Does ESET include a VPN?

No, ESET HOME Security does not bundle a VPN at any consumer tier.

Is ESET good for old or low-spec PCs?

Yes — it's our top recommendation specifically for older hardware thanks to its minimal footprint.

Does ESET offer business protection?

Yes, via ESET PROTECT, a separate endpoint-security line for teams and servers.

Is there a free version of ESET?

No permanent free tier; a 30-day trial is available instead.

WindowsMacAndroidReal-Time Protection

ESET HOME Security Essential

The lightest footprint of any suite we test, built for performance

ESET trades some bundled extras for the lowest system impact in our entire test pool, making it the clear pick for older or resource-constrained PCs.

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Overall score

9.3

out of 10

Price

$39.99/yr (Essential, 1 device)

Platforms

Windows, Mac, Android

Best for

Home, Business

Support

Business-hours live chat and email

Protection Rate99%

ESET's detection engine performs at the top of independent lab rankings while keeping false positives unusually low.

Performance Impact100%

This is the lightest suite in our tests: negligible impact on boot time, file operations, or gaming, even on older hardware.

Pros

✓Lowest measured system impact of any suite tested

✓Excellent detection with very few false positives

✓Advanced anti-phishing and exploit-blocking tools

✓Strong, dedicated business/endpoint product line

Cons

–No VPN or password manager bundled at any tier

–No permanent free tier, only a trial

–Per-device pricing adds up for larger households

Features

The Essential tier keeps things focused on core protection — ransomware shielding, exploit blocking, and phishing defense — without VPN or password manager bloat.

Advanced machine-learning detection

Anti-phishing & exploit blocker

UEFI scanner

Ransomware shield

Device performance monitoring

Business/endpoint tier available

Pricing

Per-device pricing at $39.99/yr for one device is reasonable for a single machine, but multi-device households will pay more than an all-in-one suite.

UI / UX

The interface is utilitarian and fast, aimed at users who want clear status information without a lot of upsell noise.

Compare with

ESET HOME Security Essential vs Bitdefender Total Security →ESET HOME Security Essential vs Norton 360 Deluxe →ESET HOME Security Essential vs Kaspersky Premium →

Reviewed by

Jordan Voss · Editor-in-Chief, Security Testing

Frequently asked questions

ESET's engine is purpose-built for low resource usage, and Essential deliberately skips VPN/password-manager modules that add background overhead.