Brandwave

ESET vs Microsoft Defender:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Microsoft Defender had more branded searches than ESET among antivirus software worldwide. Microsoft Defender had about 181,000 branded searches, while ESET had 27,100. Microsoft Defender made up 7.5% of all antivirus software searches we track, and ESET accounted for 1.1%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about antivirus software, Microsoft Defender appeared in all four answers and ESET in two. Microsoft Defender was mentioned before ESET in every answer.

Among antivirus software worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Microsoft Defender, about 7 searches for every 1 for ESET

Microsoft Defender 181K searchesESET 27.1K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Microsoft Defender, mentioned in every answer we collected

Microsoft Defender in 4 of 4ESET in 2 of 4

Who does AI recommend more?

Microsoft Defender, named ahead of ESET in every answer

Microsoft Defender first in 4ESET never first

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Top antivirus software in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and one Google AI Overview, Microsoft Defender appeared in all four answers. ESET was mentioned in two out of four: in two of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in the Google AI Overview. Microsoft Defender was listed before ESET in every answer.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Bitdefender1st
  2. Norton2nd
  3. Microsoft Defender3rd
  4. Malwarebytes4th
  5. McAfee5th
  6. ESET6th
  7. Kaspersky–

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • Norton4 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
  • Microsoft Defender4 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
  • Bitdefender4 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
  • ESET2 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
  • Malwarebytes2 of 4Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
  • McAfee1 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
  • Kaspersky0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers

See every answer about antivirus software

4 answers

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 20, 2026.

Is ESET or Microsoft Defender more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for ESET and Microsoft Defender by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all seven antivirus software we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.

ESET and Microsoft Defender among antivirus software worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for Microsoft Defender, ESET. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthNortonMcAfeeKasperskyMicrosoft DefenderBitdefenderESETMalwarebytes
Oct 202537.2%27%23.2%8.4%3.1%0.93%0.12%
Nov 202535.5%28.3%24.9%7.4%2.7%1%0.11%
Dec 202535.3%28.4%25%7.5%2.8%1%0.11%
Jan 202635%31.4%22.7%7.4%2.5%0.91%0.1%
Feb 202636.3%30.4%21.9%8%2.4%0.88%0.12%
Mar 202635.9%30.8%21.6%7.9%2.9%0.87%0.11%
Apr 202634.3%28.3%24.3%8.8%3.3%0.98%0.13%
May 202633.8%28.9%24.9%9.1%2.2%1%0.13%
Jun 202636.5%29.8%22%8%2.4%1.1%0.12%
Jul 202635.6%28.6%21.5%7.8%5.2%1.1%0.11%
Aug 202636.1%27.3%24.6%8.1%2.7%1.2%0.11%
Sep 202639.2%25.4%22.9%7.5%3.8%1.1%0.1%

How has the ESET and Microsoft Defender comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • Microsoft Defender was ahead of ESET in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, ESET’s share of searches among antivirus software worldwide moved from 0.93% to 1.1%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 27.1K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Microsoft Defender’s share of searches among antivirus software worldwide moved from 8.4% to 7.5%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 245K to 181K.

How did search popularity change for antivirus software worldwide in September 2026?

1 change

  1. In September 2026, Microsoft Defender lost share of searches among antivirus software worldwide, from 8.1% to 7.5%.

How are branded searches counted?

3 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using ESET’s and Microsoft Defender’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.

ESET

1 branded search term

  • eset antivirus

Microsoft Defender

2 branded search terms

  • microsoft defender
  • windows defender

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among antivirus software

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