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Head-to-head · Antivirus for Mac

Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac vs Avira Free Security

Updated Oct 2026
Both researched from official sources
6 checks side by side

Higher score Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac #2 in Antivirus for Mac 9.2/10 30-day trial Free trial✓ 4 of 5 features Visit Bitdefender

Avira Free Security #3 in Antivirus for Mac 9.1/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 2 of 5 features Visit Avira

Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac leads on 0 checks, Avira Free Security on 1, and 5 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 6 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

Highest scoreBitdefender Antivirus for Mac · 9.2/10
Free planonly Avira Free Security
Free trialonly Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac
Most featuresBitdefender Antivirus for Mac · 4 of 5

Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac scores higher on our rubric for antivirus for mac: 9.2 against 9.1 out of 10; our editors rank them #2 and #3.

Avira Free Security offers free plan; Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac doesn't.

Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac is the better fit for mac-focused protection at a low annual price. Avira Free Security is the better fit for free antivirus with broad everyday protection.

Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac fits best
Mac-focused protection at a low annual price
Avira Free Security fits best
Free antivirus with broad everyday protection

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Side by side

Show only differences

Feature	Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac 9.2/10 Visit ↗	Avira Free Security 9.1/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	9.2	9.1
Ranking	#2 in Antivirus for Mac	#3 in Antivirus for Mac
Best for	Mac-focused protection at a low annual price	Free antivirus with broad everyday protection
Pricing model	Paid	Free plan + paid
Starting price	$24.99/device/yr	—
Free plan	—	✓ (best)
Free trial	30 days	—
Deployment	Desktop, Browser extension	Desktop, Mobile
Platforms	macOS, Chrome extension	Windows, macOS, Android, iOS
Features Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac 4/5 · Avira Free Security 2/5
Ransomware protection	✓	✓
Phishing protection	✓ (best)	Not checked yet
Real-time protection	✓ (best)	Not checked yet
VPN included	✓ (best)	Not checked yet
Password manager	Not checked yet	✓ (best)
Specs
Coverage scope	Mac-only	Not checked yet
Devices included	1 devices	Not checked yet
Our review
Pros	Real-time protection covers viruses and ransomware Safe Files and Time Machine Protection help protect backups and files 30-day trial available before purchase	Real-time antivirus includes ransomware protection and quarantine Adds browser safety, VPN, password management, and file shredding Supports Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS
Cons	Coverage is limited to macOS and a Chrome extension Basic VPN is limited to 200 MB/day/device Renewal pricing may be higher than first-term pricing	Feature availability varies across supported operating systems Parental controls are not included The package is not open source
Our verdict	Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac is a paid macOS security application for individual Mac users who want protection for one or three devices. It detects and removes malware such as ransomware, adware, viruses, spyware, Trojans, keyloggers, and… Read the review →	Avira Free Security is a freemium security package for consumers who want free antivirus protection on Mac and other supported devices. Its core coverage includes full virus scanning, real-time threat protection, ransomware protection, and… Read the review →

Bitdefender Antivirus for MacAntivirus for Mac 9.230-day trial
Avira Free SecurityAntivirus for Mac 9.1Free plan

Compare the top tools in

Strengths and trade-offs

Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac — where it wins
- Real-time protection covers viruses and ransomware
- Safe Files and Time Machine Protection help protect backups and files
- 30-day trial available before purchase
Where it doesn't
- Coverage is limited to macOS and a Chrome extension
- Basic VPN is limited to 200 MB/day/device
- Renewal pricing may be higher than first-term pricing
Avira Free Security — where it wins
- Real-time antivirus includes ransomware protection and quarantine
- Adds browser safety, VPN, password management, and file shredding
- Supports Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS
Where it doesn't
- Feature availability varies across supported operating systems
- Parental controls are not included
- The package is not open source

Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac9.2/10 · 30-day trial
Focused Mac protection with ransomware coverage, web defenses, and a 30-day trial.
Visit Bitdefender Full verdict →
Avira Free Security9.1/10 · Free plan
A free Mac security package combining malware protection with privacy and performance tools.
Visit Avira Full verdict →

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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated 7 Oct 2026 · How we research and update