Avast vs ESET: price and which to choose
Quick verdict
Avast has a free antivirus and one paid suite, Premium Security, for 1 PC plus 1 mobile or 10 devices, built around scam protection, with a 30-day trial that needs no card. ESET has no free plan but three tiers for 1 to 25 devices; the VPN is unlimited from Premium, and Ultimate adds identity protection and a router VPN.
Option A
Option B
We compare plans with a similar purpose, whose features may differ; prices before sales tax; prices for other plans and periods are in the reviews.
Feature comparison
| Criterion | Avast | ESET HOME Security |
|---|---|---|
| Free option | Yes | Not listed |
| Paid tiers | Premium Security | Essential, Premium, Ultimate |
| Devices | 1 + 1, or 10 | 1 to 25 |
| VPN | Not listed | From Premium |
| Trial | 30 days, no card | Not listed |
Independent lab tests
These numbers come from lab tests. The scales differ between tests, so we don’t merge them into one score.
| Test | Avast | ESET HOME Security |
|---|---|---|
Real-world protection AV-Comparatives: Real-World Protection Test February-May 2026 · published June 15, 2026 | Blocked 397 of 400 attacks — 99.3% false positives: 5 Tested version: Avast One Free Antivirus | Blocked 394 of 400 attacks — 98.5% false positives: 2 Tested version: ESET HOME Security Essential |
Malware protection AV-Comparatives: Malware Protection Test March 2026 · published April 15, 2026 | Online — 99.97%, offline detection — 96.3% false positives: 9 Tested version: Avast Free Antivirus | Online — 99.93%, offline detection — 96.4% false positives: 16 Tested version: ESET HOME Security Essential |
Impact on computer speed AV-Comparatives: Performance Test April 2026 · published April 22, 2026 | Impact score 5.5 (lower is better) Tested version: Avast Free Antivirus | Impact score 4.2 (lower is better) Tested version: ESET HOME Security Essential |
AV-TEST scores AV-TEST: Windows 11 - June 2026 · tested 2026-05–2026-06 | Protection 6/6, performance 6/6, usability 6/6 Tested version: Avast Free Antivirus | Protection 6/6, performance 6/6, usability 6/6 Tested version: ESET Security Ultimate |
Avast and ESET are both long-running antivirus brands, with different models: a free tier plus one paid suite versus three paid tiers.
If you don’t want to read further
Free protection or scam blocking for email and texts — Avast. A VPN, encryption or identity protection in a tiered suite — ESET.
What really sets them apart
In each row, the last sentence matters most — what the difference means for you.
Is there a free option?
Avast
Yes — Avast Free Antivirus.
ESET HOME Security
No.
Only Avast can be used without paying.
Paid plans?
Avast
Premium Security: 1 PC + 1 mobile, or 10 devices — same features.
ESET HOME Security
Essential, Premium, Ultimate — for 1 to 25 devices.
ESET lets you choose features and device count separately.
VPN?
Avast
Not part of Premium Security.
ESET HOME Security
Unlimited from Premium; router VPN on Ultimate.
For a VPN in the suite, ESET.
Scam protection?
Avast
Email Guard for up to 5 inboxes, SMS and call scam blocking on mobile, website checks.
ESET HOME Security
Safe payments, anti-phishing and Wi-Fi protection from Essential.
Avast goes further on email and text scams.
Where they don’t differ, even though it seems they should
This part is often more useful than the list of differences — it saves money for anyone who was about to pay for an imaginary advantage.
PCs and phones
Both protect a Windows PC and mobile devices.
Priced per year
Both list yearly prices.
Up to 10 devices or more
Avast 10; ESET up to 25.
Which one fits whom
| Your situation | What to choose | On what condition |
|---|---|---|
| You don’t want to pay | Avast Free Antivirus | Basic protection. |
| Scam emails and texts worry you | Avast Premium Security | Email Guard and SMS blocking. |
| You want a VPN included | ESET Premium | Unlimited VPN traffic. |
| You want identity protection | ESET Ultimate | Monitoring and recovery insurance. |
- Avast renews at the regular price after the first year.
- Avast’s Stay Safe Virus Guarantee requires automatic renewal.
- ESET’s 2-year plans save 15% but are paid up front.
- ESET’s features differ by operating system.
Where the facts come from
Sources: Avast’s and ESET’s US product and pricing pages. Prices are in the price blocks on each service’s page.
Facts in the text checked: .
FAQ: Avast or ESET HOME Security
Other comparisons
The same products against other competitors, and other comparisons in the “Antivirus software” category.
Where their scores differ
Only criteria we’ve checked for both services and where the scores differ. Equal criteria and criteria without data aren’t shown here, because they add nothing to the decision.
If what matters most is — price compared with others: Avast Premium Security
Avast Premium Security: 3,25 USD/mo (5,0/5) · ESET Home Security Essential: 5,00 USD/mo (3,0/5)
If what matters most is — false alarms: Avast Premium Security
Avast Premium Security: 9 (4,0/5) · ESET Home Security Essential: 16 (2,0/5)
If what matters most is — protection online: Avast Premium Security
Avast Premium Security: 99,3 % (4,0/5) · ESET Home Security Essential: 98,5 % (3,0/5)
If what matters most is — number of protected devices: Avast Premium Security
Avast Premium Security: 2 (2,0/5) · ESET Home Security Essential: 1 (1,0/5)
The scores and their weights are the same as in the reviews of both services. How we calculate
Comparison text updated: