// WIRED US/UK — CYBERSECURITY
Bitdefender Antivirus Plus Review: Undercutting the Competition
Antivirus programs are a dime a dozen these days, and while the vast array of security threats that assail modern devices can at times feel so overwhelming that protection seems impossible, a good antivirus solution remains essential.
Unfortunately, purchasing an antivirus can prove rather confusing. Companies offer a huge range of bundles with long lists of features, many of which are obscured in vague language. If you dig deep enough into a company’s website, however, you’ll find that most still offer the option to purchase the antivirus with few add-ons at a lower price. And if that’s what you want, Bitdefender’s Antivirus Plus is a good option.
Buying Bitdefender Antivirus Plus on its own is arguably a bit confusing, as the company strongly pushes shoppers toward more expensive and all-inclusive Bitdefender bundles, which include other features like a password manager, dark web monitoring, and lots more. In total, there are four different bundles to choose from: Total Security, Premium Security, Ultimate Security, and Ultimate Security Plus Extended, ranging from $60 up to $140 for the first year. There are also Family versions of these plans, which are more expensive but add protection for up to 25 devices and parental controls. All these bundles include the same antivirus protection, but if you search for Antivirus Plus on its own, though, you will find it. And it’s arguably worth seeking out, as Bitdefender's entry-level options are priced most aggressively.
Bitdefender Antivirus Plus currently offers an introductory price of $25 for the first year (and $50 after) for a single device or $30 for the first year ($70 after) for three devices. This is quite a bit less than Bitdefender Total Security, which is $60 for the first year (and $110 after) and only offers two benefits in exchange: a password manager and protection for up to five devices instead of just one. The lower tiers tend to be better deals, especially if you're after something specific.
That’s because Bitdefender’s pricing is most competitive at its lowest tiers, which may by itself be enough reason for many to choose it. Rivals like Norton Antivirus Standard, McAfee Essential, Avira Internet Security, and Malwarebytes Standard typically ask more for a similar level of service.
There is some variation here; Norton throws in a password manager at a lower price point, for instance, and some competitors have superior VPN service included (Bitdefender Antivirus Plus limits you to 200 MB of VPN data per day, which isn’t much). Still, Bitdefender Antivirus Plus is among the more affordable options, particularly if you’re more interested in the antivirus than the add-ons.
Savvy users might balk at paying at all, as many free antivirus options exist. Bitdefender itself offers a free antivirus download for both Windows and Android (but not macOS, iOS, or iPadOS). This is a fair choice, though it often means you’ll have to tolerate advertisements urging you to sign up.
Buying, downloading, and installing Bitdefender Antivirus Plus is a smooth experience. The payment portal is straightforward. The installer is really a downloader, so it’s a small file; the full download required by the installer is roughly 800 megabytes. Once the installation is finished, Antivirus Plus automatically runs an initial virus check. This took less than five minutes on a Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 running Windows 11.
Once installed, the Bitdefender Antivirus Plus interface provides a default dashboard that includes several common actions, including a quick scan, total system scan, and vulnerability scan (the latter looks for problems like a weak account password or an overly permissive network configuration). You’ll also find an option to turn on Bitdefender VPN, which is installed alongside the antivirus—though, as mentioned, you’re limited to 200 MB of data per day unless you upgrade to Bitdefender Premium VPN.
These features are largely standard for an antivirus program, though