.58 from about 72,000 App Store ratings, well liked but under the 4.7 an A needs. |
| 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, iPhone and a password vault extension for Chrome and Firefox. No web app, API or integration list on record, so it stops at B. |
| Best for | free Windows antivirus, with suites to grow into | antivirus with a VPN and ad blocker on one bill |
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 TotalAV. 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. TotalAV starts at $8.25 a month when paid by the year and scores 3.0.
They score the same, and Bitdefender starts $4.08 a month lower. Of the other antivirus apps on the chart, none scores higher than Bitdefender for less, and 1 scores higher than TotalAV 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. TotalAV starts at $99 per year for up to 4 devices (Plus).
- Bitdefender has a free plan. TotalAV does not.
- Only TotalAV lists a browser extension.
- TotalAV also covers disk cleanup and ad and tracker blocking.
At a glance
| Bitdefender | TotalAV | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Paid |
| Starts at | $49.99 per year at renewal (Antivirus Plus, 1 device), after a first year for $24.99 | $99 per year for up to 4 devices (Plus) |
| 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 | None listed |
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Browser extension | ||
| Made by | Bitdefender | Total Security Limited |
| Price read from | bitdefender.com | totalav.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
TotalAV
- Households that want antivirus, VPN and ad blocker in one bill
- PC owners who also want junk file cleanup and tune-up tools
- Covering a few devices across Windows, Mac and phones
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.
TotalAV
- There is no free plan, and the pricing page lists no free trial.
- TotalAV says introductory prices may be offered to new customers elsewhere; plans renew automatically at the regular rates shown here.
- Refunds need a request within 30 days on annual plans and 14 days on monthly or quarterly plans, after you end the subscription.
- Add-ons are billed yearly on top: identity theft protection $99, an extra device $40 and Advanced Cloud Scanning $45.
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.
TotalAV
- Real-time antivirus
- Scans downloads, installs and programs as they are opened, with zero-day cloud scanning and blocking of potentially unwanted apps.
- Phishing and ransomware protection
- Every plan blocks phishing scam sites and guards files against ransomware.
- Tune-up and cleanup tools
- Finds and deletes junk files, uninstalls unused apps and clears browser history, cookies and cache.
- Total VPN
- Internet Security and Total Security include a VPN with AES-256 encryption, DNS and IP leak protection and a kill switch.
- Total Adblock
- Internet Security and Total Security include an ad blocker that removes ads and pop-ups while browsing.
- Total Password
- Total Security adds a password manager that generates, stores and autofills logins, with a vault extension for Chrome and Firefox.
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.
TotalAV
Plus$99
per year for up to 4 devices
Real-time antivirus, phishing and ransomware protection, disk cleaner and tune-up tools. Renews at $11 a month or $59 every 6 months on those terms.
Internet Security$129
per year for up to 6 devices
Everything in Plus, with Total VPN and Total Adblock.
Total Security$149
per year for up to 8 devices
Everything in Internet Security, with the Total Password manager.
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.
TotalAV
No public discounts listed.
