2026

ESET vs Kaspersky

ESET and Kaspersky compared side by side: protection, performance, pricing, and features. Which antivirus suits you better?

ESET

8.8

/ 10

ESET Home Security Essential is the top choice for users seeking a lean, high-performance security solution. The software barely taxes the system, making it excellent for gamers, freelancers, and older hardware. Protection levels are very high, even though the feature set is slimmer than Norton or Bitdefender. In return, renewal costs are more moderate than many competitors.

1st Year PriceCHF 37.90 RenewalCHF 54.90 PlatformsWindows, Mac, Android

Protection 9.4

Performance 9.5

Best for 8.5

First-year price 8.3

Key features 8.4

Support 8.7

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Kaspersky

9.0

/ 10

Kaspersky has been among the absolute top performers in independent antivirus tests for years. The Plus suite offers excellent real-time protection, VPN, password manager, and privacy tools. The Premium version adds parental controls and identity protection. Note: Kaspersky has faced scrutiny in some countries due to its Russian origin – in Switzerland and the EU, the software remains freely available and consistently receives top ratings from independent labs.

1st Year PriceCHF 42.90 RenewalCHF 79.90 PlatformsWindows, Mac, Android, iPhone / iPad

Protection 9.7

Performance 9.0

Best for 8.8

First-year price 8.4

Key features 9.3

Support 8.5

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Our Verdict

Kaspersky narrowly wins – ESET is the leaner choice.

Kaspersky scores 9.0 / 10 overall and is the stronger pick on protection and feature scope. If you value maximum performance, low resource use and lower renewal costs, ESET is the better fit. Both are excellent options for Swiss users.

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Our verdict

ESET and Kaspersky come out tied at 8.8 out of 10 in our rating. The decision should not hinge on overall score but on your concrete needs.

On price, ESET currently sits at CHF 38 in year one, Kaspersky at CHF 43. Watch the renewal price closely: both are transparently listed in the table above and matter more long-term than the introductory price.

Strength profiles: ESET scores highest on system impact, Kaspersky on protection. If you care most about one of those dimensions, the choice is clear. For all-round needs, either product is a safe pick.

Feature-by-feature comparison

Criterion	ESET	Kaspersky
Real-time protection	Yes	Yes
Built-in VPN	No	Yes
Password manager	No	Yes
Anti-tracking / anti-phishing	Yes	Yes
Parental controls	No	Yes
Identity protection	No	No
Low system impact	Yes	No
Platforms	Windows, Mac, Android	Windows, Mac, Android, iPhone / iPad
Number of devices (standard licence)	3	5
System impact in daily use	Very low	Very low

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Frequently asked questions about ESET vs Kaspersky

Which scores higher on protection, ESET or Kaspersky?

Both reach top scores in AV-TEST and AV-Comparatives – the differences are small. The exact scores are in the comparison table above.

Which is cheaper in year 1 and on renewal – ESET or Kaspersky?

Look at the price columns above: year-one price and renewal price are stated transparently side by side. The renewal delta is often the bigger cost factor over 3 years.

Which is better for families, ESET or Kaspersky?

Both offer family plans for 5–10 devices. What matters: does the product have a dedicated parental-controls mode, screen-time management and a smooth setup. Details in the feature table.

Do I get better Mac/mobile support with ESET or Kaspersky?

Platform support is listed in the comparison above. Generally: macOS performance is best with Bitdefender and Intego; Android protection is most mature with Bitdefender, Norton and Kaspersky.