Bitdefender Free Review 2026: Good or Should You Upgrade?

Bitdefender's free antivirus program is one of the best for budget-friendly cybersecurity. With Bitdefender Free, you'll receive real-time protection against viruses and other cyberthreats.

Overall, we were happy with the protection features included in the free version of Bitdefender. But if you want additional features, such as a premium VPN, Wi-Fi scanner, and file shredding, you can add them.

Our in-depth review aims to shed light on the costs, features, and overall efficacy of Bitdefender Free to help you make an informed decision.

At a glance

Price	Free
# of devices protected	1 device per OS
Malware scans	Manual and scheduled
Real-time protection	Yes
EICAR test results	3/3
Firewall	No — paid plans only
Phishing protection	Yes
Compatibility	Windows, macOS, Android
Extras	N/A
24/7 customer support	Yes
Learn more	Get Bitdefender

Star rating summary

Our experience

During our extensive testing, Bitdefender Free was trialed on a Windows computer. The antivirus was subjected to various tests to evaluate its ease of use, feature robustness, and overall user experience.

Downloading and installing Bitdefender Free on our PC was straightforward with no hiccups. However, it required creating an account, which was a small hurdle but a one-time event.

No additional security settings adjustments were needed on the device to complete the setup, making it a smooth experience right from the get-go. The absence of issues during this phase set a positive tone for the user experience.

Primary features like computer virus scanning and real-time protection are intuitive and user-friendly in Bitdefender Free. The clean interface enhances user experience, providing clear notifications for scan progress and detected threats.

The quick scan only took a couple of minutes to complete, successfully scanning over 5,000 files on our computer.

The full system scan took quite a while to complete, but Bitdefender noted it should be quicker in the future. The first pass took a little over 26 minutes and scanned an astonishing 633,000 files.

To test out their hypothesis that subsequent scans would take less time, we scanned again. This time, it took 20 minutes to scan 696,000 files.

The one downside of the scans was figuring out how to schedule them. While most antivirus software offers this option in its settings, you have to set up a custom scan for Bitdefender. This is easy once you find it, but it took us a bit at first.

Although none of these scans detected viruses, they were able to identify fake viruses we had downloaded for testing purposes. On top of quarantining the file, Bitdefender also provided us with summary of how it protected our device, which we thought was a nice touch:

The online threat protection is automatically activated with a clear status indicator. On top of that, a helpful browser extension called Bitdefender TrafficLight highlights risky search results, and whitelisting websites is simple, contributing to a tailored user experience. It was also able to detect a fake phishing website that we use in our testing.

Although the numerous locked features made it clear we were on the free version, we didn't feel overwhelmed by excessive funneling and attempts to upgrade. That's all we can really ask for when getting a good product for free.

Overall, our experience with the free version of Bitdefender was impressive. We felt protected and unharassed.

Bitdefender Premium prices and plans

While Bitdefender does offer a free plan, their premium plans range start at $34.99/first yr and go up to $42.49/first yr.

• Bitdefender Antivirus Plus ($34.99/first yr) covers three devices and adds additional features, like a VPN, data breach detection, and scam prevention.
• Bitdefender Total Security ($54.99/first yr) expands to cover five devices and adds on features like a password manager and cryptomining protection.
• Bitdefender Premium Security ($64.99/first yr) adds extra scam protection features, like Scam Copilot and innovative email protection, as well as an ad block and anti-tracker, and unlimited VPN use with a larger server network.

If you're looking for more than just basic virus protection from your antivirus, any of the Bitdefender premium plans can offer plenty of value for your money. Here's how the different plans compare.

	Bitdefender Free	Bitdefender Antivirus Plus	Bitdefender Total Security	Bitdefender Premium Security
Price for first year	Free	$34.99/first yr	$54.99/first yr	$64.99/first yr
Number of devices supported	1 device per OS	1-3	1-5	1-5
Compatibility	Windows, macOS, Android	Windows, macOS, Android, iOS	Windows, macOS, Android, iOS	Windows, macOS, Android, iOS
Manual and scheduled scan
Real-time protection
Phishing protection
Ransomware protection
Firewall
File shredder
Bitdefender VPN		Yes — 200 MB/day data cap	Yes — 200 MB/day data cap	Yes — Unlimited VPN
Bitdefender SecurePass
Learn more	Get Bitdefender	Get Bitdefender	Get Bitdefender	Get Bitdefender

Bitdefender offers a free 30-day trial for its paid plans, allowing you to test the waters before committing.

Bitdefender Free vs. Bitdefender Total Security

Although Bitdefender Total Security costs $54.99/first yr, it levels up the protection you'd receive from Bitdefender Free. This plan adds more device coverage and features like phishing protection, file shredder, Bitdefender VPN, and Bitdefender SecurePass password manager.

Bitdefender Total Security is a robust antivirus solution beyond essential malware protection. The plan provides comprehensive digital safety without breaking the bank, making it a superior choice for those seeking enhanced protection and added features.

Bitdefender Free features

Bitdefender Free may not have all the flashy features you can find with paid antivirus software, like firewall protection or a password manager, but it still offers everything you need.

Its features include real-time protection and malware-scanning functionalities. However, it lacks some advanced features, such as ransomware file backup and advanced optimization tools, which are often found in premium antivirus solutions.

Malware and antivirus scan

Bitdefender Free offers manual scanning options, providing a flexible approach to keeping your device secure. You can opt for quick scans for a swift check or full system scans to inspect every nook and cranny of your system thoroughly.

The scanning process was smooth during our testing with no hitches encountered. The option to schedule scans adds a layer of convenience, allowing you to set up routine checks without initiating them manually each time.

Real-time protection

The real-time protection feature in Bitdefender Antivirus Free diligently monitors web browsing, emails, and apps for malicious activity. While it doesn’t come with an ad blocker, its protection against malware and phishing attempts while browsing is commendable.

The real-time shield works seamlessly in the background, ensuring your digital interactions remain safe without impeding your user experience. Bitdefender Free also keeps an eye out for hard-to-detect adware, Trojans, and rootkits.

Phishing protection

Bitdefender Free excels in providing robust anti-phishing and anti-spam features, and the setup is fairly straightforward.

The notifications within the interface are clear and intuitive, making it easy to understand the threat level. The ease with which items can be marked as spam or not adds to the user-friendly nature of this antivirus solution.

However, during testing, the anti-phishing feature failed to detect a phishing attempt, suggesting potential gaps in its protection. This gap was filled by downloading the free browser extension called TrafficLight.

Ransomware protection

While Bitdefender Free offers a basic level of protection against ransomware, it does not provide a dedicated ransomware file backup feature, which is often a part of more advanced, paid solutions.

However, its real-time protection does offer a line of defense against ransomware attacks by detecting and blocking suspicious activity.

Bitdefender Free test results

We don't just take Bitdefender's word for it — we put every product we review to the test. These tests are a combination of rigorous in-house testing and gathering scores from trusted third-party antivirus testers.

Here's how Bitdefender did.

Scan efficiency

• Result: No EICAR files found during Quick Scan or System Scan.

The first test we conduct on antivirus programs is for scan efficiency. We evaluate if antivirus programs can detect malware that was on our device prior to the antivirus download.

	Smart Scan	Deep Scan
Time spent	18 seconds	10 minutes, 43 seconds
# of files scanned	62,466	430,706
Did it find EICAR files?	0/3 EICAR files found	0/3 EICAR files found

Bitdefender didn't find any of the dummy files we placed on our desktop, in our downloads folder, and in our documents folder. We even ran a custom scan to see if it would detect these files, but our scans still came back with zero threats.

EICAR test results

• Result: 3/3

One widely recognized method is to utilize the standards set by the European Institute for Computer Antivirus Research (EICAR), which helps test software by simulating malware behavior without causing real harm to the computer. Through this method, we can evaluate how well antivirus software detects, blocks, and handles potential threats.

In our case, Bitdefender Free was tested to assess its malware and phishing detection capabilities. It showcased strong performance, passing all three tests.

One thing to note with the phishing test is that the app on its own didn't pass. It was only when we downloaded the free browser extension called Bitdefender TrafficLight that it successfully blocked the site.

We gave Bitdefender the point anyway, since this has been the case for all the antivirus software we've tested so far. They need the additional browser permissions in order to properly block suspicious sites.

Test	Bitdefender Free score
Malware detection	Pass
Drive-by malware downloads	Pass
Phishing pages detection	Pass

AV-TEST results

• Result: Perfect scores for all devices

In the antivirus community, third-party testing sites are revered for their unbiased, rigorous evaluation of the worst and best antivirus software. One such reputable testing site is AV-TEST, which conducts comprehensive evaluations based on protection, performance, and usability.

Although the following test results pertain to a paid version of Bitdefender Total Security, the paid antivirus protection, they can provide a general idea of the quality and reliability we might expect from Bitdefender Free.

Test type	Windows score	macOS score	Android score
Protection	6/6	6/6	6/6
Performance	6/6	6/6	6/6
Usability	6/6	6/6	6/6
Total	18/18	18/18	18/18
Date	December 2025	December 2025	November 2025
Link to test	Link	Link	Link

Bitdefender scored top marks in the protection, performance, and usability categories across all tested platforms.

AV-Comparatives test results

• Result: High protection rates and solid performance impact score

AV-Comparatives, another well-regarded antivirus testing organization, runs a series of evaluations on top antivirus products and compares the results to provide a more complete picture.

In these tests, Bitdefender showed impressive results, especially in areas related to real-time protection.

Test type	Mobile security	Real-world protection	Malware protection	Performance impact (Lower is better)	Mac security
Score	100%	99.1%	99.99%	14.6	99.4%
Platform	Android	Windows	Windows	Windows	macOS
Date	May 2025	July - October 2025	September 2025	September 2025	May 2025
Link	Link	Link	Link	Link	Link

While these scores look impressive on their own, it's helpful to see the full context of where Bitdefender ranked among its peers:

• Real-world protection: Bitdefender came in fourth and tied with F-Secure and Microsoft Defender. Three antivirus programs received a perfect 100% rate: Avast, AVG, and Norton.
• Malware protection: Bitdefender came in second and tied with several antivirus programs, including Avira and TotalAV. ESET, G Data, McAfee, and Microsoft came in first with a 100% protection rate.
• Performance impact: Bitdefender came in 10th out of 18 antivirus programs. Kaspersky came in first place with a 3.0 impact score.

Bitdefender also earned a perfect score on its Android app and blocked most of the malware tests with its macOS program.

SE Labs results

• Result: 3/3

The last third-party antivirus tester on our list is SE Labs, a U.K.-based company that releases quarterly reports on antivirus performance for both consumers and enterprises.

Bitdefender was last tested by SE Labs in the first quarter of 2023, where it and three of its peers gained perfect 100% scores across the board. Those peers were Kaspersky, Sophos, and Avast.

Test type	Home Anti-Malware Protection
Total accuracy rating	100%
Date	Q1 2023
Link	Link

Bitdefender Free compatibility

	Compatibility
Windows
macOS
Android
iOS
Browser extensions

Bitdefender Free is available to download on Windows 7+, and Android 5+ devices. Note that Bitdefender Free for macOS is labeled as the Bitdefender Virus Scanner for Mac. It can find and remove dangerous files from your device.

Unfortunately for iPhone users, Bitdefender doesn’t offer free antivirus software to scan and protect your device. Instead, we recommend checking out our guide to the best antivirus programs for iOS, including Norton, Avira, and McAfee.

Bitdefender Free customer support

Support type	Bitdefender
Email or live chat
Phone	Yes — 954-414-9655 (U.S.)
Online guides or forums

Bitdefender provides a range of customer support options to assist users in navigating through its features or resolving any issues they might encounter. Online tutorials and guides are available that are clear and easy to follow, making it simpler for users to find solutions to common problems independently.

Customers can reach out to Bitdefender's customer service for more personalized assistance via phone, online chat, or email. However, there seems to be room for improvement in the response time, as we waited over two days for a response after submitting an email form.

You can reach out to its 24/7 live chat by going to this page and answering a few screening questions.

There doesn’t appear to be a tiered customer service access based on your plan type, so there's equal support for all users regardless of their plan. Despite the lag in email response, the availability of multiple channels of support and self-help resources provides a decent level of support for users of Bitdefender Free.

Bitdefender Free user reviews

• Google Play Store rating: 4.7
• Trustpilot rating: 3.6

Bitdefender Free is a well-regarded app for Android. On the Google Play Store, reviewers call out the app for being lightweight, fast, and effective at scanning.

On Trustpilot, Bitdefender has more middling reviews. The majority of reviewers, 65%, gave it five-star ratings, but 20% of reviewers gave Bitdefender a one-star rating. Positive reviews focus on the availability of customer support, while negative reviews call out Bitdefender's expensive renewal prices and difficulty canceling subscriptions.

Top alternatives

While Bitdefender Free offers a solid set of features for basic protection, there are other reputable antivirus services available that could serve as alternatives. These alternatives also provide free or low-cost plans, allowing users to choose one based on their specific needs and preferences.

Here are a few notable alternatives to Bitdefender Free.

Bottom line: Is Bitdefender Antivirus Free good enough?

Bitdefender Free offers a strong foundation of award-winning antivirus protection with essential features like malware and phishing protection, real-time shielding, and a user-friendly interface. However, it lacks advanced features like a VPN, password manager, and file shredding, which are available in its paid counterparts.

Bitdefender’s free edition is a solid choice for individuals seeking basic protection for a single device without any financial commitment. It is suitable for budget-conscious users or those who require minimal protection with the option to upgrade as needed.

But if you require more comprehensive protection and additional cybersecurity features, such as proprietary scam prevention and detection with Scam Copilot, upgrading to a paid Bitdefender plan like Total Security is well worth the cost.

Bitdefender Free FAQs