Avast Antivirus vs Bitdefender
Updated November 2026 · AppBreakup editorial
Avast Antivirus
Widely used free antivirus for Windows and Mac, with paid tiers adding firewall, VPN and cleanup tools.
Bitdefender
Antivirus with a free Windows edition and paid suites covering Mac, Android and iOS.
The short answer
Bitdefender suits Windows users who want a quiet free antivirus with few alerts and a strong lab-test record. Avast suits home users who want free real-time protection on both Windows and Mac and don't mind upgrade prompts. The biggest difference is the free tier: Bitdefender's free edition is Windows only but low-noise, while Avast's covers more devices but shows frequent upgrade offers.
Avast Antivirus or Bitdefender: our take
Both are consumer security suites with a free entry point and paid tiers on top. Avast Free Antivirus for Windows scans files, downloads, email and websites in real time and runs a Smart Scan that checks for malware, risky browser add-ons and weak settings in one pass; Avast Security for Mac and free mobile apps cover other devices. Bitdefender Antivirus Free is a pared-back Windows app with real-time scanning, behaviour-based detection and a basic VPN capped at 200 MB per day, with no time limit and very few pop-ups. Bitdefender regularly scores near the top in independent lab tests.
The experience differs more than the core protection. Avast's free version shows frequent upgrade offers and its setup can suggest other Avast apps; Avast is owned by Gen Digital, which also owns Norton and AVG. Bitdefender's free version has almost no settings to change, which suits people who want to install it and forget it, but it runs only on Windows.
On the paid side, Avast's Premium Security, Ultimate and Avast One tiers add a firewall, ransomware shields, webcam protection, a VPN and PC cleanup tools; those shields need a paid plan. Bitdefender's paid line runs from Antivirus Plus up to Total Security, which covers Windows, macOS, Android and iOS and adds ransomware remediation, web protection, a vulnerability scanner and parental tools. Listed prices include Antivirus Plus Multiplatform at $29.99 a year for 3 devices and Total Security at $59.99 a year; Bitdefender plans are yearly with introductory discounts that rise at renewal.
Pick Bitdefender if you are on Windows and want strong detection with little interference, or a paid suite across many devices. Pick Avast if you want free real-time protection on a Mac as well as a PC, or like the all-in-one Smart Scan, and can live with the upgrade prompts.
Which should you pick?
Choose Avast Antivirus if…
- Home users who want a free real-time antivirus for Windows or Mac
- Free edition includes real-time protection, not just scans
- Covers Windows, Mac, Android and iPhone
Choose Bitdefender if…
- Windows users who want a quiet, high-scoring free antivirus with an upgrade path
- Free Windows edition with no time limit and few alerts
- Basic VPN included even in the free version
About each app
What is Avast Antivirus?
Avast Antivirus is one of the best-known consumer security suites. The free edition for Windows scans files, downloads, email and websites in real time and runs a Smart Scan that looks for malware, risky browser add-ons and weak settings in one pass. Avast Security for Mac and free mobile apps for Android and iPhone cover other devices. Paid tiers (Premium Security, Ultimate and the Avast One bundle) add a firewall, ransomware shields, webcam protection, a VPN and PC cleanup tools. Avast is owned by Gen Digital, the company behind Norton and AVG, so the products share much of their technology. It suits home users who want solid free protection and don't mind upgrade prompts; people who dislike in-app offers for other Avast products may prefer a quieter option.
What is Bitdefender?
Bitdefender is a Romanian security company whose antivirus regularly scores near the top in independent lab tests. Bitdefender Antivirus Free is a pared-back Windows app: real-time scanning, behaviour-based detection that watches for suspicious changes, and a basic VPN with a small daily data allowance, all with few pop-ups and no time limit. The paid line starts with Antivirus Plus for one Windows PC and goes up to Total Security, which covers Windows, macOS, Android and iOS on up to 10 devices and adds ransomware remediation, web protection, a vulnerability scanner and parental tools. Plans are yearly subscriptions, with introductory discounts that rise at renewal. It suits people who want strong detection with little interference; the free version has no settings to tweak and runs only on Windows.
Side by side
| Attribute | Avast Antivirus | Bitdefender |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan + paid | Free plan + paid |
| Open source | No | No |
| Self-hostable | No | No |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Android, iOS | Windows, macOS, Android, iOS |
| Best for | Home users who want a free real-time antivirus for Windows or Mac | Windows users who want a quiet, high-scoring free antivirus with an upgrade path |
| Status | Active | Active |
Verified facts, compared
Facts both apps publish, checked on each vendor's own site.
| Fact | Avast Antivirus | Bitdefender |
|---|---|---|
| Free version | Avast Free Antivirus for Windows | Yes, Windows only |
Avast Antivirus vs Bitdefender pricing
Avast Antivirus: free plan + paid
- Free version: Avast Free Antivirus for Windows source
Bitdefender: free plan + paid
- Free version: Yes, Windows only source
- Free VPN allowance: 200 MB per day source
- Total Security plan: $59.99 a year, 1 member, up to 5 devices source
- Premium Security plan: $79.99 a year source
- Antivirus Plus Multiplatform plan: $29.99 a year, 3 devices source
- Free plan: Yes, Windows only, no time limit source
Platforms
| Platform | Avast Antivirus | Bitdefender |
|---|---|---|
| Windows | ||
| macOS | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android |
Avast Antivirus facts
5 of 5 verified- Free version
- Avast Free Antivirus for Windows
- Checked Nov 8, 2026support.avast.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Avast Free Antivirus for Windows is an essential security application”
- Windows support
- Windows 7 SP1 to Windows 11
- Checked Nov 8, 2026support.avast.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Windows 11 except Mixed Reality and IoT Edition”
- Mac version
- Avast Security for Mac
- Checked Nov 8, 2026support.avast.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Avast Security for Mac is an essential security software”
- Smart Scan
- Yes
- Checked Nov 8, 2026support.avast.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Smart Scan , which can detect viruses, malware, bad browser add-ons, and other issues on your PC.”
- Owner
- Gen Digital
- Checked Nov 8, 2026press.avast.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “trusted consumer brands including Norton, Avast, LifeLock, MoneyLion and more.”
Bitdefender facts
8 of 8 verified- Free version
- Yes, Windows only
- Checked Nov 8, 2026bitdefender.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Bitdefender Antivirus Free is a free antivirus software especially designed to protect your Windows PC.”
- No time limit
- Yes
- Checked Nov 8, 2026bitdefender.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Bitdefender Antivirus Free offers top-notch protection for your Windows PC without any hidden costs or time limits.”
- Free VPN allowance
- 200 MB per day
- Checked Nov 8, 2026bitdefender.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Bitdefender Total Security also includes a basic VPN with up to 200 MB per day of encrypted traffic for your devices.”
- Platforms (Total Security)
- Windows, macOS, Android, iOS; up to 10 devices
- Checked Nov 8, 2026bitdefender.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Bitdefender Total Security offers cross-platform protection that covers Windows PCs, Macs, smartphones and tablets running Android or iOS for up to 10 devices.”
- Total Security plan
- $59.99 a year, 1 member, up to 5 devices
- Checked Nov 8, 2026bitdefender.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “products ts_i/5/1, ts_f/25/1 monthly-products ts_i/5/2, ts_f/25/2 ts_i/5/1 (Bitdefender Total Security Individual) USD 59.99”
- Premium Security plan
- $79.99 a year
- Checked Nov 8, 2026bitdefender.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “(Bitdefender Premium Security Individual) USD 79.99”
- Antivirus Plus Multiplatform plan
- $29.99 a year, 3 devices
- Checked Nov 8, 2026bitdefender.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “(Bitdefender Antivirus Plus Multiplatform) USD 29.99”
- Free plan
- Yes, Windows only, no time limit
- Checked Nov 8, 2026bitdefender.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Bitdefender Antivirus Free offers top-notch protection for your Windows PC without any hidden costs or time limits.”
Pros and cons of Avast Antivirus
- Free edition includes real-time protection, not just scans
- Covers Windows, Mac, Android and iPhone
- Smart Scan checks malware, add-ons and settings together
- Free version shows frequent upgrade offers
- Firewall and ransomware shields need a paid plan
- Setup can offer extra Avast apps you may not want
Pros and cons of Bitdefender
- Free Windows edition with no time limit and few alerts
- Basic VPN included even in the free version
- Total Security covers up to 10 devices across four platforms
- Free edition is Windows only
- Free VPN is capped at 200 MB a day
- Paid plans renew at a higher price than the first year
Other apps to consider
MalwarebytesInstead of Avast Antivirus
Good second-opinion scanner and a simpler paid suite with a 60-day refund window.
ESET NOD32 AntivirusInstead of Avast Antivirus
Paid, very light antivirus with no bundled extras, popular with gamers.
Panda DomeInstead of Avast Antivirus
Free Windows antivirus with optional paid suite tiers and a money-back guarantee.
KasperskyInstead of Bitdefender
Similar tiered suites, from basic antivirus up to full security with VPN and password manager, on all major platforms.
F-SecureInstead of Bitdefender
European-based suite with banking and scam protection across Windows, Mac, Android and iOS.
- SoSophos Home
Instead of Bitdefender
Lets one person manage antivirus on up to 10 family PCs and Macs from a web dashboard.
Avast Antivirus vs Bitdefender: common questions
Is Avast Antivirus better than Bitdefender?
Bitdefender suits Windows users who want a quiet free antivirus with few alerts and a strong lab-test record. Avast suits home users who want free real-time protection on both Windows and Mac and don't mind upgrade prompts. The biggest difference is the free tier: Bitdefender's free edition is Windows only but low-noise, while Avast's covers more devices but shows frequent upgrade offers.
Is Avast Antivirus free?
Avast Antivirus has a free plan, with paid plans for more features. See its verified pricing facts above for current limits.
Is Bitdefender free?
Bitdefender has a free plan, with paid plans for more features. See its verified pricing facts above for current limits.
Is Avast Antivirus or Bitdefender open source?
Neither is open source.
Which platforms do Avast Antivirus and Bitdefender support?
Avast Antivirus: Windows, macOS, Android and iOS. Bitdefender: Windows, macOS, Android and iOS.