Bitdefender vs McAfee: 5 Key Differences and How to Choose

August 29, 2023

Last Updated: November 14, 2023

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What Is Bitdefender?

Bitdefender is a cybersecurity software company that develops and markets a range of antivirus and internet security products to protect computers, networks, and devices from various threats such as malware, ransomware, and phishing attacks.

Founded in 2001 and headquartered in Bucharest, Romania, Bitdefender offers solutions for consumers, businesses, and enterprise environments, with a focus on using machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) to detect and block threats in real-time.

What Is McAfee?

McAfee is a global cybersecurity company that provides a wide range of security products and services. Founded in 1987 by John McAfee, the company has become one of the largest cybersecurity providers in the world. McAfee’s products and services protect individuals, organizations, and governments against cyber threats.

This is part of a series of articles about endpoint security

Bitdefender vs. McAfee: 5 Key Differences

1. Features

Both Bitdefender and McAfee offer a comprehensive set of features to protect users against various cyber threats. The table below highlights some key differences and similarities in their offerings, along with an explanation for each feature.

Feature	Description	Bitdefender	McAfee
Anti-malware	Protects against viruses, worms, Trojans, and other malicious software	Yes	Yes
Anti-ransomware	Prevents unauthorized encryption of files and blocks ransom demands	Yes	Yes
Anti-phishing	Protects users from fraudulent websites that attempt to steal personal information	Yes	Yes
SafePay/Secure Browser	Provides a secure environment for online transactions, such as shopping and banking	SafePay	Secure Browser
Password Manager	Securely stores and manages passwords for different online accounts	Yes	Yes
Webcam Protection	Prevents unauthorized applications from accessing the user’s webcam	Yes	No
Parental Controls	Allows parents to monitor and control their children’s online activities, including content filtering	Yes	Yes
VPN	Encrypts internet connections, providing anonymity and protection against hackers and other threats	Yes	Yes
Identity Theft Protection	Monitors personal information and alerts users of potential breaches or misuse of their identity	No	Yes
File Shredder	Securely deletes sensitive files, ensuring they cannot be recovered by unauthorized parties	Yes	Yes
System Optimization	Optimizes system performance by cleaning up temporary files and other unnecessary data	Yes	No
Firewall Protection	Blocks unauthorized network access and protects users from hackers and other network-based threats	Yes	Yes

2. Real-Time Protection

Bitdefender uses machine learning algorithms to deliver real-time protection against various threats. It consistently scores high on independent antivirus testing labs.

McAfee also offers real-time protection using advanced technologies and scores well in independent antivirus testing labs, although Bitdefender often has a slight edge in terms of detection rates.

3. Scanning

Bitdefender offers multiple scanning options, including:

Quick scans: Focus on areas where malware is most likely to reside.
Full scans: Analyze the entire system, including all files, folders, and connected devices.
Custom scans: Allow users to select specific files or folders to be scanned.

Bitdefender’s scanning is fast and does not significantly impact system performance.

McAfee also provides quick, full, and custom scan options. Although McAfee’s scanning is efficient, it might be slightly slower than Bitdefender’s, particularly during full system scans. However, the performance impact on the system is generally minimal.

4. Firewall Protection

Bitdefender’s firewall protection is robust and user-friendly. It offers automatic configurations for different network profiles (public, private, or work) and advanced settings for customization. The firewall blocks unauthorized network access, protecting users from hackers and other network-based threats. Bitdefender’s firewall also includes intrusion detection and prevention features to guard against advanced network attacks.

Like Bitdefender, McAfee provides automatic configurations for different network profiles and allows advanced customization to suit users’ needs. McAfee’s firewall blocks unauthorized network access and includes intrusion detection and prevention capabilities to counter advanced network attacks.

5. Pricing

Bitdefender’s pricing is generally considered more affordable than McAfee’s. The company offers various subscription plans depending on the number of devices and features required. For example, Bitdefender Antivirus Plus covers essential protection for up to three devices, while Bitdefender Total Security includes more advanced features and covers multiple devices.

McAfee’s pricing is typically higher than Bitdefender’s, but they also offer a range of subscription plans with different features and device coverage. For instance, McAfee Total Protection is available in single-device, multi-device, and family plans, with varying features depending on the chosen plan. Discounts and promotions are occasionally available, which can help reduce the overall cost.

Bitdefender vs McAfee: How to Choose

Both Bitdefender and McAfee offer comprehensive antivirus and security solutions with strong protection against various cyber threats. Bitdefender has an edge in scanning speed and pricing, while McAfee offers additional features like identity theft protection and a more intuitive interface.

Choosing between them depends on the user’s specific needs, preferences, and budget, and both companies offer free trials for users to try out the software before making a purchase decision.

Learn more in our detailed guide to Bitdefender security (coming soon)

Endpoint Security Management with Cynet

Cynet 360 is a holistic security solution that protects against threats to endpoint security and across your network. Cynet provides tools you can use to centrally manage endpoint security across the enterprise.

Cynet’s intelligent technologies can help you detect attacks by correlating information from endpoints, network analytics and behavioral analytics with almost no false positives.

With Cynet, you can proactively monitor entire internal environments, including endpoints, network, files, and hosts. This can help you reduce attack surfaces and the likelihood of multiple attacks.

Cynet 360 provides cutting edge EDR capabilities:

Advanced endpoint threat detection—full visibility and predicts how an attacker might operate, based on continuous monitoring of endpoints and behavioral analysis.
Investigation and validation—search and review historic or current incident data on endpoints, investigate threats, and validate alerts. This allows you to confirm the threat before responding to it, reducing dwell-time and performing faster remediation.
Rapid deployment and response—deploy across thousands of endpoints within two hours. You can then use it to perform automatic or manual remediation of threats on the endpoints, disrupt malicious activity and minimize damage caused by attacks.

Learn more about our EDR security capabilities.

In addition, Cynet 360 provides the following endpoint protection capabilities:

NGAV—providing automated prevention and termination of malware, exploits, Macros, LOLBins, and malicious scripts with machine learning based analysis.
User Behavioral Analytics (UBA)—detecting and preventing attacks using compromised credentials through the use of behavioral baselines and signatures.
Deception technology—planting fake credentials, files and connections to lure and trap attackers, mitigating damage and providing the opportunity to learn from attacker activity.
Monitoring and control—providing asset management, vulnerability assessments and application control with continuous monitoring and log collection.
Response orchestration—providing manual and automated remediation for files, users, hosts and networks customized with user-created scripts.