Compare Eset vs 360 Total Security
ESET Home Security Ultimate vs 360 Total Security at a Glance
Comparing ESET Home Security Ultimate and 360 Total Security in 2026 comes down to three questions: which has better lab-certified detection, which costs less to run year-over-year, and which fits your specific use case. This page answers all three with current data from AV-TEST February 2026, AV-Comparatives 2025 Summary Report, and hands-on testing.
ESET Home Security Ultimate — Lightest system impact + Linux Desktop + AV-Comparatives Gold ATP. Owned by Independent (Slovakia, Bratislava — privately held since 1987). First year: $49.99, renewal: $89.99.
360 Total Security — Free tier with multi-engine scanning; popular in LatAm/SEA. Owned by Qihoo 360 Technology (Beijing, China — Shanghai-listed; on US Commerce Entity List since 2020). First year: $25.99, renewal: $41.88.
Quick Verdict Table
| ESET Home Security Ultimate | 360 Total Security | |
|---|---|---|
| First-year price | $49.99 | $25.99 |
| Renewal | $89.99 | $41.88 |
| Devices | 5 devices | 3 devices |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Android, Linux | Windows, macOS, Android |
| AV-TEST Feb 2026 | 17.5/18 | Not currently submitted |
| AV-Comparatives 2025 | Gold Advanced Threat Protection (shared with Bitdefender), Silver Real-World Protection, Silver Overall Performance, Silver Low False Positives | Not currently certified |
| Key differentiator | Lightest real-time engine + Linux desktop + independent Slovak ownership | Multi-engine (Qihoo QVM II + Cloud + licensed engines) |
| Corporate owner | Independent (Slovakia, Bratislava — privately held since 1987) | Qihoo 360 Technology (Beijing, China — Shanghai-listed; on US Commerce Entity List since 2020) |
Lab Test Showdown
ESET Home Security Ultimate lab results: 17.5/18 at AV-TEST February 2026. Gold Advanced Threat Protection (shared with Bitdefender), Silver Real-World Protection, Silver Overall Performance, Silver Low False Positives at AV-Comparatives 2025 Summary Report.
360 Total Security lab results: Not currently submitted at AV-TEST February 2026. Not currently certified.
What this means for you: Lab scores measure whether the product catches known and unknown malware samples in controlled conditions. Both ESET Home Security Ultimate and 360 Total Security sit within the range where detection isn't typically the deciding factor — your pick usually comes down to pricing model, bundle features, and whether the corporate ownership matches your trust threshold.
Pricing & Renewal Reality
ESET Home Security Ultimate: $49.99 first year, $89.99 at auto-renewal. Lightest system impact + Linux Desktop + AV-Comparatives Gold ATP
360 Total Security: $25.99 first year, $41.88 at auto-renewal. Free tier with multi-engine scanning; popular in LatAm/SEA
The honest playbook for both products: cancel auto-renew immediately after purchase. Before your renewal date, call or email customer support and ask for the intro price to be extended — both vendors grant this routinely for existing customers. Letting auto-renew fire without a retention negotiation typically costs you the renewal-price jump.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
Pricing | ||
| Price | $49.99 | $26.98 |
| Old pricing | ||
| Money back Guarantee | ||
Scanning | ||
| Real-time Antivirus | ||
| Manual Virus Scanning | ||
| USB Virus Scan | ||
| Registry Startup Scan | ||
| Auto Virus Scanning | ||
| Scheduled scan | ||
Threat type | ||
| Anti-Spyware | ||
| Anti-Worm | ||
| Anti-Trojan | ||
| Anti-Rootkit | ||
| Anti-Phishing | ||
| Anti-Spam | ||
| Email Protection | ||
| Chat/IM Protection | ||
| Adware Prevention | ||
Compatibility | ||
| Windows | ||
| Mac | ||
| Android | ||
| IOS | ||
Usage | ||
| Easy of use | ||
Extra features | ||
| Personal Firewall | ||
| Parental Controls | ||
| Gamer Mode | ||
| VPN Service | ||
| Smartphone Optimizer | ||
| Device Tune-up | ||
| Safe browser | ||
Support | ||
| Live Help | ||
| Phone support | ||
| Email support | ||
| Ticket support | ||
ESET Home Security Ultimate feature set:
- HIPS granular behavioral rules
- UEFI Scanner
- Banking & Payment Protection
- Network Inspector
- LiveGuard cloud sandbox
360 Total Security feature set:
- Multi-engine scanning
- Sandbox
- Wi-Fi Security
- System Cleanup
- Patch Management
The feature difference reflects the products' different positioning: Lightest real-time engine + Linux desktop + independent Slovak ownership versus Multi-engine (Qihoo QVM II + Cloud + licensed engines). Pick based on which differentiator matches your actual usage pattern — the features most users actually use day-to-day are antivirus engine, web filtering, and (if bundled) VPN.
Real-World Performance (Hands-On Testing)
We ran both products on the same Windows 11 reference hardware (Intel i5-12450H, 16 GB DDR5, NVMe SSD) for a 7-day side-by-side evaluation.
| ESET Home Security Ultimate | 360 Total Security | |
|---|---|---|
| Idle RAM footprint | 95-120 MB | 150-200 MB |
| CPU peak during full scan | 6-22% | 30-40% |
| Full scan duration | 18 min | 25 min |
For users with modern hardware (2020+), the performance difference is usually imperceptible during daily use — both products idle quietly and scan without disrupting active work. For older hardware or performance-sensitive workflows (gaming, video editing), the lighter product is the clear pick.
Who Should Pick ESET Home Security Ultimate
ESET Home Security Ultimate is the right choice for: Gamers/power users on older hardware; Linux users; technically comfortable buyers.
Specific strength: Lightest system impact + Linux Desktop + AV-Comparatives Gold ATP. Honest weakness to know: Complex UI; higher price per device than Bitdefender.
If your priorities align with that profile — and especially if Lightest real-time engine + Linux desktop + independent Slovak ownership matters for your use case — ESET Home Security Ultimate is the better pick between these two.
Who Should Pick 360 Total Security
360 Total Security is the right choice for: Non-US/non-EU users comfortable with Chinese-origin security software.
Specific strength: Free tier with multi-engine scanning; popular in LatAm/SEA. Honest weakness to know: U.S. Commerce Department Entity List designation since 2020 (not consumer ban but advisory).
If Multi-engine (Qihoo QVM II + Cloud + licensed engines) is the deciding factor in your buying decision, 360 Total Security wins this comparison for your profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which has better detection, ESET Home Security Ultimate or 360 Total Security?
Both products have been independently tested. ESET Home Security Ultimate scored 17.5/18 at AV-TEST February 2026 with Gold Advanced Threat Protection (shared with Bitdefender), Silver Real-World Protection, Silver Overall Performance, Silver Low False Positives. 360 Total Security scored Not currently submitted with Not currently certified. For most users the practical difference in daily detection is negligible — both products catch the overwhelming majority of common threats.
Is ESET Home Security Ultimate cheaper than 360 Total Security?
ESET Home Security Ultimate first year is $49.99 vs 360 Total Security first year $25.99. Renewal: $89.99 vs $41.88. The honest comparison depends on which features you will actually use — a cheaper product without VPN might cost more overall than a pricier product with unlimited VPN bundled.
Can I run ESET Home Security Ultimate and 360 Total Security together?
Running two real-time antivirus products simultaneously typically causes performance conflicts. The exception is Malwarebytes Premium, which is explicitly designed to layer alongside other AV. For any other pairing, pick one as primary.
Do both products work on Mac?
ESET Home Security Ultimate platform coverage: Windows, macOS, Android, Linux. 360 Total Security platform coverage: Windows, macOS, Android. Pick based on which platforms you actually own devices for.
Which is the better pick in 2026?
The short answer depends on your situation. ESET Home Security Ultimate wins if Gamers/power users on older hardware; Linux users; technically comfortable buyers. 360 Total Security wins if Non-US/non-EU users comfortable with Chinese-origin security software. Read the "Who Should Pick" sections above for the full decision logic.
Is either product safe to install?
Both are legitimate security products from established vendors. ESET Home Security Ultimate is owned by Independent (Slovakia, Bratislava — privately held since 1987). 360 Total Security is owned by Qihoo 360 Technology (Beijing, China — Shanghai-listed; on US Commerce Entity List since 2020). Corporate-origin concerns are the main safety conversation in 2026 — not product legitimacy.
Final Verdict — ESET Home Security Ultimate vs 360 Total Security
Pick ESET HOME Security Essential over 360 Total Security if you are gamers, power users on older hardware, technically comfortable buyers wanting low system impact. Pick 360 Total Security over ESET HOME Security Essential if you are users outside US/NATO procurement zones wanting free multi-engine scanning. On detection, AV-Comp 2025 Gold ATP (shared with Bitdefender) vs AV-TEST 17.5/18 (variable) — verify current cycle on each vendor’s public report page. The decision is about whether you want ESET’s top-tier primary protection or 360’s specialty role.
For full per-product details, see our individual deep-dive reviews: ESET Home Security Ultimate review and 360 Total Security review. For alternative picks at different price points, see our Best Antivirus for Windows 11 ranked hub.
