Written by Ria du Plessis - Web Developer Updated on August 12 , 2021 |
These days, we have to pay more and more attention to the security of our digital life. We put Bitdefender vs. Malwarebytes head to head in this comparison to make it easy for you to choose the right software for your needs. Bitdefender and Malwarebytes are among the leading antivirus security programs.
| Our verdict on overall best antivirus program is Bitdefender Antivirus |
Bitdefender Pros | Malwarebytes Pros |
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Bitdefender Cons | Malwarebytes Cons |
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Bitdefender offers more security features and utilities than Malwarebytes, with higher test scores. Bitdefender also offers live support, where Malwarebytes is only available through support tickets and phone support.
When it comes to pricing, Bitdefender’s free version is only available for Windows, whereas Malwarebytes free version is available for Windows and Mac.
| Overall winner: Bitdefender |
Let's compare the key features of Malwarebytes and Bitdefender;
Malwarebytes | Bitdefender | |
Virus Scanner | Yes | Yes |
Threat Protection | No | Yes, Bitdefender offers advanced threat defense |
Malware Removal | Yes | Yes |
Phishing Detection | Yes | Yes |
Spyware Protection | Yes | Yes |
Ransomware Protection | Yes | Yes, The Ransomware Remediation feature identifies whenever new ransomware attempts to encrypt files and will automatically create a backup of targeted files that will be restored after the malware is blocked |
Cloud Backup | Yes, To backup or restore the Malwarebytes Management Console's program and configuration files, use the Data Backup and Restoration tool | Yes |
Firewall | Yes | Yes |
VPN | Yes | Yes |
Browser Protection | No | Yes |
Webcam Protection | Yes | Yes, Bitdefender has a new Webcam Protection feature |
Password Manager | Yes, you need to purchase an add-on named AVG Password Protection. This is only available for Windows devices | Yes, The Password Manager feature in Bitdefender helps you keep track of your passwords, protects your privacy, and provides a secure browsing experience |
Parental Control | No | Yes |
Safe Banking | Yes | Yes |
Performance Optimization | Yes | No |
Cleaning Tools | Yes, Malwarebytes Cleanup Utility will uninstall and remove all residual traces of Malwarebytes from your PC | Yes |
File Shredder | No | No |
Game Mode | Yes, Automatic gamer mode | Yes, Bitdefender uses behavioral heuristics along with a list of known games to automatically detect running games and optimize your system resources so that you can enjoy your gaming break |
Mobile App | Yes | Yes |
Identity Theft Protection | Yes | Yes, Bitdefender Mobile Security for Android gives your mobile devices absolute protection against viruses and malware |
Malwarebytes offers features that Bitdefender does not offer that include;
Bitdefender offers features that Malwarebytes does not offer that include;
When comparing features, it is clear that Bitdefender offers more, therefore Bitdefender wins in this section.
| Best Features Offered: Bitdefender |
Malwarebytes Features;
Bitdefender Features;
Malware is short for malicious software; this includes any software that can infiltrate and damage your devices, such as worms, viruses, adware, spyware, ransomware, trojan horses, or any piece of software code that could steal or damage your data.
Therefore, the core purpose of spending money on an antivirus suite is to get the best malware protection possible. If the security solution you choose has a weak malware scanner, there is no point in buying it, no matter how good its other features are.
To compare Malwarebytes to Bitdefender's Malware protection capabilities, we looked at third-party testing done by AV-Test. The results were;
Malwarebytes Results;
Malwarebytes did well in this test, the software detected all 278 zero-day attack samples that were used and all 16990 widespread samples. In March Malwarebytes only detected 99.9% of the widespread samples.
Bitdefender Results;
Bitdefender detected all malware samples in both tests.
| Best for malware protection: Bitdefender |
System performance is another important factor when choosing an antivirus solution. To conclude which antivirus solution between Malwarebytes vs Bitdefender is the best, we looked at third-party testing done by AV-Test again.
Malwarebytes Results:
Bitdefender Results:
Malwarebytes and Bitdefender have a minimal impact on your system's performance, so you won't be tempted to turn it off while you work on your device. Both antivirus solutions scored a 6 out of 6 in the tests.
| Best for system performance: It is a tie |
Bitdefender software and Malwarebytes antivirus both have affordable options available to suit most requirements and budgets.
Let’s take a look at the pricing offered by Malwarebytes and Bitdefender;
Malwarebytes | Bitdefender | ||
Malwarebytes premium 1 | $39.99/year - one device | Personal Plan | $89.99/year - five devices |
Malwarebytes premium 2 | $79.99/year - five devices | Family Plan protects | $199.99/year - fifteen devices |
Unlimited Plan | $199.99/year - twenty devices |
As you can see, Malwarebytes is nominally cheaper, usually between $5 and 10 dollars less for the same number of devices and length of subscription as Bitdefender.
| Best price: Malwarebytes |
Bitdefender offers a modern and easy-to-understand application with an intuitive design. Compared to some of the competitors, it has a bit more information on the home screen.
Quick actions let you access Bitdefender’s many features. You can tailor the user experience to what you need and find the features you want without searching through a pile of menus.
Malwarebytes also offers a modern design. The main window shows your device’s status and gives you an option to update the bundle if you need protection for more than one device.
| Most user-friendly provider: Bitdefender |
With Bitdefender, you have direct contact options over chat, email, and phone, as well as a knowledge base, how-to videos, and a community forum where you can ask your questions.
Malwarebytes offers phone support, or you can select the live chat option, and you can apply solutions in real-time. The Malwarebytes' live chat facility is available from Monday to Friday.
| Best customer support: Bitdefender |
It should come as no surprise that our overall winner is Bitdefender. Bitdefender showed better experiences in all categories. We do recommend Bitdefender for optimal protection against cybercriminals.
