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Bitdefender vs ESET: side-by-side comparison


Bitdefender and ESET are well-known names among antivirus users. However, Bitdefender is more popular and is picked for its great performance, strong ransomware and real-time protection, and useful additional features. ESET, on the other hand, is slightly less popular compared to Bitdefender. However, due to its strong security and high rating by independent labs, ESET too has many fans.

Since both Bitdefender and ESET get a lot of good reviews and have large user bases, as a new user, you might have difficulty deciding which of these providers is the best. For this reason, in this Bitdefender vs ESET comparison, I go into detail how they compare in terms of performance, security, features, and user experience.

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Bitdefender vs ESET

During our in-house tests, both Bitdefender and ESET demonstrated great performance. However, Bitdefender outperformed ESET in terms of malware detection, recognizing all of the planted malware with 100% accuracy, while ESET’s accuracy was only 70%. Also, Bitdefender offers more features and more affordable plans than the ones offered by ESET. As a result, Bitdefender ranks higher on our best antivirus software list.

Bitdefender AntivirusESET
⭐ Rating:
4.6
4.3
🥇 Overall rank:#3 out of #26#6 out of #26
🔥 Coupons:Bitdefender coupon 78% OFFESET coupon up to 30% OFF
💵 Price:From $9.99/yearFrom $34.99/year
✂️ Free version:YesNo
🖥️ Platforms:Windows, macOS, Android, iOSWindows, macOS, Linux, Android
Akvile Tamasiuniene Ieva Jociūtė author sarunas karbauskas vincentas
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Our team of researchers thoroughly tests antivirus software following a well-established testing process. In unison, our experts combine in-house and independent testing lab findings with first-hand experience to help you make informed decisions about each product. Learn how we test antivirus software.

26
Antivirus Software Tested
1,150+
Malware Samples Tested
3,600+
Hours of Extensive Testing

Bitdefender vs ESET: which offers better protection?

Bitdefender and ESET excel in many ways but, ultimately, it’s their protection rates that are the deciding factor. I looked at how well these antiviruses perform at independent laboratories and found out that they have equally good protection.

Here’s how ESET Premium vs Bitdefender Total Security plans measure up:

BitdefenderESET
AV-TestTop productTop product
AV-ComparativesAdvanced+Advanced+

Experts at AV-TEST awarded both providers with the TOP PRODUCT certificate for their outstanding performances. Moreover, during the latest testing both providers received identical scores on all three categories assessed by AV-TEST experts. That is, Bitdefender and ESET were granted a maximum score of 6.

As for AV-Comparatives, the providers are also on par with each other. Both received the highest Advanced+ award.

Considering there is no visible difference in protection rates, this Bitdefender vs ESET round is a draw.

WRAPPING UP
Both Bitdefender and ESET are great antivirus providers in terms of protection. Results from independent laboratories only confirmed that no matter which provider you pick, the highest level of protection will be guaranteed.

Real-time protection

To test Bitdefender’s and ESET’s real-time protection, AV-Comparatives put them through real-world protection testing.

During the testing period between February and May 2024, the test detected 2 false positives for Bitdefender and 0 false positives for ESET to Bitdefender's disadvantage. The July-October testing showed slightly worse results for both providers. It detected 5 false positives for Bitdefender and 3 false positives for ESET. Nonetheless, both antiviruses can catch malware with a score over 99%.

In addition to independent tests, we also ran in-house testing to confirm how effective each of the providers are in detecting malware. During the full scan, Bitdefender caught 10/10 of the malware we had planted on the device.

bitdefender-scan-results
Bitdefender’s full system scan results

Meanwhile, ESET didn’t perform so well. ESET’s malware detection rate was only 7/10.

eset-scan-results
ESET’s full system scan results

Based on both independent and our in-house testing, it is evident that both antivirus providers are worthy of each other's competition. Bitdefender and ESET are great antiviruses that guarantee a high level of real-time protection.

Malware protection

When it comes to protection from malware, Bitdefender and ESET have above average tools for its detection and removal. For instance, Bitdefender’s multi-layered ransomware protection not only blocks ransomware attacks but also reverses any damage by restoring encrypted files.

Additionally, it also has a vulnerability scanner. The tool searches for security holes and vulnerabilities that could compromise your device and data in the system, apps, and network. Lastly, its Advanced Threat Defense feature uses behavioral detection to protect against zero-day malware as well as other new threats.

ESET also has strong malware protection. Its multi-layered protection includes Ransomware Shield, which employs behavior-based detection to block malware. Besides that, ESET also protects against botnet malware, quickly blocking and reporting any detected malicious communication. Meanwhile, its Exploit Blocker blocks attacks on commonly exploited applications like browsers, PDF readers, and email clients.

During our in-house testing, 10 malware samples were planted on the device, and a full scan was performed with each provider. For Bitdefender, the scan took 20 minutes and it was able to find all of the planted malware samples.

ESET, on the other hand, did the full scan in 13 minutes, identifying only 7 out of 10 planted malware. In terms of resource usage, both providers are very similar, with a CPU usage between 1.1% and 4%.

Firewall protection

Both Bitdefender and ESET include a firewall, but only in their higher-tier plans. With Bitdefender, you get a customizable one, which allows you to tweak things like application or network access, rules, and network adapter settings.

Bitdefender AV customizable firewall
Bitdefender customizable firewall

Also, it comes with port scan protection which prevents cybercriminals from checking for loopholes in your network and exploiting them.

As for ESET, it has 4 different filtering modes. Automatic is the default mode that allows most outbound traffic and blocks most inbound traffic except for those from the trusted zone.

ESET firewall setup screen
ESET firewall setup screen

Meanwhile, interactive mode lets you block or allow unknown connections and policy-based mode blocks all connections unless you allow them. The fourth, learning mode, automatically creates and saves rules according to your activities.

Scanning

Most top antivirus programs offer multiple types of scans for flexibility as does Bitdefender and ESET. Bitdefender has quite an assortment of scans. Beyond the common quick and full system scans, it also offers custom scans.

Bitdefender scanning options
Bitdefender scanning options

Plus, the provider also offers Rescue Environment scans which reboot your device in a rescue environment for clean-up and threat removal. Meanwhile, its vulnerability scanner checks for security flaws and vulnerabilities.

ESET offers multiple scanning options too. Its system scans check your entire device, including running processes and system files. Meanwhile, you can use custom scans to run checks on specific files and folders.

eset scanning options
ESET scanning options

It also provides removable device scans for things like flash drives, external hard drives, CDs, and memory cards. The only missing option for ESET is a quick scan.

All in all, ESET vs Bitdefender are similar in what they offer to cover all common vulnerabilities. However, Bitdefender ultimately has more robust and well-rounded measures than ESET.

Pricing and plans

Bitdefender offers greater affordability and value than ESET. Its plans allow more device connections for a much cheaper price. For instance, its entry paid plan is priced at just $9.99/year for 1 device while ESET’s basic plan already costs $34.99/year for just 1 device. Plus, Bitdefender has a free plan while ESET offers only a 30-day free trial.

PlanBitdefenderESET
Free$0.0030-day free trial
Antivirus Plus/ESET Essential
$9.99/year, 1 devices$34.99/year, 1 device
Total Security/ESET Premium$19.99/year, 3 devices$69.99/year, 3 device
Internet Security/ESET Ultimate
$42.49/year, 3 devices$143.99/year, 5 devices
Family pack$54.99/year, 15 devices
Check Bitdefender pricingCheck ESET pricing
Wrapping up
In brief, Bitdefender is much cheaper than ESET and offers more features. Plus, it’s the better option if you want to protect multiple devices without spending a fortune.

Bitdefender antivirus plans

Bitdefender lets you choose from 3 paid plans and a free plan.

Here’s an overview of each plan and what they offer:


FreeAntivirus PlusTotal SecurityInternet Security
Price$0.00$9.99/year$19.99/year$42.49/year
Devices1133
Secure VPN❌ No❌ No, for extra fee only❌ No, for extra fee only❌ No, for extra fee only
Real-time protection✅ Yes✅ Yes✅ Yes✅ Yes
Virus scans✅ Yes✅ Yes✅ Yes✅ Yes
Anti-phishing❌ No✅ Yes✅ Yes✅ Yes
Privacy monitor❌ No✅ Yes✅ Yes✅ Yes
Firewall❌ No❌ No✅ Yes✅ Yes
Parental control❌ No❌ No✅ Yes✅ Yes
Dark web scanning❌ No❌ No❌ No❌ No
Identity theft protection❌ No❌ No❌ No❌ No

Its Internet Security plan is an excellent deal. At a fairly affordable $42.49/year, you get all the features that are missing from the Antivirus Plus plan. This includes firewall, parental controls, webcam protection, and microphone monitor.

Meanwhile, for Mac users, your only options are either Total Security – which has the full list of features – or Family Pack if you need protection for more devices. If you want to save even more, check out our Bitdefender coupons to snag the best prices.

ESET antivirus plans

As for ESET, it has 3 choices for home users:


EssentialPremiumUltimate
Price$47.99/year$69.99/year$143.99/year
Devices335
Secure VPN❌ No❌ No✅ Yes
Real-time protection✅ Yes✅ Yes✅ Yes
Virus scans✅ Yes✅ Yes✅ Yes
Anti-phishing✅ Yes✅ Yes✅ Yes
Privacy monitor❌ No❌ No✅ Yes
Firewall✅ Yes✅ Yes✅ Yes
Parental control✅ Yes✅ Yes✅ Yes
Dark web scanning❌ No❌ No✅ Yes
Identity theft protection❌ No❌ No✅ Yes

ESET gives you a selection of 3 plans that are on the pricier end. For instance, ESET Ultimate costs $143.99/year to protect 5 devices, but the cost increases if you want to cover up to 10 devices.

ESET Premium plan is a good middle ground that offers the best price-to-value ratio. The Essential plan is missing some vital privacy and safety features like the privacy monitor and identity theft protection. While The Ultimate plan is generally expensive considering the features it adds, which only include a VPN and identity protection. However, you can save with our ESET coupon codes.

Bitdefender vs ESET: feature comparison

When it comes to features, Bitdefender and ESET are very similar. Both providers offer comprehensive and diverse features, Bitdefender slightly outperforms ESET in performance optimization.

Here’s what you can get with each provider:

BitdefenderESET
Virus scans✅ Yes✅ Yes
Real-time protection✅ Yes✅ Yes
Ransomware protection✅ Yes✅ Yes
Firewall✅ Yes✅ Yes
Anti-spam✅ Yes✅ Yes
Banking and payment protection✅ Yes✅ Yes
Parental controls✅ Yes✅ Yes
Password manager✅ Yes✅ Yes
Photo encryption❌ No✅ Yes
Anti-tracker✅ Yes❌ No
VPN✅ Yes✅ Yes
Performance optimization✅ Yes❌ No
File shredder✅ Yes✅ Yes
Wrapping up
All things considered, both Bitdefender and ESET have all the essential measures to protect against common vulnerabilities. However, Bitdefender is more feature-rich than ESET as it offers performance optimization tools and anti-tracker feature.

Bitdefender features

Bitdefender has plenty of notable features, and many of them are definitely worth a closer look. However, keep in mind that some of these features are only included in its premium plans.

To start with, Bitdefender has Advanced Threat Defense, which provides real-time monitoring. It uses heuristic methods to detect ransomware and zero-day threats in real time.

Bitdefender protection features
Bitdefender available protection features

Meanwhile, its ransomware mitigation feature has a dual function. It blocks ransomware attacks and creates backups of your files so that they’re protected in case of an attack.

There’s also Anti-Spam, which offers multi-layered protection for the email channel, and its whitelister blocks spammer domains. It also runs a heuristic analysis on received emails’ content, header, and metadata. However, for it to work efficiently, the user has to train the module by telling which messages are spam and which aren’t. SafePay is another one of Bitdefender’s attractive features. It creates a sandbox browser to protect payment details during online purchases.

Bitdefender’s Anti-Tracker feature helps keep your data and activity private. This is a browser extension that prevents third-party scripts, cookies, and adware from tracking your online behavior.

Additionally, Bitdefender offers Webcam Protection – a microphone and webcam protection feature. It will notify you whenever a new app tries to access your webcam or microphone.

Finally, Bitdefender’s VPN deserves a mention too. It encrypts internet traffic and makes your online identity anonymous, allowing you to protect your privacy. The version included in all paid plans comes with 200MB of data per day.

Alternatively, you can upgrade to Bitdefender’s Premium VPN for $2.49/month. This upgraded version offers unlimited data, over 3000 servers across 100 countries, and Wireguard and OpenVPN for its tunneling protocol.

Check out the Bitdefender features in our review.

ESET features

ESET has an abundance of features too. However, as is common, many of them are reserved for those choosing its premium plans.

For starters, ESET has a great set of anti-theft features. To protect against theft, it offers features like location tracking, anti-theft optimization, laptop activity watch, one-way messaging, and phantom account.

Plus, the higher-tier plans also come with a password manager with 256-bit AES secure encryption. Though, compared to a dedicated third-party password manager, it lacks features, including breach monitoring, auditing, password sharing between users, and emergency access.

ESET setup dashboard
ESET setup dashboard

ESET also has strong banking protection to prevent payment details from being compromised. The provider’s automatically activated banking feature will switch to a secure browser whenever you visit a recognized financial site.

To learn more about the features, visit our ESET review.

Impact on PC performance

A review of Bitdefender vs ESET test results of their test results shows that Bitdefender has a bigger impact on performance. It’s no surprise considering how many items Bitdefender scans, but it did have a higher CPU load and more intense disk usage compared to ESET.

bitdefender-scan-and-ram-performance
Bitdefender scan and RAM performance

It’s almost inevitable that antivirus software will slow down your device since it's constantly scanning your files and programs. You need the scans to update virus definitions, check for viruses and malware, and detect advanced issues all at the same time.

eset-scan-and-ram-performance
ESET scan and RAM performance

Fortunately, both Bitdefender and ESET’s impacts on performance aren’t too devastating. In fact, a look at the AV-Comparatives performance impact score reveals that ESET’s score is at 5.1, landing it the third place. Meanwhile, Bitdefender is only in 14th place with a score of 19.9.

Wrapping up
ESET is a clear winner since it utilizes less resources for its scans.

Quick scan

Bitdefender is the only one with a quick scan. During the tests, I took into account its CPU, memory, and disk usage during the scans.

BitdefenderESET
Quick scan
0 h 1 min 23 sDoesn't have a quick scan
CPU load
70% max, 45% average
Memory load
54%
Disk load
31%
Items scanned6639

Overall, Bitdefender completed the scan rather swiftly but was heavy on system performance with rather high CPU utilization. That said, this is very common among antivirus software and its overall resource usage doesn’t raise any concerns.

Full scan

Bitdefender and ESET completed their full scans quickly. However, Bitdefender used more memory during the scan than ESET. It’s also worth noting that both Bitdefender and ESET are light on CPU usage.

BitdefenderESET
Full scan
0 h 20 min 24 sec0 h 13 min 00 sec
CPU usage
Fluctuated between 0% and 1% while idling and rose to 4% when malware was detectedStayed at 0% while idling, then jumped to 3% when malware was detected
RAM usageStayed at 48MB throughout the scanStayed at about 24MB while idling, rising to 35MB when malware was detected

Overall, when it comes to full scans, the difference in resource consumption between Bitdefender and ESET is relatively small and is not going to have a significant effect on system performance.

Apps and interface: which is more user-friendly?

When it comes to ESET vs Bitdefender for user experience, Bitdefender wins. Bitdefender’s interface is far cleaner and easier to navigate due to its well-organized features and modern layout. Meanwhile, ESET’s interface is very straightforward but old-fashioned and less user friendly.

WRAPPING UP
Compared to ESET, Bitdefender is more user friendly due to its clean and modern interface, making it much easier to navigate.

Desktop apps

Bitdefender’s desktop app is sleek, intuitive, and carefully planned for easy navigation. All the features you need are categorized under Protection, Privacy, and Utilities sections.

Bitdefender Total Security desktop app
Bitdefender Total Security desktop app

Moreover, for fast and easy access, there's an option to add quick actions to the dashboard. Whether you need scans, Safepay, or VPN, all these tools are right in your sight and just a click away once you pin them to your dashboard.

ESET’s interface is fairly straightforward too. However, the multi-level menu could get old since you’d need to click multiple times to get to a tool.

ESET interface on Desktop
ESET interface on desktop

As for looks, the interface is somewhat outdated. Plus, its slightly cluttered layout could be intimidating for beginners.

Mobile apps

Both providers did well with their mobile apps for Android but fumbled with iOS. In fact, ESET doesn’t even support iOS.

Bitdefender’s iOS version, though very neat and easy to navigate, comes with limited features. Its Android version, in contrast, replicates its desktop version and is filled with features. From malware scanner to anti-theft and app lock, you’ll find them all in the app.

Bitdefender iOS app scan device
Bitdefender iOS app interface

As for ESET, its mobile app can be a little overwhelming. That’s only because it comes with plenty of features like antivirus scanner, anti-theft protection, and call filter.

eset mobile app security audit
ESET mobile app layout

In brief, there’s no debate in regards to which provider has better apps. Bitdefender has the lead with its contemporary and intuitive desktop as well as mobile apps.

Customer support

Bitdefender has better customer support options than ESET, but it’s a tight race since both provide some of the best services in the industry. Though, the reasons why Bitdefender has better customer support are simple.

To start with, it has more options to reach out to its agents as, unlike ESET, it offers email support. Moreover, connecting to customer support is easier as you’re asked three simple questions about your problem and the product you need help with. After completing the questionnaire, Bitdefender offers three options to connect to support: a live chat, phone line, or email.

bitdefender-customer-support
Bitdefender questionnaire before connecting to support

Reaching ESET’s customer support is more complicated. First, you’re offered only two options: AI Advisor or contacting technical support. In case you decide to contact technical support, you’ll have to fill in a form and wait for a response regarding your issue. Otherwise, if you want to contact the agent in real time you can use a phone line.

eset-customer-support
ESET customer support options
BitdefenderESET
Live chat✅ Yes (24/7)✅ Yes
Email support✅ Yes❌ No
Phone support✅ Yes✅ Yes
Forum✅ Yes✅ Yes
Knowledge base✅ Yes✅ Yes

Both providers offer the typical support channels like live chat and phone line in addition to each’s fairly active forum. They both also have huge knowledge bases if you prefer finding information yourself.

Wrapping up
Overall, Bitdefender and ESET provide great customer support but Bitdefender has more ways to contact its agents and offers support 24/7.

Final verdict

All in all, the clear winner of this comparison is Bitdefender. It offers feature-rich plans, high-level security and user-friendly apps – all for an affordable price. ESET, on the other hand, offers good base features but its pricing is more premium. In terms of performance it’s a tight race between both providers. However, taking into consideration the full service that each of the providers offer and the overall quality, Bitdefender is a better antivirus than ESET.

Category BitdefenderESET
Features
Security
Pricing
Performance
User experience
Support

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