The two antiviruses competing in our face-off today are among the most widely used services on the market. In particular, Avast has built a strong reputation and positioning in the consumers’ minds despite its few controversial aspects and shortcomings.
Avast came under heat when news reports exposed its practice of selling user’s browsing data. However, that did not stop its growth, and it continued to be the choice of millions of consumers and businesses globally.
Today, we examine Avast’s and Bitdefender’s antivirus in terms of protection, performance, and other features to understand which service provides a better package. We have compared the critical element of use, including user interface, price, and sign up procedure, to give you a clearer idea of what you can expect from the two frontrunners.
Whether you are new to the topic and searching for reliable information to base your final decision on or an expert, our insightful comparison will give what you need to discern – which is the superior service?
History
Avast
Initially launched in 1995, the Czech Republic-based Avast has 1700 employees and over 425 million active users, making it the largest and the most eminent antivirus services on the market. Although the service has hundreds of glowing reviews by users and experts, it has had its fair share of bad press, including recent alarming news stories claiming that Avast was collecting and selling user data.
Bitdefender
Bitdefender is a Romanian based cybersecurity firm established in 2001. It also has a strong user base with over half a billion users all over the world, including government organizations, notable SMEs, and large organizations in 150 countries.
The Bitdefender employee army is 1600 strong. The service has made a reputation for leading the innovation in IT security software.
Avast and Bitdefender Highlights
Avast highlights:
- Compatible with a wide range of platforms
- Highly reliable level of malware protection
- Intensive, varied, and in-depth scanning options
- A fantastic option for all types of businesses and commercial use
- Highly accurate and timely malware detection
- Immediately blocks suspicious content and websites
- Easy-to-use interface with extensive customization options
- Passive mode allows you to run multiple security products simultaneously
Bitdefender highlights:
- Offers a wide selection of features and functionalities
- Third-party testing approved
- Comes with advanced ransomware protection
- Comes with a reliable VPN service
- Overall best value for money antivirus software
- Perfection option for both business and home use
- Simple and easy to use interface that updates regularly
Pros and Cons
Avast
Pros
- Secures passwords
- Blocks malware
- Blocks spam and phishing emails
- Reliable Webcam protection
- Advanced firewall lockouts hackers
- Smartly Scans for Wi-Fi security weaknesses
- Better app security
Cons
- Expensive packages
Bitdefender
Pros
- Protection against malware, spyware, adware
- Excellent customer support
- Comes with built-in device optimizer
- Multi-layer ransomware protection
- Window, macOS, Android and iOS protection
Cons
- Average user interface
Feature Comparison
| Detailed Comparison | Bitdefender | Avast |
| SECURITY | ||
| Boot-Time Scan | Yes | Yes |
| Firewall | Yes | Yes |
| IDS | Yes | Yes |
| IPS | No | Yes |
| FEATURES | ||
| Email Security | Yes | Yes |
| Antispam | Yes | Yes |
| Macro Protection | Yes | Yes |
| CloudAV | Yes | Yes |
| Webcam Protection | Yes | Yes |
| Banking and Payment Protection | Yes | No |
| Gamer Mode | Yes | Yes |
| COMPATIBILITY | ||
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| Mac | Yes | Yes |
| Android | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | Yes |
| PRICING | ||
| Starting Price | $29.99 for the first year only$59.99 for consecutive years | $69.99 per year |
| Money-Back Guarantee | 30-day | 30-day |
| Free Trial | Yes | Yes |
Standout Features
After a brief look at each service’s background, let’s consider the top standout features of each antivirus program.
Avast Premium
Automatic App Updates – to get the best out of antivirus software, it is crucial that your apps are up to date across all the different devices. Using an old app version can prove a weak point, which can increase your risk of hacking or virus attacks. Avast provides its premium users the convenience of automatic updates, so you don’t have to worry about searching for newly released versions.
Safer shopping: For online banking online and frequent online shopping, it is essential to have superior protection against router DNS hijacker that can divert you to fake sites or gaining your passwords and pin codes. Avast provides the best protection against these risks.
Sandbox: The sandbox feature of Avast allows you to open suspicious files in a safe environment prior to running them on your system, which reduces the risk of malicious attacks through downloaded files.
Bitdefender Premium
Unlimited VPN – Bitdefender Premium version includes an unlimited VPN service that will encrypt your incoming and outgoing data such as your bank information, account passwords, browsing history, and downloads to safeguard your presence online from prying eyes.
Anti-Theft – Bitdefender Premium beefs up the security and protection of your Windows-based tablets and laptops through anti-theft tools that allow you to access your system remotely from anywhere in the world through your registered premium Bitdefender account.
Ransomware Protection: Bitdefender is strict against ransomware through its multi-layered approach with a data-protection layer dedicate to protecting documents, pictures, videos, and music from attacks.
Bitdefender offers additional tools, including VPN and anti-theft features that complement its core service as an antivirus to provide a higher level of security and protection. These added offerings make Bitdefender a better value for money.
Protects Against Malware And Scans
The capacity of Avast to keep you secure from malware is not uniform. In this sense, your premium version is critical. Avast’s security is based on rescanning for risks in existing data in the system. However, the subscription version pays considerably greater priority to external threats, minimizing the risks associated with malware. Furthermore, the online defenses will guarantee that the worst trash does not reach the system hard drive as well as the cache.
Bitdefender performs nearly identically in this regard. However, even the most basic edition of Bitdefender includes superior network security measures. So, let’s say you pick one of the free alternatives. In such a situation, Avast will provide antivirus screenings and real-time protection, whereas Bitdefender will provide you with added security that could be critical when you’re online.
Furthermore, Bitdefender provides many options to prevent files from being scanned too frequently. This will conserve you both money and time, as well as lessen the wear and strain on your system.
Bitdefender’s scanning approach is inefficient in comparison to Avast’s. In the identical system, it takes nearly twice as long as Avast. Our test took over two hours to complete on a reasonably clean 256 GB SSD disk. The difference is less evident in fast scans, although Avast still outperforms Bitdefender in scans.
However, there is a catch. When you begin a diagnostic with Avast, it takes control of your computer.
You will be unable to access it until the scan is canceled or completed. Bitdefender’s scanning too is resource-intensive, yet you will be able to surf the web, send an email, and perform other such minor actions without incident.
Firewall Protection
Firewall protection is a crucial element of any antivirus program because it serves as an essential doorkeeper to the internet. Its purpose is to protect your system by determining what information is allowed to pass through to your device via download or administrator access.
Some antivirus programs come with an additional firewall to provide a higher security level through strict protocols for what is allowed to enter the device. This added security is vital for those who are at increased risk of hacking and attacks.
If you require added protection, then Avast will be the right choice for you because Bitdefender, despite being known for employing innovative methods for protecting your system, lacks firewall protection because there is no firewall in its program. On the contrary, Avast antivirus has a firewall that gives you supplementary protection from harmful files and data.
Pricing and Compatibility
For some users, price is one of the major deciding factors when they are investing in antivirus software. When it comes to Avast vs Bitdefender pricing, both of the antivirus software offer reasonable pricing plans.
Bitdefender offers better discounts and more affordable pricing plans as compared to Avast. However, if you are looking for the best free antivirus software, then Avast provides an overall better protection performance than Bitdefender. Avast’s lifetime free package offers basic features to protect your devices from common security threats.
If you talk about a free trial on premium packages, then both Bitdefender and Avast will not disappoint you! As both of the antivirus software offer a 30-day free trial period its premium packages.
Both Bitdefender and Avast offer a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can discontinue your package if you are not satisfied with the protection of this antivirus software, you can claim your money back within 30 days.
Following are the price packages of Bitdefender vs Avast:
| Antivirus software | Package | Price | Devices |
| Bitdefender | BitdefenderAntivirus Plus(Basic protection for Windows PC) | $29.99 for the first year only$59.99 for consecutive years | up to 3 devices / 1 year |
| BitdefenderTotal Security(Complete protection for Windows, macOS, iOS and Android) | $44.99 for the first year only$89.99 for consecutive years | up to 5 devices / 1 year | |
| BitdefenderInternet Security(Advanced protection for Windows PCs) | $40 for the first year only$79.99 for consecutive years | up to 3 devices / 1 year | |
| Avast | Premium Security | $69.99 per year | Single-Device |
| Premium SecurityAdvanced protection – up to 10 devices (PC, Mac, Android, and iOS) | $89.99 per year | Multi-Device | |
| Ultimate | $119.99 per year |
When it comes to compatibility, both Avast and Bitdefender are compatible with all major operating systems, including Windows, macOS and Android devices. Although, you have to select the package according to your need and device compatibility.
User Interface
If you are new to using antivirus software, then Bitdefender might be a little challenging to use. Due to the fact that the presentation of informative in Bitdefender is more complicated than Avast, and you need to have some basic knowledge of using antivirus software to utilize the advanced features of Bitdefender properly.
On the other hand, Avast offers a much easier to understand user interface that even new users can operate without any difficulties. Avast provides a smart interface for both pcs and smartphones. However, Bitdefender offers several “quick features” that are helpful in efficiently navigating the software.
If you talk about Avast’s lifetime free package, it lacks several features that are available in the premium package. If you click any of those features, the software leads you to Avast’s website, asking you to upgrade your program, which can be both confusing and frustrating for new users.
Therefore as far as the interface goes, it is a tie between Bitdefender and Avast.
System Impact
System impact is another primary concern for users who are concern about the performance of their devices after installing antivirus software. Both Bitdefender and Avast do not reduce your system performance significantly.
However, Bitdefender users might sometimes experience lag while using the software on Windows devices. In comparison, Avast users might face lag while using the software on MacBook Pro. All-in-all, with Bitdefender’s built-in device optimizer, it offers lag-free performance on most operating systems and devices.
Performance Impact: Striking the Right Balance
Bitdefender’s Resource Efficiency
Bitdefender prides itself on minimal performance impact. The software operates efficiently in the background, ensuring that your device’s speed and responsiveness remain uncompromised. This lightweight nature is particularly beneficial for users with resource-sensitive systems.
Avast’s Optimized Performance
Avast, too, strives for optimal performance without sacrificing security. Its adaptive scanning mechanisms intelligently allocate resources, prioritizing critical tasks while maintaining a vigilant eye on potential threats. The result is a harmonious coexistence of security and system performance.
Desktop applications
Bitdefender will present you with a number of app options. You can, for example, install the entire suite or just the malware scanner. It increases its adaptability and customization. This does not include the ability to install the service’s VPN independently. So, with Bitdefender, you may install the service on your desktop, disable some functions, or even disable the entire app. You’ll be flooded with options.
Avast, on the contrary, will give you only one option: delete the entire software. So it’s an all-or-nothing situation. Even though users switch to the paid subscription, the software will remain the same; it will only remove the paywall.
As a result, Avast’s free edition will install it’s full version from the start but will not allow you to use it unless you pay.
This makes a lot of sense from the developer’s perspective because they can publish a one-size-fits-all file. However, from the user’s standpoint, it is wholly unnecessary. It demands that you put up with a setup process that is exacerbated by bloatware and is largely pointless in the end.
Mobile Apps
Mobile applications are a delicate subject. It is not uncommon for iOS and Android versions of the same service to have nothing in common and can appear to be opposed.
Because Apple has such a tight grip over the App Store, the vulnerability of iOS devices to any malware is extremely low. Furthermore, Sideloads for any applications are severely limited unless you have an unlocked device. As a result, there is little need or appetite for iOS antiviral apps, and very few providers devote the resources necessary to create programs that will be helpful only infrequently.
It ultimately comes down to this: Avast and Bitdefender’s iOS apps are appealing. However, Bitdefender just activates the VPN, secures the browser, and checks the privacy of an account. That’s basically nothing in comparison to the enormous feature set of the desktop app.
The Avast iOS application includes a VPN, web security, and a “secret” picture vault for storing the most uncomfortable bitmaps. As a result, it isn’t much better than Bitdefender’s.
Everything changes when we switch to the Android versions. Bitdefender Android offers a scanner for malware, anti-theft measures, and an app lock. That’s a lot of additional useful features.
The Avast Android version is also far superior to its iOS counterpart. It includes features such as RAM optimization, device tracking, and harmful website prevention. Unfortunately, a scanner for malware is not available. So installing any application on iOS devices is essentially pointless. Both applications have some valuable functions on Android, but Bitdefender’s is far superior and more versatile.
Customer Support
If you are an Avast user, you can get live chat and email support. Avast also offers detailed FAQs for quick and comprehensive assistance. Avast also offers phone support at an extra cost if required.
Bitdefender offers better customer support than Avast. You can find solutions to common problems on videos that are available on the website. For further assistance, you can contact them via 24/7 online chat, phone call, or discuss your issues on Bitdefender’s expert community.
Bitdefender vs Avast – FAQs
Is Bitdefender better than Avast?
In terms of overall malware protection performance, Bitdefender outdoes the Avast on many levels. Bitdefender provides excellent protection against malware, spyware, adware. It also has more affordable pricing plans than Avast, and a built-in device optimizer to ensure lag-free performance.
Is Bitdefender free better than Avast Free?
Although both Bitdefender free vs Avast free offer similar features; however, Avast offers better virus scanning and malware defense as compared to Bitdefender. It also has a more straightforward user interface.
Verdict
In conclusion, Bitdefender offers an overall better antivirus protection service than Avast. Bitdefender has impressive all-around performance with outstanding malware detection and other features that enhance the security of your devices. Even though Bitdefender does not offer lifetime free trial package like Avast; however, its paid packages are more affordable than Avast.
In this antivirus battle, Bitdefender is most definitely the winner as it outperforms Avast on many levels.
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Markhascole
Mark is a cyber security enthusiast. He loves to spread knowledge about cybersecurity with his peers. He also loves to travel and writing his travel diaries.