Bitdefender vs Norton: Free Plan, Prices and Renewals
Pick Bitdefender if you want a free antivirus for one Windows PC, or a paid suite that costs less to renew each year. Pick Norton if you want the lowest first-year price for five devices with a VPN, cloud backup and parental controls in one plan, and you are happy to watch the renewal price.
Both protect Windows, macOS, Android and iOS, both sell yearly subscriptions that renew automatically, and neither is open source. The useful differences are the free option, what each plan includes, and what you pay in year two.
Bitdefender vs Norton at a glance
| Bitdefender | Norton | |
|---|---|---|
| Price (US site, 6 Nov 2026) | Antivirus Plus $39.99 first year ($69.99 regular); Total Security for 5 devices $59.99 first year ($109.99 regular) | AntiVirus Plus for 1 device $29.99 first year ($59.99 renewal); Norton 360 Deluxe for 5 devices $49.99 first year ($124.99 renewal) |
| Free plan | Yes, Bitdefender Antivirus Free, Windows only | No, a 7-day free trial on selected plans |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Android, iOS (paid plans) | Windows, macOS, Android, iOS |
| Open source | No | No |
| VPN in the mid-tier suite | 200 MB per device per day in Total Security | Included in Norton 360 Deluxe |
| Refund window | 30 days | 60 days |
| Best for | Free protection on one PC, lower renewals | Lower first-year price, all-in-one family plan |
Is there a free version of Bitdefender or Norton?
Bitdefender has one, Norton does not.
Bitdefender Antivirus Free is described as "Basic protection, Windows only". Bitdefender says it is free "without any hidden costs or time limits" and needs no credit card, only a Bitdefender Central account. It finds and removes viruses and includes basic ransomware protection. Its own comparison table says it lacks anti-tracking, social network protection and full-system analysis.
Norton offers a 7-day free trial of selected plans instead. Its downloads page says plainly: "There are no free versions of Norton 360", and the trial turns into a paid subscription unless you cancel before it ends. You also need a Norton account to start the trial.
Which is cheaper, Bitdefender or Norton?
Norton is cheaper in the first year, Bitdefender is cheaper after that. This is the comparison most people miss, because both brands lead with a discounted first-year price.
On 6 November 2026 we compared the five-device suites on both US sites:
- Norton 360 Deluxe (5 devices): $49.99 for the first year, then a renewal price of $124.99 per year.
- Bitdefender Total Security Individual (up to 5 devices): $59.99 for the first year, against a regular price of $109.99.
So Norton saves you $10 up front, and Bitdefender is $15 a year cheaper once both renew. Bitdefender's terms say any discount shown is the difference between the first-term and renewal prices, and both companies say prices can change but that they email you before an automatic renewal. Bitdefender adds sales tax on top of its prices.
For a single PC, Norton AntiVirus Plus is $29.99 for the first year and renews at $59.99. Bitdefender Antivirus Plus is $39.99 for the first year, with a regular price of $69.99. Or, on Windows, Bitdefender's free version costs nothing.
What do you get in the five-device plans?
Norton 360 Deluxe bundles more extras, while Bitdefender Total Security keeps the VPN capped.
- Norton 360 Deluxe: antivirus, malware and ransomware protection, Scam Protection, a password manager, a VPN, Dark Web Monitoring, Privacy Monitor, parental controls and 50 GB of cloud backup. Norton notes cloud backup is only available on Windows, and Dark Web Monitoring varies by country.
- Bitdefender Total Security: antivirus, malware and ransomware protection, Scam Protection, cryptomining protection, a password manager, data breach detection and a VPN with 200 MB per device per day. Parental controls are in the Family plan only (5 members, up to 25 devices, $79.99 first year, $139.99 regular). Unlimited VPN traffic needs Bitdefender Premium Security ($79.99 first year, $129.99 regular).
Which has the better trial and refund terms?
Bitdefender has the longer trial, Norton has the longer refund window.
- Bitdefender: a free 30-day full trial of Total Security with no credit card required, and refunds within 30 days of the first purchase or of an automatic renewal.
- Norton: a 7-day free trial on selected plans, then a paid subscription starts unless you cancel. Paid plans carry a 60-day money-back guarantee.
If you are leaving Avast or comparing more brands, our list of Avast alternatives also covers Malwarebytes and Kaspersky.
Which should you choose?
- You have one Windows PC and do not want to pay: Bitdefender Antivirus Free.
- You want the cheapest first year for a family's devices: Norton 360 Deluxe.
- You plan to keep the same suite for several years: Bitdefender Total Security, which has the lower regular price.
- You want cloud backup and parental controls in a 5-device plan: Norton 360 Deluxe.
- You want to test the full suite for a month first: Bitdefender's 30-day trial.
FAQ
Is Bitdefender Antivirus Free really free?
Yes. Bitdefender says it has no hidden costs or time limits and needs no credit card. It runs on Windows only and offers basic protection.
Does Norton have a free antivirus?
No. Norton offers a 7-day free trial of selected plans and says there are no free versions of Norton 360.
Do Bitdefender and Norton work on Mac and iPhone?
Yes, their paid plans cover Windows, macOS, Android and iOS. Bitdefender's free version is Windows only.
Do both subscriptions renew automatically?
Yes. Both say their subscriptions renew automatically at the renewal price, which is higher than the first-year price, and that you can cancel.