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ESET Endpoint Encryption vs Microsoft BitLocker comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Feb 8, 2026

Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Categories and Ranking

ESET Endpoint Encryption
Ranking in Endpoint Encryption
4th
Average Rating
8.4
Reviews Sentiment
5.1
Number of Reviews
17
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
Microsoft BitLocker
Ranking in Endpoint Encryption
1st
Average Rating
8.2
Reviews Sentiment
7.2
Number of Reviews
66
Ranking in other categories
Mobile Data Protection (1st)
 

Mindshare comparison

As of June 2026, in the Endpoint Encryption category, the mindshare of ESET Endpoint Encryption is 5.6%, down from 19.2% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Microsoft BitLocker is 15.1%, down from 38.2% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Endpoint Encryption Mindshare Distribution
ProductMindshare (%)
Microsoft BitLocker15.1%
ESET Endpoint Encryption5.6%
Other79.3%
Endpoint Encryption
 

Featured Reviews

AravindR - PeerSpot reviewer
Technical Team Lead at Exalogic Consulting
Centralized encryption has secured all endpoints and has maintained compliance for remote devices
The best features of ESET Endpoint Encryption include full disk encryption, which is the most used one, ensuring all the endpoints are protected. I rely on this daily. Its main key focus on centralized management lets me monitor, enforce policies, and remediate issues from one console, and it allows for user-friendly deployment. Using ESET Endpoint Encryption has had a clear positive impact on my organization, especially in terms of security operational efficiency. From a security standpoint, I achieved 100% encryption coverage across all the endpoints, which significantly reduces the risk of data breaches due to lost or stolen devices. I also saw a noticeable drop in security incidents.
MK
Engineer Ii - Design at Tektekies
Integration streamlines security management and supports both cloud and on-premises environments
Microsoft BitLocker implementation requires careful consideration. When any BIOS change occurs, Microsoft BitLocker activates because it detects a potential vulnerability, which is its intended function. Since BIOS updates are necessary periodically, it is crucial that whoever implements Microsoft BitLocker knows how to recover the key, especially when dealing with important devices such as a CEO's laptop. The implementation process is straightforward, and it operates in the background. Once initiated, it continues to function even if the computer is turned off. It proceeds without user notification, which is beneficial. The progress can be monitored along with other relevant information.

Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Pros

"The usability is the most valuable feature."
"This solution can be centrally managed."
"The most valuable feature of ESET Endpoint Encryption is its rate of capturing viruses and malware."
"The solution's UI is user-friendly. Even a non-technical person can use it."
"The product is easy to implement and configure."
"The most valuable feature of ESET Endpoint Encryption is the high level of encryption protection."
"The tech support is awesome."
"The solution allows me to easily monitor the encryption and password management of multiple computers in my network and gives me visibility into user use."
"Microsoft BitLocker's most valuable feature is endpoint encryption, and it's quite easy to manage."
"The solution has a feature that automatically asks the users to upgrade their password once we set up the process."
"The hard drive encryption is very good."
"It is easy to implement and has AD integration."
"Integration with System Center Configuration Manager (C: and D: logical drives are encrypted before installing Windows via SCCM)."
"It is easy to use and administer."
"It maintains security on my computer. Since I travel a lot, it gives me confidence that if, for some reason, my computer is lost, my data won't be compromised."
"After the Microsoft BitLocker Administration and Monitoring (MBAM) implementation, in such cases, any unauthorised person will not be able to access the data."
 

Cons

"The initial setup could be made easier."
"The solution should have better synchronization with active directory users and passwords for use in the encryption."
"ESET Endpoint Encryption needs to improve pricing and security."
"I would like to see better compatibility with mobile devices. Most of the time, people are connecting to our server using their mobile device."
"From an admin perspective, the solution's UI could be more user-friendly."
"Integration with central management needs improvement."
"Sometimes the server console is very slow, so the performance could be improved."
"For me, it is unstable."
"I don't think we're getting our money's worth because we're often unable to locate computers that have been lost."
"I would like to be able to encrypt our cloud tenancy."
"In future releases, I would like to see a feature where I can have a view of each device that has BitLocker to see if these machines are encrypted or not. So, I just want a view or a dashboard that can tell us so that I can remediate and add BitLocker to those systems or devices."
"The primary aspect for improvement lies in expanding our developer base, which would accelerate the development process and bring these enhancements to fruition"
"If the encryption was faster then it would make the experience more pleasant."
"It's possible that the time it takes to pull items in to BitLocker could be reduced a bit."
"Instead of integrating with a third party, Microsoft BitLocker should have its own mechanism to safeguard the systems when they are not accessible for a long time."
"User profiles can be improved so that people can create their own passwords. It has one password per machine, which is a problem."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"It is neither very expensive, nor cheap. Overall it is affordable and there is a long term arrangement between our company and the solution providers for license."
"We paid for an annual subscription, and it was reasonable."
"The National University System dedicates 500 of their 5000 licenses to us, which is $14/yr per device. Most companies are paying $99 or $120 per device a year."
"There are some inexpensive products compared to ESET Endpoint Encryption, but they lack the essential features."
"Licensing costs are on a yearly basis."
"Instead of installing ESET on each machine at each location, we just do it remotely. This has been a time saver for us."
"ESET Endpoint Encryption is moderately priced."
"On a scale of one to ten, where one is the lowest and ten is the highest, I rate its pricing a two."
"Microsoft BitLocker is a free feature when you are using Microsoft solutions."
"We can activate the product at no cost."
"It's not about pricing, because we are working with Enterprise companies that already have Windows Enterprise, so BitLocker comes already included as a Windows feature. It's free for Enterprise users. The price is only for deployment. The customer will pay for McAfee, however."
"Microsoft BitLocker's pricing is included in the Microsoft license, and you don't have to pay an additional fee for it."
"This solution is included with Microsoft Server and my clients did not have to pay for anything extra."
"I think it's reasonably priced because I've never heard any complaints from my company about its costs."
"I don't know the costs. In terms of Microsoft licensing, we are at E3 on the business, and we're in the process of pricing out and moving to E5. So, a lot of this is included within our licensing agreements."
"BitLocker is included in our license and doesn't cost us anything extra."
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Answers from the Community

AK
Works at a retailer with 201-500 employees
Jan 11, 2022
Jan 11, 2022
Are you in a regulated industry? If so using the native BitLocker is not enough to prove compliance. You will need to use something like BitLocker Administration and Monitoring (MBAM) which is part of MDOP (Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack) or another tool that will manage Bitlocker and give you proof the device is encrypted in the event of a lost or stolen device. You also need to enforc...
See 2 answers
it_user1376292 - PeerSpot reviewer
Customer Support Manager at M & M Information Technologies Limited
Jan 11, 2022
I guess the solution depends upon a couple of things for us and how we currently approach this for our clients.   We have both in place around a variety of small clients. As 99% of our systems have Windows Pro, they have BitLocker, therefore this would now be the first choice.   However, if the client requires centralised management and control we would then advise ESET.  And that is the core to this for us, if they need central management, control, recovery - ESET every time.   If it is just encryption and there is no need to control/recover and a simple reformat would work (and loss of history/data is not an issue), then BitLocker is ok.
James OConnor - PeerSpot reviewer
Sr. Solutions Sales Executive - Commercial/Charity/Healthcare/SMB Individual Contributor at Hypertec Direct
Jan 11, 2022
Are you in a regulated industry?  If so using the native BitLocker is not enough to prove compliance.  You will need to use something like BitLocker Administration and Monitoring (MBAM) which is part of MDOP (Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack) or another tool that will manage Bitlocker and give you proof the device is encrypted in the event of a lost or stolen device.  You also need to enforce secure password management, user training on passwords and regular password changes. If you have Microsoft 365 Business premium you have additional controls over Bitlocker; or, M365 E3/E5, Windows Enterprise E3/E5 all have MDOP... Other Bitlocker management can be found with SOPHOS and I believe TrendMicro as well. Another tool to consider, especially for laptops, is ABSOLUTE software.  It is built into the BIOS of the major laptop brands and just needs the key to activate it... Also, ESET is a quality product for encryption.  It gives you additional options for less than some of the Microsoft alternatives.   BitLocker is just not FREE if you are in a regulated industry since it needs management to truly be secure the device and prove compliance. I hope some of this helps.
 

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Comms Service Provider
13%
Computer Software Company
11%
University
9%
Financial Services Firm
8%
Financial Services Firm
10%
Manufacturing Company
9%
Government
9%
University
9%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business12
Midsize Enterprise6
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business35
Midsize Enterprise10
Large Enterprise25
 

Questions from the Community

What needs improvement with ESET Endpoint Encryption?
ESET Endpoint Encryption could be better as I have experience with Trend Micro encryption, but there are multiple getting challenges and policy defined challenges. However, ESET has a user-friendly...
What is your primary use case for ESET Endpoint Encryption?
My main use case for ESET Endpoint Encryption is full disk encryption, which I will achieve through this solution.
What should one take into account when replacing PGP with Microsoft BitLocker?
Beware to make backup of useful data, then use reverse decryption policy from Symantec panel/McAfee ePO to decrypt the DE partitions while it is sometimes more straightforward and faster to reinsta...
Would you choose Microsoft BitLocker or McAfee Complete Data Protection?
Microsoft BitLocker is very intuitive and easy to maintain. It is basically the global standard solution for drive encryption and successfully fulfills regulatory needs in terms of data protection....
How does Microsoft BitLocker compare with Symantec Endpoint Encryption?
Microsoft BitLocker is very intuitive and easy to maintain. It is basically the global standard solution for drive encryption and it successfully fulfills regulatory needs in terms of data protecti...
 

Also Known As

No data available
BitLocker, MS BitLocker
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

CCS Media Limited, Mercury Engineering, Unigarant, Pinewood Healthcare
ACV, Proaxis Therapy, Choice Hotels International, adnymics GmbH, Intermedia, NMBS/SNCB
Find out what your peers are saying about ESET Endpoint Encryption vs. Microsoft BitLocker and other solutions. Updated: June 2026.
900,644 professionals have used our research since 2012.