Bitdefender review
Updated September 28, 2026 · ShieldCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 26, 2026
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Our verdict
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.
Key facts
Password managers
Parental controls
- Yearly price
- $79.99↗
Identity protection
Facts checked September 26, 2026, 8 sources
Pros and cons
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 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.
Core features
Total Security covers 5 to 25 and runs on Android, Windows and Mac, so a household with mixed hardware stays under one subscription. The plan carries vpn and password manager as well, putting the VPN and the password manager in the same purchase rather than separate checkouts. The extras sit on the same plan name, so there is no second subscription to keep track of at renewal.
What you get free
Bitdefender offers a free version of its antivirus, so a household can start without a subscription. The password manager takes the opposite path and has no free plan, which pushes anyone wanting stored and synced logins into a paid tier. Free antivirus protection and the paid extras are therefore separate products at the entry level.
How Bitdefender compares
- Bitdefender vs WEBROOT master9.2 vs 8.5
9.2 vs 8.7
9.2 vs 8.9
9.2 vs 9.5
9.2 vs 9.4
9.2 vs 9.4Its plans cover 1 to 25, so a modest household can be protected without the largest tier.
9.2 vs 8.8
Bitdefender vs Surfshark One (Antivirus)9.2 vs 8.5
9.2 vs 9.4
9.2 vs 9.1
9.2 vs 8.7
9.2 vs 8.0
Frequently asked questions
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.
How many devices does one subscription cover?+
5 to 25 are covered under a single subscription, so a phone, a laptop and a tablet can share it. If device count matters most, Comodo (Xcitium) covers 50 on its free edition.
Which platforms are supported?+
The apps cover Android, Windows and Mac, so one plan can run across desktop and mobile in the same household. Apple users may need nothing extra, since iOS, iPadOS and macOS already arrive with the hardware.
Is there a free version?+
Yes. Bitdefender offers a free version of its antivirus, and free is the model listed for the brand. The password manager is the exception: it has no free plan, and End-to-end encryption sits in the paid tier.
What extras come with the subscription?+
The paid plans carry vpn and password manager, so the VPN and the password manager are part of the same purchase. Parental tools in that plan add screen time, web filter and location, which covers the family side without a separate subscription.
What does the identity protection product include?+
The identity product monitors 1 and carries $1,000,000 of cover. Site medians sit at 3 bureaus and €876,962.20, so the reach here is narrower than typical.
Sources
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bitdefender checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Headquarters
“founded and headquartered in Bucharest, Romania”
- bitdefender.com/en-us/company checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Founded
“trusted security provider since 2001”
- bitdefender.com/en-us/consumer/digital-identity-protection checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Credit bureaus monitored, Insurance amount
“Credit Report & Monitoring (1 bureau)”
- bitdefender.com/en-us/consumer/free-antivirus checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Free version, Pricing model
“It's completely free to use, forever”
- bitdefender.com/en-us/consumer/password-manager checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Encryption, Free plan
“Vault-like protection of passwords and sensitive data thanks to end-to-end encryption technology, the gold standard of the industry.”
- bitdefender.com/en-us/consumer/total-security checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Devices, Features, Platforms, Yearly price
“1 account - 5 devices; 5 accounts - 25 devices”
- bitdefender.com/en-us/partners/affiliate-partners checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Extras
“plus password manager and 200MBs/day of VPN traffic”
- bitdefender.com/site/view/subscription-agreement-and-term... checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Family plan, Support channels
“Bitdefender Solution - Family pack, being limited to 15 devices”
Compiled from 8 source pages, checked September 26, 2026. We did not open an account.
Not confirmed yet: First-year price, Renewal price.