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Updated September 29, 2026 · ShieldCue Editorial Team

Avira (Gen Digital) vs ESET

Avira (Gen Digital) scores 9.1 and ESET 9.2 out of 10. Compare their differences and shared features below.
Avira (Gen Digital)

Avira (Gen Digital)

9.1/10
Visit
ESET

ESET

Higher score in this comparison

9.2/10
Visit

Avira (Gen Digital) vs ESET: the differences

Avira (Gen Digital) vs ESET
CompareAvira (Gen Digital)Avira (Gen Digital)ReviewVisitVisitESETESETReviewVisitVisit
Devices13 to 25Higher
Server countries3640 to 70Higher
Money-back period60 daysHigher30 days
JurisdictionDEBR
FeaturesKill switchKill switch, Split tunnelling, ObfuscationCovers more
Streaming servicesStreaming services (vendor claim: unblocks access to geo restricted services)Various streaming platforms
Monthly price€5.95Not confirmed
Long-term plan price€4.00Not confirmed
Renewal price€4.00Not confirmed
ProtocolsNot confirmedWireGuard, IKEv2, OpenVPN UDP, OpenVPN TCP, Stealth, Wstunnel
OwnerGen Digital Inc.Not confirmed
Longest plan (months)12 monthsNot confirmed

Same on both: Platforms (Windows, MacOS, Android, iOS).

We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings. Partners with a live offer in your country come first, then every other brand by score.

Key differences

  • ESET scores higher overall: 9.2 vs 9.1.
  • Devices is higher at ESET: 3 to 25 vs 1.
  • Server countries is higher at ESET: 40 to 70 vs 36.
  • Features: only ESET offers Split tunnelling, Obfuscation.
  • Streaming services: only Avira (Gen Digital) offers Streaming services (vendor claim: unblocks access to geo restricted services).
  • Streaming services: only ESET offers Various streaming platforms.
  • Money-back period is higher at Avira (Gen Digital): 60 days vs 30 days.
  • Founded is lower at Avira (Gen Digital): 1986 vs 1992.

Our verdict on each

Avira (Gen Digital)

Avira (Gen Digital) suits readers who want a free tier or a short-term plan from a long-established security vendor, not readers shopping on server spread. VPN Pro costs €5.95 a month, with server coverage across 36 countries.

Read the full Avira (Gen Digital) review

ESET

ESET suits households that want antivirus, a VPN and parental controls in one plan, with device counts of 3 to 25 on shared subscriptions. Buyers who put server reach first may prefer Namecheap, since ESET's 40 to 70 sits below the wider VPN field.

Read the full ESET review

Score breakdown

Avira (Gen Digital) vs ESET
AreaAvira (Gen Digital)ESET
Cost9.1The renewal price is €4.00 against €3.97 for the field, and the first-year antivirus price is €47.95.Not confirmed
Offer8.6A free VPN tier, a free antivirus version, a free password manager plan, and support on email, phone and help centre.9.0Higher
Privacy9.9Higher9.5Company is ESET, spol. s r.o., headquartered and registered in BR, founded 1992, with support across email, help centre and community.

Availability and regulation

Avira (Gen Digital) vs ESET
CountryAvira (Gen Digital)ESET
HeadquartersGermanyBrazil

Also worth a look

OpenVPN Access Server has devices at 2 to 2,000, against 1 for Avira (Gen Digital) and 3 to 25 for ESET.

OpenVPN Access Server review

What we checked

Avira (Gen Digital)

  • avira.com: 10 facts, checked September 26, 2026
  • e-shop.avira.com: 7 facts, checked September 26, 2026
  • en.wikipedia.org: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026

ESET

  • eset.com: 14 facts, checked September 26, 2026

How they place

Avira (Gen Digital) vs ESET
RankingAvira (Gen Digital)ESET
VPNs30 of 2328 of 232
Antivirus software18 of 937 of 93
Free VPNs25 of 1897 of 189
Free antivirus12 of 625 of 62

Every fact side by side

Avira (Gen Digital) vs ESET
FactAvira (Gen Digital)ESET
FeaturesNo logs, Streaming, TravelNo logs, Streaming, Travel
AudienceNot confirmedBusiness
Pricing modelFreeNot confirmed
Legal entityAvira Holding GmbHESET, spol. s r.o.
HeadquartersGermanyBrazil
Founded1986Lower1992
Support channelsEmail, Phone, Help centre, CommunityEmail, Help centre, Community, Phone

Antivirus

Avira (Gen Digital) vs ESET
FactAvira (Gen Digital)ESET
First-year price€47.95R$64.22
Free versionYesYes
ExtrasVPN, Password managerVPN, Parental controls

Password managers

Avira (Gen Digital) vs ESET
FactAvira (Gen Digital)ESET
Free planYesNot confirmed
Security auditAV-TEST and AV-Comparatives test certifications, antivirus products only (2020)Not confirmed
Encryption256-bit encryption, bank-gradeNot confirmed

Where each stands against the rest

Avira (Gen Digital) vs ESET
FactAvira (Gen Digital)ESETMedian
Monthly price€5.95below the medianNot confirmed€7.99
Long-term plan price€4.00above the medianNot confirmed€3.99
Devices1lowest quarter3 to 25highest quarter10
Server countries36below the median40 to 70above the median60
Renewal price€4.00lowest quarterNot confirmed€69.99
Money-back period60 dayshighest quarter30 daysat the median30 days

Median across 134 listed providers.

Pros and cons

Avira (Gen Digital)

Pros

  • Free plan on the password manager and a free version of the antivirus, plus a free VPN model
  • VPN Pro carries a 60 day money-back guarantee
  • Password manager protection uses 256-bit encryption, bank-grade in the same bundle

Cons

  • One device at a time on the VPN checkout, below the 8 for VPN plans
  • Server spread of 36 countries trails the 46.5 across VPN plans

ESET

Pros

  • Antivirus plans bundle a VPN and parental controls as vpn and parental controls.
  • The VPN supports WireGuard, IKEv2 and OpenVPN UDP plus kill switch, split tunnelling and obfuscation for routing and connection control.
  • Plans cover 3 to 25 with a money back window of 30 days.

Cons

  • The first year price of BRL 64.22 sits above the €49.95 median across the site.
  • Server reach stops at 40 to 70, short of the 86.75 upper quartile on the site.

Who each suits

Avira (Gen Digital)

Who it suits

  • Readers who want a free VPN or free antivirus tier to start with
  • People already inside the Gen Digital security bundle
  • Travelers who mainly need a working connection, not a wide server choice

Who should look elsewhere

  • Apple Inc. if you want a much lower monthly outlay from Apple services
  • ESET Brasil if you need a wider device allowance than a single connection
  • Sinew Software Systems if broad device coverage matters more than antivirus features

ESET

Who it suits

  • Households sharing one plan across 3 to 25.
  • Families that want parental controls in the same subscription.
  • Small business users covered by a business focused provider.

Who should look elsewhere

  • Travelers who need broader server reach, since Namecheap lists from 100.

Current offers

Avira (Gen Digital)

Current offer

  • Free trial

    Try for 1 month: 1 month

    Payment method required; paid monthly subscription starts when the trial ends unless cancelled

    Source, checked September 26, 2026

  • First period offer

    45% off Avira Prime: 45% off

    Site-wide offer banner on Avira product pages; subscription automatically renews

    Source, checked September 26, 2026

ESET

Current offer

  • Discount code

    ESET Customer Month: up to 40% off

    Promotional banner on the ESET Brasil home and plans pages; applies to ESET HOME Security plans in Brazil

    Source, checked September 26, 2026

  • Free trial

    Free 30-day trial of ESET HOME Security: 30 days

    Download from the ESET Brasil site; FAQ also says the 30-day return policy gives a full refund of the purchase price.

    Source, checked September 26, 2026

Country by country

Avira (Gen Digital) vs ESET
CountryAvira (Gen Digital)ESET
BrazilNoYes
CanadaNoYes
United StatesNoYes

Questions about each

Avira (Gen Digital)

What does the Avira VPN cost each month?+

VPN Pro is €5.95 on the monthly subscription and €4.00 on the longest plan, which runs 12 months. The renewal price matches the long-term figure, so the annual rate is the one to watch. A free plan is also available.

How many devices can use the Avira VPN at once?+

The VPN checkout lists 1 device at a time, well under the 8 for VPN plans. Households with several phones and laptops will need a plan with a wider device allowance than this one.

ESET

How much does ESET cost?+

The first year price is BRL 64.22. Long term plan prices across the site sit at a median of €3.97, so weigh those against the introductory figure rather than assuming one carries the other.

Who is ESET aimed at?+

ESET is built for a business audience, and its protection plans carry a VPN and parental controls as extras. Devices per plan range across 3 to 25, so a household can share one plan without separate subscriptions.

Other options to compare

Avira (Gen Digital)

Visit

ESET

Visit