Our verdict
Both are excellent choices. Choose Bitdefender GravityZone for top detection at a low price and flexible add-ons. Choose ESET PROTECT for a very light agent, a clean console and clear bundles with encryption and sandboxing.
Bitdefender and ESET are both long-established endpoint security vendors with strong independent test results and lightweight agents. Bitdefender GravityZone is known for detection rates and a broad set of add-ons. ESET PROTECT is known for low system impact and a clear, efficient management console. Both are good value for small businesses that do not run Microsoft 365 Business Premium.
Choose Bitdefender GravityZone if…
- You want top detection results at a low per-device price
- You may add patch management, encryption or EDR modules
- You manage a mixed estate including servers
- You prefer a cloud console with many optional add-ons
Choose ESET PROTECT if…
- Low performance impact on older machines matters
- You want a clean console and strong reporting
- You prefer clear tiered bundles (Entry, Advanced, Complete)
- You want cloud sandboxing and full-disk encryption in mid tiers
Side by side
| Criterion | Bitdefender GravityZone | ESET PROTECT |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 8.5 / 10 | 8.4 / 10 |
| Features & fit | 8.8 | 8.4 |
| Ease of use | 8.0 | 8.2 |
| Value for money | 8.8 | 8.6 |
| Support & reliability | 7.6 | 8.0 |
| Security & privacy | 9.0 | 8.8 |
| Integrations & ecosystem | 7.2 | 7.6 |
| Starting price (indicative) | From around $20–30 / device / year (small business bundles) | From around $210 / year for 5 devices |
| Free plan | No | No |
| Free trial | Yes | Yes |
| Best for | Budget-conscious protection | SMBs wanting transparent pricing |
Feature by feature
| Feature | Bitdefender GravityZone | ESET PROTECT |
|---|---|---|
| Price (indicative) | ~ $20–30 / device / year (bundles) | From ~ $42 / device / year (5-device minimum) |
| Free trial | Yes | Yes |
| Independent test results | Excellent | Excellent |
| System impact | Low | Very low |
| Cloud sandbox | Higher bundles | Advanced tier and above |
| Full-disk encryption | Add-on | Advanced tier and above |
| EDR / XDR | Higher bundles | ESET Inspect (higher tiers) |
| Best fit | Detection-first, add-on flexibility | Low-impact, clear tiers |
Pricing compared
Bitdefender GravityZone
| Plan | Indicative price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| GravityZone Small Business | ≈ $25 / device / yr | Per device; bundles vary |
| Business Security Premium | Custom quote | — |
ESET PROTECT
| Plan | Indicative price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| PROTECT Entry | ≈ $42 / device / mo | Per device / year, 5-device minimum |
| PROTECT Advanced | ≈ $55 / device / mo | Per device / year |
| PROTECT Complete | ≈ $58 / device / mo | Per device / year |
| Team size | Bitdefender GravityZone | ESET PROTECT |
|---|---|---|
| 5 seats | $10 (GravityZone Small Business) | $210 (PROTECT Entry) |
| 10 seats | $21 (GravityZone Small Business) | $420 (PROTECT Entry) |
| 25 seats | $52 (GravityZone Small Business) | $1,050 (PROTECT Entry) |
Indicative USD list prices; excludes tax, add-ons and promotions. Confirm on each vendor’s site.
Pricing
Bitdefender's small business bundles run around $20–30 per device per year. ESET PROTECT Entry is around $42 per device per year with a five-device minimum; Advanced and Complete add features at a higher price.
Protection
Both score highly in independent tests. Bitdefender often leads detection benchmarks; ESET is known for very low false positives and system impact.
Features by tier
ESET's Advanced tier adds advanced threat defence (cloud sandbox) and full-disk encryption; Complete adds cloud app and email protection. Bitdefender adds risk analytics, patch management, encryption and EDR as add-ons or higher bundles.
Management
Both offer cloud consoles. ESET's is often praised for clarity; GravityZone is powerful with many policy options.
Support and channel
Both sell directly and through managed service providers. Many small businesses buy through an MSP who manages the console.
Pros & cons
Bitdefender GravityZone
- Strong protection
- Good value
- Broad OS support
- Console has a learning curve
- Add-ons cost extra
ESET PROTECT
- Light on system resources
- Clear pricing
- Cloud or on-prem console
- EDR only on higher tiers
- Interface less modern
Key features of each
Bitdefender GravityZone
- Layered protection. Anti-malware, anti-exploit and firewall.
- Ransomware mitigation. Protects and restores files.
- Patch management. Optional add-on.
- EDR. Detection and response on higher tiers.
Integrates with: Windows, macOS, Linux, Microsoft 365.
ESET PROTECT
- Endpoint protection. Multi-layered antivirus.
- Cloud sandbox. Analyse suspicious files.
- Full-disk encryption. Protect lost devices.
- ESET Inspect. EDR on higher tiers.
Integrates with: Microsoft 365, RMM tools, SIEM.
Who should avoid each
Skip Bitdefender GravityZone if…
- Teams wanting fully managed services by default
Best for: Budget-conscious protection; Mixed OS environments; Small IT teams.
Skip ESET PROTECT if…
- Teams wanting fully autonomous EDR on entry tiers
- Mac-only fleets with niche needs
Best for: SMBs wanting transparent pricing; Older or lower-spec hardware; Organisations needing on-prem console.
Switching between Bitdefender GravityZone and ESET PROTECT
Migration difficulty: Moderate
Both vendors provide removal tools for competitor products. Roll out in waves and confirm each device appears in the new console.
- Export device lists and policies from the current console.
- Deploy the new agent with competitor removal enabled to a pilot group.
- Recreate policies, exclusions and alerts.
- Roll out to remaining devices in waves.
- Cancel the old subscription after every device reports in.
Weigh it your way
Adjust the weights to your priorities to see which tool comes out ahead for you. Print or export the result for your team.
| Tool | Features | Ease | Value | Support | Security | Integrations | Your score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Bitdefender GravityZone | 8.8 | 8.0 | 8.8 | 7.6 | 9.0 | 7.2 | 8.54 |
| 2. ESET PROTECT | 8.4 | 8.2 | 8.6 | 8.0 | 8.8 | 7.6 | 8.44 |
Drag the sliders to match your priorities. Scores are our editorial sub-scores; weights start at the values we publish on the methodology page. Nothing you change is stored or sent anywhere.
How our scores and weights work · Add a third tool side by side
Frequently asked questions
Is Bitdefender cheaper than ESET?
Typically, yes, at entry level. Compare like-for-like bundles because features differ by tier.
Which is better for older PCs?
ESET is known for very low system impact, though Bitdefender is also lightweight.
Do they protect Macs and servers?
Both protect Windows, macOS and Linux, with server protection in business bundles.
Do I need EDR?
EDR helps investigate and respond to attacks, not just block malware. It is valuable if you have someone — internal or an MSP — to act on alerts.
Does Bitdefender GravityZone or ESET PROTECT have a free plan?
Bitdefender GravityZone has a free trial but no permanent free plan; ESET PROTECT has a free trial but no permanent free plan. Indicative starting prices: Bitdefender GravityZone — From around $20–30 / device / year (small business bundles); ESET PROTECT — From around $210 / year for 5 devices.
Which is cheaper for a team of 10, Bitdefender GravityZone or ESET PROTECT?
On indicative list prices, the cheapest paid plan that fits 10 users costs about $21 per month on Bitdefender GravityZone (GravityZone Small Business) and about $420 on ESET PROTECT (PROTECT Entry), so Bitdefender GravityZone is cheaper at that size. Taxes, add-ons and discounts are excluded — and the plan you actually need may be higher.
Which scores higher in our review, Bitdefender GravityZone or ESET PROTECT?
Bitdefender GravityZone scores 8.5/10 and ESET PROTECT 8.4/10 on our weighted rubric. Bitdefender GravityZone leads on 3 of six criteria. A higher score does not make it right for every buyer — see the “choose if” lists above.
