Kaspersky vs ESET - antivirus softwarte comparison for 2020

Kaspersky or ESET, which Antivirus is better

Undeniable ESET and Kaspersky antivirus software are among the best security measuring products you could have in 2020. But have you ever wondered which one of them is better? If yes, then read our full analysis of the two antivirus programs, which will lead you to the answer you were looking for all along.

A full Run-down of Kaspersky and ESET Antivirus Software:

Are you tired of lengthy articles? Do you want to learn the conclusion of the comparative analysis of Kaspersky and ESET antivirus software quickly? Then we have got you covered as this specific section is just for you, which is written in a precise manner so that you will learn the conclusion quickly:

• Pricing – Kaspersky was the apparent winner thanks to the coverage it offers on 3 devices with the basic plan – Kaspersky Antivirus Software;
• Antivirus Protection Rating – Kaspersky gave out a perfect 100% efficiency rating in both the tests that we used to check the protection potency of the antivirus software. ESET lagged a bit behind and was unable to match Kaspersky’s scores – Kaspersky Antivirus Software;
• System-Performance Impact – The performance of the PC was flawless when we performed the routine on it with Kaspersky as the sole antivirus software, and it had the all the perfect scored to back the claim – Kaspersky Antivirus Software;
• Features – The features of both ESET and Kaspersky were vast, and it would have an injustice to one service if we had picked a sole winner. The contest was declared a draw – Tie (ESET and Kaspersky Antivirus Software);
• User Interface – Kaspersky’s interface was clear, stylish, and intuitive as we were able to access each feature within seconds upon launching the app. The winner was Kaspersky Antivirus Software;
• Customer Support Service – Kaspersky failed in offering better customer service due to a lack of necessary facilities like live chat and email support. ESET came in prepared to fight in this round as it covered all the ends in offering the best customer support service one could have hope for – ESET antivirus software;

ESET or Kaspersky – Which antivirus software you should buy in 2020?

There are certain qualities every antivirus product should have in order to make it big in the competitive free market. In this article, we will judge the superiority of Kaspersky and ESET antivirus software based on such qualities that we have also mentioned in the previous section. The judgment after each segment will assist us in determining the winner of the bout between Kaspersky and ESET antivirus software.

Kaspersky was the clear winner against ESET antivirus software due to its affordable multi-device offers:
The service provider of the antivirus software should come up with a way to make their product cost-effective or affordable so that more users with average income are able to purchase it. The vendors need to allow their soon to be customers the opportunity to share their account to a specific limit of platforms/devices/users. In this comparison of the pricing offers of Kaspersky and ESET antivirus software, we will see whether both of them offer such type of convenience to the masses and which one them give out the best value of money in terms of accessibility and sharing.

Kaspersky’s Pricing Offers

Although the most basic package of Kaspersky antivirus is limited to the Windows PC, the software service offers the user to share their account across a maximum of three devices. The same goes for all the other basic and premium as you can use the specific account on more than one platform with a maximum limit permitting usage on 10 devices at once. You can see the offers in the table below:

	Anti Virus	Internet Security	Total Security
Security Defends against viruses, ransomware & more	✔	✔	✔
Performance Protects without slowing you down	✔	✔	✔
Simplicity Simplifies security to save you time and hassle	✔	✔	✔
PC, Mac & Mobile Secures your devices – in any combination	✗	✔	✔
Privacy Helps you keep your private life… private	✗	✔	✔
Money Protects when you’re online banking & shopping – on PC & Mac	✗	✔	✔
Safe Kids Parental controls & extra features – to protect kids on PC, Mac & mobile	✗	✗	✔
Passwords Manages & stores passwords – and syncs for access from PC, Mac & mobile	✗	✗	✔
File Protection Helps secure your precious photos, music & files – on PC	✗	✗	✔
Software pricing	$29.99 $59.99	$39.99 $79.99	$49.99 $99.99

ESET’s Pricing Offers

ESET offers its window shoppers a chance to look deep into the features of their product in the form of a free trial without any prior terms and conditions or credit card information. It provides packages for a solo user to a customer who wishes to use the software on 10 devices. The rates are also affordable as the most basic plan starts at the cost of $39.99 per year. You can see the rest of the details on all the pricing plans in the tables below:

1. ESET Nod32 Antivirus:

The one device plan starts at $39.99, but if you wish to use ESET on multiple devices(5), then you would have to pay $79.99. Offers for 2 and 3 years are also available that you can check in the table published below:

2. ESET Internet Security:

Starting in at $49.99 per year the internet security offers you the proper means for protection on the web across a single device. The ten-device offer is quite affordable and getable at $139.99/year. The extended details are as follows:

3. ESET Smart Security Premium:

This plan, which is full of every premium feature of security and privacy for the user, is available at the miserly price of $59.99 across a single device. The multi-year and device plans are as follows:

4. ESET Cyber Security for Mac:

If macOS users feel left out, then there is no need to worry as ESET offers a complete plan to tackle any cyber-security problem for a small price of $59.99 across a single Mac-based computer. You can check the following table for the rest of the packages:

5. ESET offers Mobile Security for Android:

For the most popular smartphone interface in the world(Android), ESET antivirus software has extensive coverage for protection, which starts at $14.99 per year on just a single device. The Android user can share their account on as much as five phones for a maximum of 3 years per plan. The full details are as follows:

ESET had more detailed coverage for each and every brand of electronics that users access frequently. But its packages were still more expensive than Kaspersky antivirus software, and the fact that its most simple plan was quite affordable and available across multiple devices was the deciding factor in it winning the pricing round.

Winner: Kaspersky Antivirus Software.

Kaspersky showed added vigilancy against viruses and malware as compared to ESET antivirus software – Latest protection report 2020

The time to remain idle and to perform the routine operations is the thing of the past as with the ever so high growth rate of malware attacks, and antiviruses are required to be extra vigilant. In this part of the analysis of Kaspersky and ESET antivirus software, we will show how well both performed in the following tests and how active and responsive they were against all the latest versions of malware:

• Real-World Testing (Protection against malware and email attacks);
• Detection of the latest malware that were identified by our experts.

Kaspersky antivirus software’s protection rating:

We performed the test mentioned above while keeping Kaspersky antivirus software as the sole program on the computer to protect it from viruses. Kaspersky backed up its claim to be among the top names in the market by scoring 100% efficiency in both the tests without sounding any false alarms and responding to a thousand different samples of malware. We gave it a rating of 10 out of 10.

ESET antivirus software’s protection rating:

ESET was unable to impress us during the real-world testing procedure as it only got an efficiency rating of 97.4% while letting several signature-less malware pass by the screening net. However, ESET redeemed itself when we ran past conventional but most recent malware through it, and it was able to detect each one of them without any issue. For this, we decided to give ESET antivirus software a score of 9.0 out of 10.

Although ESET got the protection rating score of 9.0 and gave a picture-perfect efficiency rating of 100 in identifying the latest malware, it was still no match to Kaspersky’s perfect score of 10 with both testing methods. It is why the winner of the protection rating comparison round was Kaspersky antivirus software.

Protection rate	kaspersky kaspersky kaspersky
Protection agains 0-day malware attacks (web and email threats)	100%	97.4%
Detection of most common spread malware in last 4 years	100%	100%
Protection Score	10	9.0

Winner: Kaspersky Antivirus Software.

The impact on the system caused by ESET and Kaspersky antivirus software

While understanding the multitasking abilities of the antivirus software, there is no doubt that they lessen or produce some impact on the performance of the system. We have arranged for the following tests to determine such anomalies while using ESET and Kaspersky antivirus software:

• Opening websites on the browser like Youtube and Facebook;
• Installing new applications;
• Downloading new applications;
• Sharing data within the confines of the system;
• Opening standard programs with ample storage capacity on the machine.

ESET antivirus software’s impact on the system:

After using all the scenarios mentioned above, we came to the conclusion that ESET allowed our experts to perform their routine operations or functions on the computer freely, and all the hiccups they felt were due to outdatedness of the system. However, the time when our team tried to install newer software on the PC took a bit longer than usual, and for that, we decided to give ESET antivirus software a score of 9.0.

Kaspersky's antivirus software’s impact on the system:

Kaspersky was compatible with every type of PC as per the showed by the ratings. The results that came were below the industry average of all the scenarios mentioned above, and for that reason, it got a full score of 10 out of 10.

System-performance	kaspersky kaspersky kaspersky
Slowing-down when launching popular websites	21%	10%
Slower download of frequently-used applications	0%	3%
Slower launch of standard software applications	6%	7%
Slower installation of frequently-used applications	16%	33%
Slower copying of files (locally and in a network)	1%	1%
Overall rating	10	9

Most of the scores that we collected with ESET antivirus software matched the industry average of every independent cybersecurity agency, but it still fell a bit behind the results/outcomes of Kaspersky antivirus software, as it had the least bit of impact on the performance of the system.

Winner: Kaspersky Antivirus Software.

Both Kaspersky and ESET antivirus software got an extended variety of security features that were second to none

Multitasking ability of the antivirus software determines their market value and how serious the vendors are in maintaining the security of their users. In this part of the article, you will understand the diversity of functions and facilities presented by Kaspersky and ESET antivirus software:

Kaspersky antivirus software’s features:

Kaspersky antivirus software has left no room for viruses and hackers to creep into the devices of their customers due to the supreme variety of features the service presents with the “Total Security” plan. Here are the facilities offered by Kaspersky antivirus software that it has classified under different categories:

1. Real-Time Antivirus(Antivirus Defense Engine);
2. Exploit Prevention(Antivirus Defense Engine);
3. Social Network Monitoring(Parental Control);
4. Adult Content Blocker(Parental Control);
5. Two-Way Firewall(Anti-Hacking);
6. Data Shredder (Anti-Hacking);
7. VPN with a data allowance of 300 MB per day(Privacy Protection);
8. Webcam Protection(Privacy Protection);
9. Password Manager(data management)

ESET antivirus software’s features:

Similar to Kaspersky antivirus software, ESET also has a superb library of security features that are accessible with the premium package. Here are some of the key functions:

1. Malware Remover;
2. Password Manager;
3. Anti-Theft Notifier;
4. Payment Protection;
5. Gaming Speed Booster;
6. Webcam Protection;
7. Parental Control;
8. Data Encryption.

This contest was a definite draw as both services showed extreme dedication in providing the best security service that the user could possibly have hoped. Even though Kaspersky had more features as compared to ESET antivirus software, we felt that it would have been unfair to the other service if we picked out a single winner.

Result: Tie (ESET and Kaspersky Antivirus Software).

Kaspersky antivirus software had a more stylish and friendlier interface while ESET left a lot to be desired

The interface of any software makes or breaks the product and plays a pivotal role in deciding its marketability. If the interface is choppy, sluggish, and does not present an excellent layout to the user, then the chances of the user dumping the product and switching it altogether rises. In this part of the comparative analysis, we will show you our verdict on which software had a better interface.

ESET antivirus software’s interface:

ESET antivirus software offers its users an out of the box way to scan infected files individually by the method of dragging and dropping the said file into its interface. It not only saves time but allows the user to carry on with their routine operations on the system as such a process doesn’t require much RAM space.

ESET internet security screenshot

Once you launch the ESET software on the PC, the first thing you will be braced with is the flashy white and yellow background, which is sometimes not easy to the eyes. The main menu is on the left in the form of a vertical list with options like Home, Computer Scan, Tools, Setup, and Support. Although these options are operatable upon a single click, the icons of each one of them are pretty small and hard to access with the mouse. Overall the entire interface of ESET was quite decent, but there was quite a lot left to be desired, taking into account the vast spaces between the vertical menu and the scanning option in the middle.

Kaspersky antivirus software’s interface:

With Kaspersky’s reddish icon at the top-left corner and the whole layout consisting of emerald green and white color, Kaspersky antivirus software’s interface is genuinely incredible.

Kaspersky Antivirus Screenshot. Protection is on

The big message in the middle notifies of the current status of your system, and at the bottom half you have the full freedom to pick any of the following options to initiate the security features of the service:

• Scan;
• Parental Control;
• Privacy Protection;
• Quarantine;

If you do not achieve the satisfaction you need with the list as mentioned earlier of options, then Kaspersky offers you to select other functions through the “More Tools” options available below the flat icons. If you wish to know the current status of your subscription, then the interface has a timer placed at its bottom-right corner to keep you alert at all times. In short, Kaspersky’s interface was a complete combo!

Kaspersky’s interface was the winner as it was elegant and even more accessible for the user against ESET. However, with minor tweaks with the icon size and reshuffling of the color palette, ESET’s interface will be rated among the leading software in no time.

Result: Kaspersky Antivirus Software.

ESET had a better sought out support section for customer satisfaction as compared to Kaspersky antivirus software

Businesses develop customer care services within their infrastructure to learn the pattern of issues that occur with their users and offer multiple solutions to fix them. It is key for vendors like that to create the antivirus software to provide a stable support section that features quick fixes for their customers in a permanent setting. In this section, we will see how well Kaspersky and ESET have sorted out their customer care program and which one was better than the other.

Kaspersky antivirus software’s customer support service:

The support program that is accessible from the official website of Kaspersky Labs consists of the following options that contain various options such as FAQs, guides, and videos to tackle standard software related issues for each platform that Kaspersky supports like Window, macOS, and Android:

• Kaspersky for Home and Mobile;
• Kaspersky for Business;
• Security Tips.

Furthermore, Kaspersky’s community forum offers a complete platform for the user interaction with the support staff and their fellow account holders, which makes up for the lack of live chat facility.

ESET antivirus software’s customer support service:

If you intend to give full marks to the client care program of any business, then the service provider should possess all the necessary options for their user to pick at any given time. The same is the case with ESET antivirus software as it lays out all the facilities in the book for its clients for support such as FAQ, Email support, Video tutorial platform, Live chat with a representative, and a community forum.

The FAQ section is arranged in such a manner that users of different platforms(Win, macOS, Android, and Linux) are able to access them quickly without going through much trouble. Even though the live chat facility is available for users living in North America, it is still better than having no such facility at all. The separate Youtube channel of ESET gives an in-depth insight of all the latest talk of the town regarding the virus threats with guides to remedy them. Moreover, the community forum keeps the users updated with all the latest things happening with the software while allowing them to socialize with fellow users.

Kaspersky antivirus software’s support service has a long way to go in order to compete with the big guns like ESET. The lack of email and live chat support is essential for a business to survive and grow. ESET understands that fact to the core thanks to the variety of facilities that it offers to ease the problem of its users quickly. For that reason, ESET won this round.

Result: ESET Antivirus Software.

ESET and Kaspersky’s place in the market in 2020

Stats and records are the two things that derive both the individual person and the business forward. It is vital for the product of any kind to know how well they are performing against its competitors. OPSWAT is the firm that releases the market share report of antivirus software every few months that allow the users and the business to judge the position of the product. According to the latest report that was released in January 2020, Norton is the top antivirus software in the world with a 13.67% share of the market, while ESET got the third spot with 12.85% of the stock. Kaspersky, on the other hand, was a different story as it only got the 7th position thanks to a fair share of 6.40%.

Ranking Antivirus Software Market Share

Manufacturer/Brand	Market share
	13.67%
	12.94%
	12.98%
	10.06%
	9.09%
	7.45%
	6.4%
	4.68%
Cylance Inc.	4.19%
Trend Micro	3.67%
Other	15%

Winner: ESET Antivirus Software.

In the battle Kaspersky versus Eset wins Kaspersky

Due to the convenience that modern technology in the form of the internet, smartphones, and other electronics offers us, it is a no brainer to use them to our advantage. But there is always a downside to every utility in the world as our over-reliance on such things have made our data and personal files more vulnerable than ever against the likes of computer viruses and hackers.

Antivirus programs are explicitly designed to fight against such threats, and every user must keep some type of antivirus software enabled on their particular device. Confusion may occur for the user on what product or service to select to serve the purpose, which is quite understandable given the variety that is available on the market.

	kaspersky kaspersky kaspersky
Antivirus protection	10	9.0
System-performance impact	10	9.0
User interface	10	9.0
Popularity	8	5
Regular pricing	From $29.99 / device for 1 year	From $39.99 / device for 1 year
Discount for our users	-50% Off	-20% Off

In this article, we judged all the good and the bads of ESET and Kaspersky antivirus software that are among the most recognizable antivirus products in the world. We concluded that Kaspersky antivirus software was the winner of this contest against ESET after checking out various aspects like their pricing policy, the protection rating, and how well they performed with an average system.

Overall Winner: Kaspersky Antivirus Software.