ESET NOD32 Antivirus vs Kaspersky

Updated November 2026 · AppBreakup editorial

ESET NOD32 Antivirus

Lightweight paid antivirus for Windows and macOS from the Slovak security firm ESET.

Paid

Visit ESET NOD32 Antivirus ESET NOD32 Antivirus profile

Kaspersky

Consumer antivirus and security suite, the successor to Kaspersky Anti-Virus and Internet Security.

Paid

Visit Kaspersky Kaspersky profile

The short answer

ESET NOD32 is a light, configurable antivirus for Windows and macOS only, popular with gamers for its Gamer Mode. Kaspersky is a broader suite covering Windows, macOS, Android, iOS and Linux, with higher plans adding a VPN, password manager and parental controls. Pick ESET for quiet core protection on computers; pick Kaspersky for a bundled suite across devices, unless you are in the US, where it is no longer sold.

ESET NOD32 Antivirus or Kaspersky: our take

ESET NOD32 Antivirus focuses on the basics: real-time antivirus and antispyware, ransomware and phishing blocking, and machine-learning detection, with a small footprint and detailed settings for advanced users. Gamer Mode pauses background tasks and pop-ups during full-screen apps. It runs on Windows 10+ and macOS 13+, and there's no firewall or VPN in this tier; phones need one of ESET's bigger HOME Security plans. There is no free version, but a full-featured 30-day trial is available without a credit card.

Kaspersky folded its old Anti-Virus, Internet Security and Total Security products into three subscription plans: Standard, Plus and Premium. All include real-time protection, payment protection and cleanup tools, and the higher plans add an unlimited VPN, a password manager, identity protection and Safe Kids parental controls. It runs on Windows, macOS, Android, iOS and Linux, and offers a 30-day money-back guarantee rather than a free tier. It scores well in independent lab tests. Its system requirements are broader on Windows (Windows 7 SP1 or later) but stricter on Mac (macOS 14 or later).

The main caveat with Kaspersky is policy, not detection: sales and updates in the United States ended in 2024 after a US government ban, and some organisations elsewhere avoid it for similar reasons. Some users also find the bundled cleanup and upsell tools cluttered if they only want antivirus.

Choose ESET NOD32 if you want light, configurable protection on a PC or Mac without extras, especially for gaming. Choose Kaspersky if you live outside the US and want one subscription covering phones and computers with a VPN and parental controls included.

Choose ESET NOD32 Antivirus if…

PC and Mac users, especially gamers, who want light paid protection without extras
Light on system resources, with a Gamer Mode
Detailed settings for advanced users

Choose Kaspersky if…

Home users outside the US who want a full security suite with VPN and parental controls bundled
You need Android, iOS and Linux, which ESET NOD32 Antivirus doesn't list
Strong results in independent antivirus lab tests
Higher plans bundle VPN, password manager and parental controls

What is ESET NOD32 Antivirus?

ESET NOD32 Antivirus is the entry-level home product from ESET, a Slovak security company whose NOD32 engine has been around since the 1990s. It focuses on core protection: real-time antivirus and antispyware, ransomware and phishing blocking, and machine-learning detection, with a small footprint and multithreaded scans. Gamer Mode pauses background tasks and pop-ups during full-screen apps, which makes it popular with gamers. It runs on Windows 10 and 11 and on macOS 13 or later; Android is covered only by ESET's bigger HOME Security plans, which add a firewall, banking protection and a VPN. There is no free version, but a full-featured 30-day trial is available, and subscriptions are sold yearly by number of devices. It suits people who want a quiet, configurable antivirus without bundled extras.

What is Kaspersky?

Kaspersky is a long-running antivirus brand from the Russian-founded company Kaspersky Lab. Its older standalone products, Kaspersky Anti-Virus, Internet Security and Total Security, were folded into three subscription plans: Standard, Plus and Premium. All of them include real-time scanning against viruses, ransomware and spyware, plus payment protection and cleanup tools such as a duplicate and large-file finder. Higher tiers add an unlimited VPN, a password manager, identity protection and the Safe Kids parental controls. It runs on Windows, macOS, Android and iOS, with Linux support listed for some distributions. Plans are paid yearly subscriptions with a money-back period rather than a free tier. Kaspersky products score well in independent lab tests, but sales and updates in the United States ended in 2024 after a US government ban, and some organisations elsewhere avoid it for similar policy reasons.

Side by side

Attribute	ESET NOD32 Antivirus	Kaspersky
Pricing	Paid	Paid
Open source	No	No
Self-hostable	No	No
Platforms	Windows, macOS	Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux
Best for	PC and Mac users, especially gamers, who want light paid protection without extras	Home users outside the US who want a full security suite with VPN and parental controls bundled
Status	Active	Active

Verified facts, compared

Facts both apps publish, checked on each vendor's own site.

Fact	ESET NOD32 Antivirus	Kaspersky
Platforms	Windows, macOS	Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux
System requirements	Windows 10+, macOS 13+	Windows 7 SP1 or later, macOS 14 or later