ClamAV vs ESET (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 12, 2026, ESET grades higher than ClamAV: 2.6 against 2.4 out of 4.0.
Checked Oct 17, 2026 and Nov 12, 2026 · graded Oct 17, 2026 and Nov 12, 2026 by ToolGPA
ClamAV grades higher on value for money and the free plan. ESET grades higher on features, ease of use and platforms.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
ESET
Antivirus and home security plans priced by device count
Which one is for you
Pick ClamAV if
- Fits if you run Linux or a mail server and want a free scanner
- Works for a sysadmin who's comfortable on the command line
Look elsewhere if
- Not for you if you want a desktop antivirus with a window, because there's no graphical app
- Skip it if you want real-time protection on Windows or Mac, as on-access scanning is documented for Linux only
- Too light for your only protection, since the docs say it isn't a traditional antivirus or endpoint suite
- Watch out: it wants about 3 GiB of RAM and 5 GiB of free disk with the standard database
Pick ESET if
- Fits if you want antivirus on one PC or Mac without a pile of extras
- Works for buyers who'd rather pay for 2 years at once, which takes 15% off
Look elsewhere if
- Not for you if your household runs on iPhones, as there's no iPhone app on record
- Skip it if a VPN matters, as it starts at Premium, $79.99 a year, and covers only 3 devices there
- Watch out: there's no free plan, so when the 30-day trial ends you pay or you're unprotected
- Pricey if you want identity protection, as Ultimate is $179.99 a year, sold for 5 or 10 devices only, and its identity protection is US-based
- Watch out: small offices are sent to a separate plan, Small Business Security, at $179.99 a year for 5 devices
How we grade them
| 2.4GPAClamAVFair | 2.6GPAESETGood | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | AFree and open source under the GPL v2, with signature updates from Cisco. Anyone can download and run it. | CHOME Security Essential is $69.99 a year for 5 devices, with no first-year deal on record, so two years cost $139.98, about $5.83 a month. That's above the dearer quarter of antivirus but short of the dearest tenth. A 2-year term takes 15% off. |
| Free plan and trial | AFree outright, with no plan limits on record. The docs suggest 3 GiB of RAM and 5 GiB of disk for the standard database. | CNo free version, but a 30-day free trial with no credit card. When it ends, you pay or you're unprotected. |
| Features | DCommand-line and daemon scanning, archive support, signed databases and mail gateway focus. The docs point to Cisco Secure Endpoint for a full antivirus. | BReal-time protection, a secured browser for banking, a firewall, and checks on your router and the other devices on your home network. Premium adds a VPN and file and USB encryption, and Ultimate US identity protection. Only the VPN is stingy: 3 devices on Premium. |
| Ease of use | DNo store rating on record, and you work through a command line and config files. | BNo store rating on record. It's software you install and leave running, with nothing to set up first. |
| Platforms and integrations | CWindows, Mac and Linux, but computers only: no phone app and no graphical interface. | BWindows, Mac and Android, and the VPN runs on a home router too. There's no iPhone app on record and no API, so B is the ceiling. |
| Best for | free command-line malware scanning | plain antivirus priced by the number of devices |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: ClamAV and ESET. How we grade
Price against what you get
ClamAV has no paid plan and scores 1.3 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. ESET starts at $1.08 a month when paid by the year and scores 3.0.
ESET scores higher, and starts $1.08 a month higher: the question is whether the extra is worth that to you. Of the other antivirus apps on the chart, none scores higher than ClamAV for less, and none scores higher than ESET for less.
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
Where they differ
- ClamAV is open source, according to its own site.
- ESET also covers vPN.
At a glance
| ClamAV | ESET | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free trial |
| Starts at | Free | $12.99 per year for 1 device (Mobile Security for Android) |
| Free plan | Free and open source under the GNU General Public License v2, with signature updates published by Cisco. | None |
| Free trial | None listed | 30-day free trial, no credit card required |
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| Android | ||
| Made by | Cisco | ESET |
| Price read from | docs.clamav.net | eset.com |
| Checked | Nov 12, 2026 | Oct 17, 2026 |
Worth knowing
ClamAV
- ClamAV's own docs say it is not a traditional antivirus or endpoint security suite and point to Cisco Secure Endpoint for that.
- Real-time on-access scanning is documented for Linux only.
- The downloads page offers installers and source packages; it does not offer a desktop app with a graphical interface or a mobile app.
- The docs recommend at least 3 GiB of RAM and 5 GiB of free disk space for the scanner with the standard signature database.
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.
Key features
ClamAV
- Command-line and daemon scanning
- Includes a command-line scanner for on-demand file scans and a multi-threaded scanner daemon, with an automatic signature updater.
- Mail gateway focus
- The docs describe it as designed especially for e-mail scanning on mail gateways, and the About page lists a milter interface for sendmail.
- Archive and file format support
- Scans inside archives such as Zip, RAR, 7Zip, Tar and ISO, and reads PE, ELF and Mach-O executables, Office files, PDF and HTML.
- On-access scanning on Linux
- The ClamOnAcc client for the ClamD daemon scans files as they are accessed on modern Linux, and can block access until a file has been scanned.
- Signed signature databases
- Signature databases are signed, so the scanner only executes trusted definitions, and the databases are updated several times a day.
ESET
- Real-time malware protection
- Blocks viruses, ransomware, spyware and phishing as they arrive, with AI-based detection aimed at new threats.
- Safe banking and browsing
- A secured browser mode for banking and shopping that helps keep payment details away from phishing pages and snooping software.
- Firewall and network checks
- A firewall and network shield, plus tests of your home router and smart devices for weak points.
- ESET VPN
- Premium and Ultimate include a no-logs VPN with unlimited traffic, split tunneling on desktop and Android, and a version that runs on a home router.
- File encryption
- Premium and Ultimate encrypt sensitive files and USB drives and let only trusted apps change protected folders.
- Identity protection
- Ultimate adds dark web scanning, 1-bureau credit monitoring, SSN tracking and identity recovery with $1M insurance from a US team.
Plans
ClamAV
ClamAV$0
Open-source engine, scanner daemon and updater. You install and run it yourself, with no paid edition.
ESET
Mobile Security for Android$12.99
per year for 1 device
Protection for Android phones and tablets, with safe banking, network checks and anti-theft. $22.99 for 3 devices, $32.99 for 5.
NOD32 Antivirus$39.99
per year for 1 device
Real-time antivirus for Windows and macOS only. $49.99 for 3 devices, $59.99 for 5.
HOME Security Essential$49.99
per year for 1 device
Antivirus, safe banking and browsing, firewall and Wi-Fi protection across devices. $69.99 for 5 devices, $94.99 for 10.
HOME Security Premium$79.99
per year for 1 device
Adds ESET VPN with unlimited traffic on up to 3 devices, file and USB encryption and folder protection. $99.99 for 5 devices, $124.99 for 10.
HOME Security Ultimate$179.99
per year for up to 5 devices
Adds VPN for 10 devices and routers, ransomware remediation and US identity protection with $1M insurance. $204.99 for 10 devices.
Ways to pay less
ClamAV
No public discounts listed.
ESET
- Other savings
Save 15% on 2 years and 20% on 3 years
HOME Security Essential and Premium cost less per year on longer terms: Essential for 1 device is $84.98 for 2 years or $119.98 for 3, instead of $49.99 a year.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, ClamAV or ESET?
As of Nov 12, 2026, ClamAV is cheaper to start with: it is free, against $1.08 a month when paid by the year for ESET. ClamAV is free, and ESET starts at $12.99 per year for 1 device (Mobile Security for Android).
Which has a free plan, ClamAV or ESET?
As of Nov 12, 2026, only ClamAV has a free plan. ESET does not, though it has a free trial.
Which platforms do ClamAV and ESET run on?
As of Nov 12, 2026, only ClamAV lists a Linux app and only ESET lists an Android app. Both list macOS and Windows apps. A platform missing from a listing is one its maker's pages did not mention.
More comparisons
How this page was made
- The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
- The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
- Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
- The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.