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ESET Endpoint Protection Platform vs Symantec Protection Engine comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive Summary

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 Protection Pl...
Ranking in Anti-Malware Tools
8th
Average Rating
8.2
Reviews Sentiment
7.0
Number of Reviews
104
Ranking in other categories
Endpoint Protection Platform (EPP) (14th), Advanced Threat Protection (ATP) (18th)
Symantec Protection Engine
Ranking in Anti-Malware Tools
34th
Average Rating
7.6
Reviews Sentiment
6.1
Number of Reviews
2
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of March 2026, in the Anti-Malware Tools category, the mindshare of ESET Endpoint Protection Platform is 2.1%, down from 3.8% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Symantec Protection Engine is 0.4%, up from 0.2% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Anti-Malware Tools Mindshare Distribution
ProductMindshare (%)
ESET Endpoint Protection Platform2.1%
Symantec Protection Engine0.4%
Other97.5%
Anti-Malware Tools
 

Featured Reviews

MS
Owner at Online IT
Cloud-based protection has simplified daily client support and keeps threats under control
The problems that we are facing with policy adoption include slow adoption, as it takes more than five minutes to adopt policy on client computers. ESET Network Attack Protection sometimes helps in reducing network-level intrusions, but sometimes it prevents local devices on the network, which are well-known and good devices, from being recognized, treating them as a threat. So it requires more administration than usual. ESET could implement a good solution for remote support in ESET Endpoint Protection Platform for improvement in the future. Since you have the cloud console, ESET could have something similar to AnyDesk or TeamViewer, but from ESET.
Abhimanyu Das - PeerSpot reviewer
Senior Associate at a tech vendor with 10,001+ employees
Real-time file security has reduced incident tickets and improves threat detection accuracy
The best features of Symantec Protection Engine include machine learning, file reputation, and real-time scanning. It efficiently handles heavy loads through ICAP and cloud-based processing, reducing the burden on endpoints compared to Trend Micro and other endpoint security solutions. Its centralized control is also noteworthy. Through machine learning, it detects both known and unknown malware and malicious URLs, in addition to performing signature-based scans that assist SOC teams in analysis. The solution is highly effective in leveraging both machine learning and file reputation. Regarding centralized control, it offers a unified management console for policy deployment and provides real-time visibility through dashboards, helping save significant administrative time. Symantec Protection Engine has had a positive impact on our organization by enhancing our overall security posture. It effectively blocks a high volume of file-based threats across more than 200 servers, saves SOC analysts time in endpoint remediation, and streamlines compliance processes. It further strengthens security through real-time scanning and machine learning-based quarantine, blocking phishing payloads in SharePoint uploads before they reach endpoints, thereby reducing incidents by 30–40% compared to signature-only tools.

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"We use ESET, which is pretty much perfect for us. It is also absolutely simple and automatic once setup."
"It's scalable."
"I like everything about ESET Endpoint Security, and as an installer, it's very easy to install the solution, but the most important feature is that it helps defend against any virus. When the virus comes, ESET Endpoint Security stops it."
"It's a very user-friendly product."
"The solution's features and pricing are pretty good."
"If you're serious about endpoint security then this is the only product you will need because it's a one-stop solution."
"The maintenance is easy."
"It hasn't crashed a single time, so it is stable in that sense."
"What I appreciate in Symantec Protection Engine is the Virtual Policy Manager (VPM) and the Application Name feature, which are really effective."
"Symantec Protection Engine's been a game-changer for us at Kantar—blocks like 80-85% of file-based threats right at the gateway before they hit our 200 servers, cutting down endpoint incidents big time."
 

Cons

"It can be hard to set up if you need to customize it."
"ESET Endpoint Security requires modern technology or modern equipment on site. You will find it difficult to use ESET Endpoint Security with dual-core machines."
"The adware module could be improved."
"The initial setup of ESET Endpoint Security can be complicated when you get involved with encryption."
"They could improve the solution by adding better ransomware features."
"The problems that we are facing with policy adoption include slow adoption, as it takes more than five minutes to adopt policy on client computers."
"I'm not aware of any areas that need improvement."
"The stability needs to be improved. There are bugs that you have to deal with."
"To improve Symantec Protection Engine, I suggest simplifying its integration with other tools, as it is more complex compared to Trend Micro and CrowdStrike."
"Price is a significant area for improvement. The pricing is quite expensive, and it is particularly high for regular customers."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The price could be lower, but it's comparable, as other solutions have a similar price for the same effect."
"I think it's available for a pretty fair price. If you know how to use it, then it's a very fair price for what you get."
"This solution is a good value for the money."
"There is a license required to use ESET Endpoint Security."
"The license is annually, and the price is low compared to competitors."
"You need to pay for the ESET Endpoint Antivirus license monthly or yearly, whichever you choose."
"The price of the solution is very good compared to other solutions."
"The solution costs around $20 or $30 per user per year."
Information not available
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Comms Service Provider
14%
Computer Software Company
9%
Manufacturing Company
8%
Financial Services Firm
6%
No data available
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business69
Midsize Enterprise18
Large Enterprise21
No data available
 

Questions from the Community

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for ESET LiveGuard Advanced?
The pricing, setup cost, and licensing of ESET Endpoint Protection Platform are good with no issues. The price is very reasonable compared to the features provided.
What needs improvement with ESET LiveGuard Advanced?
ESET Endpoint Protection Platform could be improved by offering integrations and user-friendly dashboards that could enhance the overall experience and reliability. ESST Endpoint Protection Platfor...
What is your primary use case for ESET LiveGuard Advanced?
My main use case for ESET Endpoint Protection Platform is preventing malware and preventing outside attackers. When attackers target my system, ESET catches and scans the threat with its signature ...
What needs improvement with Symantec Protection Engine?
Symantec Protection Engine has fewer issues during installations. However, some customers find it confusing to distinguish between the normal proxy and the web proxy because Symantec Protection Eng...
What is your primary use case for Symantec Protection Engine?
I tried using Symantec Protection Engine on AWS cloud and have constructed some implementations. It was purchased through AWS marketplace.
 

Also Known As

Smart Security, ESET PROTECT Advanced, ESET LiveGuard Advanced, ESET PROTECT Platform
No data available
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

ERSTE Group Bank, Miller Solutions, Wesleyan University, The Hospital Center of Luxembourg, Deer Valley USD, SPAR, Industrial Federal Credit Union, Honda, City Hall of Palmela, Hays CISD, Lester B Pearson School Board
Information Not Available
Find out what your peers are saying about ESET Endpoint Protection Platform vs. Symantec Protection Engine and other solutions. Updated: March 2026.
885,311 professionals have used our research since 2012.