The verdict
It's a dead heat.
Neither pulls ahead on the published figures and review sites, so the decision is in the details this comparison cannot see. Check the current figures on both pages.
Choose AVG if…
- • You want AVG's edge on how much it blocks and is there a free version
Choose ESET if…
- • You want ESET's edge on how often it cries wolf and how much it slows your pc
Round by round
- Round 1How much it blocksAVG winsAVG8/10
99.3%
AV-Comparatives Real-World Protection Test, February to May 2026
Source: av-comparatives.org ↗
ESET5/1098.5%
AV-Comparatives Real-World Protection Test, February to May 2026
- 98.5%, against 99.3%
Source: av-comparatives.org ↗
AVG wins this round on independent review-site data, not on its own claims.
- Round 2How often it cries wolfESET wins
ESET wins this round on independent review-site data, not on its own claims.
- Round 3How much it slows your PCESET wins
ESET wins this round on independent review-site data, not on its own claims.
- Round 4Is there a free versionAVG winsESET5/10
30-day free trial
no free version; 30-day free trial of the paid product
- No free version, against Free version
Source: eset.com ↗
AVG wins this round on independent review-site data, not on its own claims.
- Round 5What AV-TEST scored itTie
Nothing to separate them here.
- Round 6What customers say on TrustpilotTie
Nothing to separate them here.
Side by side
- paid only
- 5.5, against 3.3
- 99.3%, against 99.5%
- 5, against 2
- 5.5, against 4.2
- 98.5%, against 99.3%
- 4.2, against 3.3
- 98.5%, against 99.5%
- 4.5 out of 5, against 4.6 out of 5