Bitdefender vs Malwarebytes
Bitdefender comes out ahead of Malwarebytes on 5 of the 7 things that decide this, going by what each company publishes and what independent review sites report. The one that matters for you may be one the leader loses.
The verdict
Bitdefender takes it, 5–2 on rounds.
On the published figures and the independent review sites, Bitdefender takes 5 of 7 rounds. Treat that as a starting point and check the current figures on both pages, because prices and plans move.
Choose Bitdefender if…
- • You want Bitdefender's edge on how much it blocks and how often it cries wolf
Choose Malwarebytes if…
- • You want Malwarebytes's edge on is there a free version and what customers say on trustpilot
Round by round
- Round 1How much it blocksBitdefender winsBitdefender8/10
99.5%
AV-Comparatives Real-World Protection Test, February to May 2026
Source: av-comparatives.org ↗
Malwarebytes5/1098.8%
AV-Comparatives Real-World Protection Test, February to May 2026
- 98.8%, against 99.5%
Source: av-comparatives.org ↗
Bitdefender wins this round on independent review-site data, not on its own claims.
- Round 2How often it cries wolfBitdefender wins
Bitdefender wins this round on independent review-site data, not on its own claims.
- Round 3How much it slows your PCBitdefender winsMalwarebytes5/10
17.6
AV-Comparatives Performance Test, April 2026
- 17.6, against 9.6
Source: av-comparatives.org ↗
Bitdefender wins this round on independent review-site data, not on its own claims.
- Round 4Is there a free versionMalwarebytes winsBitdefender5/10
Free version available
Free version availability
- No free version, against Free version
Source: savedelete.com ↗
Malwarebytes wins this round on independent review-site data, not on its own claims.
- Round 5What reviewers sayBitdefender winsMalwarebytes5/10
4.5 out of 5
average rating from 161 reviews on Capterra
- 4.5 out of 5, against 4.6 out of 5
Source: capterra.com ↗
Bitdefender wins this round on independent review-site data, not on its own claims.
- Round 6What customers say on TrustpilotMalwarebytes winsBitdefender5/10
4.3 out of 5
TrustScore from 12,581 reviews on Trustpilot
- 4.3 out of 5, against 4.5 out of 5
Source: trustpilot.com ↗
Malwarebytes wins this round on independent review-site data, not on its own claims.
- Round 7How reviewers rate its supportBitdefender winsMalwarebytes5/10
4 out of 5
customer-service rating from Capterra reviewers
- 4 out of 5, against 4.5 out of 5
Source: capterra.com ↗
Bitdefender wins this round on independent review-site data, not on its own claims.
Side by side
- paid only
- 9.6, against 5.3
- 4.3 out of 5, against 4.7 out of 5
- 9.6, against 3.3
- No free version, against Free version
- 98.8%, against 99.3%
- 39, against 5
- 17.6, against 5.3
- 4.5 out of 5, against 4.7 out of 5