The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated digital adoption across industries to ensure business continuity, but that has brought on its own set of challenges. Businesses need to hedge against external threats like ransomware, phishing and hacking as well as internal threats in the form of negligent employees and vulnerable endpoints. Small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) are especially susceptible as they must manage these challenges with limited resources.
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A robust antivirus software can provide businesses protection against all kinds of cyberthreats. All antivirus are not created equal, so you need to assess your security needs and then decide upon the right software for your business. Here we are comparing Kaspersky, Avast and Bitdefender to help you choose the right one.
Each antivirus has many plans but we have evaluated only those that meet our internal benchmarks; features that are essential to run a safe online business. For instance, Kaspersky Anti-Virus is available only for Windows and didn’t make the cut. Neither did Avast Antivirus (a free plan), which does not offer protection against ransomware, making it practically ineffective for businesses in 2024. Here are the plans we evaluated for comparison:
- Kaspersky: Kaspersky Small Office Security, Kaspersky Endpoint Security Cloud and Kaspersky Endpoint Security Cloud Plus
- Avast: Small Office Protection and Endpoint Protection for small businesses
- Bitdefender: Bitdefender GravityZone Business Security, Bitdefender GravityZone Business Security Premium and Bitdefender GravityZone Patch Management
Kaspersky
Pricing
From $41.99
per year (for the first year for up to three devices, then $69.99 thereafter)
Platform
Windows, Windows Servers, Mac, Android and iOS
App Store rating
4.7 from 11.2K ratings
From $41.99
per year (for the first year for up to three devices, then $69.99 thereafter)
Windows, Windows Servers, Mac, Android and iOS
4.7 from 11.2K ratings
- Real-time ransomware protection
- Very effective against phishing attacks
- Negligible impact on system and memory performance
- Free TDSSKiller tool scans and removes rootkits that hide malware
- Prices higher than comparable antivirus
- Dark web monitoring could have been better
Avast
Pricing
From $49.99
per year (for the first year for up to five devices, then $99.99 thereafter)
Platforms
Windows, Mac, Linux, Android and iOS
App Store rating
4.7 from 46.3K ratings
From $49.99
per year (for the first year for up to five devices, then $99.99 thereafter)
Windows, Mac, Linux, Android and iOS
4.7 from 46.3K ratings
- Free version has impressive security features
- Powerful network security inspector
- Excellent phishing protection
- Known to leak user data in the past
- Expensive business plans
- Slow boot-time scan
Bitdefender (Business Edition)
Pricing
From $126.69
per year for up to 10 devices
Devices
Windows, Windows Server, Linux, Mac
App Store rating
4.5 from 5.1K ratings
From $126.69
per year for up to 10 devices
Windows, Windows Server, Linux, Mac
4.5 from 5.1K ratings
- Robust malware protection
- Multilayered ransomware protection
- Premium customer support for all plans
- Business plans are expensive
- Very basic virtual private network (VPN)
- Slows down the system
How Kaspersky, Avast and Bitdefender Stack Up
| Kaspersky | Avast | Bitdefender | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Customer Support
|
Email, forum, phone and Knowledge Base included; Premium Support costs extra
|
Email, phone and forum included; Premium support costs extra
|
Email and phone included; comes with Premium Support and Expert Community forum
|
|
Pricing
|
From $41.99 per year (for the first year for up to three devices, then $69.99 thereafter)
|
From $49.99 per year (for the first year for up to five devices, then $99.99 thereafter)
|
From $126.69 per year for up to 10 devices
|
|
Malware and Ransomware Protection
|
Excellent
|
Basic
|
Excellent
|
|
Additional Security Feature for Financial Transactions
|
“Safe Money” tool for safe banking transactions (in the same browser)
|
“Bank Mode” opens a separate desktop for isolated browsing
|
Automatically offers “Safepay” option when opening known banking sites
|
|
User Interface
|
Intuitive and visually appealing
|
User-friendly
|
Intuitive and customizable
|
|
Performance
|
Minimal effect
|
Limited effect
|
Slows down system
|
Bottom Line
Kaspersky, Avast and Bitdefender have common security features against malware, ransomware, phishing attacks and other cyberthreats. But still, there are enough differences in security features or performance, or plans and pricing, to make one stand out from the rest.
You should compare antivirus software features with your business needs and choose accordingly. Essential features to watch for include easy setup, zero-day malware protection, excellent system performance, identity theft protection and an intuitive interface.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the best antivirus software?
Kaspersky, Avast and Bitdefender are only a few of the great options on the market today—but none of them managed to score the top spot in our analysis of the best antivirus software. While you should weigh your unique needs into your purchasing decision, Avira and McAfee landed at the top of our list.
Why should I use antivirus software?
Anyone who uses the internet runs the risk of stumbling across malicious content. There are very common cyberthreats that can show up in your own email, as well as on sites you navigate to. While your operating system likely has a measure of defense built-in (such as Windows Defender), it doesn’t hurt to add a reputable paid software that goes beyond basic functionalities.
What are some features that antivirus software should have?
Some essential features that you want the antivirus software you install on your computers to have include real-time scanning and the ability to schedule scans, automatic virus and program updates, quick access to an on-demand scanner and specific scanners like those for webmail, POP3 email, instant messaging, compressed files, scripts and other threats.
Is there any good free antivirus software?
Yes, there are several companies that offer well-rounded antivirus software that won’t cost you a dime. Kaspersky, Avast and Bitdefender all offer a free basic version of their products. Other companies with free options include McAfee and AVG.
How do I install an antivirus program?
Most antivirus programs can be downloaded and installed directly from the internet. Once you have downloaded the program, simply double-click on the file to begin the installation process. Some programs may require you to enter a valid email address to activate the program, while others may ask you to create an account. Follow the prompts provided by the program to complete the installation process.