Bitdefender Total Security vs McAfee Total Protection: which antivirus should you choose?

Comparing Bitdefender Total Security ($39.99/year first, $89.99 renewal) and McAfee Total Protection ($29.99/year first, $119.99 renewal). Detection rate, system impact, and bundled features compared.

Bitdefender Total SecurityMcAfee Total Protection
First-year price$39.99$29.99
Renewal price$89.99$119.99
Devices5Unlimited
Malware detection100.0%99.7%
AV-TEST score18/1817.5/18
Ransomware protection
Firewall
VPN included200MB/dayUnlimited
Password manager
Parental controls
Dark web monitoring
Identity theft protection
Cloud backup
Money-back days3030
Overall score5/54/5

Bitdefender Total Security

Bitdefender Total Security is the technical user's pick. Lightest footprint, top AV-TEST scores, advanced ransomware protection. Best if you don't need the bundled extras (VPN, identity protection) that Norton 360 includes.

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McAfee Total Protection

McAfee Total Protection is the right pick for families with many devices. Unlimited device coverage at the Premium tier is unmatched. Quality of protection is slightly behind Norton/Bitdefender but the convenience for households with 8+ devices justifies it.

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