Bullguard Vs. Bitdefender For Home Users - Which One Is Best?

Bitdefender and Bullguard are great antivirus solutions that offer state-of-the-art threat detection and protection, an array of add-on security features, and pocket-friendly prices. While many users claim that Bullguard is one of the best gaming antiviruses, Bitdefender bagged the “Product of the Year 2019” award for its consistent and flawless performance.

Both solutions are lightweight and have minimal impact on your system’s resources. With intuitive designs, well-above-average third-party test results, many advanced features, round-the-clock customer service, and frequent updates, both products are well-balanced. 

If you’re considering protective software for personal use, here’s our detailed Bullguard vs. Bitdefender review to help you learn more about what each has to offer.

Features 

Bitdefender antivirus software is loaded with features that ensure real-time security. The core engine relies on artificial intelligence and machine learning to detect even the smallest anomalies. One of the best features that sets this product apart from other well-known brands is its low RAM consumption. This antivirus also allows you to configure scans and different settings as per your needs. 

Due to its perfect blend of performance, protection, and privacy, this software has been rightfully awarded the “Outstanding Product” award by independent testing lab AV-Comparatives. Depending on what you’re doing, the AI-based antivirus can pause pop-ups, adjust visual settings, and temporarily put a stop to unnecessary background processes. Therefore, it allows you to enjoy games and movies at their full potential.

Bullguard is also recognized as one of the most substantial security suites with enhanced ML capabilities that work in sync to provide multiple layers of protection. The core threat-detection engine uses proprietary dynamic machine learning to ensure real-time recognition of possible online attacks.

It also blocks potential malicious behavior, even when your devices aren’t connected to the internet. Antitheft, cloud backup, and mobile security management are other mobile-centric features unique to this product.

With the 2021 update, Bullguard claims that the signature file size has been greatly reduced to minimize device resource consumption, thus improving overall performance. The newly updated game booster feature now includes added compatibility for anti-cheat engines, blocking of unwanted pop-ups and system updates, and ensures zero interruption for gamers. It’s especially suitable for those who like to record or stream their games. 

Ease Of Use

Bitdefender has a relatively straightforward interface that makes it easy to master. A white checkmark on a bright green shield is displayed when there are no problems with your device. The company has also included a detailed tour of the user interface to help first-time users learn about the key areas and navigation.

The user dashboard is clear and easy to understand. It includes all the necessary features right on the main screen for easy access. Above all, if you don’t like the interface, you can customize it by adding new features or adding a new layout.

Honestly speaking, Bullguard doesn’t have a very appealing interface as it packs a lot of features in a small space while hiding a few basic settings under multiple sub-menus. Compared to other antivirus suites, you’ll find it a bit difficult to schedule device scans. However, the mobile interface is minimal, with a one-touch menu for scanning, anti-theft, cloud backup, and parental control features. 

Performance 

We tested Bitdefender’s performance on a Windows 10 (8 GB RAM, 64-bit) device. The installation took no time, and a full-device scan for the first time was completed in under 20 minutes, which is very good compared to other antiviruses we tested. We didn’t experience any lags or device slowdown, even when the security engine was running in the background. 

It also comes with a game profile that ensures an uninterrupted gaming experience by using behavioral heuristics and auto-detection. You’ll be able to enjoy a seamless game or movie without alerts, pop-ups, automatic updates, and scheduled scans.

Bullguard is considered the best antivirus solution for PC gaming as it offers unparalleled security and a lightning-fast gaming experience. However, the game booster feature works best on computers with four-core processors. It can automatically detect your gaming session and move other open applications onto one or two of the processing cores, thus ensuring that the remaining ones are dedicated to gaming. 

Both products scored a perfect 6/6 and were awarded the Top Product badge in the August 2020 Antivirus Test organized by AV-Test. Hence, when it comes to performance, it’s a draw.

Internet Security

Bitdefender has repeatedly performed well in extensive and prevalent malware tests organized by third-party testing labs like AV-Comparatives and AV-Test. It offers top-notch malware protection, and its signature databases are constantly updated to combat the newest threats. In addition to the multi-layered security engine, it also relies on AI to monitor installed files and programs for any inconsistent behavior. Users get sturdy protection from phishing and spam too. The advanced AI can block thousands of fake websites in real-time, and the list of phishing URLs is updated frequently. Added features like a VPN, a secured browser, and a two-way firewall help to keep your device and data secure, both online and offline.

One of the most vital features of Bullguard is its malware scanner. This real-time AI and ML-backed security engine can detect known threats and possible zero-day attacks using deep learning and heuristic monitoring. The firewall feature is extremely powerful and unique. No other antivirus offers four predefined and fully customizable security options like managing rules, incoming and outgoing traffic logs, network activity monitoring, and advanced settings.

The secure browser feature adds another security layer by checking a URL’s DNS encryption and certificate validity against its phishing database to ensure that you aren’t getting redirected to an unsafe site.  

Mobile Security

Bitdefender works seamlessly on Android and iOS devices. It packs a lightweight antivirus, remote scanning, SIM alerts, and a powerful anti-theft feature in an affordable package. You can download the free version with selected features from the Google Play Store. Alternatively, you can subscribe to a premium plan at $1.49/month. Premium mobile security features include web protection, anti-theft protection, app lock, and app advisor.

Bullguard mobile security is compatible with Android devices only. It provides complete protection from malware, spam calls, and theft. You can download the free version with limited features from the Google Play Store. Alternatively, you can subscribe to a premium plan at $19.99/year. Additional features include on-demand scanning for apps, an anti-theft feature to track, locate, and wipe your device remotely, a one-click cloud backup, parental control, and a mobile security management dashboard.

Pricing

Bitdefender has three core plans to choose from, excluding the mobile security plan. Although it’s one of the top-rated security products, the company is known to offer handsome discounts on top of its already well-priced premium packages. Premium plans include:

• Bitdefender Antivirus Plus 2020 for three devices at $24.99/year
• Bitdefender Internet Security 2020 for three devices at $34.99/year (actual price $79.99)
• Bitdefender Total Security 2020 for five devices at $39.99/year (actual price $89.99)

In addition to these, you can get the Mobile Security plan for one device at $14.99 for the first year. You'll also find a lot of free tools like mobile security for iOS, a virus scanner for Mac, and a home scanner on its official website.

Bullguard also offers a free version with limited features. But when it comes to pricing, it isn’t as competitive as the former. Here’s how the premium plans are priced:

• Antivirus for one device (PC) is $29.99 for one year, $47.99 for two years, and $59.99 for three years
• Internet Security for three devices is $59.99 for one year, $99.99 for two years, and $119.99 for three years. The price will go higher depending on the number of devices you add to the plan; however, you can only add up to 10 
• Premium Protection for ten devices at $99.99 and 15 devices at $139.99 for one year. Depending on the time and the number of devices, the total price can go as high as $279.99 for three years 

In addition to these, you can get the VPN feature for up to six devices, starting at $3.54 per month. The Mobile Security plan has a free version and a premium version priced at $19.99.

Bottom Line

Both software programs offer many features that work perfectly for home users. They provide multi-layered protection from threats in real-time without impacting your device’s performance. 

Based on our tests and the results listed on third-party testing websites, we think Bitdefender has the edge over Bullguard. 

That said, it’s important to choose the antivirus depending on your security requirements, number of devices, and overall budget. If you’re looking to cover multiple devices without spending too much, there isn’t a better pricing tier than what Bitdefender has to offer. Similarly, if you require a robust gaming antivirus without compromising your device’s security, Bullguard should be your go-to option.