Updated September 28, 2026 · ShieldCue Editorial Team
Aura vs Bitdefender
Where Aura and Bitdefender differ
| Compare |  Aura |  Bitdefender |
|---|---|---|
| Credit bureaus monitored | 3Higher | 1 |
| Insurance amount | $1,000,000 to $5,000,000Higher | $1,000,000 |
| Monthly price | $12 | Not confirmed |
| Family plan price | $32 | Not confirmed |
| Free trial length | 14 days | Not confirmed |
| Money-back period | 60 days | Not confirmed |
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Key differences
- Bitdefender scores higher overall: 9.2 vs 9.1.
- Credit bureaus monitored is higher at Aura: 3 vs 1.
- Insurance amount is higher at Aura: $1,000,000 to $5,000,000 vs $1,000,000.
- Support channels: only Aura offers Chat.
- Founded is lower at Bitdefender: 2001 vs 2014.
- Pricing model: only Aura offers Budget.
- Pricing model: only Bitdefender offers Free.
Our verdict on each
Aura
Aura suits households that want identity monitoring, a VPN, a password manager and parental controls under a single subscription. The trade-off is cost: the monthly plan sits at $12 and the family plan at $32, above the site median of €7.89.
Bitdefender
Bitdefender suits households and small offices that want one subscription covering several devices, with Total Security priced at $79.99 for 5 to 25. A free version is offered alongside it, and support runs through email, phone and help centre, so help is easy to reach whichever plan you pick.
Score breakdown
| Area | Aura | Bitdefender |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.8Monthly plan price of $12 sits above the site median of €7.89, and first-year price of $120 clears €49.95. | 9.3Higher |
| Offer | 9.5HigherBundles VPN, password manager and parental controls on one subscription, with a family plan at $32 covering adults, kids and devices. | 9.2 |
| Privacy | 8.7 | 9.0Higher |
How they place
| Ranking | Aura | Bitdefender |
|---|---|---|
| Antivirus software | 23 of 92 | 19 of 92 |
| Password managers | 21 of 69 | 19 of 69 |
| Identity theft protection | 20 of 117 | 17 of 117 |
| Parental control apps | 15 of 59 | 13 of 59 |
The numbers side by side
| Fact | Aura | Bitdefender |
|---|---|---|
| Credit bureaus monitored | 3 | 1 |
| Insurance amount | $1,000,000 to $5,000,000 | $1,000,000 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Aura | Bitdefender |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Budget | Free |
| Legal entity | Aura Sub, LLC | Not confirmed |
| Headquarters | United States | Romania |
| Founded | 2014 | 2001Lower |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centreCovers more | Email, Phone, Help centre |
VPN
| Fact | Aura | Bitdefender |
|---|---|---|
| Long-term plan price | $12 | Not confirmed |
| Devices | from 10 | 5 to 25 |
| Server countries | 100 | Not confirmed |
| Features | Streaming | Not confirmed |
| Audience | Business | Not confirmed |
| Renewal price | $120 | Not confirmed |
| Features | Screen time, Web filter | Screen time, Web filter, LocationCovers more |
| Streaming services | Netflix, YouTube | Not confirmed |
| Platforms | Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, BrowsersCovers more | Android, Windows, Mac, iOS |
| Longest plan (months) | 12 months | Not confirmed |
Password managers
| Fact | Aura | Bitdefender |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $15 | Not confirmed |
| Free plan | No | No |
| Family plan | 5 adults, unlimited kids and unlimited devices | Family pack, up to 15 devices |
| Security audit | ISO 27001 certified and SOC 2 Type II third-party audited | Not confirmed |
| Encryption | 256-AES | End-to-end encryption |
Antivirus
| Fact | Aura | Bitdefender |
|---|---|---|
| First-year price | $120 | Not confirmed |
| Free version | No | YesHas it |
| Extras | VPN, Password manager, Parental controlsCovers more | VPN, Password manager |
Parental controls
| Fact | Aura | Bitdefender |
|---|---|---|
| Yearly price | $120 | $79.99Lower |
Data removal
| Fact | Aura | Bitdefender |
|---|---|---|
| Data brokers covered | from 425 | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Aura | Bitdefender | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | $12at the median | Not confirmed | $12 |
| Credit bureaus monitored | 3at the median | 1below the median | 3 |
| Insurance amount | $1,000,000 to $5,000,000highest quarter | $1,000,000at the median | $1,000,000 |
| Family plan price | $32above the median | Not confirmed | $29.99 |
| Free trial length | 14 daysat the median | Not confirmed | 14 days |
| Money-back period | 60 dayshighest quarter | Not confirmed | 30 days |
Median across 49 listed providers.
Pros and cons
Aura
Pros
- A single subscription covers identity monitoring, a VPN, a password manager and parental controls, with parental tools for screen time and web filtering.
- Monitoring runs across 3 credit bureaus, which matches the 3 site median and the 30 brands ranked on it.
- The family plan covers 5 adults, unlimited kids and unlimited devices at $32 per month.
Cons
- There is no free plan, so you start on a paid subscription with a trial of 14 days.
- The monthly plan price of $12 sits above the site median of €7.89, and the first-year price of $120 is higher still.
- Identity insurance of $1,000,000 to $5,000,000 looks generous, but Aura ranks at 10 of 45 on that measure.
Bitdefender
Pros
- Total Security covers 5 to 25 on Android, Windows and Mac, so a single plan handles mixed hardware.
- Extras come inside the subscription: vpn and password manager.
- Parental tools in the same plan add screen time, web filter and location.
Cons
- The password manager has no free plan, so stored logins need a paid subscription.
- Identity protection watches 1, against a site median of 3.
- Paid plans span 5 to 25, fewer devices than the 50 Comodo (Xcitium) covers on its free edition.
Who each suits
Aura
Who it suits
- Households that want a single subscription covering identity monitoring, a VPN, a password manager and parental controls
- Families covering several adults and unlimited kids who value the family plan of 5 adults, unlimited kids and unlimited devices at $32
- Readers who want a 60 day money back window and a 14 day trial before deciding
Who should look elsewhere
- Readers who want a free plan or free version to sample, which Aura does not offer
- Buyers who will not stretch past the $12 monthly plan or the $120 first-year price
Bitdefender
Who it suits
- People who want Android, Windows and Mac covered under one plan.
- Parents who want screen time and web filtering alongside the antivirus: screen time, web filter and location.
- Buyers who prefer a long established supplier, founded in 2001 and based in Romania.
Who should look elsewhere
- Apple Inc. users already inside its ecosystem, since iOS, iPadOS and macOS arrive with the hardware.
- Households that need the widest device count, since Comodo (Xcitium) covers 50 on its free edition.
- Smaller households that need only a few machines, since ESET Brasil covers 1 to 25.
Current offers
Aura
Current offer
Free trial
14-day free trial on all Aura plans: 14 days free
Free trial offer can only be redeemed once per customer; full access to plan features depends on identity verification and credit eligibility
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Bonus
60-day money-back guarantee on all annual plans: 60 days
Only for annual plans purchased through Aura websites (excludes Amazon) or via the Customer Support team
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Bitdefender
Current offer
Free trial
Start your 30-day trial: 30-day trial
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Aura | Bitdefender |
|---|---|---|
| Canada | Yes | No |
| United States | Yes | No |
Questions about each
Aura
What does Aura cost per month, and what happens at renewal?+
The monthly plan is $12 and the family plan is $32, covering 5 adults, unlimited kids and unlimited devices. The first-year price is $120 and the renewal price is $120, so the figure after a year stays where it is. A long term plan price of $12 runs 12 months.
Is there a free version of Aura to try first?+
There is no free plan and no free version, so a paid subscription is the only way in. A free trial of 14 days and a money back period of 60 days soften that. Across the site most brands do ship a free version, so Aura is the exception here.
Bitdefender
How much does Bitdefender Total Security cost a year?+
Total Security is listed at $79.99 for 5 to 25, which covers the whole household on one subscription. The antivirus category median on the site is €65.76, so the plan sits in the middle of the field rather than at either end.
What does the first year cost compared with the renewal?+
Bitdefender lists one standard yearly figure of $79.99, so that is the number to plan around each year. Introductory deals across the site sit near a median of €49.95, but that is a category pattern rather than a stated first year price for this plan.