Bitdefender GravityZone vs ESET PROTECT
Endpoint Security pricing comparison · 2026
Bitdefender GravityZone pricing ranges from $57–$95.89/per device/year, while ESET PROTECT ranges from $42.2–$67.5/per device/year. These products use different pricing models ( vs Per-seat subscription), so a direct price comparison isn't meaningful — costs depend on usage volume and mix.
Sources & confidence
Every dollar amount and contract clause below traces back to a sourced fact. We don't manufacture composite scores.
Plans at a glance
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Contract terms
The fine print, surfaced. Green = buyer-friendly. Each clause backed by a quoted source.
What users say
Aggregated, with sample sizes. We use whichever review platform has data.
Bitdefender GravityZone and ESET PROTECT are two established endpoint security platforms that compete directly in the SMB and mid-market segments. ESET PROTECT starts lower at $42.20/device/year for its Entry tier, while Bitdefender begins at $57/device/year for Small Business Security. Both offer tiered plans that scale from basic antivirus to full EDR and XDR capabilities.
At the mid-tier level, ESET PROTECT Advanced ($54.90/device/year) includes cloud sandboxing and full disk encryption, while Bitdefender Business Security ($74/device/year) adds web filtering and firewall management. The pricing gap narrows at the premium level: ESET PROTECT Complete costs $67.50/device/year versus Bitdefender Business Security Premium at $95.89/device/year, though Bitdefender includes EDR at this tier while ESET reserves XDR for the custom-priced Elite plan.
Plan-by-Plan Pricing
| Plan | Bitdefender GravityZone | ESET PROTECT |
|---|---|---|
| Small Business Security | Custom | Custom |
| Business Security | Custom | Custom |
| Business Security Premium | Custom | Custom |
| Business Security Enterprise | Custom | Custom |
Cost at Scale
Total cost of ownership — licenses, implementation, and hidden costs included.
Bitdefender GravityZone
4 scenariosESET PROTECT
3 scenariosMarket Intelligence
Bitdefender GravityZone
- Median annual cost
- $8,701
ESET PROTECT
- Median annual cost
- $350
- Based on
- 3 deals
Contract Terms
| Term | Bitdefender GravityZone | ESET PROTECT |
|---|---|---|
| Auto-renewal | Yes | — |
| Cancellation | Must cancel before renewal date to avoid automatic charge at renewal pricing | — |
| Minimum commitment | 1 year typical | Annual subscription, minimum 5 devices |
| Price escalation | Renewal pricing typically 150-250% higher than initial purchase price | — |
| Can downgrade | No | — |
Continue researching
Our Verdict
Choose ESET PROTECT if you prioritize lightweight system performance, competitive pricing, and strong cross-platform support (Windows, macOS, Linux with near feature parity). ESET is particularly strong for organizations with mixed OS environments, educational institutions with competitive EDU pricing, and businesses that want full disk encryption and cloud sandboxing included at the $54.90/device/year tier. The 30-day free trial (extendable to 90 days) lets you evaluate thoroughly before committing.
Choose Bitdefender GravityZone if you need EDR capabilities without jumping to custom enterprise pricing, want access to competitive MSP/RMM channel pricing (often under $1/endpoint), or require the centralized GravityZone management console for multi-client deployments. Bitdefender is the better choice for MSPs and organizations that want EDR at a transparent price point ($95.89/device/year) rather than requiring a custom quote.
Frequently Asked Questions
01 Is ESET cheaper than Bitdefender for business?
Yes. ESET PROTECT Entry starts at $42.20/device/year versus Bitdefender Small Business Security at $57/device/year. At the mid-tier, ESET PROTECT Advanced costs $54.90/device/year compared to Bitdefender Business Security at $74/device/year. ESET's volume pricing also drops more aggressively, with Entry reaching approximately $29.50/device/year at 50 devices.
02 Which includes EDR at a lower price: Bitdefender or ESET?
Bitdefender includes EDR in its Business Security Premium tier at $95.89/device/year with a transparent published price. ESET reserves full XDR capabilities for its PROTECT Elite tier, which requires custom pricing. However, ESET PROTECT Advanced ($54.90/device/year) includes cloud sandboxing for advanced threat defense, which provides some detection capabilities below the full EDR/XDR level.
03 Which has lower system impact: Bitdefender or ESET?
ESET is consistently praised for being exceptionally lightweight. Users report it works well even on 10-year-old hardware with Celeron processors and 2 GB RAM, with 'almost no impact compared to other antivirus.' Bitdefender is also generally lightweight but some users with older hardware report occasional slowdowns during full system scans.
04 Do Bitdefender and ESET both support Mac and Linux?
Yes, both support Windows, macOS, and Linux endpoints. ESET has a notable advantage in cross-platform parity: it can manage both Windows and Mac from a single console with near-full feature parity and deploy natively to Macs without requiring third-party tools. Bitdefender also supports all three platforms through GravityZone but Windows tends to have the most complete feature set.
05 Which offers a better free trial?
ESET offers a 30-day free trial of PROTECT Advanced for up to 25 seats with no credit card required, extendable to 90 days by contacting sales. Bitdefender offers a 30-day free trial of Business Security Premium with full functionality. ESET's trial is more generous due to the longer potential duration and no credit card requirement.
06 What renewal pricing issues exist with each?
Bitdefender has more significant renewal concerns: promotional first-year pricing can jump 2-3x at renewal, and users report difficulty canceling auto-renewal. ESET's pricing has increased over the years but doesn't use the same aggressive promotional-then-full-price model. ESET's multi-year contracts are priced proportionally without additional per-year discounts.