ESET or Bitdefender – comparison and prices 2026

ESET and Bitdefender are two of the most popular antivirus products among home users and small businesses in Lithuania. Both protect well against viruses, ransomware and scams, so the difference is not in the protection itself but in the extra features, the number of devices and the price. In this article we compare both vendors and help you choose the right plan.

Protection: both among the best

In its 2025 Consumer Main-Test Series, the independent test lab AV-Comparatives gave both vendors its highest award, Top-Rated Product. ESET reached the top Advanced+ level in all seven tests of the series. In practice, this means that whether you choose ESET or Bitdefender, you are not compromising on security – both are reliable.

ESET: light and flexible

ESET is known for putting little load on the computer and for letting you fine-tune its settings. Home users can choose from three plans, and for a single Windows computer there is also the simple ESET NOD32 Antivirus.

ESET HOME Security Essential – antivirus, firewall, safe banking, anti-phishing and home network inspection.
ESET HOME Security Premium – everything in Essential plus a password manager and encryption of files and USB drives.
ESET HOME Security Ultimate – everything in Premium plus unlimited VPN and identity protection.

ESET plans run on Windows, macOS, Android and iOS devices, and you can choose a license for 1 to 10 devices for one or two years.

Bitdefender: many features for a lower price

Bitdefender includes more extra tools in its packages and is usually cheaper when you need to protect several devices. The main plans:

Bitdefender Antivirus Plus – basic protection for a Windows computer and VPN with 200 MB of traffic per day.
Bitdefender Total Security – protection for 5 devices running Windows, macOS, Android and iOS, a password manager, parental control and VPN.
Bitdefender Premium Security – Total Security plus unlimited VPN, a full password manager and email protection.

For large families Bitdefender offers a Family license for up to 25 devices – a rare offer on the market.

Price comparison

Prices are Software.lt store prices at the time of writing (October 2026) for one year, including VAT.

1 Windows computer: Bitdefender Antivirus Plus – €19.95, ESET HOME Security Essential – €40.95.
5 devices, core protection: Bitdefender Total Security – €49.95, ESET HOME Security Essential – €82.95.
5 devices with a password manager: Bitdefender Premium Security – €69.95, ESET HOME Security Premium – €114.95.
Large family: Bitdefender Total Security for up to 25 devices – €79.95, ESET HOME Security Essential for 10 devices – €134.95.

Which to choose

Choose Bitdefender if you want the most features for the lowest price, or if you protect several different devices or a large family. The Total Security plan is especially good value – for 5 devices it costs less than ESET for one.

Choose ESET if your main priority is a computer that does not slow down, if you like to control the settings yourself, or if you need the file and USB drive encryption included in ESET HOME Security Premium. ESET is also a common choice for companies that already use ESET business solutions.

In both cases you will receive the license key and VAT invoice by email after payment, and you download the program from the vendor's official website.

Licenses

Frequently asked questions

Can ESET and Bitdefender be used together?

No. Only one antivirus should run on a device, otherwise the programs interfere with each other and the computer may slow down. Uninstall the old antivirus before installing a new one.

Can the license be used on a Mac and a phone?

Yes. ESET HOME Security plans and Bitdefender Total or Premium Security run on Windows, macOS, Android and iOS devices. Bitdefender Antivirus Plus is for Windows computers only.

What happens when the license expires?

Once the license expires, protection is no longer updated. You can enter a new key in the same program – there is no need to reinstall it.