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As the threat of malware, phishing, and ransomware continues to grow,cybersecurity is a topic everyone needs to be aware of. That’s why we’re reviewing top antivirus and security solutions to help you decide which one best matches your needs at an affordable price.
I reviewed Bitdefender last year and found it to be one ofthe best antivirus options for Windows computers. However, hackers are relentless and attacks are increasingly sophisticated. My PC contains personal information, financial data, and logins to all my online accounts, so I checked the 2025 version on Bitdefender to ensure it’s still sufficient to protect my computer from malware and scams.
Tiers and pricing
Bitdefender has a free version of its antivirus software for Windows that can protect up to three devices. However, you really need more than thevarious free antivirus solutionsto keep your data and your privacy secure. Bitdefender Free doesn’t offer ransomware protection or other advanced features.
Bitdefender offers several plans that support Windows and Mac computers as well as iOS and Android devices. Most have initial discounts, with standard pricing taking effect when it’s time to renew. I’ll share prices as initial cost / renewal cost.
Starting at $25 / $50 annually, Antivirus Plus protects one device and includes ransomware protection and tracker blocking. It’s wise to protect all your devices, and Bitdefender’s $60 / $110 Total Security covers up to five devices. To protect an entire household, the 15-device protection of the $70 / $120 Family Pack is a good value.
A free VPN is included in all Bitdefender paid plans, but the 200MB-per-day limit is quite restrictive. If you need a VPN, the $80 / $130 Premium Security Plan removes that limitation. For identity theft protection, choose Ultimate Security for $90 / $160 annually.
If you’re uncertain whether Bitdefender is the right choice, some plans offer 30-day trials to check out the features and test performance on your computer. You need to create a free Bitdefender account, then select the subscription you want to try.
I tested the equivalent of Bitdefender Premium Security by installing a free 30-day trial of Total Security, along with a seven-day Premium VPN, and a three-month Password Manager trial.
Bitdefender’s individual pricing is somewhat expensive compared to other leading antivirus software. For example,Norton 360 Deluxe has a feature-packed plan on sale for just $50. However, Family plans offer much better value by supporting five accounts and 25 devices for only a little more money. Premium Security Family costs $100 / $170, a great savings to protect the entire family.
Whilegreat antivirus deals can save you money, you should do a little research before deciding something that can have a big impact on your digital, personal, and financial well-being.
Bitdefender is easy to use and guided me through installation and setup. The installer added the antivirus software and installed a blocking extension to my browser to protect me from online threats.
In a few minutes, I was ready to get started with the app. An initial assessment scans my system for threats and attack traces. It takes a few minutes, so I chose the option to run the scan in the background while I kept using my computer.
Everything checked out on my PC and a quick tour started, inviting me to install the SecurePass password manager that’s included. After adding it to Edge, I set a master password and imported my logins to sync across all my devices.
Exploring the app further, I saw recommendations to enable ransomware and cryptomining protection, then started a Vulnerability scan. It alerted me to a critical Windows update
The Bitdefender app has tabs for Protection and Privacy that offer more control over how Bitdefender works, while Utilities provides tools to optimize my PC, totally erase deleted files, and set up custom profiles for work, streaming videos, and gaming.
Bitdefender Total Security is a well-designed app that makes it easy to get a quick overview of antivirus status and other security concerns. More details and customizations are just a few clicks away when I want more than the basic assurances.
The No. 1 job of security software is to protect you from malware and myriad other threats to your privacy and the safety of your data. Bitdefender’s antivirus software earned a protection score of 6 out of 6 from independent security firmAV-Test. The same report tracked Bitdefender’s performance and usability as well. Scores can vary over months and years, but Bitdefender’s record has been nearly perfect for the last 12 years.
I also checked Bitdefender’s rating byAVLab, another cybersecurity research firm. This test measured how quickly antivirus software blocks malware threats. Bitdefender prevented 97% of malware from launching and successfully blocked the remainder. Overall, it took just 1.8 seconds to stop malicious attacks, the fastest in the latest series of antivirus tests.
I did a quick test of Bitdefender’s online prevention by visitingWICAR.organd opening the malware test page. Bitdefender instantly blocked the page before the buttons that launch attacks could load.
I tested the VPN’s speed and reliability at locations around the world. When I connected to a nearby server, I enjoyed up to half of my native 900 Mbps downloads. The app connected in a few seconds and was stable.
Performance fell to about 15% native when I selected overseas servers. While that’s still usable, it can’t match the speed ofthe best dedicated VPNs on the market.
A VPN encrypts your online activity, protecting your privacy sofaster streaming VPNsaren’t always needed. Bitdefender’s VPN could be all you need.
Bitdefender improved its SecurePass password manager, adding features found inthe best password managers. Autofill and cross-platform sync work as expected and sharing is much improved. When I created a link to share my Netflix login, there were options to set an expiration date, limit how many times the link could be opened, and require a password to access the login.
Advanced features like ransomware remediation backs up select files as needed to minimize the impact on storage while saving a copy of files that malware could encrypt for ransom. Bitdefender Premium Security is packed with protection.
The Bitdefender app has a life preserver icon at the top right for quick access to the live chat, the user guide, the support center, and the user community.
I went directly to the chat box and was greeted by an AI that offered assistance. I asked about SecurePass sharing and the AI totally misunderstood. I asked for a human and the chatbot said it would love to help, asking for more details. It also said I could ask for a human.
I requested a support agent a second time and although the AI asked for confirmation, it connected me before I had to ask a third time. That was a bit frustrating, but the live agent was quick and helpful.
Overall, I was more satisfied with the AI chatbot fromtop antivirus competitor Trend Micro, which proved more helpful and immediately transferred me to a live agent when I asked for a human.
Privacy and security
According toBitdefender’sprivacy policy, your personal data is used only for security and protection. Bitdefender will comply with legal requests for personal data.
Any IT companies Bitdefender uses for hosting, support, statistical analysis, and marketing have contracts that require appropriate safeguards for data. Bitdefender may use your data to market its services to you, but doesn’t sell, rent, or give your data to third-party companies for any other purposes.
Regarding Bitdefender’s own security, there haven’t been any incidents since July 2015, when a hacker breached a single server and demanded payment. AForbesarticle indicated the minor data breach resulted in over 250 customer usernames and passwords leaking online.
While it’s disheartening to hear of a security company getting hacked, it happens from time to time and often on a much larger scale, like themillions of users affected by CCleaner’s multiple breaches.
Great protection at a fair price
Bitdefender has a great track record for identifying and blocking malware. It’s also among the fastest at blocking threats. That makes it one of the best antivirus solutions you can buy. The full-featured Premium Security plan adds several additional privacy and security features to keep your personal data safe.
While individual plans can be a bit expensive, family plans offer good value with support for up to five accounts. With over a dozen options and a free version, Bitdefender has something for everyone, and it’s one of my top picks for antivirus software.
As nice as Bitdefender is, there are plenty of other options for Windows laptops and computers. It’s wise to check around and see whatother top antivirus software can offer.
