In my tests, I found that both these antiviruses offer reliable security, but Bitdefender is the better overall choice. It flags fewer false positives during scans, provides more features, includes parental controls, and has better support. Avast also has strengths, like a superior free plan and well-priced paid subscriptions, but I still consider Bitdefender better. Avast also has a history of selling user data, but it has sold its data-selling subsidiary and has started redeeming itself. Thankfully, both apps offer money-back guarantees, meaning you can try Bitdefender or Avast risk-free to see which app suits you. Try Bitdefender risk-free for 30 days
No Time? Here’s a 1-Minute Summary of Category Winners
Bitdefender is the winner between these two options. While they have equally effective malware detection scores, Bitdefender is more reliable because it flags fewer false positives. Plus, it has useful tools like parental controls, a password manager, and more extra features.
How I Tested and Compared Avast vs Bitdefender
I used the following criteria to compare Avast and Bitdefender and determine which is the best overall antivirus available: Email support (paid) Knowledge base
1. Virus Scanner — Bitdefender Flags Fewer False Positives
Both apps have reliable virus scanners, but Bitdefender’s virus scans proved more reliable in my tests, as they flagged fewer false positives. With Bitdefender, you’ll get the following scans:
Quick scan — checks crucial areas of your system for threats. System scan — scans your whole system to find viruses and other malware. Vulnerability scan — looks for missing updates and security vulnerabilities. Rescue environment scan — reboots into safe mode to eliminate stubborn threats. Custom scan — lets you choose what parts of your system you wish to scan.
All the app’s scans are effective, and Bitdefender successfully removed all malware from my device during tests with a 100% detection score. It flagged a few false positives during scans, but this minor issue doesn’t occur too often. On the other hand, Avast has the following scan options:
Quick scan — checks the most vulnerable parts of your system. Smart scan — looks for malware, outdated apps, and any other vulnerabilities. Full virus scan — scans your whole system for malware. Boot-time scan — checks for hidden threats by scanning your system before the operating system loads. Targeted scan — lets you choose the files and folders to scan. Custom scan — makes a custom scan based on the parameters you set.
In my tests, Avast’s scans successfully flagged all malware samples and had a 100% detection score. I was impressed with its various scans but found Avast flags more false positives than Bitdefender. Both apps have similar scan speeds. Their quick scans only took a few minutes, while the full scans took over an hour to check my whole system. So, while both apps have effective scans, Bitdefender wins here because it flags fewer false positives.
2. Real-Time Malware Protection — Bitdefender Is Better at Blocking Phishing Threats
Real-time protection is a crucial feature provided by all the top-tier antiviruses on the market. It helps detect malware in real-time, blocking it even before it enters your computer. In my tests, I found that Bitdefender offers superior real-time security. Bitdefender’s real-time protection flagged 100% of threats, with zero false positives. I also tried downloading several malicious files during my tests, and Bitdefender blocked every download. Bitdefender also blocked 94% of phishing threats, which isn’t perfect but still impressive. Avast has a 100% real-time malware detection score, but it flags many more false positives. During my tests, I tried to launch Tekken 8 via Steam while Avast was active in the background, and it flagged the game’s executable file as malicious. No other antivirus has flagged legitimate games this way in all my testing. The app’s phishing protection is good but not as strong as Bitdefender’s. In my tests, Avast blocked 86% of phishing websites. It also has a useful Real Site feature, which blocks DNS hijacking and ensures you always reach legitimate websites. While both apps offer good real-time protection, Bitdefender wins here because it flags fewer false positives and detects more phishing websites.
3. System Performance — Both Apps Are Equally Lightweight
Being lightweight is critical for an antivirus, or it will significantly slow down your system’s performance. Thankfully, Avast and Bitdefender are light on resources and don’t cause noticeable slowdowns, even during a full scan. I analyzed both apps’ resource consumption while they were idle and during full scans on my Ryzen 3600 test system with 16GB of RAM. The following table shows how demanding they were on my system: Neither app uses too many resources while idling, so you likely won’t notice a difference when they’re in the background. As you’d expect, they’re more demanding during scans, with Avast being more memory and CPU-intensive and Bitdefender being heavier on disk usage. However, neither app caused a noticeable slowdown, making it a tie in this category.
4. VPN — Avast’s VPN Doesn’t Have Data Limits
While they’re not as impressive as the best standalone VPNs, both apps offer good VPNs that maintain online security using AES 256-bit encryption. However, Avast stands out here because its VPN is unlimited, while Bitdefender restricts its VPN to 200MB/day on most plans. Bitdefender’s VPN includes 4000+ servers across 40+ countries, while Avast’s VPN offers 700+ servers in 30+ countries. While Bitdefender’s server network is bigger, you should have no trouble finding uncrowded servers for either VPN. During tests, Bitdefender’s VPN performed well. My download speeds dropped by 20% on most servers (33Mbps to 26Mbps), but you should note that some servers reduced the upload speeds by up to 50% (33Mbps to 17Mbps). Streaming performance is also decent, as my colleagues and I discovered it works with the following platforms: I also like that Bitdefender’s VPN has extra safety features. If the VPN connection suddenly drops, it has a kill switch to disconnect your internet and keep you anonymous. Plus, there’s an ad and tracker blocker that stops annoying tracks from monitoring what you do and blocks ads for a cleaner browsing experience.
On the other hand, connection speeds on Avast’s VPN aren’t the fastest. The average speed drop on nearby servers was 58%, taking my download speed from 33Mbps to 14Mbps. Also, long-distance servers cause even bigger slowdowns. Thankfully, the connection still remained fast enough for lag-free browsing and UHD streaming. My colleagues and I also tested Avast’s streaming capabilities and found that it works with the following platforms: Both VPNs also allow torrenting. All of Bitdefender’s servers support torrenting, while Avast provides several P2P-optimized servers that you can use to ensure safety while torrenting.
While both apps’ VPNs have various strengths and weaknesses, Avast wins here because it doesn’t have a data cap on its VPN.
5. Parental Controls — Only Bitdefender Offers a Parental Control Suite
Parental controls can help monitor your kids’ activity and ensure they stay safe online. However, only Bitdefender offers parental controls between these two options. Bitdefender’s parental control suite is feature-rich and offers various tools that help you protect your children. They let you filter apps/websites, monitor how long your kids use their devices, and set screen-time limits to ensure kids don’t use their devices any longer than they should.
I also like that Bitdefender’s parental controls let you track your kids’ location, ensuring you always know where they are. You can also enable geofencing, which will send you alerts whenever your kids leave a specified area. Since it’s the only app with parental controls, Bitdefender is the clear winner here.
6. Firewall — Both Apps Offer Secure and Highly Customizable Firewalls
A firewall is your system’s primary defense against network intrusions, which is why I was pleased to see that both Bitdefender and Avast include reliable firewalls. Bitdefender’s firewall is highly customizable and ensures airtight protection against all threats that try to breach your network. It lets you control internet access rules for different apps, adjust network rules, and more. Plus, it has a stealth mode that makes your device invisible on any network.
You’ll also get port scan protection with Bitdefender’s firewall, ensuring hackers can’t compromise your security by finding open ports. On the other hand, Avast also provides a secure and customizable firewall. It lets you adjust network and application rules and shows detailed logs of each app’s activity. I also like that Avast’s firewall has advanced features like leak protection, port scan alerts, and ARP spoofing alerts to enhance security.
Since both apps have reliable firewalls with many customization options and advanced security features, this category is tied.
7. Password Manager — Only Bitdefender Provides a Password Manager
I found in my tests that only Bitdefender provides a password manager. Avast used to offer a password management tool called Avast Passwords, but it’s no longer available. Of course, Bitdefender’s solution isn’t as good as the best password managers, but it’s still a worthwhile feature. Bitdefender’s secure password manager uses AES 256-bit encryption to ensure the airtight safety of all your data. It also offers all the necessary password management features, like auto-save/fill, auditing, sharing, data breach monitoring, and a password generator. I also like that Bitdefender’s password manager is beginner-friendly. It has highly intuitive apps and browser extensions, making it easy to install and use on your preferred platform.
Throughout my tests, Bitdefender’s password manager reliably filled website forms, including logins, banking details, and more. Plus, its Security Report feature informed me about various weak passwords that I promptly changed to secure my accounts. Since it’s the only app with a password manager, Bitdefender wins in this category.
8. Gaming Mode — Bitdefender’s Game Profile Feature Is Superior
Avast has a Do Not Disturb mode to silence notifications while gaming, but Bitdefender’s Game Profile option is far more effective for gamers. Bitdefender’s Game Profile automatically stops background tasks and notifications when you launch any game you’ve added to Game Profile. This helps ensure you get the best possible performance and don’t experience any lag spikes while gaming. I tested the feature while playing Call of Duty: Warzone and never experienced any lag or disturbances. In contrast, Avast’s Do Not Disturb mode only silences notifications, meaning it won’t benefit performance that much. It’s still useful because it prevents notifications from disturbing you while gaming, but Bitdefender wins here, as its Game Profile is a lot more effective.
9. Optimization Tools — Avast Is Better for Device Optimization
Optimization tools can help free up space on your device and enhance system performance. Between both these apps, I found that Avast’s optimization tools are more effective at improving performance. Bitdefender performs optimization with its OneClick Optimizer. OneClick Optimizer cleans junk files, fixes registry issues, and resolves privacy problems to free up space and improve performance. During my tests, this utility freed over 5GB of space on my system and cleared various other issues.
On the other hand, Avast’s main optimization tool is its Cleanup Premium feature. Cleanup Premium cleared over 7GB of space on my system and found various registry issues. Also, it highlighted various apps that were slowing down my system and listed several health problems that were putting my device at risk and affecting its performance.
Avast’s Cleanup Premium tool is much more comprehensive than Bitdefender’s OneClick Optimizer, so Avast is the winner here.
10. Other Features — Bitdefender Has a Better Feature Variety
While both antiviruses include useful extras for added protection, Bitdefender is better if you want a wider variety of extra features. You’ll get the following extra tools with this app:
Bitdefender Central — lets you remotely monitor and manage your device safety. Safe Files — offers secure storage for sensitive data (macOS only). File Shredder — permanently deletes files you don’t want others to access. Safepay — provides an isolated environment for secure online banking and shopping. Webcam and microphone protection — blocks unauthorized access to your system’s webcam and microphone. Ransomware remediation — helps recover files encrypted by ransomware. Anti-theft — locates lost or stolen devices. Anti-tracker — blocks trackers from monitoring your online activity.
Bitdefender’s features are useful, but I was especially impressed with its ransomware remediation feature. While many apps only offer ways to block ransomware attacks, Bitdefender actively maintains backups of important files as a failsafe in case ransomware breaches your security. On the other hand, Avast’s extra features include the following:
Sandbox — lets you run potentially unsafe apps in a safe and isolated environment. Hack Alerts — informs you whenever your information is leaked on the dark web. Webcam Shield — blocks unauthorized access to your system’s webcam. Data Shredder — permanently deletes sensitive files to ensure they’re inaccessible. Software Updater — updates old apps that might have vulnerabilities. Bank mode — offers a safe way to bank and shop online. The Sandbox is among Avast’s standout features. It lets you easily test any app in a completely isolated environment. If the app is malicious, it won’t affect anything else on your device.
While both apps offer a good variety of features, Bitdefender wins here because it provides more extra tools.
11. Device Compatibility — Both Apps Have User-Friendly Apps for All Major Platforms
I was pleased that you can use both Bitdefender and Avast on all major platforms. The following table shows all the platforms you can use these apps on: Besides working on all major platforms, I found that Bitdefender and Avast have user-friendly apps. Bitdefender’s desktop apps make finding and using all the features simple. Its mobile apps are just as intuitive and have an innovative navigation bar at the bottom that makes all its features easy to locate:
Avast’s apps are equally user-friendly. The mobile app is simple to navigate and doesn’t have too much clutter, meaning you can easily use it to secure your Android and iOS devices. The desktop apps also have a clean interface and a helpful navigation bar at the left that lets you quickly access and use every feature.
Since both antiviruses work on all major platforms and offer user-friendly apps, it’s a tie here.
12. Customer Service — Bitdefender’s Support Is More Responsive and Accessible
While both these apps offer multiple ways to get help, Bitdefender’s support is much better because it’s accessible to everyone. In contrast, most of Avast’s support channels are unavailable unless you’re using a paid subscription. Bitdefender’s support includes live chat, email support, phone support, and a knowledge base. There are also community forums where you can consult experts and other users directly. During my tests, I was most impressed with Bitdefender’s live chat, as connecting with an agent takes only a few minutes. Also, all the agents provide helpful answers.
Avast includes live chat, email, and phone support, but they’re only accessible if you’re a paid user. Avast’s free plan users are limited to the knowledge base and community forums if they need help. During tests, I found Avast’s live chat somewhat slow. It can take some time before it connects you with an agent, and the agents are slow to respond to questions. I often had to wait a few minutes before they answered simple queries. Thankfully, the agents are helpful and will provide all the necessary information, even if it takes time.
Overall, Bitdefender wins here because its support is faster and more accessible.
13. Price — Avast’s Plans Deliver More Value for Money
Both these antiviruses provide good value for money, but I found that Avast’s plans offer better value. Bitdefender’s best-value plan is Total Security, which costs $40.99/year/year and lets you secure devices on all platforms. This plan offers all the app’s features, but I was disappointed that it limits the VPN to 200MB/day. If you want an unlimited VPN, you must purchase it as a separate add-on or subscribe to a more expensive plan. On the other hand, Avast’s best-value plan is its Ultimate subscription, which includes every feature and lets you protect up to 10 devices. The price for both these apps is similar, but the key difference is that Avast includes an unlimited VPN with its unlimited subscription, making it a better value. Avast wins in this category despite both apps having similar pricing, as its VPN is unlimited.
14. Free Version — Avast Has Multiple Free Options
Both Bitdefender and Avast provide free versions of their apps, but Avast is a better option if you want a free security solution. Bitdefender’s free plan provides reliable security by offering its virus scans, real-time protection, firewall, and other key features. Of course, it’s missing tools like ransomware remediation, a VPN, parental controls, and more. However, Bitdefender’s free plan is suitable for basic protection. On the other hand, Avast offers multiple free options. Avast Free provides the same security as Bitdefender Free by including the app’s virus scanner, real-time protection, and firewall. However, the firewall lacks key features like port scan protection and ARP spoofing detection. Avast also offers another free version called Avast One Free. It’s similar to Avast Free but also includes a VPN, mail protection, and network monitoring. The VPN is limited to 5GB/week, which is an impressive amount of data and more than what Bitdefender’s VPN offers on most paid plans. Since Avast One Free is such an effective free security solution, Avast wins in this category.
15. Money-Back Guarantee — Both Antiviruses Have an Equally Long Refund Window
It’s critical for an antivirus to provide a money-back guarantee, as this lets you test it risk-free before you commit to the purchase. Thankfully, both Bitdefender and Avast offer long money-back guarantees that’ll give you plenty of time to test them without risk. Bitdefender’s money-back guarantee is 30 days long, and I tested its refund policy by emailing support to request a refund. I got confirmation from support after 5 days, which is a little late, but Bitdefender refunded the money to my account 5 days after the confirmation. Avast also provides a 30 seven-day money-back guarantee. When I tried to get a refund after my tests, I found it easy to request one by filling out a form on the Avast website. Afterward, I had my money back within 7 days of refund confirmation. Since both these apps offer equally long money-back guarantees, they’re tied in this category.
And the Winner Is… Bitdefender
Bitdefender is clearly the better option, as it wins in 7 categories. Avast wins in only 4, and both apps are tied in the remaining 4 categories.
Virus Scanner — Bitdefender Real-Time Malware Protection — Bitdefender System Performance — Tie VPN — Avast Parental Controls — Bitdefender Firewall — Tie Password Manager — Bitdefender Gaming Mode — Bitdefender Optimization Tools — Avast Other Features — Bitdefender Device Compatibility — Tie Customer Service — Bitdefender Price — Avast Free Version — Avast Money-Back Guarantee — Tie
While it didn’t win the comparison, Avast is worth getting if you want a good free antivirus for basic security. Its free plan offers worthwhile security, and you also get a 5GB/week VPN with Avast One’s free version. Despite Avast’s strengths, Bitdefender is still the better choice for comprehensive security. Its scans flag fewer false positives, meaning they’re more reliable. Also, it has a password manager, parental controls, and responsive customer support. You can also try Bitdefender without risk, as it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
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