SFDIFY
In the Bitdefender vs Norton decision for a small business, the split is about management. Bitdefender GravityZone gives you a "centralized, all-in-one console" for endpoint security on 1 to 100 devices [1], while Norton Small Business is built for businesses "which don't require a business dashboard and remote management capabilities" and is licensed for up to 10 employees [2]. Norton is cheaper in year one and bundles backup and a password manager [2]; GravityZone is the better fit once someone needs to see and control every device from one place [1, 3].
A business is not comparing the same products a home user compares. Both brands sell separate business plans, and they are built very differently. This guide compares Bitdefender GravityZone Small Business Security and GravityZone Business Security on one side, Norton Small Business and Norton Small Business Premium on the other, with Malwarebytes for Teams as a third option.
How we chose
We compared each vendor's own small-business product pages: plans, prices, included features, device limits and platform notes. We did not install or test the products, and we do not score them. Prices are the US prices shown when we checked, including first-year discounts; confirm them at checkout.
We also kept to the business editions. If you arrived from a Norton 360 vs Bitdefender search, note that Norton states Norton 360, its consumer suite, "is not intended for commercial use" [2], so a business should not buy it as a shortcut. The same logic applies to any Norton vs Bitdefender comparison you read: check that it compares business plans, not home plans.
Bitdefender vs Norton at a glance
| Product | Best for | Starting price | Notable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bitdefender GravityZone Small Business Security | Small teams that want central control with little IT effort | $227.49 for 10 devices, 1 year (30% off $324.99) [1] | 1 to 100 devices; ransomware mitigation and fileless attack protection included [1] |
| Bitdefender GravityZone Business Security | Growing SMBs with servers or a part-time IT person | $269.49 for 10 devices, 1 year (30% off $384.99) [3] | Adds Network Attack Defense and Risk Management; cloud or on-premise console [3] |
| Norton Small Business | Up to 10 employees who want an all-in-one bundle | $59.99 first year for up to 3 employees (renews at $119.99) [2] | 2 devices per user; 250GB cloud backup and password manager [2] |
| Norton Small Business Premium | Owners who want 24/7 tech support and a VPN | $199.99 first year for up to 5 employees (renews at $299.99) [2] | Adds Secure VPN, 500GB backup, financial and social media monitoring [2] |
| Malwarebytes for Teams | Sole proprietors and offices up to 20 devices | $119.99/yr for 3 devices [5] | Privacy VPN and Browser Guard in all plans [5] |
Bitdefender GravityZone — central control for small business antivirus
Bitdefender GravityZone is Bitdefender's business security platform, and it is the side of the Bitdefender catalog this article covers. For small businesses there are two main entry points. GravityZone Small Business Security is pitched as "easy-to-manage, enterprise-grade protection for small businesses" [1]. GravityZone Business Security is aimed at "small- to medium-sized organizations, covering any number of file servers, desktops, laptops, and physical or virtual machines" [3].
Verified features: Small Business Security includes three modules: Advanced Threat, Ransomware Mitigation and Fileless Attack Protection [1]. Bitdefender says ransomware mitigation blocks abnormal encryption attempts and "restores files from backup copies to their original state" [1]. Management runs through one console that lets you "track, manage, and automate cybersecurity events without needing more IT resources or servers" [1]. Business Security instead lists Modern Endpoint Protection, Network Attack Defense and Risk Management as its included modules [3], and offers "the choice of cloud or on-premise management" [3]. Both work on Windows, Linux and macOS endpoints [1, 3]. Optional add-ons include Security for Mobile (iOS, Android and ChromeOS), Email Security, Patch Management and Full Disk Encryption [1, 3].
Pricing: The online store's default quote for Small Business Security is $227.49 for 10 devices for one year, shown as 30% off $324.99, with taxes not included [1]. Two add-ons, Web Access and Device Control and Network Attack Defense and Risk Management, were each $41.99 on that same quote [1]. Business Security came to $269.49 for 10 devices for one year, shown as 30% off $384.99 [3]. Online orders cover 1 to 100 devices [1, 3]. Small Business Security "is available only for online purchase" and priced by endpoint [1]; Business Security can also be bought through a partner [3]. Both subscriptions renew automatically unless you cancel the auto-renew option [1, 3]. Free trials are offered for both [1, 3].
Strengths: This is the only option here with a real management console for the whole fleet, and it scales from a handful of laptops to servers without changing products [1, 3]. Business Security's cloud or on-premise choice [3] matters if you keep data in your own office. Bitdefender also sells a paid onboarding service, GravityZone Setup & Go, which includes a one-hour session with a Bitdefender engineer and sample deployment on up to 5 endpoints [3].
Limitations: It costs more than Norton in year one for a small team: $227.49 for 10 devices [1] versus $149.99 for Norton's up-to-10-employee plan [2]. It is also a narrower product. The GravityZone pages describe endpoint protection, not cloud backup, a password manager or a VPN [1, 3]. Mobile protection, email security and patching are add-ons, not included [1]. On Small Business Security, network attack defense is an extra-cost add-on [1].
Best fit: Teams of up to 100 devices that want one place to see every machine, especially with file servers, mixed operating systems, or a part-time IT person.
Bitdefender also sells a separate all-in-one package "tailored for businesses with up to 25 employees and no IT staff" that covers macOS, iOS, Android and Windows [4]. Our link below goes to the GravityZone business products.
Norton Small Business — the all-in-one bundle for very small teams
Norton Small Business is Norton's product for small companies, and it reads more like a business-licensed version of a consumer suite than an endpoint platform. Norton says it is "designed and licensed for small businesses—with up to 10 employees" [2], and that you "don't need an IT specialist or cybersecurity knowledge to use" it [2].
Verified features: The standard plan includes "Device Security, Cloud Backup (250 GB), Secure Browser, Software Updater, Utilities Ultimate, and Password Manager" [2]. Device Security provides "real-time antivirus and a firewall" [2]. Premium adds 24/7 Business Tech Support, Secure VPN, Financial Monitoring, Social Media Monitoring and Driver Updater, plus 500GB of Cloud Backup [2].
Pricing: Norton Small Business costs $59.99 for the first year for up to 3 employees, $99.99 for up to 5 and $149.99 for up to 10, renewing at $119.99, $179.99 and $249.99 a year [2]. Each plan "covers 2 devices per user" [2]. Small Business Premium is $199.99 for the first year for up to 5 employees (renews at $299.99) and $249.99 for up to 10 (renews at $399.99) [2]. There is a 30-day free trial, but a payment method is required [2], and the page lists a 60-day money back guarantee [2].
Strengths: For a team of 10 or fewer, it is the lowest first-year price here, and it bundles things GravityZone does not list, such as cloud backup and a password manager [2]. Premium's 24/7 Business Tech Support [2] is useful if nobody on staff handles IT.
Limitations: Norton itself positions it for businesses that do not need "a business dashboard and remote management capabilities" [2], so there is no fleet console in the GravityZone sense. It tops out at 10 employees [2]. Several features are Windows-only: "Utilities Ultimate, Driver Updater, Software Updater, and Cloud Backup features are only available on Windows" [2]. Renewal prices are much higher than the first year [2]. 24/7 support is in English only, and "five support tickets per year are included" for IT-related issues [2]. The VPN is only in Premium [2].
Best fit: Solo owners and teams of up to 10 people, mostly on Windows PCs, who want antivirus, backup and password management in one subscription and do not need central management.
Malwarebytes for Teams — a simple option up to 20 devices
Malwarebytes for Teams is worth a look if neither Bitdefender nor Norton fits. Malwarebytes describes it as all-in-one cybersecurity "with built-in VPN for the sole proprietor, boutique business, or small office" with "no IT skills required" [5].
Verified features: Every Teams plan includes "priority support, a 60-day money-back guarantee, ultra-fast Malwarebytes Privacy VPN, and Malwarebytes Browser Guard" [5].
Pricing: Plans start at $119.99 a year for 3 devices, $399.99 a year for 10 devices and $519.99 a year for 20 devices [5].
Strengths: A VPN in every plan [5] and straightforward device-based tiers.
Limitations: The page points larger teams elsewhere: "Need to secure 20+ endpoints? Visit ThreatDown" [5]. It also notes that exact features vary by operating system [5]. At 10 devices it costs more than GravityZone Small Business Security's quote [1, 5].
Best fit: Sole proprietors and small offices up to 20 devices who want a VPN included.
How to choose between Bitdefender and Norton
Picking antivirus software for small business comes down to four questions. Start with headcount and devices. Norton Small Business stops at 10 employees with 2 devices each [2]. GravityZone's online store covers 1 to 100 devices [1, 3], and Business Security can go further through partners [3].
Next, decide who manages security. If nobody will log in to a console, Norton's approach of installing and letting it run "seamlessly in the background" [2] is simpler. If you want to see which laptop is unprotected or push a policy to everyone, that is what GravityZone's central console is for [1].
Then check your operating systems. Norton's backup and PC tools are Windows-only [2]. GravityZone covers Windows, Linux and macOS endpoints [1], with mobile as an add-on [1].
Finally, compare renewal cost, not just year one. Norton's first-year prices roughly halve the renewal price on the entry plan [2], and both vendors auto-renew [1, 2].
Security software is one piece of the stack. If you are also choosing a CRM or business apps, our guide on choosing between custom, Salesforce or off-the-shelf CRM uses a similar fit-first approach. And if you are building your own product, security should be designed in from the start; that is part of how we approach SaaS development.
FAQ
Is Bitdefender or Norton better for a small business?
It depends on size and management needs. Norton Small Business is licensed for up to 10 employees and is meant for businesses that do not need a business dashboard or remote management [2]. Bitdefender GravityZone adds a centralized console and covers 1 to 100 devices online [1].
How much does Norton Small Business cost?
Norton Small Business starts at $59.99 for the first year for up to 3 employees and renews at $119.99 a year; the up-to-10-employee plan is $149.99 for the first year and renews at $249.99 [2]. Small Business Premium starts at $199.99 for the first year for up to 5 employees [2].
What is included in Bitdefender small business security?
GravityZone Small Business Security includes Advanced Threat, Ransomware Mitigation and Fileless Attack Protection, managed from a centralized console [1]. Web Access and Device Control and Network Attack Defense and Risk Management are paid add-ons [1].
Can I use Norton 360 instead of Norton Small Business?
Norton says Norton 360 "is not intended for commercial use" and is meant for individuals and families, while Norton Small Business is designed and licensed for small businesses [2].
Does Norton Small Business Premium include a VPN?
Yes. Norton Small Business Premium includes Secure VPN, while the standard Norton Small Business plan does not [2].
Our recommendation
For a team of 10 or fewer on mostly Windows PCs with nobody managing IT, Norton Small Business is the simpler and cheaper first-year buy [2]. For anything larger, mixed operating systems, or a team that wants a single console to manage every device, Bitdefender GravityZone is the stronger choice [1, 3]; start with Small Business Security and move to Business Security if you need network attack defense or on-premise management [3]. Malwarebytes for Teams is a reasonable middle path for up to 20 devices if you want a VPN included [5].
Sources
- GravityZone Small Business Security - Bitdefender — checked 2026-11-08
- Norton Small Business Cybersecurity + Antivirus — checked 2026-11-08
- Bitdefender GravityZone Business Security - SMB Cybersecurity — checked 2026-11-08
- Small Business Security Solutions - Bitdefender — checked 2026-11-08
- Malwarebytes for Teams - Small Business Cybersecurity | Malwarebytes — checked 2026-11-08
