saasrankedSoftware, ranked on the facts

antivirus product · ESET, spol. s r.o.

ESET

Paid antivirus for Windows and Mac, from NOD32 Antivirus to ESET HOME Security, with a firewall from the Essential tier.

65/100

#6 of 10 antivirus products
Facts checked 8 Oct 2026

In short

ESET suits people who want a light paid antivirus for Windows or Mac. NOD32 Antivirus costs $39.99 a year with anti-phishing, and HOME Security Essential adds a firewall for $49.991,2. The catch is that there is no free edition, no iOS app and no rescue disk since 20231,4.

Best for: People who want a light paid antivirus for Windows or Mac.

Where the points come from

Independent lab results32 of 45
Protection features19 of 25
Price4 of 20
Refunds and security10 of 10

Independent lab results 32 of 45 points

RuleWhat is publishedPoints
AV-TEST score18 of 18AV-TEST, July and August 2026: 18 of 18 (ESET Security Ultimate 19.1 & 19.2).615 / 15
AV-Comparatives awardADVANCEDAV-Comparatives, February to May 2026: ADVANCED (ESET).710 / 15
AV-Comparatives protection rate98.5%AV-Comparatives, February to May 2026: 98.5% (ESET).77 / 15

Protection features 19 of 25 points

RuleWhat is publishedPoints
Systems coveredWindows, macOS, AndroidApps for Windows, macOS and Android; ESET says it does not provide a security solution for iOS1,2.6 / 8
FirewallYesHOME Security Essential and higher include a firewall; NOD32 Antivirus does not1.5 / 5
Ransomware protectionYesFolder Guard in HOME Security Premium lets only trusted apps change protected folders1.5 / 5
Rescue or offline scanNoESET SysRescue Live reached end of life on September 29, 20234.0 / 4
Browser protectionYesNOD32 Antivirus includes anti-phishing against fraudulent websites1.3 / 3

Price 4 of 20 points

RuleWhat is publishedPoints
Free edition with real-time protectionNoESET's product list offers paid plans and a 30-day free trial, not a free edition2.0 / 8
First-year price$39.99/yrNOD32 Antivirus, 1 device, 1 year1.4 / 6
Price from the second yearNot publishedESET says the price shown is valid for the first term only1.0 / 6

Refunds and security 10 of 10 points

RuleWhat is publishedPoints
30-day refundYes30-day return policy with a full refund of the purchase price3.5 / 5
SOC 2 Type II or ISO 27001YesESET, spol. s r.o. is ISO 27001:2022 certified5.5 / 5

The rule behind each line: how we score antivirus products.

Plans and prices

As the vendor lists them, before tax. Prices are in US dollars unless the plan shows euros; the points use US dollars, with euros converted at the ECB rate.

PlanPrice as listedPer monthNotes
NOD32 Antivirus, 1 device1 Windows PC or Mac$39.99/year1$3.33No firewall
NOD32 Antivirus, 3 devices3 devices$49.99/year1$4.17No firewall
HOME Security Essential, 1 device1 device$49.99/year2$4.17Adds firewall
HOME Security Premium, 1 device1 device$79.99/year2$6.67Adds Folder Guard
HOME Security Ultimate, 5 devices5 devices$179.99/year2$15Adds Ransomware Remediation
Mobile Security, 1 device1 Android device$12.99/year2$1.08

ESET says the price shown is valid for the first term only and does not show a renewal price1.

Strengths

  • Anti-phishing is included in the cheapest plan1.
  • Full refund within 30 days3.
  • The company is ISO 27001:2022 certified5.
  • HOME Security plans can add an Android phone or tablet for $5 a year each1.

Limits

  • NOD32 Antivirus has no firewall and no Folder Guard1.
  • No free edition, only a 30-day trial2.
  • No security app for iOS1.
  • ESET SysRescue Live reached end of life in 20234.

Other antivirus products

  1. 1
    BitdefenderPeople who want a capable free edition or a cheap first year
    94/100
    $24.99/yrfirst-year price
  2. 2
    Microsoft Defender AntivirusWindows users who want protection without buying anything
    88/100
    $0first-year price
  3. 3
    KasperskyBuyers outside the United States who want a firewall in the cheapest plan
    84/100
    $49.99/yrfirst-year price
  4. 4
    AvastPeople who want a free Windows antivirus with real-time protection
    83/100
    $49.08/yrfirst-year price

All 10 antivirus products

Sources

  1. ESET NOD32 - Antivirus for windows & macOS, ESET. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
  2. All products | ESET, ESET. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
  3. Return Policy | ESET, ESET. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
  4. ESET applications scheduled for End of Life, ESET. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
  5. Security Policy | ESET Legal Hub, ESET. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
  6. Test antivirus software for Windows 11 - August 2026, AV-TEST. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
  7. Real-World Protection Test February-May 2026, AV-Comparatives. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.

Website: www.eset.com/us · Markdown version · We are not affiliated with ESET, spol. s r.o..