ESET
Antivirus and home security plans priced by device count
ESET report card
Good · out of 4.0 · graded Oct 17, 2026
Best for plain antivirus priced by the number of devices
ESET prices its plans by how many devices you protect, and covers Windows, Mac and Android. Five devices on HOME Security Essential cost $139.98 over two years, with no first-year deal that runs out, and the 30-day trial needs no card. There's no iPhone app on record, though, and the VPN only starts at Premium.
Who ESET is for
- Great if you want antivirus on one PC or Mac without a pile of extras
- Handy when you'd rather pay for 2 or 3 years at once for a lower yearly rate
- Good for trying before you buy, with a 30-day trial and no card
Who ESET is not for
- 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 and covers only 3 devices there
Why ESET gets a 2.6
Five grades, each with its reason. The GPA is their average: an A is 4 points, an F is none.
- CValue for moneyHOME 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.
- CFree plan and trialNo free version, but a 30-day free trial with no credit card. When it ends, you pay or you're unprotected.
- BFeaturesReal-time protection, a secured browser for banking, a firewall, and checks on your router and smart devices. Premium adds a VPN and file and USB encryption, and Ultimate US identity protection. Only the VPN is stingy: 3 devices on Premium.
- BEase of useNo store rating on record. It's software you install and leave running, with nothing to set up first.
- BPlatforms and integrationsWindows, 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.
What these grades rest on. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from ESET's own pages on 17 October 2026. Its store page showed no prices to our reader when we went back to check it. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews. How we review and grade.
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<a href="https://toolgpa.com/tools/eset#review"><img src="https://toolgpa.com/badge/eset.svg" alt="ESET: 2.6 GPA on ToolGPA" width="196" height="56"></a>Where ESET stands among antivirus apps
ESET's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 7 of the 14 other antivirus apps we grade, and level with 2.
It stands best on features (B, above 4 of 14) and worst on value for money (C, above 3).
Its paid plans start at $1.08 a month when paid by the year, against a middle price of $4.17 for the category: 0 of the 10 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 3.0 out of 4, and no tool on the category's chart scores higher without costing more.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 15 antivirus apps we grade, cut by the letter each got. ESET’s own letter is outlined.
- CValue for moneyAbove 3 of 14, level with 11
- CFree plan and trialAbove 3 of 14, level with 7
- BFeaturesAbove 4 of 14, level with 10
- BEase of useAbove 2 of 14, level with 10
- BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 14, level with 14
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 11 antivirus apps. Further left costs less, and higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Point at a dot to see which tool it is.
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
Keep ESET, or make your own?
Keep it
To replace ESET you would be making an engine that recognises new malware as it appears. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
It costs $12.99 a year.
What you could not
- An engine that recognises new malware as it appears.
- Servers in dozens of countries, kept fast and private.
- Apps for macOS, Windows and Android that stay in step with each other.
- The depth: we grade its features B, which means it covers the whole job.
What this rests on. ESET’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
What is ESET?
ESET is a security company whose home plans protect Windows PCs, Macs and Android phones. ESET HOME Security comes in Essential, Premium and Ultimate tiers that add a VPN, file encryption and US identity protection, and NOD32 Antivirus is sold on its own for Windows and macOS. Prices rise with the number of devices.
ESET is a paid product with a free trial, starting at $12.99 per year for 1 device (Mobile Security for Android). See every plan
Good for
- Buyers who want a light antivirus for one Windows PC or Mac
- Households covering up to 10 devices on a single plan
- Paying once for 2 or 3 years at a lower yearly rate
Worth knowing
- 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
- 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.
ESET pricing
- Starts at
- $12.99 per year for 1 device (Mobile Security for Android)
- Free plan
- None
- Free trial
- 30-day free trial, no credit card required
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile Security for Android | $12.99per 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 | $39.99per year for 1 device | Real-time antivirus for Windows and macOS only. $49.99 for 3 devices, $59.99 for 5. |
| HOME Security Essential | $49.99per 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 | $79.99per 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 | $179.99per 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. |
Read from eset.com on Oct 17, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with ESET before you buy.
Ways to pay less
- Other savingsSave 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.
Stated on eset.com
ESET alternatives
- ESET vs Bitdefender
Free plan · from $49.99/yr
- ESET vs Kaspersky
Free trial · from $64.99/yr
- ESET vs Norton 360
Free trial · from $84.99/yr
- ESET vs Malwarebytes
Free plan · from $59.99/yr
- ESET vs Avast
Free plan
Common questions
Is ESET free?
No, ESET is a paid product, but you can try it first. 30-day free trial, no credit card required.
How much does ESET cost?
ESET lists 5 plans. Mobile Security for Android: $12.99 per year for 1 device. NOD32 Antivirus: $39.99 per year for 1 device. HOME Security Essential: $49.99 per year for 1 device. HOME Security Premium: $79.99 per year for 1 device. HOME Security Ultimate: $179.99 per year for up to 5 devices. Prices were read from eset.com on Oct 17, 2026.
What platforms does ESET work on?
ESET is available on Windows, macOS and Android.
Does ESET offer any discounts?
ESET publicly lists the following: Save 15% on 2 years and 20% on 3 years.
Does ESET have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 17, 2026. ESET is listed for Windows, macOS and Android.
Does ESET have a Linux app?
No Linux app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 17, 2026. ESET is listed for Windows, macOS and Android.
Is ESET open source?
ESET is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 17, 2026.
Who makes ESET?
ESET is made by ESET.
What are the alternatives to ESET?
The closest alternatives to ESET in our directory are Bitdefender, Kaspersky, Norton 360, Malwarebytes and Avast. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with ESET.
How does ESET compare with other antivirus apps?
ESET's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 7 of the 14 other antivirus apps we grade, and level with 2. It stands best on features (B, above 4 of 14) and worst on value for money (C, above 3).
Is ESET good value for money?
ToolGPA grades ESET C for value for money. Its paid plans start at $1.08 a month when paid by the year, against a middle price of $4.17 for the category: 0 of the 10 others that charge start lower. On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 3.0 out of 4, and no tool on the category's chart scores higher without costing more.
Could I make my own version of ESET?
To replace ESET you would be making an engine that recognises new malware as it appears. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one. It costs $12.99 a year. What you could not make: An engine that recognises new malware as it appears. Servers in dozens of countries, kept fast and private. Apps for macOS, Windows and Android that stay in step with each other. The depth: we grade its features B, which means it covers the whole job. This is a judgement from its listing. We have not built one.
Sources for this page
The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Oct 17, 2026.