ESET NOD32 vs Malwarebytes
A detailed head-to-head comparison of ESET NOD32 and Malwarebytes based on our 100-point scoring system.
ESET NOD32
ESET NOD32 Antivirus
85/100
Very Good4.4
18,700 reviews
Winner
Malwarebytes
Malwarebytes Premium
86/100
Very Good4.5
14,630 reviews
Side-by-Side Comparison
Metric
ESET NOD32
Malwarebytes
Overall Score
85/100
86/100
Price
$40.00
$44.99
Customer Rating
4.4/5
4.5/5
Review Count
18,700
14,630
Best For
Best Low-Impact Antivirus
Best Malware Removal Tool
About Page
Yes
Yes
Contact Info
Yes
Yes
ESET NOD32 — Score Breakdown
Protection Quality0/25
Performance Impact0/15
Feature Set16/15
Price & Value0/15
Ease of Use5/10
Customer Support3/10
Update Frequency0/10
Malwarebytes — Score Breakdown
Protection Quality22/25
Performance Impact14/15
Feature Set12/15
Price & Value12/15
Ease of Use10/10
Customer Support8/10
Update Frequency8/10
Pros & Cons
ESET NOD32
85/100 score in TrustBrand's cybersecurity rankings, with 'very low' system performance impact — the best performance-to-protection ratio in the consumer antivirus category.
99.7% detection rate from AV-TEST and AV-Comparatives certifications places ESET NOD32 in the top tier of consumer antivirus detection, competitive with Bitdefender and Kaspersky.
EU headquarters in Slovakia provides a clean geopolitical profile with no government security warnings from the US, UK, or EU — important for users who prioritize vendor jurisdiction.
Single-device license at $40/year is less cost-effective per device than multi-device suites from Bitdefender or Norton 360 for households with multiple computers to protect.
No VPN, password manager, or bundled extras in the base NOD32 product — users who want those features must upgrade to ESET Internet Security or Smart Security Premium at higher prices.
The interface, while functional, has not been significantly modernized in recent years and feels less polished than Bitdefender's or Norton's consumer-facing designs.
Malwarebytes
Free on-demand scanner lets users evaluate core detection capability before purchasing, lowering the barrier to trying the product.
Specialized detection for advanced malware categories that conventional signature-based antivirus engines historically miss.
Low system performance impact with a dedicated Play Mode that pauses non-critical background activity during games and media playback.
98.5% detection rate, while strong, falls below the 99.7-99.9% scores achieved by Bitdefender, Kaspersky, and ESET in standardized independent lab evaluations.
No bundled VPN or password manager, meaning users who want those features need to purchase separate subscriptions.
The $44.99 annual price for 3 devices is comparatively high given the feature set relative to competitors offering 5-device plans with VPN and password manager included at similar or lower prices.
Our Verdict
Malwarebytes comes out ahead with a score of 86/100 compared to 85/100. Malwarebytes is best for best malware removal tool. However, ESET NOD32 may be a better fit if you prioritize best low-impact antivirus.
No cybersecurity software can guarantee 100% protection. Always practice safe browsing habits and keep your software up to date. Results may vary based on system configuration.