McAfee and Bitdefender offer cybersecurity at premium levels. McAfee has been an industry leader for over 30 years and now has others running close behind. Bitdefender is now protecting over 500 million systems worldwide. Which one is better for you McAfee with experience and years behind it, or Bitdefender?
Main Differences between Bitdefender vs McAfee
| Bitdefender | McAfee |
| Has webcam protection | No webcam protection |
| Is not a VPN | Is also a VPN |
| Ransomware protection | No Ransomware protection |
| Banking and Payment protection | No banking and payment protection |
| Does not include performance optimization | Has performance Optimization |
| No file shredder option | File shredder option |
Bitdefender vs McAfee: Features & Capabilities
Bitdefender detects and deletes files in real-time. Bitdefender is quick to block and delete live samples such as adware and trojan in real-time. Bitdefender Shield blocks malware, malware viruses, trojans, rootkits, and ransomware. Bitdefender will block downloaded pages and is very quick to scan files and detect threats. With Bitdefender, you can set your daily device limits, manage and block apps, and it offers different user profiles so you can use it for working and gaming under different profile names. Bitdefender covers five devices and has the following features:
- Web protection
- Secure browser for online finances
- System optimization tools
- Wi-Fi network protection
- Password manager and parental controls
- Firewall
McAfee
McAfee provides you with online protection from hackers. McAfee protects you from phishing, viruses, and ransomware. McAfee is simple to install and can run a full scan in an hour. Per online reviews, McAfee is one of the best antivirus tools. McAfee’s True Key offers a password manager and the essentials, including unlimited password storage across devices, secure notes, and a password generator. McAfee offers some of the following features:
- Firewall
- VPN
- Password Manager
- Home Network Analyzer
- Parental Control for Windows
Bitdefender vs McAfee: Pricing
Both Bitdefender and McAfee offer competitive pricing. McAfee has four Total Protection options starting with McAfee Total Protection, and Basic. The basic for the first year is $34.99 and for years thereafter it is $84.99. The McAfee Protection Plus is $39.99 for the first year and the renewal price is $109.00 after the first year. Moving to the McAfee Total Protection Premium, the cost is $49.99 for the first year and the renewal price is $129.00 per year. The most complex program/service is the McAfee Total Protection, Advanced with is $89.99 for the first year and the renewal price is $179.00
Bitdefender is similar in pricing, where the first year is less expensive than the renewal price. For the Bitdefender Antivirus Plus, the cost for the first year is $24.99 and the renewal price is $59.99. Bitdefender Internet Security for the first year is $29.99 and the renewal price is $79.99. Bitdefender Total Security is $39.98 for the first year and the renewal price is $89.99 for the top tier, Bitdefender Premium Security is $49.99 for the first year and $159.99 for the renewal.
Reasons to choose Bitdefender over McAfee
Bitdefender has excellent parental controls where you can set daily device limits, and manage and block apps that you don’t want the kids to see. You can also blacklist or whitelist specific sites. Bitdefender allows for different user profile modes, this helps when you are gaming, during the gaming mold Bitdefender will suspend notifications, automatic updates, and Virus Scans. Bitdefender does not keep nor sell your data. Bitdefender ranks among the highest reviews for antivirus protection.
Pros:
- Mulita-layer ransomware protection
- Unlimited encrypted VPN
- Deep scan software
- 500 million devices in 150 Countries
Reasons to choose McAfee over Bitdefender
McAfee, just like Bitdefender, covers five devices. McAfee provides has real-time malware detection and web protections, and the cost is hard to compare to others. McAfee works on Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS devices. Additional services that McAfee provides include Firewall and Wifi network protection, identity theft protection, and secure file storage. McAfee’s additional services make the provider stand out over other antivirus protections.
Pros:
- Performance optimization
- Password Manager and web safety tool
- 256-bit file storage encryption
- 525 million devices in 189 countries
The Similarities between Bitdefender and McAfee
Bitdefender and McAfee both offer comprehensive parental controls. Parental control helps you make important decisions on what your kids can and can’t see. McAfee offers True Key, a password manager, and Bitdefender offers one as well. Both Bitdefender and McAfee include a VPN to secure your connection while browsing online, this protects your information from hackers. Bitdefender and McAfee are known for their protection against malware, ransomware, and other online threats such as phishing and scam websites.
Bitdefender and McAfee Alternatives
Finding online security and protection for yourself and your family can be a difficult task. If Bitdefender and McAfee aren’t the right fit for you, here are some alternatives.
- Norton 360 Deluxe – similar features to Bitdefender and McAfee
- Avira Prime – the cheapest alternative
- Intego Mac Internet Security – the best in security for the Mac
- Webroot – has a 70-day back guarantee
- Trend Micro – has pricing deals and is good for both personal and business
- Eset – works on up to five devices, 30-day free trial
Bitdefender vs McAfee: Final Verdict
Bitdefender comes out on top of McAfee. Even though McAfee has been an industry leader, it’s time for another to take the lead. Bitdefender may be pricier, but it offers a comprehensive program with protection and optimization features. Bitdefender has more servers than McAfee (27 to 23 servers) and reviews show the poorer performance of McAfee than Bitdefender. To end, McAfee’s scan causes more of a system slowdown than Bitdefender. Bitdefender VPN protects your online activity and allows you to view Netflix and other online streaming services. Bitdefender wins over McAfee on the protection of bad links through social media networks and it safeguards your webcam and microphone so that hackers can’t reach them.
FAQ
Does Bitdefender work well against hackers?
Using Bitdefender will significantly reduce the chance that you will get hacked. It will not protect you 100%.
Is McAfee worth the subscription cost?
McAfee has been around for 30 years. Just for that reason alone, McAfee is worth the money, it is a well-known, well-trusted company.
Will Bitdefender slow my computer down?
Having more than one security system installed on a PC will slow the computer down, there may be incompatibility issues as well.
Why is McAfee so well known?
McAfee is easy to set up per review and provides extra features to help protect you when you are online.
Does McAfee affect the WiFi connection?
There has been some possibilities that McAfee does affect the Wifi connection. If there are other security products installed on your PC, it may conflict with the McAfee software.