ESET Smart Security
by ESET
Lightweight antivirus with banking protection and minimal system impact
Score
Score
Our verdict
ESET provides lightweight antivirus with excellent detection rates, banking browser protection, and minimal system resource usage for performance-conscious users.
Overview
Screenshot
Score breakdown
Overall score
Scores are editorial assessments by the Compare Best AI team on a 0–10 scale.
Expert review
CBAI Editorial Team
Compare Best AI · Editorial Team
ESET has earned a reputation for being the lightest full-featured antivirus. System impact is minimal — ideal for older computers or users who prioritize performance. Detection rates are consistently strong in independent tests.
How we tested
Days tested
30 days
Tasks evaluated
- ·Detection testing
- ·System impact measurement
- ·Banking protection
- ·Performance benchmarking
Method
Compared against Norton and Bitdefender
Reviewer
CBAI Editorial Team
Plans & pricing
ESET HOME Security Essential
Antivirus, banking/browsing protection, multi-device essentials
- 1 device first-term: $49.99/yr; 2=$54.99; 3=$59.99; 4=$64.99; 5=$69.99 (US store ppc-data)
- Real-time antivirus (incl. macOS availability noted)
- Safe banking and browsing
- Smart home and smartphone protection
- Firewall, Wi-Fi and network shield
- AI-powered threat detection
- Multi-year discounts shown in store (e.g. 2Y/3Y savings messages)
ESET HOME Security Premium
Added VPN, encryption, stronger privacy layers
- 1 device first-term: $79.99/yr; 2=$84.99; 3=$89.99; 4=$94.99; 5=$99.99
- Everything in Essential feature set plus encryption of sensitive data/photos
- Elevated file and folder security
- Unlimited VPN traffic (up to 3 VPN devices for ≤10-device Premium; up to 5 when >10 devices)
- Enhanced browser & privacy protection
- Free-trial marketing: continue from $6.67/mo after 30-day Premium trial
- 30-day free trial available (1 device; VPN not included in trial per free-trial FAQ)
ESET HOME Security Ultimate
VPN + VPN for Router + Identity Protection + ransomware remediation
- Individuals Ultimate configurator starts at 5 devices: $179.99/yr first term
- Unlimited VPN (up to 10 devices when purchased ≤10 devices; up to 25 when >10)
- VPN for Router
- Proactive identity protection (dark web scanning, credit monitoring, $1M recovery insurance, etc.)
- Ransomware defense and recovery
Family Protection Pack — Essential (15 devices)
Family multi-device Essential coverage
- 15-device Family pack Essential first-term total $92.62/yr (US store)
Family Protection Pack — Premium (15 devices)
Family multi-device Premium coverage
- 15-device Family pack Premium first-term total $121.87/yr
Family Protection Pack — Ultimate (15 devices)
Family multi-device Ultimate coverage
- 15-device Family pack Ultimate first-term total $199.87/yr
Pricing may vary by region. Always verify on the vendor's website.
Feature comparison
| Feature | ESET Smart Security | Norton | Bitdefender |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lightweight | |||
| Lightest full-featured AV | |||
| Banking | |||
| Secure Banking browser | |||
Is it right for you?
Good fit for
Performance-conscious users
Lightest resource usage of major antiviruses
Online banking
Isolated browser for financial transactions
Less suited for
Feature-bundle seekers
Norton includes VPN and identity monitoring
Free antivirus
Avast or Windows Defender for free protection
User reviews
Editorial score
Distribution is estimated from our editorial score. Verified user reviews coming soon.
Use cases
Typical ways teams rely on this tool — from everyday tasks to specialized workflows.
- Lightweight antivirus
- Banking protection
- Performance-friendly security
Integrations
Reported connectors
Apps and services commonly connected out of the box or via official connectors.
- Windows
- Mac
- Android
Privacy & compliance
Security & data practices
Highlights we track from the vendor's documentation. Always confirm current terms, subprocessors, and regional policies on their official site.
- GDPR-ready
Details
Category
Price
- Legacy ESET Smart Security Premium replaced by ESET HOME Security Essential / Premium / Ultimate. US store first-term annual (Individuals): Essential 1–5 devices $49.99–$69.99/yr
- Premium 1–5 devices $79.99–$99.99/yr
- Ultimate from 5 devices $179.99/yr. Family Protection Pack 15 devices: Essential $92.62, Premium $121.87, Ultimate $199.87 /yr. Free trial page markets Premium from $6.67/mo after 30-day trial. Extra smartphone add mentioned as $5/year on antivirus page.
Free version
Best for
- Home endpoint antivirus protection
- Secure online banking and shopping
- Password management add?ons
Frequently asked questions
ESET Smart Security
Security & IT
Ready to get started?
Visit the ESET Smart Security website to explore plans and start your free trial.
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