Who wins in the battle of Bitdefender vs. Avast? The one with a lower footprint, higher performance, better privacy, and security on top of customer-friendly support is the winner indeed.
Bitdefender vs. Avast: Which Security Software Is Better?
If you’re looking for the best antivirus software, two names will quickly come to mind: Bitdefender and Avast. For the uninitiated, Bitdefender and Avast are two extremely cool antivirus providers that offer some of the best cyber security solutions in the world. They both compete for market share, employing innovative features and technologies to gain customers both new and old.
However, as brainy as these tech companies might be, the outcome of this battle is uncertain. We must enter their domain and investigate their core functionality. In this Bitdefender vs Avast comparison, we’ll put their features, capabilities, and services against each other to help you decide on the best security solution for your needs.
1. Bitdefender vs. Avast: Security
Many antivirus companies claim that their software is the most secure. However, to this context, independent tests such as AV-TEST and AV-Comparatives are a better way to determine which antivirus software is truly the best. When we compare Bitdefender and Avast, the results of the tests show that Bitdefender and Avast are both excellent at detecting malware and other security risks, but Bitdefender is superior.
Recently, Bitdefender has won three prestigious awards from AV-TEST for its outstanding performance in malware protection. AC-Comparatives also gave Bitdefender its 2021 “Outstanding Product Award” for reaching Advanced+ in all tests.
These tests also found Avast to be a reliable, capable antivirus program, but not on the level of Bitdefender. The quality of a security service is not only determined by its malware removal rate but also by differentiating between unsafe files and important system data. Bitdefender has minimal, if almost any, false positives. The same can’t be said for Avast, which has a higher number of false positives than Bitdefender.
With that said, Bitdefender clearly outperforms Avast in terms of protection. However, there are other considerations to take into account. The thing that sets Bitdefender apart is more than just a higher score on the tests.
In the following, we’ll take a closer look at both software’s security features, showing you exactly what level of security each program has to offer and what threats each can help you avoid.
Scanning
A comprehensive virus scanning tool is an essential part of a good antivirus program. It’s the first line of defense against malware. It is vital because sometimes viruses do make it onto your computer even if you have an antivirus installed. To combat this from happening, you should get an antivirus program that has a robust and complete scanning feature.
Bitdefender’s lightweight cloud-based scanner is a top performer. It leverages machine learning and a big database of malware signatures to detect both known and emerging infections while causing no slowdown during scans.
Avast also provides a decent virus scanner which has four scanning modes. You can choose between targeted, full, and boot scans, as well as Smart Scans, which we like the most. Smart Scans perform a standard antivirus sweep, but they also monitor for network dangers, suspicious browser add-ons, vulnerable software, and performance problems.
However, when using Avast, your device pretty much cannot do anything else. In contrast, Bitdefender doesn’t consume all of your system’s resources, leaving enough left over to let you surf the news or watch Netflix during the scanning time without cutting your system performance.
Web Security
Bitdefender’s web defense tools are fantastic. With Bitdefender’s anti-phishing protection, any website you visit is checked against a large, frequently updated database of hazardous websites, preventing you from accessing them.
Avast also provides comprehensive online security and privacy features. They allow you to manage your personal information, as well as protect you from suspicious websites and phishing attempts.
Malware protection
When it comes to malware protection, Bitdefender is one of the best antiviruses out there. It provides the greatest security among antiviruses today. Avast also has a comprehensive set of anti-malware tools, each of which is necessary to protect you from unique types of viruses. The two effectively defend users against any threat, including spyware, ransomware, and other malware, in real-time.
Firewall Protection
Both Bitdefender and Avast offer firewall protection to keep your network connection safe. Avast’s firewall is visually appealing, but it takes too long to display pertinent information. It is customizable, which means you can enable or disable ports depending on whether you have a static IP address or not. This can be convenient, but it’s not for everyone. The Avast Firewall’s overall performance is good, but it does not offer as much functionality as Bitdefender’s Firewall.
Bitdefender firewall is simple and user-friendly. The firewall automatically detects changes in your network connection and stops unauthorized access attempts both on public and local networks. This will give you reliable protection against remote attacks and unknown threats by blocking inbound and outbound network traffic that has no clear reason to pass.
2. Bitdefender and Avast: Features
Comparing Bitdefender vs. Avast, we can see the two products have equal footing in some areas. Both offer advanced features that go beyond basic virus protection. However, Bitdefender appears to be miles ahead of Avast in terms of feature lists, making the competition fairly one-sided.
From an inclusive perspective, Avast is better at bringing antivirus functionality to Apple devices, but Bitdefender’s Windows-centric focus makes its features more valuable as antivirus software.
Basic Features
Let’s start with the features you can expect from both of these services. The below table indicates the basic features that both Bitdefender and Avast have in common.
Bitdefender | Avast | |
Ransomware protection | ✅ | ✅ |
Safe browsing | ✅ | ✅ |
VPN | ✅ | ✅ |
Wifi protection | ✅ | ✅ |
Webcam/microphone protection | ✅ | ✅ |
Anti-tracker | ✅ | ✅ |
Additional browser | ✅ | ✅ |
File shredder | ✅ | ✅ |
Anti-theft tools | ✅ | ✅ |
Avast and Bitdefender both provide protection against ransomware attacks. What makes Bitdefender’s ransomware protection stand out is its multi-layered approach. The program not only makes copies of your important files but also uses behavioral detection to block ransomware before it can even start encrypting your files. Avast ransomware protection also monitors your system for suspicious activity and warns you about ransomware attempts.
All Bitdefender’s plans come equipped with a free, built-in VPN. Its free VPN offers a daily data cap of 200 MB, but you can get the premium version that encompasses unlimited use for a little cost. Avast software offers VPN only on the Avast Ultimate plan.
Bitdefender protects your home Wifi connection and provides an in-depth analysis of your online activity thanks to its proactive Network Threat Prevention toolkit. It uniquely shields connections from all-new threats, like botnet URLs and exploits. Correspondingly, Avast offers a Wifi spy-monitoring tool to find out if there are any malicious software agents on the same network. The Wifi network security tool also includes DNS cache protection.
These days webcam and microphone protection are two basic requirements for any security software, and both Avast and Bitdefender provide this feature. It is a privacy tool that prevents others from hacking attempts and any internal or external breach of your computer’s webcam and microphone.
Bitdefender and Avast have some other features in common. Both have a file shredder, anti-theft tools, safe browsing, anti-tracker, and optimization tools, that are essential to protect your device.
Extra Features
In addition to these features, both Bitdefender and Avast have given some unique features for extra security. However, Bitdefender has more unique options, making it stand out from Avast. The following table compares the unique features available in both cybersecurity solutions.
Bitdefender | Avast | |
Password manager | ✅ | ❌ |
Rescue environment | ✅ | ❌ |
Secure sandbox | ❌ | ✅ |
Parental controls | ✅ | ❌ |
Antispam | ✅ | ❌ |
Software updater | ❌ | ✅ |
Adjustable profiles | ✅ | ❌ |
3. Comparing Bitdefender with Avast: Pricing and Plans
Bitdefender is one of the few companies that prove that you don’t have to pay for good service. Bitdefender’s free edition not only includes many useful features but also allows customers to seek help from the company’s customer support team.
So, if you want to save money on security services, the Bitdefender free edition is your best option. The free edition of Avast, on the other hand, is more like a slap in the face than anything else. It’s more of an advertisement for the premium service than a functioning antivirus program. Bitdefender also offers incredible plans for a very affordable price. Avast, however, is overpriced and, at times, ineffective.
Plan | Bitdefender | Avast |
Free | $0.00 | $0.00 |
Total Security/Premium Security | $24.00/year | $69.48/year |
Premium/Avast One | $32.00/year | $50.28/year |
4. Customer Service: Bitdefender or Avast?
If you run into trouble using your software, it’s important to have reliable customer support when you need assistance. Avast offers live chat and email support as well as phone support options on their paid versions. It also has a detailed FAQ on its support website, which provides solutions to common questions.
Bitdefender’s customer support is available to users even if they are using the free version of the software. Bitdefender’s 24/7 customer support is available through live chat, email, and phone. It also provides a community of experienced users where users can ask questions, share information with other users, and fix a problem if it’s already been addressed in the forum.
Bottom Line on the Comparison Between Bitdefender and Avast
Avast is a well-established name in the tech world, but they are far behind Bitdefender in the competition. Bitdefender is clearly the superior product. Unlike Avast, with Bitdefender, you get all the security features without paying a cent. It’s simple to use and easy on your computer and wallet and performs better than Avast.
Bitdefender offers many features & detection capabilities whether you are using it for free or as a paid user. If you want peace of mind, stick with Bitdefender.
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