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Cybersecurity · head to head

Bitdefender Total Security vs Passbolt

Bitdefender Total Security logo

Bitdefender Total Security

Cybersecurity

The world's #1 rated antivirus

From
$19.99/year
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Passbolt logo

Passbolt

Cybersecurity

Open-source password manager for teams with self-hosted or cloud deployment

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Passbolt has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Bitdefender Total Security vPN limited to 200MB per day, insufficient for streaming video or extended browsing sessions; Passbolt pro Edition requires a minimum of 10 users, making it costlier for very small teams.
  • They diverge on capability: Bitdefender Total Security covers Advanced threat defense, Passbolt covers Password sharing and folders.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Bitdefender Total Security and Passbolt actually diverge.

Attributes where Bitdefender Total Security and Passbolt differ
AttributeBitdefender Total SecurityPassbolt
Starting price$19.99/yearFree
Pricing modelUnknownopen-source
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWindows, macOS, iOS, Androidweb, windows, mac, linux, api
Founded2001Unknown

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Cybersecurity).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Bitdefender Total Security

  • Advanced threat defense
  • Multi-layer ransomware protection
  • Real-time data protection
  • Network threat prevention
  • VPN
  • Parental advisor
  • Anti-tracker
  • Microphone monitor

Only in Passbolt

  • Password sharing and folders
  • Groups and role-based access
  • Browser extensions and CLI
  • Open API
  • LDAP provisioning and SSO
  • Activity audit log

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Bitdefender Total Security

  • Antivirusnot Passbolt
  • Internet Securitynot Passbolt
  • Endpoint Protectionnot Passbolt

Passbolt

  • Self-hosting a team password manager for data sovereigntynot Bitdefender Total Security
  • Provisioning vault access from an existing LDAP/AD directorynot Bitdefender Total Security
  • Sharing credentials across engineering or IT teams via folders and groupsnot Bitdefender Total Security
  • Automating credential retrieval through the CLI or open APInot Bitdefender Total Security

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Bitdefender Total Security

  • VPN limited to 200MB per day, insufficient for streaming video or extended browsing sessions
  • Limited features on Apple devices with iOS version lacking scheduled scans, firewall, file shredder, and other tools
  • Failed to detect 10% of virus samples during in-house testing, falling short of perfect detection rates
  • Auto-renewal billing issues with complaints about unauthorized recurring charges and difficulties with refunds
  • Device optimization tools less extensive than competitors, lacking game booster, driver updater, startup manager, and battery usage manager

Passbolt

  • Pro Edition requires a minimum of 10 users, making it costlier for very small teams.
  • Community Edition lacks SSO and LDAP provisioning, which many organizations need for onboarding at scale.
  • Self-hosting the Community Edition requires infrastructure and maintenance effort compared to fully managed competitors.
  • Enterprise-tier support and HA consulting require custom, quote-based pricing rather than transparent rates.

Pricing, plan by plan

Bitdefender Total Security

$19.99/year

No published plan breakdown. See the Bitdefender Total Security review.

Passbolt

Free
  • Community EditionFree
    • Unlimited users
    • Password sharing and folders
    • Role-based access control
  • Pro Edition$4.9/month
    • Minimum 10 users, billed annually
    • LDAP/AD provisioning
    • Single sign-on
  • Enterprise Edition$undefined/month
    • High availability and disaster recovery consulting
    • White-glove migration
    • Custom feature development

Which should you pick?

Choose Bitdefender Total Security if

  • You need advanced threat defense.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, iOS, Android.
  • You also want multi-layer ransomware protection.
Bitdefender Total Security review

Choose Passbolt if

  • You need password sharing and folders.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on web, windows, mac, linux, api.
  • You also want groups and role-based access.
Passbolt review

Questions people ask

Is Bitdefender Total Security or Passbolt better?
Neither clearly leads. Bitdefender Total Security starts at $19.99/year and Passbolt at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Bitdefender Total Security or Passbolt?
Passbolt has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $19.99/year for Bitdefender Total Security and Free for Passbolt.
Does Bitdefender Total Security or Passbolt run on more platforms?
Bitdefender Total Security runs on Windows, macOS, iOS, Android. Passbolt runs on web, windows, mac, linux, api.
Can I use Passbolt for free?
Yes. Passbolt has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Bitdefender Total Security starts at $19.99/year.
What is Bitdefender Total Security best used for?
Bitdefender Total Security is most often used for antivirus, internet security, endpoint protection. Of those, antivirus and internet security are not what Passbolt is typically brought in for.
What can Bitdefender Total Security do that Passbolt cannot?
Bitdefender Total Security covers Advanced threat defense, Multi-layer ransomware protection, Real-time data protection, Network threat prevention. Passbolt covers Password sharing and folders, Groups and role-based access, Browser extensions and CLI, Open API.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Bitdefender Total Security: What are Bitdefender's main features?

Total Security includes real-time antivirus, anti-phishing, anti-ransomware, firewall, secure VPN (limited), password manager, file shredder, and anti-tracker. Additional features include parental controls, advanced threat defense, privacy firewall, and webcam/microphone protection.

Passbolt: Is Passbolt free to use?

Yes. The Community Edition is free forever with unlimited users, including password sharing, folders, groups, role-based access, browser extensions, a CLI, and an open API.

Source
Bitdefender Total Security: What did Bitdefender score on AV-TEST?

Bitdefender scored 6/6 across protection, performance, and usability in the January-February 2026 AV-TEST evaluation, and AV-Comparatives named it Product of the Year with a 99.98% detection rate.

Passbolt: What does the Pro Edition cost and add?

Pro Edition costs $4.90 per user per month billed annually, with a 10-user minimum, and adds LDAP/AD provisioning, single sign-on, account recovery escrow, activity audit logs, and next-business-day support.

Source
Passbolt: What license is Passbolt distributed under?

All Passbolt editions, including Pro and Enterprise, are distributed under the AGPL v3 open-source license.

Source
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