Bitdefender Premium Security Review (2025) The right choice?

Full Review

Bitdefender is ranked #4 of the 28 best antivirus of 2025.

Bitdefender Premium Security offers top-tier internet protection at a great value. Its cloud-based scanner combines machine learning with traditional signature-based scanning for outstanding malware detection. The suite includes strong web protection, a fast VPN, robust system tune-up tools, a secure browser, and industry-leading parental controls.

Bitdefender offers free versions for Windows and Mac, along with various premium plans. Antivirus Plus covers up to 3 Windows PCs, while Internet Security adds parental controls for families. Total Security supports up to 5 devices across Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS. Premium Security is the most comprehensive plan, including all features and an unlimited VPN. All plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Anti-malware

On-demand virus scanner

Bitdefender’s virus scanner is thorough yet lightweight, utilizing a vast malware directory and machine learning to detect known and emerging threats. Since most scanning happens in the cloud, it uses minimal CPU and disk space during scans. There are 5 scan types:

• Quick Scan: Targets active processes for fast threat removal.
• System Scan: Conducts a deep scan for malware and vulnerabilities.
• Custom Scan: Scans specific locations with potential threats.
• Vulnerability Scan: Identifies privacy risks and missing software updates.
• Rescue Environment: Scans for malware outside the OS.

In tests, Bitdefender detected all 1,200 malware samples, including viruses, trojans, ransomware, and more. The full system scan took just under 50 minutes, matching competitors like Norton and Avast. Unlike many, it had no noticeable impact on system performance during the scan.

Scheduled scans can be set for startup, daily, weekly, or monthly, but custom scans and scheduling options are somewhat hidden in the interface. While not a major issue, better accessibility could improve usability.

Overall, Bitdefender’s virus scanner is fast, has minimal system impact, and boasts perfect malware detection.

Real-time protection

Bitdefender’s real-time protection (Bitdefender Shield) delivers excellent malware prevention, scanning files and email attachments as they are accessed. Default settings cover unwanted apps, memory, scripts, command line attacks, keyloggers, and more. Advanced users can customize these settings for boot sectors, network shares, and archives.

During testing, Bitdefender Shield blocked all malware before it could be downloaded, including infected .exe, .txt, and .rar files, and neutralized network attacks.

In summary, Bitdefender’s real-time protection is highly effective and offers some of the best customization options available.

Anti-phishing

Bitdefender’s anti-phishing protection delivers perfect detection rates. It checks websites against an extensive, regularly updated blacklist of dangerous sites and blocks access if there’s a match. In testing, Bitdefender blocked all phishing sites, outperforming Chrome, Firefox, and competitors like Panda and Kaspersky.

A user-friendly notification system shows blocked sites and reasons for blocking, with an easy one-click option to whitelist false positives—far more intuitive than competitors like Norton, which require navigating through settings to whitelist sites. However, caution is advised when whitelisting to ensure the site is safe.

Additionally, Bitdefender’s web protection scans search results, encrypted websites, and pages for fraudulent content, offering comprehensive web threat prevention.

Overall, Bitdefender excels in blocking phishing sites and provides an intuitive interface for managing web protection settings.

Firewall

Bitdefender’s firewall is highly customizable and offers robust protection, monitoring both incoming and outgoing network traffic to block cybercriminals from accessing your Wi-Fi and spreading malware. It includes features like port scan protection, passive detection, and stealth mode. While these are ideal for advanced users, beginners can rely on the default settings, which already provide better protection than the built-in firewalls on Windows and Mac.

In testing, Bitdefender effectively blocked most simulated network attacks and kept service ports inaccessible to online port scanners, preventing hackers from detecting any network vulnerabilities.

The firewall handles applications in three ways:

• Automatic: Bitdefender decides whether to allow or block the app.
• Allow: Lets all detected apps access the internet.
• Block: Blocks all apps from accessing the internet.

The default “Automatic” mode is the most practical, as it balances security with ease of use. The “Alert” mode, which prompts for each new app trying to connect, can be overwhelming and unclear in identifying the apps, though Bitdefender allows users to easily create custom rules for specific programs.

While Stealth Mode is meant to make your device invisible to others on the network, it didn’t work flawlessly in testing, as it still allowed communication with devices like wireless printers and media servers.

Overall, Bitdefender’s firewall is effective, user-friendly, and offers more advanced protection than standard OS firewalls, although its Stealth Mode could be more reliable.

Password manager

Bitdefender’s password manager is a solid option for basic password management, but it lacks some features found in dedicated tools like 1Password or Dashlane. Key features include:

• High-level encryption
• Multi-device sync
• Password generator
• Unlimited password storage
• Payment info storage
• Auto-save and auto-fill
• Password vault auditing

It lacks a desktop app and password sharing but offers mobile apps for Android and iOS, plus browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Safari. The auto-save and auto-fill functions worked smoothly in testing, and the password generator supports passwords up to 32 characters, though some competitors generate much longer passwords.

A notable feature is the password vault auditing tool, which checks for weak, reused, or old passwords. However, it doesn’t offer dark web monitoring, though this is available through Bitdefender’s Digital Identity Protection.

While Bitdefender’s password manager is not as feature-rich as standalone services, it’s an easy-to-use option bundled with Bitdefender Premium Security, making it a good value for users who don’t need advanced password management tools.

VPN

Bitdefender’s VPN, powered by Hotspot Shield, covers the essentials with strong 256-bit AES encryption, a no-logs policy, and a kill switch. However, it offers fewer server locations and features compared to standalone VPNs like Hotspot Shield itself.

Most Bitdefender plans include a free VPN version, but it’s quite limited, offering only 200 MB of daily data and automatically choosing a server based on location, which can lead to slower speeds. Users can access unlimited data and 4,000 global servers by upgrading to Bitdefender Premium Security or subscribing separately to the VPN.

In testing, Bitdefender’s Premium VPN delivered impressive speeds, maintaining smooth browsing, streaming, and torrenting without significant slowdowns. It’s particularly effective for streaming, working well with services like Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+, Hulu, and BBC iPlayer. While NordVPN and Surfshark remain top choices for broader streaming support, Bitdefender’s speeds outperform many other antivirus-bundled VPNs, such as Panda’s.

Bitdefender’s VPN supports torrenting with an auto-connect feature for peer-to-peer apps and offers the WireGuard protocol for fast, secure connections. Additionally, the double-hop feature provides extra encryption by routing traffic through two servers, though this slightly reduces speed.

Like Norton’s VPN, Bitdefender’s premium VPN offers solid security, fast speeds, and reliable streaming, making it a good choice for users looking for basic VPN features bundled with antivirus protection.

Other security features

OneClick Optimizer

Bitdefender’s OneClick Optimizer is a simple tool for freeing up disk space by removing junk files like temporary system files, broken registry items, and browser history. In testing, it freed up 1.3 GB, which is impressive compared to some competitors. However, it lacks transparency, as you can’t view details about flagged items, and it’s missing advanced features like startup optimizers and app uninstallers found in tools like Avira and TotalAV. Despite its limitations, it’s convenient and can improve system speed with a single click.

Secure Web Browser (Safepay)

Bitdefender’s Safepay browser is designed for secure online transactions, protecting users from hackers. Key features include:

• Remote desktop access prevention
• Screenshot-blocking
• Virtual keyboard to avoid keylogging
• Auto-use of Bitdefender’s password manager
• Built-in VPN (with a 200 MB daily limit)

Safepay worked well in testing, preventing screen captures and keystroke tracking. However, it’s not a full replacement for regular browsers, as pages load slower and HD streaming is limited. That said, it’s faster than similar tools like Kaspersky’s Safe Money and is highly recommended for secure online transactions.

Parental Controls

Bitdefender’s parental control app is feature-rich and works across Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS (with some limitations on iOS). Features include:

• Daily device limits (not available on iOS)
• Usage schedules
• App management (limited on iOS)
• Website filtering (not available on iOS)
• Location tracking with geofencing (Android and iOS)
• Viewing new contacts (Android and iOS)

The app blocked all blacklisted websites during testing and accurately tracked device usage and location. A useful feature is the ability to get notifications when a child arrives at a specific location. However, it lacks a request system for kids to ask for access to blocked sites, which some competitors like Norton offer.

Overall, Bitdefender’s parental controls are among the best available, offering extensive online and offline safety features for children.

Webcam and Microphone ProtectionBitdefender offers robust webcam and microphone protections, preventing unauthorized access by notifying you of apps attempting to use these devices. You can allow or block access for specific apps, and even block access entirely. This feature is easy to set up, and the notifications help keep you informed. Competitors like Norton offer similar protections, but many, such as McAfee, do not, making this a valuable feature of Bitdefender.

Ransomware Remediation

Bitdefender’s Ransomware Remediation automatically protects and restores files from ransomware attacks. In tests, it effectively blocked ransomware and restored most files, though it occasionally missed a few. While this is a strong feature compared to many antivirus tools that don’t offer file restoration at all, there is room for improvement in ensuring complete recovery of encrypted files.

Identity Theft Protection

Bitdefender provides a comprehensive identity theft protection package for US users, available as a standalone product or bundled with Ultimate Security. It monitors up to 100 pieces of personally identifiable information (PII), including social security numbers, addresses, and email accounts. Bitdefender scans dark web forums and data breaches, and it offers live credit report monitoring from all three major credit bureaus (with its premium plan). You can also remove personal data from broker lists, similar to Norton’s offering. Bitdefender includes identity theft insurance of up to $1M (or $2M with the premium plan), making it one of the most thorough identity protection services available.

Anti-Theft Protection

Bitdefender’s anti-theft tools for Windows and Android provide reliable device tracking, remote locking, data wiping, and alert features. In testing, Bitdefender accurately tracked devices and the remote lock and alert functions worked seamlessly. The anti-theft tools are easy to set up and provide peace of mind, though support for Mac and iOS devices would be a welcome addition.

Profiles

Bitdefender’s Profiles feature optimizes performance based on user activity, offering different modes such as Work, Movie, Game, Public Wi-Fi, and Battery Mode. Each profile tailors system performance and security settings accordingly. For example, Work Profile enhances email security, while Game Profile improves system performance and minimizes interruptions. Profiles can automatically switch based on app usage or be manually controlled, improving user experience across various tasks. This feature significantly improved performance during testing, particularly in CPU-intensive tasks.

Other Useful Features

• Wi-Fi Protection: Analyzes Wi-Fi networks for vulnerabilities.
• Cryptomining Protection: Detects and blocks cryptomining malware.
• Anti-Tracking Protection: Prevents advertisers and web trackers from collecting personal data.
• File Shredder: Permanently deletes files, ensuring they cannot be recovered.
• AntiSpam: Filters and blocks spam and phishing emails, with the option to manually manage email addresses via the Outlook toolbar.

The file shredder is particularly useful for securely deleting sensitive files, a feature not offered by all antivirus suites. AntiSpam also adds an extra layer of email protection, though the Outlook toolbar integration feels somewhat redundant given that you can already manage spam within the email client itself.

Plans and pricing

In the table below are the core products with their features and prices.

The prices shown are from the USA. However, most brands have different prices (and currencies) in other regions. So visit the brand’s website to see the price in our country.

Plan description

Bitdefender’s Plans Simplified:

Free Plans

• Windows: Offers basic protection with an anti-malware engine. Lacks advanced features like ransomware recovery.

• Mac: On-demand scanner only. No real-time protection.

Paid Plans

• Antivirus Plus (Windows, $14.99/year): Real-time defense, ransomware protection, password manager, and limited VPN. No firewall.

• Internet Security (Windows, $24.99/year): Adds firewall, anti-spam, and parental controls. Still Windows-only.

• Total Security ($39.98/year): All-device support. Adds mobile apps and system tools but no unlimited VPN.

• Premium Security ($59.99/year): Unlimited VPN and supports up to 10 devices. All-device coverage.

• GravityZone Premium (Starting at $49.99/year): For businesses, includes advanced features like sandboxing and Linux support.

In our testing, Bitdefender provided solid protection, but some plans were limited by device compatibility or lacked key features like an unlimited VPN. All plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Test score comparison

We conduct in-house anti-malware tests and review the results from AV-Test, a German lab renowned for its objective evaluations. Below is the average of the last 10 AV-Test results for Windows. Their scoring criteria are:

• Protection (1-6): Effectiveness in blocking malware.
• Performance (1-6): Impact on system speed.
• Usability (1-6): Frequency of errors like false alarms.

We calculate a final score using this formula:

Final Score = 60% Protection + 20% Performance + 20% Usability.

While these results influence our choice of the best antivirus for Windows 11, other factors like privacy and identity protection also play a key role. For a similar analysis for Android or macOS, visit our other comparisons:

• The best antivirus for Android.
• The best antivirus for Mac.

Note: Brands not listed in the table either do not participate in AV-Test trials or are tested too infrequently, such as Surfshark Antivirus.

Source: AV-Test (Last updated: December 2024).

Price comparison

We’ve compared the prices of the top antivirus products for Windows. To make it a fair comparison, we looked at what it would cost us, to protect a  single Windows PC with the most essential features:

• Anti-malware
• Anti-phishing (web protection)
• Firewall
• Password manager
• Unlimited VPN (no data limit)

A few notes:

• Some brands are missing features, lowering their value for money.
• Prices are second-year prices in the USA, without first-year discounts.
• Prices are rounded up for readability (e.g., $99.99 becomes $100).

Brands have different prices outside the USA. See those on their website.

User reviews

We’ve compared the user reviews of all antivirus brands. We’ve used the scores and review count of TrustPilot, a leading user review platform. 

We consider scores above 4.0 very good. Lower scores indicate that the brand might have a poor product or customer service. McAfee’s scores, for instance, are worrying.

Source: TrustPilot. Last Update: December 2024.

Company Profile

Bitdefender, established in Romania in 2001, is a leading cybersecurity provider, serving individuals, small and medium-sized businesses, and enterprises. The company operates globally, with headquarters in Bucharest, Romania, and Santa Clara, California, along with offices across North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific.

With over 1,600 employees—more than half dedicated to research and development—Bitdefender prioritizes innovation, holding 440 patents in areas such as machine-learning threat detection. Its technology is widely trusted, with partnerships with major players like Microsoft, VMware, and Citrix, and a reseller network spanning 170 countries.

How we test antivirus software

At SoftwareLab, we provide thorough and unbiased antivirus reviews to help you make informed cybersecurity decisions. Our comprehensive testing covers all critical aspects of antivirus performance. We assess each product in six key categories, weighted by importance:

For even more details, visit our blog posts on how we test antivirus software.