Webroot vs. Bitdefender antivirus

Protection: what the independent labs found

Bitdefender has some of the best current lab results of any consumer antivirus. Webroot has very little recent data.

• AV-TEST: Bitdefender Total Security scored the maximum 6 points for protection, performance and usability and was named a Top Product in the February, April, June and August 2026 Windows rounds. Webroot’s latest AV-TEST Windows result is from June 2019, when it scored 2 of 6 for protection.
• AV-Comparatives: in the February to May 2026 Real-World Protection Test, Bitdefender blocked 398 of 400 attacks (99.5%), the second-highest rate among 20 products, and earned ADVANCED+. Webroot was not in the test. AV-Comparatives also notes that G Data, Total Defense and VIPRE use the Bitdefender engine.
• SE Labs: Webroot Antivirus was in the April to June 2026 home test. It stopped all 75 general threats but only 15 of 25 targeted attacks, earning an AA award with 91% total accuracy and the lowest protection accuracy (81%) of the 11 products. Bitdefender was not in that round.

The two products were never tested side by side in 2026, so there is no single head-to-head score. But on every lab result published this year, Bitdefender is at or near the top, and Webroot’s one current result is the weakest in its test.

Price: first year and renewal

Bitdefender is cheaper to start. As listed in October 2026:

Webroot lists its regular price next to every sale price, so you can see that renewals cost about double. Bitdefender’s plan pages say only that the subscription renews at the applicable renewal price, which may be higher, and that it emails you before billing. Ask Bitdefender for the renewal price before the first year ends.

For 5 devices, Bitdefender Total Security costs $30 less in the first year than Webroot Total Protection, though Webroot’s plan adds identity monitoring, a VPN and unlimited backup for one computer.

If you only need protection on one Windows PC, Bitdefender Antivirus Free costs nothing and has no time limit, though it lacks the paid version’s ransomware file recovery and Mac and mobile apps.

Features: what each plan includes

Webroot Essentials includes real-time antivirus, a firewall and network monitor, Web Threat Shield for risky sites and a password manager. Premium adds identity, dark web and credit monitoring for one person with up to $1 million in fraud expense reimbursement. Total Protection adds a VPN for 5 devices, parental controls and unlimited cloud backup for one PC or Mac. Webroot checks files in the cloud rather than storing large definition files, which keeps the program small.

Bitdefender Total Security covers Windows, macOS, Android and iOS from one account and includes web protection against phishing and malicious sites, ransomware protection and a VPN capped at 200 MB a day per device, enough for occasional use but not streaming. Premium Security raises that to unlimited VPN traffic and includes a password manager and email data breach checks. Family versions of both cover 25 devices across 5 accounts.

The main gaps: Bitdefender’s mid-tier VPN is limited unless you pay for Premium Security, and Webroot’s VPN comes only with its most expensive plan. Webroot includes cloud backup on Total Protection; we did not find backup listed on Bitdefender’s Total Security page.

Auto-renewal, cancelling and refunds

Both brands renew automatically, and billing is the top complaint about each.

Webroot gives you 70 days to request a refund on any consumer product, and its refund form lists auto-renewal charges as a valid reason. You need the invoice number from your receipt. Turn off auto-renewal on Webroot’s opt-out page with your keycode; protection continues to the end of the paid term. If you bought through Best Buy or Geek Squad, Best Buy handles the account.

Bitdefender gives 30 days from the initial purchase or from the automatic renewal date. You can cancel auto-renewal in Bitdefender Central or through support. Its BBB profile shows an A+ rating, no accreditation and 77 complaints in the last three years, against 53 for Webroot.

Because Bitdefender’s window is less than half as long as Webroot’s, set a reminder a few weeks before your renewal date. With either brand, don’t call phone numbers from emails about a large renewal charge; check your account or card statement directly.

Speed and system impact

Webroot is known for a small install and quick scans because it looks up files in its cloud database instead of downloading large definition files. Users on Trustpilot often praise how little it slows their computers. There is no current lab number for this, though: Webroot’s last AV-TEST performance score was 5.5 of 6 in June 2019.

Bitdefender has the measured result. It scored 6 of 6 for performance in every AV-TEST Windows round from February to August 2026, a test that measures slowdown during everyday tasks. In AV-Comparatives’ February to May 2026 test it had 5 false alarms, below the test average of 8.

On a modern computer, you’re unlikely to notice either one. On an older or low-powered PC, Webroot’s small footprint may still feel lighter, but that is based on its design and user reports rather than current lab data. Some Bitdefender users on Trustpilot mention frequent pop-ups and promotions inside the app.