Bitdefender vs. Kaspersky: choose the best antivirus in 2025

Bitdefender and Kaspersky are two of the most well-known names in cybersecurity, consistently ranking among the top providers. However, I don't recommend using Kaspersky due to its ban in the US and alleged ties with the Russian government. For this reason, I'll be focusing on Bitdefender's performance, referencing only publicly available info about Kaspersky.

I tested Bitdefender across various devices, including a freshly set up Windows 11 PC and a Samsung S22 Ultra. My evaluation covered malware detection, system impact, ease of use, extra features, pricing, and customer support quality.

Keep reading for a full breakdown of my Bitdefender vs. Kaspersky comparison, plus tips, insights, and expert advice on their more complex features.

Note: VPNPro does not support the Russian government or recommend Kaspersky products unless and until the company is officially cleared of all concerns.

Key differences between Bitdefender and Kaspersky

Bitdefender is a much safer option than Kaspersky. Kaspersky products are currently banned in the US over potential ties to the Russian government, espionage risks, and concerns about possible data sharing with Russian agencies. These issues make Kaspersky a controversial choice if you care about trust and transparency in your cybersecurity provider.

Looking at prices, Bitdefender is more affordable than Kaspersky, costing just $9.99/year per year compared to Kaspersky’s $29.99/year. Bitdefender also stands out as a great option for families, offering a Family Pack that protects up to 15 devices. In contrast, Kaspersky’s plans tend to be pricier for similar coverage

At first glance, Bitdefender's apps are more user-friendly, with a clean layout and intuitive navigation. The streamlined user interface will make the setup and daily use easier, especially if you're not as tech-savvy.

Kaspersky vs. Bitdefender price comparison

Kaspersky and Bitdefender offer multiple subscriptions to fit different needs and budgets. Kaspersky features Standard, Plus, and Premium plans, while Bitdefender has Antivirus Plus, Internet Security, and Total Security. Their prices differ greatly, but direct comparison is tricky since Kaspersky is banned in the US (you can learn all about that in our full Kaspersky Antivirus review). So, I used Canadian prices for its plans.

Bitdefender antivirus is considerably cheaper than Kaspersky for basic and ultimate plans, saving you $18 on both options. It's also one of the cheapest antivirus programs out there. On the other hand, Kaspersky's Plus package is cheaper but offers only a few niche features that could be an acquired taste.

Bitdefender's basic plan outshines Kaspersky's Standard option with its vulnerability assessments, a rescue environment for rootkits and the like, 200 MB/day of Bitdefender VPN traffic, and a file shredder. Kaspersky's Standard plan includes a firewall for PC, but I don't see that as a huge advantage since Windows already has a good built-in firewall.

Kaspersky's Plus plan is $16 cheaper than Bitdefender's Internet Security, but its main features focus on niche use cases. For example, a data leak checker is unnecessary if you're using a good VPN, and Cryptojacking protection is only viable for risky P2P users. I prefer Bitdefender's clear focus on user privacy with features like microphone and webcam protection, antispam, and solid parental controls.

I also prefer Bitdefender's Total Security to Kaspersky's Premium plan due to a healthy balance of performance optimization and anti-theft protection. I didn't like Kaspersky's remote virus removal option because you'll have to give access to its experts. This sounds like a dangerous proposition, given Kaspersky's history.

Both providers offer 30-day free trials of their software. However, Bitdefender lets you test any plan, while Kaspersky limits trials to the cheapest option. Overall, I strongly prefer Bitdefender's packages, with their clear focus and a better balance of privacy, security, and usability across the board.

Bitdefender vs. Kaspersky free plans comparison

Both Bitdefender and Kaspersky offer free limited versions of their software with basic malware protection for a single device.

Bitdefender's free plan keeps things simple with real-time malware, phishing, and fraud protection – perfect if you want simplicity without any extra clutter.

Kaspersky's free version adds a lot of bloat, like a useless on-screen keyboard. I particularly disliked Kaspersky's AMSI (Antimalware Scan Interface), which can send objects to Kaspersky for "additional scanning." This feature raises a lot of red flags for me as it relies on unknown third-party apps to handle your data.

In terms of free protection, both options are solid, but I prefer Bitdefender’s straightforward, privacy-friendly approach without unnecessary bloat.

What security features do Bitdefender and Kaspersky offer?

Bitdefender and Kaspersky offer plenty of top-level security features across their three subscription plans.

Each provides real-time malware monitoring, anti-fraud tools, web attack prevention, good firewalls, safe online banking, and privacy protection. However, Bitdefender takes it a step further with its Rescue Environment for particularly nasty threats like boot sector viruses or rootkits – malware that can evade regular scans. I recommend learning more about its security setup in our full Bitdefender Antivirus review.

Kaspersky's unique security features feel either unnecessary (e.g., hard drive health monitoring), dangerous (anything expert-assisted), or outperformed by dedicated tools (password safety check). Bitdefender, on the other hand, cuts through the clutter by focusing on safety essentials.

During my testing, Bitdefender Shield was highly effective against all types of malware, including viruses, ransomware, spyware, and zero-day threats. Its combination of real-time checks, behavioral detection, machine learning, and cloud-based scanning guarantees robust 24/7 protection. It can also scan for vulnerabilities like outdated software, crackable passwords, and network weak spots. For obvious reasons, I couldn't test Kaspersky's System Watcher, so I can't say how effective it is.

A clear advantage of Bitdefender over Kaspersky is its Rescue Environment – a sort of "safe mode" designed to remove stubborn infections, adding a valuable layer of security. Additionally, both brands have anti-tracking features that protect your online privacy by blocking trackers and minimizing targeted ads.

Both providers offer firewalls that act as a barrier between your device and the internet. These tools allow you to control incoming and outgoing network traffic based on a set of customizable security rules. Bitdefender's firewall felt quite effective during my tests, and I liked its overall flexibility.

I like Bitdefender's anti-theft mechanisms and was surprised to see no equivalent on the Kaspersky side. This feature provides remote device tracking, locking, and data deletion. It can even snap photos of anyone who tries to access your device.

Bitdefender vs. Kaspersky scanning options and speed results

Bitdefender and Kaspersky both offer quick, custom (named "Selective" in Kaspersky's app), and full systems scans. Rescue Environment – the aforementioned Bitdefender's advantage over Kaspersky – is also a separate scan. This gives Bitdefender an edge in scan variety and adaptability to specific needs.

To determine scanning speeds, I tested Bitdefender on a fresh Windows 11 installation, targeting my malware hotspots across the system. I had no other applications running during scans. I couldn't test Kaspersky, so I don't have any scanning results for this provider.

Bitdefender dished out impressive speeds across the board. Its quick scans consistently finished in less than a minute, and full system scans took less than half an hour on average.

I believe Bitdefender's Photon technology gave it an evident speed boost during my testing. It's a proprietary tech that adapts Bitdefender to your configuration to save resources and speed up your scans. Note that Photon needs a few prep scans to get its data before it truly kicks in.

Contrary to popular belief, quick scans can catch most of the active threats on your system. In my testing, Bitdefender flagged and isolated most of my test malware files, even during quick scans.

Bitdefender vs. Kaspersky malware and threat protection test results

During my testing, Bitdefender caught 99% of my malware samples, which is an excellent result. Its multi-layered approach to malware protection, known as Bitdefender Shield, combines traditional signature-based detection with heuristic analysis and advanced machine learning algorithms. As a result, it can catch known malware, identify suspicious behavior, and detect zero-day threats. With Rescue Environment on top, you can also deal with elusive malware rooted deep within your system.

As mentioned, I couldn't test Kaspersky for this comparison. Its System Watcher sounds interesting on paper since it employs advanced cybersecurity technologies to track system activity and flag suspicious behavior. However, I can't evaluate its effectiveness without a full in-house test.

Bitdefender performed very well during my tests and is truly one of the best antivirus programs out there. I particularly like its Rescue Environment feature, which lets you handle hard-to-remove threats without damaging your system.

Firewall protection: Does Bitdefender or Kaspersky offer better security?

Both providers offer robust firewall protection, but they cater to different user groups. Bitdefender's firewall is more suitable for home users and families due to its simplicity. Its lightweight performance is also ideal for gamers and streamers. Kaspersky's firewall sounds like a good option for power users, IT professionals, and business environments. Unfortunately, I can't recommend it since I'm unsure of its current safety levels.

Bitdefender's firewall monitors the incoming and outgoing network connections and compares them against known safe and malicious profiles. It can block new, unknown, or suspicious applications and notify you about it. It also includes the so-called IDS (Intrusion Detection System), which monitors for signs of suspicious behavior like DDoS attacks or port scanning.

For each process it scans, Bitdefender will create a firewall rule (block it or let it pass), which you can edit later on. You can also assign different attributes to networks (dynamic, home/office, or public) to indicate their risk levels.

The additional features of Bitdefender's firewall include:

• Port scan protection: Blocks malicious attempts to detect open ports on your device, which can allow hackers to break in.
• Alert mode (previously Paranoid mode): Prompts you when apps try to connect to the internet.
• Allow access to domain network: Allows or denies access to resources defined by your domain controllers.
• Stealth mode: Determines whether other devices can "see" you.
• Default application behavior: Applies automatic settings to apps without defined rules.
• Use passive detection mode: Allow the firewall to receive all packets without interfering with local DHCP servers. Essentially, this means that your firewall is monitoring the traffic but can't block it. Passive detection is only used temporarily for diagnostics or troubleshooting and should be off most of the time.

According to Kaspersky's website, its firewall works similarly to Bitdefender's but categorizes applications into trust groups (trusted, low restricted, high restricted, or untrusted) based on their security assessment. Each trust group gives a different set of rights to apps on your device (untrusted apps, for example, can't go online). That said, Kaspersky is currently considered unsafe, and I don't recommend using it.

Nonetheless, let's go over the options offered by Kaspersky's firewall:

• Notify of vulnerabilities in Wi-Fi networks: Alerts you about specific vulner
• Smart Home Monitor: Shows devices connected to your networks.
• Allow connections on random ports for active FTP mode: I don't like this option since it can expose your computer to security risks. Allowing random ports for active FTP (File Transfer Protocol) can improve connectivity and data transfer stability (useful for torrenting, for example), but it's also highly dangerous.
• Do not disable the Firewall until the operating system shuts down completely: This option sounds good since it should eliminate potential security gaps.
• Block network connections if the user cannot be prompted for action: This option should keep the firewall going, even when the UI of Kaspersky apps can't load.
• Custom application and packet rules: Allows users to set custom rules for network packets, apps, or app groups.
• Available networks: Displays detected networks and allows users to categorize them as public, trusted, or local, enhancing overall security.

Even on paper, Bitdefender is much better suited for home use, providing a balance of effective security without overwhelming users.

Bitdefender and Kaspersky additional features

Bitdefender offers more quality-of-life features than Kaspersky, making it particularly beneficial for home users and families who just want to enjoy the internet without distractions. Let's take a closer look at the extra features offered by both providers.

Password management

Both services come with robust password managers that allow you to generate strong passwords and keep them secure from prying eyes. They will also alert you in case of a password leak, and you can get them both as standalone products.

Anti-tracker

Bitdefender has a powerful anti-tracker. Apart from blocking trackers, it lets you organize them into five different categories: advertising, customer interaction, essential, site analytics, and social media. This categorization makes Bitdefender a more user-friendly option, as you can manage these categories and customize your experience. Kaspersky also has an anti-tracking tool, but I couldn't test it for this comparison.

Antispam

Both services can block unwanted emails in any mailbox, but Bitdefender's Antispam component offers more nuanced options. Kaspersky just lets you pick a security level, and you have to go with optimal to guarantee good filtering. Bitdefender, on the other hand, lets you flag senders as friends or spammers, block messages with specific characters like Asian logograms or Cyrillic lettering, and more.

One drawback of Kaspersky's Antispam feature is that it deactivates when you update the application, which can be annoying. Additionally, some versions of Kaspersky may prompt you to accept the company's data processing rules for antispam, adding to the frustration.

Parental controls

Bitdefender and Kaspersky are evenly matched when it comes to parental controls. They both cover similar ground and have the same options except one. In short, they allow you to block unsuitable websites, restrict app usage, set up device usage schedules and screen time limits, and monitor the use of social networks.

Bitdefender has one advantage, though: it can track the device's location, which is essential if your child loses their phone or tablet.

Bitdefender exclusives

As mentioned, Bitdefender offers more exclusive features than Kaspersky. Some of my favorites include:

• Bitdefender Photon: It allows Bitdefender to adapt to your system, resulting in faster scan times and better performance.
• Autopilot: An innovative feature designed to automate security management and simplify your user experience even further. It can automate security tasks, optimize your system, and monitor your device for threats.
• Battery mode: It tweaks system settings to save battery life on your laptop or tablet.

Impact on system performance: Kaspersky or Bitdefender is more lightweight?

During my testing, Bitdefender was reasonably lightweight and left plenty of system resources for other tasks. While running in the background, it used around 2% of my CPU and around 25% during quick scans.

During a full scan, Bitdefender used 50% of my CPU, which is quite acceptable given its fast performance and accurate malware detection.

I couldn't test Kaspersky's system impact, so I recommend going with Bitdefender as a vastly safer option. It's also ideal if you want to guarantee malware-free operation on slower or older machines.

Kaspersky vs. Bitdefender: Interface and ease of use

Both Bitdefender and Kaspersky support Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS. However, Bitdefender's Plus and Internet Security plans only cover Windows – if you want multiplatform support, you have to get Total Security, which is still cheaper than Kaspersky's basic plan.

I installed Bitdefender in under 10 minutes, and it was easy to set it up. The installation process is the same for both services:

1. Create a personal account on Bitdefender's or Kaspersky's website.
2. Download the installation file from the site or your personal dashboard
3. Double-click the downloaded file to begin the installation.
4. Choose Yes if you get a prompt about making changes to your device.
5. Follow the instructions to finish the installation.

Here's how to install their mobile apps:

1. Download the app from its respective app store or official website.
2. Tap Install on the page with app details.

Mobile app

In my experience, Bitdefender's mobile apps are well-designed, intuitive, and bug-free. However, the Android app feels vastly superior to its iOS counterpart. It includes malware scanning, web protection, scam alerts, a VPN, autopilot, app lock, anti-theft, and identity protection. The iOS version, on the other hand, only has web protection, privacy monitoring, and a VPN capped at 200 MB per day.

From what I could see online, Kaspersky's mobile apps felt clunky and not as intuitive. Furthermore, you have to combine multiple separate apps to get the same functionality offered by Bitdefender's single app. Even the names of some Android apps are misleading. For example, Kaspersky VPN & Antivirus – Apple doesn't allow antivirus apps in its store, so the name doesn't fit.

While testing Bitdefender's mobile apps, I noticed they were very easy to use thanks to their intuitive and streamlined interface. They also had a negligible impact on my devices. Kaspersky's apps look more complicated and have misleading names.

Desktop app

After creating your Bitdefender account, you'll get access to Bitdefender Central – your personal dashboard where you can download products, perform remote scans, change account settings, and contact customer support. It's a strong advantage over Kaspersky, which offers no such hub.

I had no trouble navigating the Bitdefender Windows app – the interface is user-friendly and intuitive. I especially liked the customizable dashboard where you can add shortcuts to the most important functions like quick scan, for example. The client is split into three tabs for optimal user-friendliness: Protection, Privacy, and Utilities. Even if you're not a tech pro, you'll have no trouble finding the option you need.

Without actually testing Kaspersky's apps, I can't provide any definitive insights. From what I could gather online, it appears its Windows app is quite intuitive, but it doesn't have a customizable home screen. Instead, you get shortcuts for quick scans and tips on how to speed up your PC. All the features are separated into three tabs: Security, Performance, and Privacy, which basically mirrors Bitdefender's setup. The Rescue Disk feature lets you create bootable CDs and use them if your Windows can't load.

Since I couldn't test Kaspersky, this is an easy win for Bitdefender. It has an excellent Windows client with a well-designed UI, simple and intuitive menus, and loads of useful options and features.

Customer support

Big and famous companies like Bitdefender and Kaspersky are obligated to provide pure excellence when it comes to customer support. During my testing, I contacted both teams, and Bitdefender's support structure was just better for me. I was able to get solid answers quickly without jumping through so many hoops.

Bitdefender offers customer support via live chat, phone, and email. There's a rich database on the official website packed with user guides and video tutorials. You can also access the community forum with almost 200K members and 70K+ discussions.

During my testing, I made a list of questions for each support team, ranging from procedural to technical queries. Bitdefender's live chat starts you off with a bot, but you can get to a live agent in under a minute. The support representatives were friendly, knowledgeable, and willing to help. I was pleasantly surprised by the sheer speed of their responses – some of them were able to answer my questions right away, while others had to look them up, but I always got what I needed.

Kaspersky offers the same customer support methods as Bitdefender. I liked the rich FAQ section on the official site as well. That said, live chat is reserved for premium users, so you can't connect to ask around about different products and prices, which I didn't like. Free users can access a severely limited chatbot that can't really answer any questions. Furthermore, the bot assumes you're a Kaspersky user, which disqualifies potential buyers from inquiring about the service.

I went the email route with Kaspersky to emulate the experience of a non-user and got my answers in about 20 hours. They were satisfactory, but hiding live chat behind a paywall is a deal breaker for me.

Bitdefender vs. Kaspersky: How to choose

After thorough testing and comparison, Bitdefender came out on top as a superior product overall, even without taking Kaspersky's ties to Russia into account. It offers a better set of features, fast and light performance, excellent malware detection, superior desktop and mobile apps, and it's much cheaper.

I'd recommend Bitdefender to home users and families looking for solid yet beginner-friendly protection that won't cripple their system during scans. It also pairs well with bandwidth-heavy activities like online gaming, streaming, and video conferencing, which makes it a good business solution. Given Kaspersky's privacy concerns, I can't in good fate recommend their products to anyone at this time.

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FAQ

Is Kaspersky and Bitdefender the same thing?

No. Kaspersky and Bitdefender are separate companies – both famous for their privacy and security software. Bitdefender is considered a safer option, though, due to Kaspersky's ties with Russia and potential security risks.

What is the difference between Kaspersky and Bitdefender?

Kaspersky and Bitdefender are both renowned for their privacy and security software. However, Bitdefender's antivirus program is cheaper, faster, slightly better at detecting malware, and doesn't strain your system as much during scans.

Is Kaspersky better than Bitdefender?

No. Bitdefender is the superior antivirus program of the two. It offers slightly better malware detection, faster performance, better apps, and has a smaller impact on your system.

Should I uninstall Kaspersky before installing Bitdefender?

Yes. Kaspersky and Bitdefender are incompatible programs, so you shouldn't use them simultaneously. Simply cancel your Kaspersky subscription, uninstall its antivirus software, purchase a Bitdefender plan, and install it on your device.