Platform and Devices Accessibility
We were impressed to see that ESET offers antivirus and cybersecurity tools designed for almost every major operating system available on the market today. The company provides suites for Windows, Mac OS, and Android devices, as well as Linux desktop.
The company supports Windows Vista, 7, 8 and 8.1, and 10 (both 32 and 64-bit versions). Mac users with versions OS X Maverick (10.9) can download it, as well as Android users with Lollipop (5.0) or a more current version. Finally, the Linux version of ESET supports Debian, Fedora, Mandriva, Red Hat, SuSE, Ubuntu, and most other popular versions with kernel version 2.6.x or higher.
User Experience
One of the areas where ESET really shines is in its user experience and performance. The company scored top marks on AV-Comparatives’ performance test, which measures its impact on PC functions while it’s running. ESET’s user interface is also user-friendly and straightforward to deploy, with a single menu that shows you all the available tools and menus you need.
Beginners may be somewhat overwhelmed with some of the features available such as script-based protection and UEFI scans. Overall, though, we’ve found that it takes a few minutes of exploring to familiarize yourself with most of the core features you’ll need to successfully protect your devices.
Plans and Rates
ESET does offer a limited trial option, but to unlock the antivirus’ real potential, you’ll have to choose from one of the company’s many offerings. Windows plans begin with the Basic plan, which starts at $39.99 for one device and includes antivirus and antispyware, anti-phishing tools and exploit blocking, UEFI scans and the ransomware shield. The Internet Security plan starts at $49.99 and adds firewall protection, botnet and network attack defenses, antispam, parental controls, webcam security, and banking protection. ESET’s Smart Security package starts at $59.99 and adds in a password manager and secure data transfers for external devices.
Mac users can choose from the Cyber Security and Cyber Security Pro options at $39.99 and $49.99, respectively. They both offer antivirus and antispyware, anti-phishing, removable media control, and automated updates. However, the Pro also adds parental controls and a personal firewall. ESET does offer a free version of its Android antivirus which includes real-time scans, activity logs, remote lock and siren, and tablet support. The $14.99 Premium version also adds security audits and ESET’s connected home monitoring tool. Finally, Linux users can access the ESET NOD32 Antivirus 4 package for desktops starting from $39.99.
Payment Methods
You can pay your ESET subscription with PayPal, or with credit cards including American Express, MasterCard, and Visa.
Customer Service
We were pleased to see that ESET offers free customer support in a variety of languages for users. You can reach the company via support request, live chat, or phone (though only if you’re in the US). The company’s San Diego, USA-based support staff fields calls from 6:00 AM to 5:00 PM Pacific Time between Monday and Friday. Overall, we were impressed with the company’s support staff, which was able to resolve and respond to all of our queries with notable expediency.
If you prefer to solve problems on your own, you can search through ESET’s extensive knowledge base, as well as find tools for more complicated fixes directly on ESET’s website. The company also offers a community forum where some of the company’s experts and other users can help answer any questions that may not have visible solutions or already been addressed in other resources.
Conclusion
As one of the longest-operating antivirus companies on the market, ESET has built itself a sterling reputation, and with good reason. The company consistently scores top marks on both performance and security tests while also containing useful features that make your computer significantly safer from multiple attack threats. With a great selection of devices available and even free Android security, ESET delivers a robust and reliable solution if you’re looking for heavy-duty protection for multiple devices.
