Bitdefender vs Trend Micro
We give Bitdefender a 2.8 GPA and Trend Micro a 2.6, out of 4.0. Bitdefender grades higher on the free plan. They get the same grade on value for money, 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
Trend Micro
Antivirus suites for PCs, Macs and phones, up to an ID-theft bundle
How we grade them
| 2.8GPABitdefenderGood | 2.6GPATrend MicroGood | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | CMaximum Security for 5 devices is $139.95 for a 2-year term, about $5.83 a month, above the dearer quarter of antivirus. The yearly route is $74.95 for the first term, but the renewal price isn't stated, so two years that way can't be worked out. |
| 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. | CHouseCall scans a Windows PC for free, on demand. It's a check-up, not protection: anything ongoing needs a paid plan, and the listing shows no free trial. |
| 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. | BAI-based malware and web protection, Pay Guard for banking, Folder Shield for cloud-synced folders, and a password manager from Internet Security. The VPN, identity protection and a 24/7 helpdesk come only in Premium Security Suite. |
| 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 installs and starts protecting, with nothing to set up 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, Android, iPhone, and Chromebooks through a browser extension. No API or integration list on record, so it stops at B. |
| Best for | free Windows antivirus, with suites to grow into | covering PCs, Macs, phones and Chromebooks |
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 Trend Micro. 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. Trend Micro starts at $2.50 a month when paid by the year and scores 3.0.
They score the same, and Trend Micro starts $1.67 a month lower. Of the other antivirus apps on the chart, none scores higher than Bitdefender for less, and none scores higher than Trend Micro 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. Trend Micro starts at $29.95 per year for 1 device (Antivirus+), first term; renewal price not stated.
- Only Trend Micro lists a browser extension.
At a glance
| Bitdefender | Trend Micro | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Free plan |
| Starts at | $49.99 per year at renewal (Antivirus Plus, 1 device), after a first year for $24.99 | $29.95 per year for 1 device (Antivirus+), first term; renewal price not stated |
| 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. | HouseCall gives a free on-demand security scan of a Windows PC; ongoing real-time protection needs a paid plan. |
| Free trial | 30-day free trial of Antivirus Plus and Total Security | None listed |
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Browser extension | ||
| Made by | Bitdefender | Trend Micro Inc. |
| Price read from | bitdefender.com | trendmicro.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
Trend Micro
- Households covering Windows, Mac and phones on one 5-device plan
- Chromebook users, who are covered through a browser extension
- US buyers who want identity fraud insurance with their antivirus
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.
Trend Micro
- Prices shown are introductory first-term prices; Trend Micro says plans renew yearly at the then-current renewal price, which the pages do not state.
- Subscriptions bought in the online store are enrolled in automatic renewal.
- The VPN and identity protection come only with Premium Security Suite.
- Identity fraud insurance is for US customers only and excludes free and trial users.
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.
Trend Micro
- AI-based malware protection
- Cloud-based AI detection blocks known and new malware, ransomware and dangerous websites on every paid plan.
- Folder Shield
- Protects chosen folders from ransomware, including cloud-synced folders such as Dropbox, Google Drive and OneDrive.
- Pay Guard
- Included from Antivirus+ up, Pay Guard checks that banking and shopping sites are genuine before you sign in or pay.
- Password manager
- Internet Security and higher plans include a password manager that creates strong passwords and signs you in to sites.
- VPN and identity protection
- Premium Security Suite adds Trend Micro VPN, dark web monitoring, ID theft restoration help and up to $1 million identity fraud insurance in the US.
- Premium Service helpdesk
- Premium Security Suite includes a 24/7 personal helpdesk for technical problems beyond security.
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.
Trend Micro
HouseCall$0
Free on-demand security scan for Windows PCs.
Antivirus+ Security$29.95
per year for 1 device, first term; renewal price not stated
Real-time antivirus, web threat and scam blocking for one computer. Shown as 30% off $42.95.
Internet Security$59.95
per year for up to 3 PCs, first term; renewal price not stated
Adds a password manager and social media privacy checks, for PCs, Macs and Chromebooks. Shown as 29% off $83.95.
Maximum Security$74.95
per year for up to 5 devices, first term; renewal price not stated
Covers Windows, Mac, Android, iOS and Chromebook, with Pay Guard banking protection and Folder Shield. Shown as 29% off $104.95.
Premium Security Suite$109.95
per year for up to 10 devices, first term; renewal price not stated
Maximum Security plus VPN, ID Protection, ScamCheck, $1M US identity fraud insurance and 24/7 IT helpdesk. Shown as 29% off $154.95.
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.
Trend Micro
- Other savings
About 30% off the first year
First-term prices are shown against crossed-out prices: Antivirus+ $29.95 ($42.95), Internet Security $59.95 ($83.95), Maximum $74.95 ($104.95), Premium Suite $109.95 ($154.95).
- Other savings
Two-year terms
Each plan is also sold for 2 years: Maximum Security for 5 devices is $139.95 and Premium Security Suite for 10 devices is $219.95.
