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Qualys VMDR vs Bitdefender Total Security

Qualys VMDR logo

Qualys VMDR

Software

Vulnerability management, detection, and response

From
$3/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Bitdefender Total Security logo

Bitdefender Total Security

Software

The world's #1 rated antivirus

From
$19.99/year
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Qualys VMDR listed on UK G-Cloud at £18.75 to £61.58 per device per year for the Qualys Cloud Platform and VMDR, via reseller Barrier Networks Limited; Bitdefender Total Security vPN limited to 200MB per day, insufficient for streaming video or extended browsing sessions
  • They diverge on capability: Qualys VMDR covers Vulnerability scanning, Bitdefender Total Security covers Advanced threat defense.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Qualys VMDR and Bitdefender Total Security differ
AttributeQualys VMDRBitdefender Total Security
Starting price$3/month$19.99/year
Pricing modelsubscriptionUnknown
PlatformsWeb, Cloud, ApiWindows, macOS, iOS, Android
Founded19992001

Identical on both: free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

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 Qualys VMDR

  • Vulnerability scanning
  • Threat detection
  • Asset discovery
  • Compliance checking
  • Remediation tracking
  • Cloud asset visibility
  • API access
  • Custom policies

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

What people use each for

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

Qualys VMDR

  • Vulnerability Managementnot Bitdefender Total Security
  • Asset Managementnot Bitdefender Total Security
  • Compliancenot Bitdefender Total Security

Bitdefender Total Security

  • Antivirusnot Qualys VMDR
  • Internet Securitynot Qualys VMDR
  • Endpoint Protectionnot Qualys VMDR

Where each one falls short

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

Qualys VMDR

  • Listed on UK G-Cloud at £18.75 to £61.58 per device per year for the Qualys Cloud Platform and VMDR, via reseller Barrier Networks Limited

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

Pricing, plan by plan

Qualys VMDR

$3/month
  • VMDR$3/month
    • Per asset
    • Vulnerability scanning
    • Detection
  • VMDR+$5/month
    • All VMDR features
    • Advanced analytics
    • Cloud integration
  • VMDR Complete$7/month
    • All VMDR+ features
    • Threat intel
    • Response automation

Bitdefender Total Security

$19.99/year

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

Which should you pick?

Choose Qualys VMDR if

  • You need vulnerability scanning.
  • You work on Web, Cloud, Api.
  • You also want threat detection.
Qualys VMDR review

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

Questions people ask

Is Qualys VMDR or Bitdefender Total Security better?
Neither clearly leads. Qualys VMDR starts at $3/month and Bitdefender Total Security at $19.99/year, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Qualys VMDR or Bitdefender Total Security?
Qualys VMDR starts at $3/month and Bitdefender Total Security at $19.99/year.
Does Qualys VMDR or Bitdefender Total Security run on more platforms?
Qualys VMDR runs on Web, Cloud, Api. Bitdefender Total Security runs on Windows, macOS, iOS, Android.
What is Qualys VMDR best used for?
Qualys VMDR is most often used for vulnerability management, asset management, compliance. Of those, vulnerability management and asset management are not what Bitdefender Total Security is typically brought in for.
What can Qualys VMDR do that Bitdefender Total Security cannot?
Qualys VMDR covers Vulnerability scanning, Threat detection, Asset discovery, Compliance checking. Bitdefender Total Security covers Advanced threat defense, Multi-layer ransomware protection, Real-time data protection, Network threat prevention.

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.

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.

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