Bitdefender has stopped offering free antivirus package

The free version of Bitdefender’s antivirus software is no longer available for download and support for existing users will end on June 30, 2022. According to the makers, the free version does not meet their own high standards.

On the page where the free version of Bitdefender was available for download, visitors are now redirected to a trial version of a paid version. “We focus on cross-platform protection with our product development and that is why we are discontinuing Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition for Windows,” the relevant page reads.

Bitdefender had previously indicated that the free version would disappear on December 31, but that is already the case. According to an admin from the Bitdefender forum, the free version “no longer meets the company’s standards,” which are “higher than ever.” Current users will receive support until the middle of next year and will be approached to switch to a paid version at a discount.

The market for free antivirus software for Windows PCs is shrinking as Windows Defender, which is built into the operating system, provides adequate protection for many users. Avast and Kaspersky, among others, still offer free antivirus software.