# Bitdefender Central vs McAfee Security for Metro

The clearest difference is update cadence: Bitdefender Central at every 3 weeks against McAfee Security for Metro's every 2 months. Bitdefender Central also leads on monetization model (free vs ad-supported) and ratings volume (11K vs 2.8K). On price, rating, review sentiment and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for Bitdefender Central against 4.7 for McAfee Security for Metro. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 11K and 2.8K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 59% of Bitdefender Central's written reviews are positive against 52% of McAfee Security for Metro's.

Bitdefender Central ships an update every 3 weeks, McAfee Security for Metro every 2 months. Both last shipped on October 18, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Bitdefender Central | McAfee Security for Metro |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (11K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bitdefender-central/id969933082/reviews)** | [4.7 (2.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mcafee-security-for-metro/id1462191512/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **11K** | 2.8K |
| Positive reviews | **58.8% of reviews** | 52.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Ad-supported |
| Size | 191 MB | 341 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Bitdefender SRL](https://appshunter.io/developer/384899757) | [MetroPCS](https://appshunter.io/developer/1188830218) |

## What reviewers say

### Bitdefender Central

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bitdefender-central/id969933082)

Manage and control the cybersecurity of all your Bitdefender-protected devices, both locally and across your network. This app allows remote scanning, threat detection notifications, and comprehensive management of your smart home hub for enhanced online safety.

**Highlights:** Install protection on all devices, Remote device scanning and optimization, Real-time threat notifications, Smart home network security management, Parental controls and screen time management, Locate and lock lost/stolen devices

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Effective protection
- 🔒 Reliable security
- 👍 User-friendly
- 🚀 Thorough scanning
- 🚀 Easy to use

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and freezes
- 🔋 Battery drain issues
- 🔍 Confusing interface
- 💰 Expensive subscription
- 🤖 Buggy software

**Reported bugs**

- Frequent app crashes on iOS 11+
- Web protection randomly disabling itself
- Inability to delete email addresses from account
- Inconsistent behavior across different devices
- Lack of support for older devices

**Requested features**

- Improve mobile app responsiveness
- Add more customization options
- Enhance parental control features
- Provide better visibility into device protection status
- Improve compatibility with other VPN services


### McAfee Security for Metro

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mcafee-security-for-metro/id1462191512)

This app offers comprehensive protection for your privacy, identity, and devices across multiple platforms. It includes features like safe browsing, Wi-Fi scanning, and identity monitoring to help you navigate the online world with confidence.

**Highlights:** Safe browsing with malware blocking, Wi-Fi and system scanner, Personalized protection score, Identity protection and monitoring, Phishing and data leak alerts

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to use
- 🔒 Secure
- 👍 Great reliability
- 🚀 Efficient
- 👍 User-friendly

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Doesn't work properly
- 🐛 Scanning issues
- 🐛 VPN and other features not working
- 🐛 Media vault issues
- 🐛 Account/login problems

**Reported bugs**

- Scan never completes
- Devices not responding when trying to activate features
- Deleting protected files without warning
- Inconsistent behavior across iOS and Android

**Requested features**

- Add storage cleaner, app lock, and memory booster features
- Improve instructions and user guidance
- Add login option instead of creating new account


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Bitdefender Central free?

Bitdefender Central is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is McAfee Security for Metro free?

McAfee Security for Metro is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Bitdefender Central or McAfee Security for Metro?

Bitdefender Central is rated higher. Bitdefender Central averages 4.8 out of 5 from 11K ratings, while McAfee Security for Metro averages 4.7 from 2.8K ratings.

### Do Bitdefender Central or McAfee Security for Metro have ads?

Neither Bitdefender Central nor McAfee Security for Metro shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Bitdefender Central or McAfee Security for Metro?

Bitdefender Central ships an update every 3 weeks, and McAfee Security for Metro every 2 months. Most recently, Bitdefender Central was updated on October 18, 2026 and McAfee Security for Metro on October 18, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*