Best Antivirus Software · head-to-head

ESET vs Avast

A sourced, side-by-side comparison for antivirus software. Avast has the lower entry price. Every figure links to the vendor's own page and the date we captured it.

Avast has the lower entry price — ESET starts at $3.33/mo, Avast at $0/mo. Free tier: ESET No, Avast Yes. HIPAA: ESET —, Avast —.

As of 2026-06-14 · figures link to their source below

Side by side

ESET

$3.33/mo entry
Entry price$3.33/mo (ESET NOD32 Antivirus (1 device))
Free tierNo
HIPAA (BAA)
SOC 2
GDPR
Best forSecurity-focused users who value a vendor with a clean track record

Avast

$0/mo entry
Entry price$0/mo (Avast Free Antivirus)
Free tierYes
HIPAA (BAA)
SOC 2
GDPRYes
Best forBudget users wanting a full-featured forever-free antivirus

Sources — ESET: security.org (verified 2026-06-14) · Avast: avast.com (verified 2026-06-14)

Key features

ESET: AI-powered threat detection engine (NOD32 technology, 30+ years); File encryption with military-grade protection (Premium+); VPN for Router protects entire home network at router level (Ultimate); Identity theft protection with $1M insurance and credit monitoring (Ultimate); Clean security history — no documented breaches or major lawsuits

Avast: AI-powered Avast Assistant for scam detection in messages; Webcam Shield blocks unauthorized camera access (paid); Ransomware Shield protects files from unauthorized encryption; Network Inspector detects Wi-Fi intruders and router vulnerabilities; Avast is part of Gen Digital (same parent as Norton/AVG) — shared threat intelligence

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