2026

ESET vs Surfshark Antivirus

ESET and Surfshark Antivirus 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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Surfshark Antivirus

8.8

/ 10

Surfshark Antivirus is part of the Surfshark One suite, combining virus protection with VPN, data breach alerts, and a private search engine. The antivirus detects malware in real time and protects your webcam from unauthorized access. The biggest advantage: unlimited devices at the same price. Ideal for families and shared households looking for an all-in-one security package at a top price. Pure antivirus protection is solid but not quite at the level of Bitdefender or Norton.

1st Year PriceCHF 59.90 RenewalCHF 119.90 PlatformsWindows, Mac, Android

Protection 8.8

Performance 9.0

Best for 9.2

First-year price 9.3

Key features 8.5

Support 8.2

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Our Verdict

ESET and Surfshark Antivirus are evenly matched.

Both products are evenly matched – the decision depends on your personal requirements.

Our verdict

ESET and Surfshark Antivirus 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, Surfshark Antivirus at CHF 60. 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, Surfshark Antivirus on price-performance. 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	Surfshark Antivirus
Real-time protection	Yes	Yes
Built-in VPN	No	Yes
Password manager	No	No
Anti-tracking / anti-phishing	Yes	No
Parental controls	No	No
Identity protection	No	Yes
Low system impact	Yes	Yes
Platforms	Windows, Mac, Android	Windows, Mac, Android
Number of devices (standard licence)	3	999
System impact in daily use	Very low	Very low

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Frequently asked questions about ESET vs Surfshark Antivirus

Which scores higher on protection, ESET or Surfshark Antivirus?

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 Surfshark Antivirus?

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 Surfshark Antivirus?

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 Surfshark Antivirus?

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.