Updated September 29, 2026 · ShieldCue Editorial Team
ESET vs Norton
ESET vs Norton: the differences
| Compare | ||
|---|---|---|
| Devices | 3 to 25Higher | 1 to 10 |
| Server countries | 40 to 70 | from 100 |
| Money-back period | 30 days | 60 daysHigher |
| Protocols | WireGuard, IKEv2, OpenVPN UDP, OpenVPN TCP, Stealth, Wstunnel | Mimic, WireGuard, OpenVPN, IPsec |
| Features | Kill switch, Split tunnelling, Obfuscation | Screen time, Web filter, Location |
| Streaming services | Various streaming platforms | Streaming |
| Monthly price | Not confirmed | $34.99 |
| No-logs audit | Not confirmed | VerSprite, July 2025 (Technical Privacy Impact Assessment) |
| Renewal price | Not confirmed | $59.99 |
| Jurisdiction | BR | Not confirmed |
| Owner | Not confirmed | Gen Digital Inc. |
| Longest plan (months) | Not confirmed | 24 months |
Same on both: Platforms (Windows, MacOS, Android, iOS).
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Key differences
- Norton scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 9.2.
- Devices is higher at ESET: 3 to 25 vs 1 to 10.
- Protocols: only ESET offers IKEv2, OpenVPN UDP, OpenVPN TCP.
- Protocols: only Norton offers Mimic, OpenVPN, IPsec.
- Features: only ESET offers Kill switch, Split tunnelling, Obfuscation.
- Features: only Norton offers Screen time, Web filter, Location.
- Streaming services: only ESET offers Various streaming platforms.
- Streaming services: only Norton offers Streaming.
- Support channels: only ESET offers Email.
- Money-back period is higher at Norton: 60 days vs 30 days.
Our verdict on each
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.
Norton
Norton suits households who want antivirus, a VPN, a password manager and parental controls under one subscription, and it stays affordable after the first term. Norton Deluxe opens at $19.99 and renews at $59.99, which is still under the antivirus median of €49.95.
Score breakdown
| Area | ESET | Norton |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Not confirmed | 9.6Norton Deluxe opens at $19.99 and renews at $59.99, priced below the antivirus median of €49.95. |
| Offer | 9.0 | 9.1Higher |
| Privacy | 9.5Company is ESET, spol. s r.o., headquartered and registered in BR, founded 1992, with support across email, help centre and community. | 9.9Higher |
Pick ESET if, pick Norton if
Pick ESET if devices matter most.
Pick Norton if privacy and money-back period matter most.
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | ESET | Norton |
|---|---|---|
| VPNs | 8 of 232 | 20 of 232 |
| Antivirus software | 7 of 92 | 15 of 92 |
| Free VPNs | 7 of 189 | 16 of 189 |
| Free antivirus | 5 of 62 | 11 of 62 |
Also worth a look
OpenVPN Access Server has devices at 2 to 2,000, against 3 to 25 for ESET and 1 to 10 for Norton.
OpenVPN Access Server reviewSources behind this comparison
ESET
- eset.com: 14 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Norton
- us.norton.com: 16 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- en.wikipedia.org: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
- lifelock.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | ESET | Norton |
|---|---|---|
| Features | No logs, Streaming, TravelCovers more | No logs, Streaming |
| Audience | Business | Not confirmed |
| Pricing model | Not confirmed | Free |
| Legal entity | ESET, spol. s r.o. | Gen Digital Inc. |
| Headquarters | Brazil | United States |
| Founded | 1992 | 1982Lower |
| Support channels | Email, Help centre, Community, PhoneCovers more | Phone, Help centre, Community |
Antivirus
| Fact | ESET | Norton |
|---|---|---|
| First-year price | R$64.22 | $19.99 |
| Free version | Yes | Yes |
| Extras | VPN, Parental controls | VPN, Password manager, Parental controlsCovers more |
Identity protection
| Fact | ESET | Norton |
|---|---|---|
| Credit bureaus monitored | Not confirmed | 1 to 3 |
| Insurance amount | Not confirmed | $1,050,000 to $3,000,000 |
| Family plan price | Not confirmed | $18.75 to $52.50 |
| Free trial length | Not confirmed | 7 days |
Password managers
| Fact | ESET | Norton |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Not confirmed | $9.99 |
| Free plan | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Encryption | Not confirmed | Encrypted online vault; data stored encrypted in the cloud |
Parental controls
| Fact | ESET | Norton |
|---|---|---|
| Yearly price | Not confirmed | $49.99 |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | ESET | Norton | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | Not confirmed | $34.99highest quarter | $9 |
| Devices | 3 to 25highest quarter | 1 to 10at the median | 10 |
| Server countries | 40 to 70above the median | from 100highest quarter | 62 |
| Renewal price | Not confirmed | $59.99highest quarter | $12 |
| Money-back period | 30 daysat the median | 60 dayshighest quarter | 30 days |
| Longest plan (months) | Not confirmed | 24 monthsabove the median | 12 months |
Median across 139 listed providers.
Pros and cons
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.
Norton
Pros
- Entry price of $19.99 for Norton Deluxe is well under the antivirus median of €49.95, and renewal at $59.99 still sits low.
- One subscription covers 1 to 10 across Windows, macOS and Android and bundles vpn, password manager and parental controls that would otherwise be separate subscriptions.
- A free version of the apps lets you try the security side before paying, with a free trial of 7 days and a money back window of 60 days.
Cons
- Renewal sits well above entry: Norton Deluxe jumps from $19.99 to $59.99, and many antivirus plans renew under €3.97 a month.
- The Norton Deluxe device allowance of 1 to 10 is behind the antivirus median of 10, while Apple covers more device types through iOS, iPadOS and macOS.
- Support runs on phone, help centre and community, so help is by phone, help centre and community only.
Who each suits
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.
Norton
Who it suits
- Households wanting vpn, password manager and parental controls bundled into one subscription rather than bought separately.
- Apple households already inside iOS, iPadOS and macOS who want protection that extends beyond their own devices.
- Buyers who want a free version of the apps, a free trial of 7 days and a money back window of 60 days before committing.
Who should look elsewhere
- Shoppers on a strict budget who only want a password manager, at $9.99 on its own.
- Buyers who need a device allowance above the antivirus median of 10.
- People who want a US supplier replaced by a European option, since US is the stated headquarters country.
Current offers
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
Norton
Current offer
First period offer
Norton AntiVirus Plus limited-time offer: $19.99 first year (66% off, $59.99 renewal)
US annual subscription, auto-renews at $59.99/year unless the renewal is cancelled
Source, checked September 26, 2026
First period offer
Norton 360 Deluxe limited-time offer: $29.99 first year (76% off, $124.99 renewal)
US annual subscription for 5 devices, auto-renews at $124.99/year unless the renewal is cancelled; works out as $2.50/month
Source, checked September 26, 2026
First period offer
Norton 360 Standard limited-time offer: $24.99 first year (73% off, $94.99 renewal)
US annual subscription for 3 devices, auto-renews at $94.99/year unless the renewal is cancelled
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Free trial
Norton free trials
A payment method is required at sign-up and will be charged at the end of the trial period, unless cancelled first
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | ESET | Norton |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | No | Yes |
| Brazil | Yes | No |
| France | No | Yes |
| Germany | No | Yes |
| Ireland | No | Yes |
| Italy | No | Yes |
| Japan | No | Yes |
| Netherlands | No | Yes |
8 of 13 countries where either is available.
Questions about each
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.
Norton
How much is Norton Deluxe for the first year?+
Norton Deluxe costs $19.99 for the first year. That is the introductory figure, not the ongoing one, and it sits under the antivirus median of €49.95. Several Norton products are sold separately, so the plan you choose changes the entry price.
What does Norton Deluxe cost when it renews?+
Norton Deluxe renews at $59.99, so the price roughly triples once the first term ends. That renewal is still low among antivirus plans, where comparable products sit around €3.97 a month. Budget for the renewal figure rather than the entry price.