(Last updated on January 9th, 2023)
Bitdefender or Comodo, which antivirus software is a better choice in 2023?
Our experts have put together this detailed Bitdefender versus Comodo comparison so you can make an informed decision.
In today’s modern age of internet commerce and freedom, the truth is that it’s more important than ever to have a reliable antivirus program. While you might think that malware will pass you by, the statistics aren’t in your favor.
In 2018, for instance, over 10 billion malware attacks were detected, as reported by TechRadar. These attacks infected more than 8 million computers in the U.S. alone in the same year.
Getting a premium antivirus software isn’t a choice these days; it has become a necessity! But at the same time, it’s tempting to fall for a free or low-end security product that claims to provide “complete” anti-malware security. The fact is that these products won’t protect you against all the advanced threats. Plus, premium security suites offer a slew of useful features and utilities to keep your identity and financial information secure.
Editor's Note
Best Antivirus Suite for 2021
Editor's Choice
Overall Score: 9.9/10
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Right now, we think that Norton is the best antivirus software your money can buy. It regularly earns perfect or near-perfect scores from independent labs and has the least impact on system performance compared to rival products. Its products combine top-notch security with an array of excellent security features and, best of all, offer exceptional value for money.
Overall, Norton 360 Deluxe (currently at 70% off) is our pick for the best antivirus suite in 2021. It is competitively priced and comes with almost everything you could possibly ask for, such as a firewall, a fully integrated VPN, dark web monitoring, cloud backup storage (50GB), a password manager, and parental controls. You can cover up to 5 PCs, Macs, smartphones or tablets with this suite.
If you want full-on identity protection and don’t mind paying more, Norton 360 with LifeLock Select (currently at 35% off) gives those in the US a full range of identity protection features, more backup space (100GB), as well as all the above.
In this ultimate guide, we’ll draw a detailed comparison between two top dogs in the antivirus market: Bitdefender and Comodo. We’ll also examine how both software performed in independent evaluations conducted by unbiased organizations.
In a rush? Take a look at the quick breakdown below to see which software is better in each aspect.
A Quick Rundown of Winners in Each Category
1. Features
Winner: Bitdefender. Bitdefender’s products come with a more comprehensive feature-set than Comodo’s.
2. Malware Protection
Winner: Bitdefender. Bitdefender performed exceptionally well in both independent malware detections tests we considered, while Comodo abstained from one of the key tests.
3. System Performance
Winner: Bitdefender. Again, Bitdefender dominated independent performance tests.
4. User-Friendliness
Winner: Bitdefender. Bitdefender’s user interface is better than Comodo’s.
5. Pricing
Winner: Bitdefender. You can buy more licenses for less money from Bitdefender.
6. Customer Satisfaction
Winner: Bitdefender. According to independent sources, Bitdefender scores higher than Comodo in terms of customer satisfaction.
Short Verdict
Bitdefender is an industry leader in cybersecurity and offers a more diverse feature set than Comodo. Also, independent lab tests prove that Bitdefender is better than Comodo in terms of both malware detection and the impact on system performance.
Best Antivirus for 2023
#1 (Excellent)
- Robust feature-set
- Excellent anti-malware security
- Minimal system impact
- Easy-to-use interface
- Automatic updates
- Trusted by 50 million users
- 100% virus protection promise
- 60-day money-back guarantee
70% off
#2 (Very Good)
- Exceptional malware protection
- Little impact on performance
- Trusted by millions of users
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- User-friendly interface
50% off
#3 (Very Good)
- Good malware protection
- Trusted by big corporations
- Minimal impact on performance
- Good value for money
- 30-day risk-free guarantee
40% off
1. Features
The ability to bring great features to the table is what separates a mediocre antivirus package from a great one.
Let’s see what features Bitdefender offers in its security suites.
Bitdefender Free Edition, which only on PCs, is the company limited free product. While it can protect against some malware threats, the truth is that it’s pretty barebones when compared to the paid offerings. It’ll work in a pinch, but we recommend higher tiers for complete anti-malware security and extra perks.
Bitdefender Antivirus Plus 2023, another Windows-only product, is the company’s entry-level premium offering. This suite offers comprehensive protection against all sorts of malware threats, plus some other advanced features. These features include a password manager that can collect and store all your passwords in a digital vault, a limited-use VPN for browsing the internet anonymously, and a file shredder that makes it impossible for anyone to recover your confidential files.
The Vulnerability Scanner that fixes security holes and vulnerabilities with just one click and the Anti-Fraud tool that protects your financial information from phishing sites are also jammed into the suite.
A single license of this suite protects up to three PCs, with the option to add more.
Bitdefender Internet Security 2023, another Windows-only suite, is the next tier of coverage offered by Bitdefender. Everything from the previous suite is included in this product, plus you get a two-way firewall that monitors your home network. There’s also the File Vault feature that secures sensitive files on your computer and the Vulnerability Checker that fixes security vulnerabilities that can be exploited.
Further included in this package is a limited parental control module that lets you monitor the browsing habits of your children and blocks objectionable content. Protection against webcam spying is also incorporated in this product.
A single license of this suite protects up to 3 PCs.
Finally, there’s Bitdefender Total Security 2023, which company’s full-blown antivirus product. Unlike previous offerings, this product can be used to protect PCs, Macs, and mobile devices.
This suite offers everything that’s jammed into the Internet Security suite, plus a few advanced features. These features include the Anti-Theft module that lets you locate any stolen or missing devices that have this product installed. There are also a few performance optimization tools included with Total Security. These tools improve the performance of your computer by deleting junk or temporary files.
A single license of this suite protects up to five devices.
In terms of value for money, Bitdefender Total Security 2023 is the best antivirus choice you can make when you add up all of its various functions and features.
If you have more than five devices that need protection, your best option is to go with Bitdefender Family Pack 2023. A single license of this product protects all your Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS devices with the Total Security suite.
If you only want Mac-specific coverage, check out Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac. This package offers excellent anti-malware capabilities, along with a host of advanced security features and options.
All Bitdefender products come with excellent customer support, which is provided via online chat, phone calls, or email.
If you’re interested in Bitdefender’s business-specific products, click here for more information.
Now, let’s see what Comodo offers.
Comodo offers separate products for Windows and macOS. First, we’ll cover the products compatible with the Windows platform.
Comodo Free Antivirus is the company’s free antivirus offering. It offers protection against different types of malware threats, including spyware, worms, viruses, ransomware, rootkits, and related threats. But you won’t find any advanced features or utilities jammed into this product.
Comodo Advanced Antivirus is the company’s entry-level premium offering for PCs. This suite offers comprehensive anti-malware security, plus a few other useful features and utilities. These features include the Game Mode feature that allows you to suspend notifications while you’re gaming, for example, and live expert virus removal service; this allows you to enlist the assistance of someone specially trained to remove malware whenever you have an issue.
Next up is Comodo Internet Security Pro. This suite offers everything that’s found in the Advanced suite, plus a comprehensive two-way firewall that blocks malware attacks in real-time, superior product support for the duration of the software’s lifetime, and a $500 virus-free guarantee; if you get infected while having Comodo, the company will cover damages worth up to $500.
This suite also has advanced web filtering functionality that lets you shop or bank online, without having to worry about identity theft and other fraudulent activities.
Finally, there’s Comodo Internet Security Complete – the company’s full-fledged antivirus product. Everything that comes with the Internet Security Pro suite is also part of this suite, plus you get 500 GB online storage space that you can use to store sensitive files and other data. Also, this suite comes with 10 GB of TrustConnect Wi-Fi security; this utility protects your confidential information (like credit card details) when you are using public Wi-Fi networks.
For Mac-specific protection, the company offers Comodo Antivirus for Mac. It’s a limited free product that provides protection against viruses, worms, Trojans, and other related threats. There aren’t any advanced features or utilities offered in this product.
Winner: Bitdefender. Overall, Bitdefender is the winner in this category as it offers more security-enhancing features and utilities than Comodo.
2. Malware Protection
The ability to protect your computer against malware infections is one of the most critical aspects of any antivirus software. To that end, it’s crucial that we examine both antivirus software’s capabilities directly through unbiased testing from independent laboratories.
AV-Test is one such independent company that we can look to for information regarding each software’s capabilities. All of their tests use a scoring rubric of 1 to 6, with 6 being the highest possible score. In their recent evaluations, both Bitdefender and Comodo got full marks in the ‘Protection’ category; both software successfully detected all malware samples during both rounds of testing. (See this and this for detailed results.)
AV-Comparatives is another independent company that conducts several exhaustive tests to evaluate the performance of various antivirus software. One of their main tests is the Real-World Protection Test. In their recent examination, Bitdefender received the highest possible award given out by this company, which is the ADVANCED+ award, because of its near-perfect malware protection rate and low false positives’ count.
***False positive is when a security software falsely detects a clean file or URL as malicious.
Comodo, for some reason, did not partake in the recent AV-Comparatives’ evaluations.
Winner: Bitdefender. Overall, Bitdefender is the winner in this category as it fared exceptionally well in both independent evaluations.
3. System Performance
There’s no doubt that anti-malware security is essential, but a security software that drastically slows your computer down won’t be something you want to invest in, either. To determine which antivirus software has the least impact on system performance, let’s see how Bitdefender and Comodo performed in the recent independent performance tests.
In the AV-Test’s performance study, Bitdefender scored a perfect 6 out of 6.
Comodo, on the other hand, scored a 5 out of 6, which is a decent score but not perfect.
The experts at AV-Comparatives’ also conduct a similar examination, called Performance Test. Bitdefender, once again, received the highest ADVANCED+ award in the recent test, signaling high-performance standards. Comodo once again refused to participate for reasons that they did not reveal.
Winner: Bitdefender. Overall, it’s clear that Bitdefender is better than Comodo in terms of the impact on system performance.
4. User-Friendliness
User-friendliness is an important consideration for some people, especially if you aren’t the most computer literate person.
Let’s see what each company brings to the table in this regard.
Comodo’s user interface is mostly dominated by square-shaped blocks that take up most of the screen space. One larger block that’s on the left side of the screen will tell you whether your computer is secure or vulnerable; it will flash yellow or red if there’s an issue, and also direct you to whatever function is necessary to restore security. This is a pretty great design, especially if you’re new to computers.
Finding some of the more technical features and options, however, can be a little tricky. While you can switch back to the earlier interface that Comodo’s products used in the past, there’s no denying that those wanting a little more fine control over their interface will be a bit disappointed.
Now, let’s examine Bitdefender’s interface.
There’s a single large dashboard that is streamlined and basic. Most of the primary functions and operations that you’ll be expected to use are easy to identify and use.
However, there’s some added complexity that you can dive into should you desire. You can customize your experience through the use of “quick access” slots that you can customize and fill with the actions that you use most often.
You can also move tiles around into clusters on different portions of the screen. Basically, Bitdefender allows those who want a simpler and more streamlined interface to be satisfied while also allowing for more complex personalization to take place if that’s what you want to do. It’s the best of both worlds.
Winner: Bitdefender. Bitdefender’s user interface is better than Comodo’s.
5. Pricing
Antivirus software might be the best in the business, but that doesn’t mean much if it’s not affordable. We’ll need to see how the companies compare in terms of value for money to truly understand which gives you the best bang for your buck.
Comodo’s first software is totally free, although it’s not as effective as the paid versions. Comodo Antivirus for Mac is also free.
The first paid software from the company is Comodo Advanced Antivirus, it provides three PCs for $34.99 per year. Comodo Internet Security Pro, the next tier of coverage, also gives you three licenses for $39.99 per year. Comodo Internet Security Complete, the premium security coverage from this company, costs $89.99 per year for three devices.
| Comodo Products | Regular Price |
|---|---|
| Comodo Advanced Antivirus | $34.99/year |
| Comodo Internet Security Pro | $39.99/year |
| Comodo Internet Security Complete | $89.99/year |
| Comodo Business Products | Varies |
Now, let’s see what Bitdefender costs at each tier of coverage.
Bitdefender Free Edition is, of course, free, but it’s pretty barebones and isn’t worth your time. Bitdefender Antivirus Plus, on the other hand, costs $34.99 per year for three devices. Bitdefender Internet Security costs $39.98 per year and gives you up to three licenses. Both this package and the first are Windows-only products.
Finally, Bitdefender Total Security, the company’s multi-platform compatible offering, costs $44.99 per year and gives you five licenses that can be used between PCs, Macs and mobile devices. There’s also the Bitdefender Family Pack that offers an unlimited number of licenses for just $69.98 per year.
| Bitdefender Products | Regular Price | Discounted Price |
|---|---|---|
| Bitdefender Antivirus Plus | $59.99/year | Check here |
| Bitdefender Internet Security | $79.99/year | Check here |
| Bitdefender Total Security | $89.99/year | Check here |
| Bitdefender Family Pack | $119.99/year | Check here |
| Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac | $59.99/year | Check here |
| Bitdefender Small Office Security | Varies | Check here |
| Bitdefender GravityZone Business AV | Varies | Check here |
Winner: Bitdefender. Bitdefender offers more licenses for less money than Comodo. This makes it a better choice at every tier of coverage.
6. Customer Satisfaction
It’s also a good idea to see what the customers of both companies think of their products and services. This can tell us what we can expect if we ever run into any issues where we need to reach out for assistance.
The Better Business Bureau (BBB) is a review website that collects customer feedback and averages it all out into an A to F grading scale, with F being the worst. Bitdefender scored an average C rating from the site, while Comodo received a rather poor D-.
Another website that collects feedback is consumeraffairs.org. But it uses a five-star rating scale instead. Bitdefender received a four-star rating from consumeraffairs.org, while Comodo hasn’t been rated by the site.
Winner: Bitdefender. Comodo’s rating isn’t available on one of the two popular review collection websites, and Bitdefender has a better score on the other.
Final Thoughts
It’s not even close! Bitdefender is by far the better choice when it comes to the best antivirus software you can purchase. You’ll enjoy the amazing spread of excellent features that it offers, as well as its protective capability that doesn’t strain your computer’s performance. Also, Bitdefender offers more bang for your buck than Comodo.
Our recommendations: If you want to get the highest level of security and performance, there's no better choice than Norton, which protects over 50 million users worldwide.
After reviewing dozens of antivirus products from some of the biggest names in the cybersecurity realm, we believe that Norton 360 Deluxe is the best antivirus suite available on the market. It provides flawless anti-malware protection without slowing you down. Plus, you get almost all the advanced features you could ever want.
If you're willing to pay more for advanced identity protection features, we recommend Norton 360 with LifeLock select (only available in the US). It's a bit pricey but worth the price.
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Anas Baig is a consumer privacy advocate and cybersecurity journalist by profession. Has has more than 7 years of professional experience under his belt. Anas has been featured on numerous media publications including The Guardian, Lifehacker, The Next Web, Infosecurity Magazine, Security Boulevard, Hacker Noon, CMS Wire, IAPP, SC Magazine, and many others. His interest includes Digital Privacy Rights, Information Security, Networking, Privacy, and Data Protection.
My Contributions:
Hacker Noon | TheNextWeb | DevOps.com | GlobalSign | CMS Wire | CSO | Tech.co | Security Boulevard | ITProPortal | MuckRack | Crunchbase
