Bitdefender vs. Avast: What’s the Difference and Which Should You Get?

Technology advancements have significantly revolutionized how we interact and share information. With a click of a button, you can access information over the internet, pay bills, sell and make money, work remotely, and connect with friends and family worldwide. Conversely, hackers have used technology to maliciously access private information and data through phishing, viruses, malware, ransomware, and worms.

Thanks to antivirus software, you can protect your device from virus attacks that can destroy your data by crashing or slowing down your machine. Bitdefender and Avast are popular antivirus software with a reputation for high-quality data protection solutions. They both offer free options as well as paid plans. Although their approach differs, they serve a common goal — protecting your devices and data from viruses. In this guide, we will explore the difference between the two top-rated antivirus programs to help you make an informed decision.

Bitdefender vs. Avast: Side-By-Side Comparison

Great Features

Bitdefender Total Security 2023 – Complete Antivirus and Internet Security Suite – 5 Devices | 2 year Subscription | PC/Mac | Activation Code by Mail

$39.99

• Rated #1 by PC Mag for 2023
• Compatible with Windows (8.0, 8.1, 10, and 11), Mac (macOS X Yosemite 10.10 and later), iOS (11.2 and later), and Android (5.0 and later)
• Dedicated browser secures your online transactions
• Advanced features like web protection tools, parental controls, file shredder, firewall, VPN, and anti-tracker
• Will not automatically renew

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09/28/2023 02:54 pm GMT

Bitdefender vs. Avast: What’s the Difference?

If you are in the market for a new antivirus program, choosing between Bitdefender and Avast can be difficult. Both offer incredible features in their free and paid plans, with impressive performance. It is also easy to try both before settling on one because they all offer a 30-day money-back guarantee. However, there are key features that set the two software apart. Let’s look at each in detail.

Device Compatibility

Avast and Bitdefender are highly compatible with popular operating systems, including Android, Mac, Windows, and iOS. So no matter the operating system on your device, you can successfully install any of these antivirus software to safeguard your data. However, Avast edges Bitdefender in the number of devices it covers on the low-tier plans. Bitdefender only supports up to five devices in the lower plans compared to Avast’s 10 devices in similar plans.  

Customer Support

Any software application is bound to have some challenges, be it installation, use, update interference, irrelevancy, or any other issues that may arise. When such problems occur, you need highly responsive customer support to help get your system back on track before any damage is done. Most companies offer diverse customer support so customers can get immediate help without experiencing delays. Bitdefender excels at providing multiple support options and a better customer experience than Avast.

With Bitdefender, you can either access help through live chats, phone, or email. Their phone support responds to different languages in 17 countries. This means you can easily get help in your native language. Connecting to an agent takes a short time, so you won’t be kept waiting in the queue. The response you get is also helpful and offers solutions to all your queries.

Avast offers a different customer support approach. It mainly relies on the FAQs on its website and online forums. To access live chat, you must first navigate the knowledge base and look for an option that allows you to contact support. The waiting period is longer than Bitdefender’s, but the response is helpful.

Price

When it comes to pricing, Bitdefender has plans with better value than Avast. With five available plans with different features, users can select any that suits their needs and budget. If you need premium features, you will pay more for top-tier plans such as Ultimate Security. This plan guarantees utmost security as it supports all the security features and can protect up to 10 devices. The base plan, AntiVirus Plus, starts at $23.99 per year and provides Bitdefender’s standard protection suite. For extensive privacy protection, you can upgrade to higher plans.

Avast offers two plans with different features. It is also more costly compared to Bitdefender. Its base plan, Premium Security, is currently on a $49.99 offer at the Avast website. This is higher than the Bitdefender base plan price but with almost similar features. The higher plan, Ultimate, starts at $79 and features Avast’s complete protection suite.

 For users on a budget, Bitdefender is the best pick due to its numerous and fairly priced plans. Besides, you will get a robust selection of features at an affordable price. Both programs have free versions but with limited features. They also have a 30-day money guarantee, allowing you to try the program for free.

User Interface

Because of the numerous features in both programs, they may appear complicated. However, both have an intuitive dashboard for easy use and navigation. For new users, Bitdefender may be overwhelming because of its many features.

Avast’s interface has a more minimalist and straightforward design. If you are starting and need an easy-to-use interface, Avast will be a good starting point. Avast’s interface is designed to be intuitive and easy to navigate. In contrast, Bitdefender’s interface has a lot of advanced options and settings that may not be easily accessible to average users.

Software Performance

Both applications have excellent performance. However, Bitdefender has incredible speed, considering its lightweight and responsive build. This means it will scan faster and is less resource intensive than Avast. Bitdefender runs without impacting your system performance. You can expect your applications to run normally, as they would before installing the application.

Avast, on the other side, has a significant impact on the device’s speed. You will notice that programs load much slower, and opening browsers may experience delays. This is because Avast uses a lot of background processes and services that can slow down your system. If you are running programs or carrying activities that require peak performance from your computer, Avast might not be the best option. Slow file downloads or slow browser feedback may impact your productivity. 

Web Security

Web security is a significant factor to consider when choosing antivirus software. You need software with robust security tools to browse with privacy and security. Bitdefender has high-level anti-phishing tools that ensure you are safe online. The tools detect dangerous sites by comparing them against a massive database of suspicious and malicious sites that is regularly updated.

Such sites are blocked so that they may not expose your machine and files to phishing attacks and information theft. Additionally, the tool shows the blocked sites and the reasons, should there be false positives, it allows you to unblock and safely access them.

Avast’s web protection is equally good as it locks malicious and phishing sites to secure your data and privacy. However, unlike Bitdefender, it does not block all the sites. Another of its helpful feature in web protection is the Real site which prevents DNS hijacking.

Additional Features

Avast and Bitdefender provide features in their paid plans that boost their performance. They have several features in common, such as file shredder, ransomware, and webcam protection tools. Bitdefender has more comprehensive features that most users find helpful. Avast, on the other hand, has a limited range of features. Features like Ransomware protection enhance your devices and file security from ransomware attacks, while webcam protection prevents unauthorized people from accessing your webcam and microphone. Bitdefender has a crucial feature, Rescue Environment, which detects and removes malware during a machine reboot.

Bitdefender’s password manager allows you to create strong and unique passwords and synchronize them between every device you use for easier access. Parental controls allow you to set limits on devices, monitor and control internet use and block web pages you do not want your kids to access. This helps ensure your kids are safe online and access only the content you allow. To access this feature on Avast, you require a separate application.

The Secure sandbox is unique to the Avast antivirus software, which allows you to test apps in an isolated sandbox. This helps separate suspicious apps from other system files and protect your data. If the app is harmful, you can uninstall it before it affects other files. Another feature unique to Avast is a Real site, a feature that safeguards you against DNS hijacking by employing an encrypted connection through its DNS servers. Generally, Bitdefender has more features than Avast, so it is crucial to consider the important features for you before making a choice.

User-Friendly

Avast Ultimate 2022 | Antivirus+Cleaner+VPN | 10 Devices, 1 Year [PC/Mac/Mobile Download]

$39.99

• Compatible with Windows (7, 8, 8.1, 10, and 11), Mac OS (10.12 Sierra and later), Android (6.0 and later), iOS (13.0 and later)
• Additional features like a password manager, firewall, VPN, and web protection
• Blocks spam and phishing emails
• Protects your photos and personal files
• Does not auto-renew unless you sign up for it

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09/27/2023 07:44 pm GMT

Bitdefender vs. Avast: 5 Must-Know Facts

• Both are excellent antivirus software with free versions and paid plans.
• Bitdefender has more features compared to Avast.
• Avast has only two subscription plans, while Bitdefender has five.
• Avast consumes more resources than Bitdefender, which slows the system when running other programs.
• Avast has a more user-friendly interface than Bitdefender, which can overwhelm some users.

Bitdefender vs. Avast: Which One Is Better? Which One Should You Use?

The choice between Bitdefender vs. Avast depends on your needs and preferences. Bitdefender is generally considered a better option in malware detection rates, resource usage, firewall, privacy protection, and affordability. Its advanced features and robust security make it a preferable option. It is also affordable and has multiple subscription plans with different features depending on your needs and budget. Unlike Avast, its user interface may appear complex for first-time users because of the many features. So, if you need an easy-to-navigate user interface, Avast is the best choice. Although it doesn’t have as many features as Bitdefender, it has a decent level of protection for your devices and files.

The image featured at the top of this post is ©iStock.com/NicoElNino.