Bitdefender vs McAfee: price and which to choose
Quick verdict
Bitdefender Total Security protects 5 devices with a password manager and a VPN capped at 200 MB a day (unlimited on Premium Security), with a Family plan for 25 devices. McAfee+ covers unlimited devices on every plan with VPN included, and adds identity theft coverage and credit monitoring from Advanced. Both advertise a first-year price that renews higher.
Option A
$109.99/yrBitdefender Total Security
Official price before tax: $109.99
Price checked
Bitdefender price and plans
Option B
We compare plans with a similar purpose, whose features may differ; prices before sales tax; prices for other plans and periods are in the reviews.
Feature comparison
| Criterion | Bitdefender | McAfee |
|---|---|---|
| Devices | 5 or 25 (Family) | Unlimited (Family: 6 members) |
| VPN | 200 MB/day; unlimited on Premium | Every tier |
| Password manager | Yes | Not listed |
| Identity coverage | Breach detection | From Advanced |
| Refund | 30 days | 30 days (60 after renewal) |
Independent lab tests
These numbers come from lab tests. The scales differ between tests, so we don’t merge them into one score.
| Test | Bitdefender | McAfee |
|---|---|---|
Real-world protection AV-Comparatives: Real-World Protection Test February-May 2026 · published June 15, 2026 | Blocked 398 of 400 attacks — 99.5% false positives: 5 Tested version: Bitdefender Total Security | Blocked 394 of 400 attacks — 98.5% false positives: 4 Tested version: McAfee Total Protection |
Malware protection AV-Comparatives: Malware Protection Test March 2026 · published April 15, 2026 | Online — 99.94%, offline detection — 97.6% false positives: 4 Tested version: Bitdefender Total Security | Online — 99.97%, offline detection — 86.1% false positives: 14 Tested version: McAfee Total Protection |
Impact on computer speed AV-Comparatives: Performance Test April 2026 · published April 22, 2026 | Impact score 9.6 (lower is better) Tested version: Bitdefender Total Security | Impact score 3.3 (lower is better) Tested version: McAfee Total Protection |
AV-TEST scores AV-TEST: Windows 11 - June 2026 · tested 2026-05–2026-06 | Protection 6/6, performance 6/6, usability 6/6 Tested version: Bitdefender Total Security | Protection 6/6, performance 6/6, usability 6/6 Tested version: McAfee Total Protection |
Two strong US antivirus suites with different add-ons: Bitdefender leans on its password manager and family device count; McAfee on unlimited devices and identity protection.
If you don’t want to read further
Password manager and 25 devices for a family — Bitdefender. Unlimited devices and identity theft coverage — McAfee+.
What really sets them apart
In each row, the last sentence matters most — what the difference means for you.
Devices?
Bitdefender
5 for one account, or 25 for 5 accounts (Family).
McAfee
Unlimited for one user; Family covers 6 members.
One person with many devices — McAfee+.
VPN?
Bitdefender
200 MB a day per device on Total Security; unlimited on Premium Security.
McAfee
Secure VPN on every tier.
For a VPN without a cap, McAfee+ or Bitdefender Premium Security.
Password manager?
Bitdefender
Included on Total Security and Premium Security.
McAfee
Not listed in McAfee+ plans.
Bitdefender includes one.
Identity protection?
Bitdefender
Data breach detection.
McAfee
$1M or $2M coverage, credit monitoring and restoration from Advanced.
For identity insurance, McAfee+ Advanced.
Refunds?
Bitdefender
Full refund within the first 30 days, plus a 30-day trial.
McAfee
30 days on a new purchase, 60 days after a renewal charge.
McAfee also refunds an unwanted renewal.
Where they don’t differ, even though it seems they should
This part is often more useful than the list of differences — it saves money for anyone who was about to pay for an imaginary advantage.
First-year pricing
Both renew at a higher regular price.
Scam protection
Bitdefender Scam Protection and McAfee Scam Detector.
Family options
Bitdefender Family and McAfee+ Advanced Family.
Which one fits whom
| Your situation | What to choose | On what condition |
|---|---|---|
| You want a password manager included | Bitdefender Total Security | Plus 5 devices. |
| One person, many devices | McAfee+ Premium | Unlimited devices. |
| You want identity coverage | McAfee+ Advanced | $1M coverage. |
| A family with lots of devices | Bitdefender Family | 25 devices, 5 accounts. |
- Bitdefender’s VPN on Total Security is capped at 200 MB a day per device.
- McAfee charges 30 days before the term ends — cancel at least 31 days before.
- Bitdefender prices are plus applicable sales tax.
- Both renew at a higher regular price.
Where the facts come from
Sources: bitdefender.com and mcafee.com for the US. Prices are in the price blocks on each service’s page.
Facts in the text checked: .
FAQ: Bitdefender or McAfee
Other comparisons
The same products against other competitors, and other comparisons in the “Antivirus software” category.
Where their scores differ
Only criteria we’ve checked for both services and where the scores differ. Equal criteria and criteria without data aren’t shown here, because they add nothing to the decision.
If what matters most is — protection offline: Bitdefender Total Security
Bitdefender Total Security: 97,6 % (4,0/5) · McAfee+ Premium: 86,1 % (2,0/5)
If what matters most is — protection online: Bitdefender Total Security
Bitdefender Total Security: 99,5 % (5,0/5) · McAfee+ Premium: 98,5 % (3,0/5)
If what matters most is — false alarms: Bitdefender Total Security
Bitdefender Total Security: 4 (4,0/5) · McAfee+ Premium: 14 (2,0/5)
If what matters most is — price jump in the second year: Bitdefender Total Security
Bitdefender Total Security: +83 % (2,0/5) · McAfee+ Premium: +200 % (1,0/5)
The scores and their weights are the same as in the reviews of both services. How we calculate
Comparison text updated: