Updated September 28, 2026 · ShieldCue Editorial Team
Bitdefender vs Kaspersky
Where Bitdefender and Kaspersky differ
| Compare |  Bitdefender |  Kaspersky |
|---|---|---|
| Devices | 5 to 25Higher | 10 |
| Platforms | Android, Windows, Mac, iOS | Windows, MacOS, Android, iOS |
| Extras | VPN, Password manager | VPN, Password manager, Parental controlsCovers more |
| Money-back period | Not confirmed | 30 days |
Same on both: Free version (Yes).
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Key differences
- Bitdefender scores higher overall: 9.2 vs 9.1.
- Devices is higher at Bitdefender: 5 to 25 vs 10.
- Platforms: only Bitdefender offers Mac.
- Platforms: only Kaspersky offers MacOS.
- Extras: only Kaspersky offers Parental controls.
- Support channels: only Bitdefender offers Email, Phone.
- Support channels: only Kaspersky offers Community.
- Founded is lower at Kaspersky: 1997 vs 2001.
Our verdict on each
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.
Kaspersky
Kaspersky Secure Connection fits households already inside the Kaspersky ecosystem, since one subscription carries the VPN, password manager and parental controls together. Server reach of 93 countries sits above the median VPN, and 10 devices at once covers a couple or a family.
Score breakdown
| Area | Bitdefender | Kaspersky |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.3 | Not confirmed |
| Offer | 9.2Higher | 8.9The offer pairs a 30 day refund window with a 30 day free trial on the wider Kaspersky suite. |
| Privacy | 9.0 | 9.4Higher |
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | Bitdefender | Kaspersky |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | Romania | Switzerland |
Also worth a look
CrowdStrike Falcon Go has devices at up to 100, against 5 to 25 for Bitdefender and 10 for Kaspersky.
CrowdStrike Falcon Go reviewWhere these facts come from
Bitdefender
- bitdefender.com: 7 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- en.wikipedia.org: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Kaspersky
- kaspersky.com: 10 facts, checked September 26, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | Bitdefender | Kaspersky |
|---|---|---|
| Antivirus software | 19 of 92 | 5 of 92 |
| Identity theft protection | 17 of 117 | 3 of 117 |
| Parental control apps | 13 of 59 | 4 of 59 |
| Free antivirus | 15 of 62 | 3 of 62 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Bitdefender | Kaspersky |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Free | Free |
| Legal entity | Not confirmed | AO Kaspersky Lab |
| Headquarters | Romania | Switzerland |
| Founded | 2001 | 1997Lower |
| Support channels | Email, Phone, Help centre | Help centre, Community |
Password managers
| Fact | Bitdefender | Kaspersky |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | No | YesHas it |
| Family plan | Family pack, up to 15 devices | One Kaspersky Premium subscription shared with family members via the same account |
| Passkeys | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Encryption | End-to-end encryption | AES-256 with key derived from the master password via PBKDF2, zero-knowledge architecture |
| Features | Screen time, Web filter, Location | Kill switch, Split tunnelling |
Parental controls
| Fact | Bitdefender | Kaspersky |
|---|---|---|
| Yearly price | $79.99 | Not confirmed |
Identity protection
| Fact | Bitdefender | Kaspersky |
|---|---|---|
| Credit bureaus monitored | 1 | Not confirmed |
| Insurance amount | $1,000,000 | Not confirmed |
| Free trial length | Not confirmed | 30 days |
Privacy tools
| Fact | Bitdefender | Kaspersky |
|---|---|---|
| Protocols | Not confirmed | WireGuard |
| Logging policy | Not confirmed | VPN claims your online actions are not logged |
| Jurisdiction | Not confirmed | CH |
| Privacy tool type | Not confirmed | Ad blocker, Browser |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Bitdefender | Kaspersky | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Devices | 5 to 25highest quarter | 10at the median | 10 |
| Money-back period | Not confirmed | 30 daysat the median | 30 days |
Median across 51 listed providers.
Pros and cons
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.
Kaspersky
Pros
- Kaspersky Premium bundles the VPN, password manager and parental controls (vpn, password manager and parental controls) in one subscription a family plan can share
- Device and platform coverage is generous: 10 devices at once, with apps for Windows, macOS and Android on desktop and mobile
- Streaming and travel are stated features, with Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Disney+ supported and kill switch and split tunnelling built in as standard
Cons
- Support runs on help centre and community only, so quick answers go through documentation or the community rather than live chat
- The protocol list is WireGuard, so readers who want a wider choice of protocols have less room to compare
- The free version that Kaspersky lists sits with antivirus rather than a free VPN, so VPN features start on a paid subscription
Who each suits
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.
Kaspersky
Who it suits
- Households that already pay for Kaspersky security software and want the VPN folded into the same subscription rather than bought separately
- Travellers who want one app for secure connections on Windows, macOS and Android across phones and desktops while abroad
- Families sharing one account, since the family plan passes the same subscription across to other members in the household
Who should look elsewhere
- AVG, if server spread matters most, since its coverage starts at from 100 countries, further than Kaspersky reaches
- Namecheap, if you want the widest server list, since it lists from 100 countries or more across its network
- ESET Brasil, if device counts drive the choice, since its plans scale from 3 to 25 devices under one plan
Current offers
Bitdefender
Current offer
Free trial
Start your 30-day trial: 30-day trial
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Kaspersky
Current offer
Free trial
7-day free trial of Kaspersky VPN: 7 days free
Free for 7 days, auto-renews to a paid subscription unless cancelled in My Kaspersky; 2 days' reminder before trial end
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Questions about each
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.
Kaspersky
What does Kaspersky Premium include besides the VPN?+
One Kaspersky Premium subscription covers vpn, password manager and parental controls, and the family plan lets the same subscription be shared with family members through one account. That bundle is the main reason to look here rather than a standalone VPN.
How many devices can one Kaspersky subscription cover?+
The plan covers 10 devices at once, which suits a couple or a shared family without straining. Server reach runs to 93 countries, a wider spread than the median VPN listed on the site.
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