Zone Alarm vs ESET: Which One is Better? [2023 Top Picks]

Find the best antivirus for you and your devices.
We compare security, extra features, ease of use, and more to help you decide.
Professional Reviews
Ownership
Affiliate Commissions
Reviews Guidelines

Zone Alarm vs. ESET: Which Is Right for You?

Tyler Cross
Tyler Cross
Writer

Zone Alarm vs. ESET: Which Is Right for You?

With so many growing cyber threats, a good antivirus must address all potential risks. Both ESET and Zone Alarm employ innovative systems to ensure real-time protection from recognized and unknown malware attacks. They also include anti-phishing technology, although Zone Alarm does require a browser extension for this to work.

ESET has a near 100% detection rate, and the idle scan option allows you to wait until your computer is in sleep or screensaver mode. The ‘Game Mode’ prevents annoying pop-ups interrupting your gameplay or streaming. The program scans files while they’re downloading so infected items never make it to your device, and the email filtering feature offers similar protection. ESET is available for Windows, Mac, and Linux.

While Zone Alarm is Windows-only, it has a lot of useful features. The auto-sandboxing technology launches all new programs in a secure environment. Users get 5GB of online backup space for free, but the most impressive tool is the advanced firewall. Developed in-house, it works two-way and even identifies common tricks to circumvent traditional firewalls. You also get a ‘Find My Laptop’ feature which helps in the event of physical theft.

Both companies offer similar customer service channels, including live chat, ticketed messages, and phone support.

Starting Price
Money Back Guarantee
Free Trial
$22.95
Anytime
$8.99
30 Days
Security
Features
Ease of Use
Support
Pricing
9
7
8
8
8
9
7
8
8
8
Latest Positive Review*User reviews are not verified
Vince
Dec. 18, 2018
It works quietly and unobtrusively in the background
Easy installation and handling even for older people. There are no popup...
Maria
Nov. 6, 2018
I love Zone Alarm!
I think Zonealarm is a must for every Windows PC on the internet! I have...
David
Mar. 23, 2021
It brings all the features I need
- Great Product, easy to use - Excellent Password Manager - many features...
Marko
Jun. 10, 2020
Izuzetan proivod!
Lagan i efektivan antivirus.Mnogo značajki koje mogu biti podešene upravo...
Latest Negative Review*User reviews are not verified
Sanjay
Nov. 7, 2018
Use to be good, but not anymore
I've been using this program for a very long time and have always been...
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
No reviews yet
Cmike
Nov. 19, 2020
Worst business practice ever
Two years ago, I lost all my information on the hard drive. After checking...
Dave Gann
Apr. 30, 2020
ESET Customer Service - Linux AV NOD32
I had a trial version of Eset AV for Linux. I purchased the product but...
Our Verdict
Tyler Cross
Tyler Cross
Writer
ESET and Zone alarm both have a lot to offer, so the decision is largely dependent on how you use your device. If it’s mainly for entertainment, gaming, or streaming movies, ESET optimizes your experience and is considerably cheaper. However, the Zone Alarm firewall is ideal for keeping you safe on different WiFi networks. They both promise top-level protection so you can’t go wrong with either one.
Time To Decide Which One Is Best For You

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I find the best antivirus for me?

The first thing to do is to understand what you need — all antiviruses come with different internet security tools to help you stay protected, so identifying what level of protection you want will help you figure out which product is right for you.

Some antiviruses have a virtual private network (VPN), some have safe browsing extensions, and some have a password manager. Some only work on certain operating systems, while others cover all operating systems across multiple devices.

It’s important to compare the best antiviruses on the market to find the perfect one with the functionality you need.

What makes an antivirus secure?

A high-quality antivirus suite will detect, flag, and remove viruses and various types of malware. It will also offer real-time protection against all threats, regardless of whether you are browsing the internet, downloading software, shopping online, or opening email. For additional security, many antivirus suites offer a VPN, secure storage, and a password manager — these things all add several layers of protection against various cyber threats.

For more information on how antiviruses work, read this.

What do I need to look for when searching for an antivirus?

An antivirus needs to protect against all types of malware — trojans, rootkits, worms, spyware, viruses, ransomware, and anything else that might cause damage to your devices. This is done in a variety of ways, but the most essential feature of an antivirus is real-time protection — this makes sure that an active threat is effectively stopped before anything serious can happen.

Other things to look for include — excellent detection rates, fast system performance, included extra features (like a VPN, password manager, etc.), easy-to-use interface, good customer support, and overall value.

Go here for a list of the best antivirus software of 2023.

How do I know if one antivirus is better than another?

When researching antiviruses, it’s a good idea to visit a few well-known antivirus software websites such as Norton, McAfee, and Bitdefender to directly compare each antivirus’s features.

You can also look at the expert opinions of our reviewers at SafetyDetectives.com to find the most up-to-date and unbiased information about the best cybersecurity products on the market today.