Bitdefender vs. ESET 2025: Bitdefender Is Affordable and Feature-Rich

Malware is one of the most common and dangerous cyberthreats. Malware includes harmful software, such as viruses, spyware, and ransomware, which can infiltrate your device without your knowledge. The best antivirus software today offers robust features to protect more than just your devices. 

We've tested a lot of programs, and Bitdefender wins this comparison. Bitdefender offers more value for your money with a range of features at an affordable price. But if you only need one or two devices covered or a no-frills antivirus, then ESET will suffice just fine.

We’ll help you understand how Bitdefender and ESET compare as far as costs, features, third-party testing, and more, so you can decide which solution is right for you.

Bitdefender vs. ESET review at a glance

• Bitdefender: Best overall antivirus protection
• ESET: Best for individuals

	Best overall
Star rating	5.0 AllAboutCookies writers and editors score products based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.	4.4 AllAboutCookies writers and editors score products based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.
Starting price	Free or $54.99/first yr	Starts at $59.99/first yr
Max number of protected devices	Up to 25	Up to 10
Malware scans	Manual and scheduled	Manual and scheduled
Real-time protection
Phishing protection
Ransomware protection		Yes (Windows and Windows ARM only)
24/7 customer support
Compatibility	Windows, macOS, Android, iOS	Windows, macOS, Android, Windows ARM
Learn more	Get Bitdefender Read Bitdefender Review	Get ESET Read ESET Review

Bitdefender pros and cons

Bitdefender, headquartered in Bucharest, Romania, was established in 2001. It has accumulated numerous awards from independent testing organizations and industry analyst firms. Bitdefender starts at $34.99/first yr for three devices. Bitdefender has the capacity to cover up to 10 devices when you upgrade and always offers 24/7 support. Bitdefender works on Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS, while ESET works on Windows, macOS, Windows ARM, and Android. Bitdefender has a full free Windows version, but ESET doesn’t have a free version at all. Bitdefender doesn’t include a firewall, a file shredder, or scheduled scans for macOS. 

ESET pros and cons 

ESET, headquartered in Bratislava, Slovakia, was established in 1992. The company holds the record for the longest unbroken streak of VB100 awards for identifying malware globally among all internet security providers. ESET begins at $59.99/first yr for one device. While ESET offers numerous features for Windows, it lacks similar features for macOS, such as its ransomware shield, advanced machine learning, script-based attack protection, exploit blocker, and more. 

Which antivirus is the better value?

Bitdefender has the better value, thanks to its superior pricing.

	Best Pricing
Price range	$24.99–$64.99/first yr	$49.99–$204.99/first yr
Best value plan	Bitdefender Total Security for $34.99/first yr	ESET Premium Security for $179.99/first yr
Money-back guarantee	Yes — 30 days	Yes — 30 days
Learn more	Get Bitdefender Read Bitdefender Review	Get ESET Read ESET Review

Bitdefender’s price range is $24.99–$64.99/first yr, while ESET's range is $49.99–$204.99/first yr.

Bitdefender Total Security plan covers five devices for $34.99/first yr. It's the best value plan because it's a comprehensive security solution, and you can save up to 61% with this option.

On the other hand, ESET's Premium Security plan costs $179.99/first yr. If you are looking for maximum savings with ESET, we recommend going for the three-year subscription.

Both Bitdefender and ESET offer a money-back guarantee of 30 days, so you can try out their services risk-free. That way, you can test out either product and be confident that you're making the right choice for your cybersecurity needs.

Which antivirus has better features?

Based on its bonus features, Bitdefender wins this category, too.

	Best Pricing
Manual and scheduled scans
Phishing protection
Ransomware protection
Firewall	Yes (Windows only)
Device optimization tools		Yes (Windows and Android only)
Parental controls
Password manager		Yes (Windows and Windows ARM only)
VPN
Ad blocker	Yes (with VPN)
Extras	VPN, cryptomining protection, parental controls, webcam protection	Password manager, secure data encryption, identity theft protection, VPN
Learn more	Get Bitdefender Read Bitdefender Review	Get ESET Read ESET Review

When comparing Bitdefender's and ESET’s features, both antivirus programs offer similar essential tools for protection. They offer options for both manual and scheduled scans, including device health checks, to identify potential issues. They also include phishing protection, which acts as a shield against tricky online scams that try to steal your personal information.

Both Bitdefender and ESET also have your back when it comes to ransomware, a type of digital kidnapping where your files are held hostage. They each come with a firewall, which is like a security guard for your internet connection, and parental controls to help you manage what your kids do online. 

However, Bitdefender’s firewall is only available for Windows and Windows ARM users, while ESET’s ransomware shield is also only available for Windows users exclusively.

Bitdefender Total Security features a built-in virtual private network (VPN), which conceals your internet protocol (IP) address, thereby keeping your online activities private. However, ESET doesn't offer a VPN. 

Neither Bitdefender nor ESET comes with a standard ad blocker; however, Bitdefender VPN includes an ad blocker feature. Ad blockers help you avoid annoying ads and potentially harmful content. As for device optimization tools, Bitdefender offers a tool called OneClick Optimizer for all its platforms, while ESET features a small system footprint option for Windows, Windows ARM, and macOS.

Bitdefender vs. ESET: Test results

We rely on tests conducted by independent experts to see how well an antivirus can protect against malware. These tests help us get an accurate understanding of how effective an antivirus is in real-world situations. One of the trusted test sites we use is AV-TEST, which we used for this comparison.

Bitdefender vs. ESET AV-TEST scores

	Best Results
Windows score	18/18	18/18
macOS score	18/18	17.5/18
Android score	18/18	18/18
AV-Comparatives malware protection score	99.97%	99.95%
Learn more	Get Bitdefender Read Bitdefender Review	Get ESET Read ESET Review

AV-TEST evaluates antivirus software across three categories: usability, performance, and protection. Testing for usability and false positives in malware detection is crucial because it affects both the user-friendliness of the antivirus software and its accuracy in identifying threats. False positives occur when antivirus software incorrectly labels safe files as harmful, resulting in unnecessary interruptions and potential data loss.

Bitdefender outperformed ESET when it comes to overall malware protection and performance on macOS. 

Which antivirus has the better compatibility and customer support?

Bitdefender wins a close one here due to its greater compatibility and 24/7 support.

	Best Pricing
Windows
macOS
Android
iOS
Browser extensions	Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari	Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Brave
24/7 customer support
Customer support options	phone, 24/7 live chat, video tutorials	phone, email, live chat, forums, online guides
Learn more	Get Bitdefender Read Bitdefender Review	Get ESET Read ESET Review

Using ESET

For our ESET test, installation and setup were straightforward and quick. We used an older Windows 10 laptop, and it took under 30 minutes to download, install, and start using the security software.

While exploring ESET's features, persistent yellow reminders appeared to indicate that the setup of anti-theft, firewall, and other features was incomplete. Unfortunately, we couldn't dismiss these reminders, which was a drawback.

Beyond that, our ESET experience was positive. A full hard drive scan took less than five minutes, identifying files needing cleaning. Cleaning and rescanning showed no issues. Functions were user-friendly, most with simple toggles.

Using Bitdefender

Bitdefender operates like typical antivirus software, but it also offers cross-platform malware protection. While scanning, Bitdefender checks Apple devices for Windows malware and vice versa, which is handy for cross-device data transfer.

Bitdefender offers quick, custom, and deep scans. After installation, it suggests an initial "one-time scan" to ensure a threat-free start, which is particularly valuable for new users. While we appreciate this, Bitdefender could improve clarity on its scan duration. Our first scan took about 37 minutes, but our MacBook Air ran smoothly. Quick scans took five minutes and had minimal impact. The only con we noticed with Bitdefender is that Mac users must manually initiate scheduled scans, unlike their Windows counterparts.

Compatibility and support

With ESET, we also uncovered significant discrepancies between the Windows features offered and those of macOS. Essentially, the functionality in the product you will get is substantially less than if you were a Windows user.

For Windows, ESET comes with up to 37 unique features. For macOS, that’s reduced to 15. That’s a pretty steep drop, in our opinion. Some of the ESET features you’ll miss out on if you’re an Apple user include the ransomware shield, advanced machine learning, cloud-powered scanning, gamer mode, and webcam protection.

Most people aren’t going to change operating systems just to reap the rewards of a single software. For this reason, Apple users, take note of this and weigh your needs. If you’re looking for a comprehensive solution, ESET’s Smart Security Premium for macOS is likely not going to deliver.

Regarding customer support, ESET offers self-serve support. It offers live chat and phone features for North America, Monday through Friday from 6:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. PST. There is an option to email, but if you need help in a pinch, that timeframe might not be optimal.

On the other hand, Bitdefender offers 24/7 chat, video tutorials, email, and phone support. When we needed clarity about missing features in Bitdefender, we called customer support for assistance. They were helpful and responsive.

Bitdefender vs. ESET alternatives

Both Bitdefender and ESET top our list as some of the best antivirus programs available. We appreciate Bitdefender's top-of-the-line scam protection and ESET's advanced customization options, which are ideal for tech-savvy users or home offices. But if you're looking for more device coverage or more bundled security features, we recommend checking out other high-performing antivirus programs:

FAQs

Bitdefender vs. ESET: Which is better?

For us, Bitdefender antivirus is the clear winner here. ESET is more expensive than Bitdefender, but it offers fewer features, limited device compatibility, lower security scores in malware protection, and reduced customer support. Bitdefender offers comprehensive and reliable antivirus software at an affordable price for all users.

The biggest drawback for both is the lack of Apple support, although ESET’s is more so. Traditionally, macOS and iOS antivirus software compatibility isn’t as standard as its PC counterparts. We hope that this will change in the coming years as technology continues to evolve. Even still, Bitdefender is one of the best antivirus programs for Windows available.