If you’ve ever set up a new PC, you’ve probably faced the familiar question: Which antivirus should you use? Often, there’s already an option like McAfee sitting on your system, preinstalled and waiting to be activated. Bitdefender, another popular choice, usually isn’t preloaded, but it consistently ranks near the top in independent tests and expert reviews.
Both are well-known names. Both promise strong protection. But once you look past the branding and dig into real-world performance, features, and lab results, the differences become much clearer.
Here’s how they stack up, section by section.
/1. Lab Test Results
When it comes to lab testing, this is one of the closest matchups.
Both Bitdefender and McAfee regularly score near the top in tests from AV-Test and AV-Comparatives. In aggregate scoring across multiple labs, both products had 18 points, which is about as good as it gets.
Some labs test Bitdefender more frequently, others test McAfee, but when both appear, their scores are essentially identical.
/2. Pricing
Both Bitdefender and McAfee offer multiple subscription tiers, but they take very different approaches.
Bitdefender starts cheaper but is more restrictive at the entry level. Its Antivirus Plus plan costs $24.99-$29.99 per year, but that covers three devices and only Windows PCs. To protect more devices, you’ll need to step up. Bitdefender Total Security costs $49.99–$59.99 per year for five devices, while Premium Security jumps to $69.99–$89.99 per year for up to 10 devices.
McAfee, on the other hand, focuses on single-device coverage from the start. Its McAfee+ Basic, which costs $29.99 per year for a single device. Its Essential plan costs $39.99 per year and covers up to five devices. The Premium plan costs $44.99 per year, and the Ultimate plan goes up to $119.99 per year for unlimited devices.
That said, Bitdefender generally comes out cheaper overall, especially when compared with premium competitors like Norton.
/3. Real-World Malware Protection
This is where the gap starts to show.
In AV-Comparatives’ February–May 2025 real-world protection tests, Bitdefender achieved a 99.8% protection rate with fewer false positives. McAfee followed closely at 99.3%, but triggered more false alerts.
In hands-on testing, Bitdefender proved more reliable overall. While McAfee completed scans faster, its real-time detection performance was inconsistent in practice.
/4. Firewall and Exploit Protection
McAfee includes firewall protection even at the antivirus level, relying on Windows Firewall but adding its own controls on top. Bitdefender reserves its firewall for higher-tier plans.
However, Bitdefender compensates with excellent exploit protection built directly into its antivirus engine, detecting more real-world exploits than most competitors.
Still, having a firewall available out of the box gives McAfee a slight edge here.
/5. Ransomware Protection
Ransomware is one of those threats where “almost good enough” isn’t good enough at all.
Bitdefender uses behavioural detection and remediation tools designed specifically for ransomware. In controlled tests, it successfully blocked 11 out of 12 real-world ransomware attacks, even when other protections were disabled.
McAfee’s ransomware protection is harder to test independently, and at least one modified sample slipped past both its ransomware and standard antivirus defences.
/6. VPN Protection
At the basic antivirus level, neither product offers a full VPN experience.
Bitdefender includes a limited VPN (200MB per day) with its antivirus plan. McAfee does include a restricted VPN, often known as Safe Connect, offering 250 MB to 500 MB of data per month, restricted to one device
/7. Scanning Performance
Both antiviruses offer quick, full, and vulnerability scans.
In testing:
- Bitdefender caught slightly fewer threats but was more thorough, though slower.
- McAfee detected more malware in full scans and completed them faster, albeit with heavier CPU usage at times.
If speed matters most, McAfee has the edge. If consistency matters, Bitdefender feels steadier.
/8. Bonus Security Features
This is where Bitdefender really pulls ahead.
Both tools cover the basics—web protection, phishing detection, and file shredding. But Bitdefender adds far more on top, including:
- Anti-tracker
- Secure browser for payments
- Wi-Fi security alerts
- Vulnerability scanning
- Cross-platform support (Windows, macOS, Android, iOS)
McAfee includes useful extras like cryptojacking protection and system cleanup, but its feature list is shorter at the antivirus level.
Conclusion
McAfee isn’t a bad antivirus, far from it. It’s fast, familiar, and does a solid job for users who want simple, multi-device protection.
But Bitdefender is the more complete security solution. It offers stronger protection where it matters most, fewer false positives, and a deeper set of tools without forcing users into the most expensive plans.
Ogbonda Chivumnovu
