McAfee vs. Norton vs. Bitdefender: Who Tops the Charts?

From shopping online to casual browsing, without a good antivirus, your personal information is ripe for the picking. Fortunately, the right software will keep you safe while surfing the web.
Wondering how to choose the best antivirus software that has what you need, knows what to do (even when you don’t) and works like a dream? Check out this 3-way comparison between Norton, McAfee and Bitdefender.

November 2015

Performance:

Bitdefender has high marks, featuring good scan time with virtually no lag and above the average protection against viruses and malware. Norton runs the risk of slowing down your computer during scans but eliminates deeply embedded crimeware that traditional virus scanning doesn’t always detect. McAfee takes the cake as the industry leader with the shortest scan time and best protection even against the newest threats. McAfee does all this without slowing down your computer. Winner: McAfee

image description

Ease of Use:

Bitdefender is easy to use, providing a 1-click setup, remote controlling, quick widgets, one email address to control everything and an easy to operate rescue mode. Norton offers an instant download for immediate protection and easy to use web portal for maintenance and updates. Likewise, McAfee offers an intuitive setup for each of your devices, and, best of all, you can activate McAfee on all of your devices and control them from one screen. Winner: McAfee

Features:

Norton offers a mobile app scanning and device locator, though it’s missing an auto backup, gaming mode and parental control features. McAfee will delete files permanently and offers mobile users data backup, WiFi protection, remote lock, wipe, and anti-theft. Bitdefender is the clear winner, though, with a laundry list of impressive features. Some of the best include cloud anti-spam, IM protection, virtual keyboard, and USB drive protection. Winner: Bitdefender

image description

System Repair and Cleaning:

While all three companies do well in protecting against viruses, some do better than others at cleaning up devices that have been attacked. McAfee is notorious for struggling with infected machines, with Bitdefender doing a much better job of it. Best of all, though, is Norton, receiving the highest scores of all three in systems repair, blowing the competition out of the water. Winner: Norton

Value:

Norton seems like a good deal at $44.99 for five devices and $59.99 for 10 devices, but let’s take a closer look. Bitdefender costs $59.95 for three devices, while McAfee allows unlimited devices for $59.99 and lots of features, making it the best value for money. McAfee has also been known to offer special deals and promotions, further lowering their price and increasing their value. Winner: McAfee

Support:

Norton provides phone and live chat support, and features helpful Q&A on their site. McAfee offers similar support options, but you’ll need to pay extra for advanced tech support. Bitdefender’s support center is by far the most comprehensive, featuring all of the above as well as superb email support and their “Virus Encyclopedia”, pushing them ahead of the competition. Winner: Bitdefender

Bottom Line:

While Bitdefender wins top marks for support and features, and Norton wins when it comes to system repair, neither can compete with McAfee’s performance, ease of use, and value, which are three of the most important elements in choosing antivirus software. Visit McAfee>>