Norton vs Bitdefender
Bitdefender comes out ahead of Norton on 4 of the 6 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, 4–2 on rounds.
On the published figures and the independent review sites, Bitdefender takes 4 of 6 rounds. Treat that as a starting point and check the current figures on both pages, because prices and plans move.
Choose Norton if…
- • You want Norton's edge on how much it slows your pc and what customers say on trustpilot
Choose Bitdefender if…
- • You want Bitdefender's edge on how much it blocks and what reviewers say
Round by round
- Round 1How much it blocksBitdefender winsNorton5/10
99.3%
AV-Comparatives Real-World Protection Test, February to May 2026
- 99.3%, against 99.5%
Source: av-comparatives.org ↗
Bitdefender8/1099.5%
AV-Comparatives Real-World Protection Test, February to May 2026
Source: av-comparatives.org ↗
Bitdefender wins this round on independent review-site data, not on its own claims.
- Round 2How much it slows your PCNorton winsBitdefender5/10
9.6
AV-Comparatives Performance Test, April 2026
- 9.6, against 5.3
Source: av-comparatives.org ↗
Norton wins this round on independent review-site data, not on its own claims.
- Round 3What reviewers sayBitdefender winsNorton5/10
4.4 out of 5
average rating from 4,462 reviews on Capterra
- 4.4 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 4What customers say on TrustpilotNorton winsBitdefender5/10
4.3 out of 5
TrustScore from 12,581 reviews on Trustpilot
- 4.3 out of 5, against 4.7 out of 5
Source: trustpilot.com ↗
Norton wins this round on independent review-site data, not on its own claims.
- Round 5How easy it is to useBitdefender winsNorton5/10
4.4 out of 5
ease-of-use rating from Capterra reviewers
- 4.4 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 6How reviewers rate its supportBitdefender winsNorton5/10
4.2 out of 5
customer-service rating from Capterra reviewers
- 4.2 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
- 5.3, against 3.3
- 99.3%, against 99.5%
- 4.4 out of 5, against 4.6 out of 5
- 4.2 out of 5, against 4.5 out of 5
- 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