ESET vs VIPRE (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 12, 2026, ESET grades higher than VIPRE: 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
ESET grades higher on platforms. VIPRE grades higher on value for money. They get the same grade on the free plan, features and ease of use.
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
VIPRE
Home antivirus in three tiers, from basic scanning to a VPN bundle
Which one is for you
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
Pick VIPRE if
- Fits if you run one Windows PC and want a basic antivirus
- Works for Windows users who may later want a VPN in the same bundle
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you use a Mac or iPhone, as the listing shows Windows only
- Watch out: the page does not say how many devices a plan covers
- Pricey if you renew: the yearly prices shown are heavy discounts off $38.49, $60.49 and $153.99
- Tight if you want the firewall, patching or privacy tools, which are on the dearer tiers and Windows only
How we grade them
| 2.6GPAESETGood | 2.4GPAVIPREFair | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | 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. | BAntivirus Plus is $14.99 a year, but that is shown as 61% off $38.49. At the full $38.49 it is about $3.20 a month, still near the cheaper quarter of antivirus. Renewal and device count are not stated. |
| Free plan and trial | CNo free version, but a 30-day free trial with no credit card. When it ends, you pay or you're unprotected. | C30-day free trial for new users, and a 30-day money-back guarantee. The page does not mention a card. |
| Features | 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. | BReal-time and cloud protection, firewall, email protection, patching and a VPN on the top tier. Nothing in the listing is missing from the job. |
| Ease of use | BNo store rating on record. It's software you install and leave running, with nothing to set up first. | BNo store rating on record. It is installed software that starts working after install. |
| Platforms and integrations | 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. | DThe firewall, phishing protection and patching are listed as Windows only. Android Security is a separate product that was not priced. No integrations. |
| Best for | plain antivirus priced by the number of devices | a basic Windows antivirus |
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: ESET and VIPRE. How we grade
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. VIPRE starts at $1.25 a month when paid by the year and scores 2.3.
ESET scores higher and starts $0.17 a month lower. Of the other antivirus apps on the chart, none scores higher than ESET for less, and 2 score higher than VIPRE 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
At a glance
| ESET | VIPRE | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free trial | Free trial |
| Starts at | $12.99 per year for 1 device (Mobile Security for Android) | $14.99 per year (Antivirus Plus; page does not say whether this renews) |
| Free plan | None | None |
| Free trial | 30-day free trial, no credit card required | 30-day free trial for new users |
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Android | ||
| Made by | ESET | VIPRE Security Group |
| Price read from | eset.com | vipre.com |
| Checked | Oct 17, 2026 | Nov 12, 2026 |
Worth knowing
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.
VIPRE
- The pricing page does not say how many devices a plan covers or whether the shown yearly price is a first-term price.
- The firewall, phishing protection, patching and privacy features are listed as Windows-compatible only.
- Android Security and Privacy Shield are separate products listed in the home menu; they were not priced here.
- Sold with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Key features
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.
VIPRE
- Real-time and cloud protection
- Uses machine learning and cloud-enabled scanning to detect malware, spyware and ransomware.
- Firewall and email protection
- Advanced Security adds a firewall plus protection against phishing and spam. These features are listed as Windows only.
- Third-party patching
- Advanced Security keeps other installed apps up to date; listed as Windows only.
- Privacy tools
- The Ultimate bundle adds a webcam and microphone blocker, browsing track cleaner and dark web scanner.
- VPN
- The Ultimate bundle includes an unlimited VPN described as covering all devices.
Plans
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.
VIPRE
Antivirus Plus$14.99
per year; renewal price and device count not shown
Malware, spyware and ransomware detection, real-time scans and cloud-enabled protection. Shown as 61% off a crossed-out $38.49 a year.
Advanced Security$19.99
per year; renewal price and device count not shown
Adds third-party patching, phishing and spam protection, a firewall and behavioral analysis, all Windows only. Shown as 66% off a crossed-out $60.49 a year.
Ultimate Security Bundle$39.99
per year; renewal price and device count not shown
Adds a browsing track cleaner, webcam and microphone blocker, dark web scanner, document auditing and an unlimited VPN. Shown as 74% off a crossed-out $153.99 a year.
Ways to pay less
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.
VIPRE
No public discounts listed.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, ESET or VIPRE?
As of Nov 12, 2026, ESET is cheaper to start with: $1.08 a month when paid by the year, against $1.25 a month when paid by the year for VIPRE. ESET starts at $12.99 per year for 1 device (Mobile Security for Android), and VIPRE starts at $14.99 per year (Antivirus Plus; page does not say whether this renews).
Which has a free plan, ESET or VIPRE?
As of Nov 12, 2026, neither ESET nor VIPRE has a free plan. Both have a free trial.
Which platforms do ESET and VIPRE run on?
As of Nov 12, 2026, only ESET lists macOS and Android apps. Both list a Windows app. 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.