Choosing an antivirus to clean your PC and protect it from threats is not always easy. In this post, we compare Bitdefender Antivirus Plus versus ESET NOD32 Antivirus to help you see the pros and cons of each.
Bitdefender Antivirus Plus
Bitdefender Antivirus Plus is one of the best entry-level antivirus programs on the market. It includes a large set of useful options relative to its price. It has the ability to protect a system comprehensively and its scanning capabilities are very effective. It can protect your system from many types of internet threats before they have a chance to cause damage. Many reputable security organizations have tested Bitdefender Antivirus Plus and it has shown provided positive results.
It can also protect your wallet and privacy by stopping phishing schemes and safeguarding your browser. It uses a light system load and will likely not show any noticeable effect on your computer’s performance.
Plusses
- Small resources usage
- Fast scans
- VPN included
- Safe banking tools
- Very good malware protection
Bitdefender runs on very little resources so we did not notice any slowdown while using it.
Minuses
- Malware detection is not always perfect
- No firewall included
- Extra installation steps
- Scans take awhile
One thing missing from Bitdefender Antivirus Plus is a firewall. This is a useful tool that provides extra security for computers connected to the internet and which users should have on their systems.
Depending on which scan type you choose, they can take a long time to complete. There are other antivirus programs that run faster scans. However, there may be a lack of scan thoroughness with these other programs.
For more information, see our Bitdefender Antivirus Plus Review here.
ESET NOD32 Antivirus
ESET NOD32 Antivirus has an easy and straightforward installation process. It provides good antivirus protection and includes a self-configuring firewall. This is an effective antivirus program that ordinary PC users can benefit from. ESET is a longstanding brand with many satisfied users around the world. ESET has several packages available for Macs and Android systems as well.
NOD32 has a friendly user interface with most options just two clicks away from the main screen. There is a left-hand menu that handles all important parts of the program.
NOD32 provides good basic protection for a user’s computer. But if a user is looking for a more advanced antivirus suite, another product may be better.
In our test, NOD32 did not slow down our system noticeably while scanning. There are many reviews online that report a similar result.
NOD32 is missing some useful features. These include a VPN and a firewall. If you are looking for these tools, you will have to look elsewhere for a complimentary product. Fortunately, NOD32 works well alongside other antivirus products on the market.
Plusses
- Clean and straightforward user interface
- Highly rated reviews in independent tests
- Good variety of plans
- State-of-the-art malware detection
- No drain on computer speed
- Easy installation
- Anti-phishing protection
- Good enough for Google to use for its Chrome browser
Minuses
- Average malware protection
- Few useful extra features
- Provides basic Windows protection
- No 24 – hour tech support
- No VPN
- No Firewall
- No Automatic Backup
- No File Shredder
- No Automatic Database Update
For more information, see our ESET NOD32 Antivirus Review here.
Price Comparison
Bitdefender Antivirus Plus 1 Device – $39.99
ESET NOD32 Antivirus 1 Device – $29.99
Our Verdict
Both of these programs have good scanning and antivirus capabilities. The price difference is actually minimal because Bitdefender includes an additional VPN. If you would like to have a VPN for internet use, perhaps Bitdefender is a better option. Neither has a firewall included, so purchasing a second program for this may be necessary if you do not want to rely solely on Windows Defender. Fortunately, these two programs should work well alongside other system protection tools.
To Recap…
This comparison should help you decide which of these two powerful antivirus products you want to try on your PC to maximize its protection from online threats.
For more information, read our Bitdefender Antivirus Plus Review here, and our ESET NOD32 Antivirus Review here.
To see other comparable antivirus programs, see our Antivirus Mega Review Roundup here.
