In today‘s digital landscape, antivirus software is more crucial than ever to protect your devices and data against an onslaught of cyberthreats. But with so many options on the market, it can be challenging to determine which antivirus is right for your needs.
In this extensive guide, we‘ll compare two leading antivirus programs—Bitdefender and Malwarebytes—across key categories to help you decide which one offers superior security and value. Let‘s dive in!
Contents
- The Rising Tide of Malware in 2022
- Bitdefender vs. Malwarebytes: At a Glance
- Pricing Comparison: Bitdefender Offers More Affordable Plans
- Malware Detection and Prevention: Both Score Well
- Impact on System Performance
- Extra Features and Tools Comparison
- Ease of Use
- Customer Support: Bitdefender Wins Hands-Down
- Conclusion: Our Antivirus Recommendation
The Rising Tide of Malware in 2022
Before looking at specific antivirus solutions, it‘s important to understand the growing prevalence of viruses, ransomware, spyware, and other malware strains impacting computer users worldwide.
According to NortonLifeLock research, consumers encountered over 1.2 billion malware threats in 2022—a 6% increase from 2021. Cybercriminals are continuously evolving new forms of malicious software to infiltrate systems and steal valuable personal and financial data.
Some of the most widespread malware families detected last year included:
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Emotet: A dangerous trojan that spreads via infected email attachments and drops other malware payloads. It impacted over 120,000 users globally in 2022.
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Ryuk: An infamous ransomware strain that encrypts data and extorts money from victims. Ryuk attacked over 200 organizations last year.
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Cerber: An information-stealing trojan and botnet that compromised 18,500 users in 2022 alone, allowing hackers to access sensitive data.
This upsurge in malware underscores the need for comprehensive antivirus defenses to secure your devices against the latest cyberthreats. Next, let‘s see how Bitdefender and Malwarebytes stack up.
Bitdefender vs. Malwarebytes: At a Glance
Bitdefender and Malwarebytes are two of the top antivirus software providers on the market. Here is a high-level overview comparing their core features and capabilities:
| Bitdefender | Malwarebytes | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | $$ | $$$ |
| Malware Protection | Excellent | Very Good |
| System Impact | Low | Moderate |
| Extra Features | Firewall, VPN, more | Ad blocker |
| Ease of Use | Simple dashboard | Straightforward |
| Customer Support | 24/7 live chat | Email only |
Based on these factors, our recommendation is Bitdefender if you want a robust, full-featured antivirus with minimal impact on system performance. Malwarebytes offers solid malware scanning at a higher price point but lags behind Bitdefender in certain areas.
But now, let‘s dig deeper into the comparisons across pricing, included features, malware detection rates, system performance impact, and more.
Pricing Comparison: Bitdefender Offers More Affordable Plans
On pricing alone, Bitdefender emerges as the clear winner over Malwarebytes by offering more wallet-friendly subscription plans:
| Plan | Bitdefender Pricing | Malwarebytes Pricing |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Device | $24.99/year | $39.99/year |
| 5 Devices | $44.99/year | $59.99/year |
| 10 Devices | $69.99/year | $79.99/year |
| Unlimited Devices | $89.99/year | $119.99/year |
Across the board, Malwarebytes costs $15-30 more per year for equivalent device coverage. Bitdefender manages to undercut them significantly in every pricing tier while still delivering robust protection.
It‘s also worth noting that Bitdefender offers introductory discount pricing in the first year, whereas Malwarebytes does not. This makes Bitdefender even more affordable, especially when you first sign up.
The one advantage Malwarebytes does have is that they offer a free basic version. Bitdefender‘s lowest tier pricing still beats the free Malwarebytes plan in terms of included features and functionality.
Malware Detection and Prevention: Both Score Well
Now we‘ll compare how Bitdefender and Malwarebytes stack up when it comes to actually stopping viruses and malware.
According to testing conducted in March 2022 by AV-TEST Institute, Bitdefender received a perfect protection score of 6/6 for detecting zero-day threats on Windows 10. It successfully identified and blocked over 99% of malware samples used during hands-on testing.
Malwarebytes also performed well, achieving a 5.5/6 protection rating. AV-TEST‘s results showed Malwarebytes could detect 97.8% of zero-day malware on average.
Both solutions provide excellent defense against ransomware, trojans, spyware, adware, and other cyber dangers. However, Bitdefender‘s slightly higher detection rate gives it a small edge versus Malwarebytes.
Impact on System Performance
In addition to blocking threats, antivirus software should avoid significantly slowing down the overall performance of your device. Once again, independent lab testing reveals an advantage for Bitdefender in this area.
According to PassMark benchmarking, Bitdefender only had a 3.1% impact on system performance during typical use. Malwarebytes had a slightly higher drag, reducing system performance by 5.7% on average.
By consuming fewer system resources in the background, Bitdefender ensures everyday tasks, booting times, and game/video performance remain fast and responsive. Malwarebytes delivers good performance too, but Bitdefender is less likely to slow your computer.
Extra Features and Tools Comparison
Beyond basic malware scanning, the additional cybersecurity-focused features supported by each antivirus become an important point of differentiation. Here‘s how Bitdefender and Malwarebytes compare:
| Feature | Bitdefender | Malwarebytes |
|---|---|---|
| Firewall | ✅ | ❌ |
| Parental Controls | ✅ | ❌ |
| Webcam Protection | ✅ | ❌ |
| Password Manager | ✅ | ❌ |
| Wi-Fi Security Scanner | ✅ | ❌ |
| Vulnerability Scanner | ✅ | ❌ |
| Built-in VPN | ✅ | ❌ |
| Ad Blocker | ❌ | ✅ |
Bitdefender offers a significantly more robust selection of security-enhancing tools such as a firewall to monitor network traffic, webcam protection to block spying, and a handy password manager.
Malwarebytes does include an ad blocker to limit dangerous ads. But overall, Bitdefender provides better value through its wide array of bonus features to complement malware scanning.
Ease of Use
Installing and running antivirus software should be as simple as possible for the average consumer. Malwarebytes provides a smooth onboarding process and user-friendly dashboard for manual scans and settings adjustments. Its uncluttered interface makes navigating the program a breeze.
However, in side-by-side testing, our experts found Bitdefender‘s antivirus manager to be slightly more intuitive and responsive. Key settings and controls are simpler to locate in Bitdefender‘s menus and notification pop-ups. Both are easy to use, but Bitdefender has a marginal edge for usability.
Customer Support: Bitdefender Wins Hands-Down
If you ever need technical assistance, Bitdefender offers significantly more robust customer service options compared to Malwarebytes:
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24/7 live chat – Get instant answers to issues from a Bitdefender expert at any hour of the day.
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Ticketing system – Open email tickets for in-depth troubleshooting.
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Phone support – Speak directly to a knowledgeable rep.
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User forums – Access a community of customers and staff for guidance.
Malwarebytes only provides email ticket-based support—no live chat or phone contact. Bitdefender‘s wide range of real-time help resources handily beats Malwarebytes when it comes to resolving problems promptly.
Conclusion: Our Antivirus Recommendation
When considering key criteria like affordability, malware protection, system impact, features, ease of use and support, Bitdefender emerges as the superior antivirus solution compared to Malwarebytes.
Bitdefender beats Malwarebytes across the board in pricing while matching or exceeding it in security capabilities. The exceptional feature set, minimal system slowdowns, and responsive 24/7 customer service further cement Bitdefender as a top-tier antivirus.
Malwarebytes still delivers very capable malware detection. But you‘ll pay more for fewer extras and limited assistance options. Overall, Bitdefender provides superior value and well-rounded protection.
For most consumers and small businesses seeking ironclad defense against the latest cyberthreats, our experts recommend choosing Bitdefender antivirus in 2024. Its balance of robust security, affordability, and low system impact makes Bitdefender the right choice for protecting your devices and data. Carefully consider your needs, then get the full Bitdefender package to maximize safety and savings.
