Alternatives · Antivirus
ESET alternatives
ESET compared with 8 alternatives: Bitdefender, Kaspersky, Norton 360, Malwarebytes, Avast and 3 more.
ESET is a paid product with a free trial, starting at $12.99 per year for 1 device (Mobile Security for Android). 5 of the 8 alternatives are free or have a free plan. 3 more offer a free trial.
8 tools · Listings checked up to Oct 17, 2026 · Where the facts come from
At a glance
| Tool | Price | Free plan | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|
| ESETThis tool | Free trial · from $12.99/yr | Trial only | macOS, Windows, Android |
| Bitdefender | Free plan · from $49.99/yr | Yes | macOS, Windows, iOS, Android |
| Kaspersky | Free trial · from $64.99/yr | Trial only | macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android |
| Norton 360 | Free trial · from $84.99/yr | Trial only | macOS, Windows, iOS, Android |
| Malwarebytes | Free plan · from $59.99/yr | Yes | macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, Browser extension |
| Avast | Free plan | Yes | macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, Browser extension |
| F-Secure | Free plan · from $49.99/yr | Yes | macOS, Windows, iOS, Android |
| Sophos Home | Free trial · from $59.99/yr | Trial only | macOS, Windows, iOS, Android |
| Trend Micro | Free plan · from $29.95/yr | Yes | macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, Browser extension |
Price against what you get
ESET starts at $1.08 a month when paid by the year and scores 3.0 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. None of the 7 alternatives on this chart both scores higher and starts lower.
Norton 360 scores higher without starting lower.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
How each one differs from ESET
- Free plan · from $49.99/yr
Bitdefender
Antivirus suites for computers and phones, with a free Windows tier
- Bitdefender starts at $49.99 per year at renewal (Antivirus Plus, 1 device), after a first year for $24.99. ESET starts at $12.99 per year for 1 device (Mobile Security for Android).
- Bitdefender has a free plan. ESET does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Bitdefender lists an iOS app.
- Bitdefender also covers password manager.
Suits: Windows users who want free real-time antivirus
- Free trial · from $64.99/yr
Kaspersky
Antivirus suites with a VPN and password manager on higher tiers
- Kaspersky starts at $64.99 per year at renewal (Standard, 1 device), after a first year for $49.99. ESET starts at $12.99 per year for 1 device (Mobile Security for Android).
- Only Kaspersky lists Linux and iOS apps.
- Kaspersky also covers password manager and ad and tracker blocking.
Suits: Buyers outside the US who want antivirus, VPN and passwords in one plan
- Free trial · from $84.99/yr
Norton 360
Antivirus suite with VPN, password manager and PC cloud backup
- Norton 360 starts at $84.99 per year at renewal (Standard, 1 device), after a first year from $34.99. ESET starts at $12.99 per year for 1 device (Mobile Security for Android).
- Only Norton 360 lists an iOS app.
- Norton 360 also covers password manager and ad and tracker blocking.
Suits: Households that want antivirus, a VPN and a password manager in one subscription
- Free plan · from $59.99/yr
Malwarebytes
Malware scanner and real-time protection, with VPN and ID plans
- Malwarebytes starts at $59.99 per year for up to 3 devices (Standard). ESET starts at $12.99 per year for 1 device (Mobile Security for Android).
- Malwarebytes has a free plan. ESET does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Malwarebytes lists an iOS app.
- Only Malwarebytes lists a browser extension.
- Malwarebytes also covers ad and tracker blocking.
Suits: Cleaning up a computer that is already infected, for free
- Free plan
Avast
Free antivirus for PC, Mac and phones, with paid Premium and Ultimate
- Avast has a free plan. ESET does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Avast lists an iOS app.
- Only Avast lists a browser extension.
Suits: Windows users who want real-time antivirus without paying
- Free plan · from $49.99/yr
F-Secure
Finnish antivirus and VPN suite that renews at the new-customer price
- F-Secure starts at $49.99 per year for 1 device (Internet Security). ESET starts at $12.99 per year for 1 device (Mobile Security for Android).
- F-Secure has a free plan. ESET does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only F-Secure lists an iOS app.
- F-Secure also covers password manager.
Suits: Buyers who want a renewal price that matches the advertised one
- Free trial · from $59.99/yr
Sophos Home
Business-grade antivirus for up to 10 Windows PCs and Macs
- Sophos Home starts at $59.99 per year for 10 computers at renewal, after a first year for $44.99. ESET starts at $12.99 per year for 1 device (Mobile Security for Android).
- Only Sophos Home lists an iOS app.
- ESET also covers vPN.
Suits: Families who look after the computers of relatives in other homes
- Free plan · from $29.95/yr
Trend Micro
Antivirus suites for PCs, Macs and phones, up to an ID-theft bundle
- Trend Micro starts at $29.95 per year for 1 device (Antivirus+), first term; renewal price not stated. ESET starts at $12.99 per year for 1 device (Mobile Security for Android).
- Trend Micro has a free plan. ESET does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Trend Micro lists an iOS app.
- Only Trend Micro lists a browser extension.
- Trend Micro also covers password manager.
Suits: Households covering Windows, Mac and phones on one 5-device plan
Limits worth knowing in ESET
- There is no free antivirus plan; the 30-day trial is the only way to try it without paying.
- The VPN starts at the Premium tier and covers only 3 devices there; Ultimate raises that to 10.
- Ultimate is sold for 5 or 10 devices only, and its identity protection is run by a US-based team.
- Small offices get a separate plan, Small Business Security, at $179.99 a year for 5 devices.
Common questions
What are the alternatives to ESET?
The alternatives to ESET in this directory are Bitdefender, Kaspersky, Norton 360, Malwarebytes, Avast, F-Secure, Sophos Home and Trend Micro. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with ESET.
Is there a free alternative to ESET?
Yes. Bitdefender, Malwarebytes, Avast, F-Secure and Trend Micro have a free plan alongside paid ones.
Which ESET alternatives work on Linux?
The ESET listing does not include a Linux app. Kaspersky lists one.
Which ESET alternatives work on iOS?
The ESET listing does not include an iOS app. Bitdefender, Kaspersky, Norton 360, Malwarebytes, Avast, F-Secure, Sophos Home and Trend Micro list one.
When were these prices checked?
Every listing on this page was checked on Oct 17, 2026, against the pages it cites. Vendors change prices without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.