ESET vs Microsoft Defender:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, ESET had more branded searches than Microsoft Defender among endpoint security software worldwide. ESET had about 264,000 branded searches, while Microsoft Defender had 181,000. ESET made up 9.5% of all endpoint security software searches we track, and Microsoft Defender accounted for 6.5%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about endpoint security software, Microsoft Defender appeared in all five answers and ESET in two. Microsoft Defender was mentioned before ESET in every answer.
Who do people search for more?
ESET, about 46% more searches than Microsoft Defender
Who does AI mention more?
Microsoft Defender, mentioned in every answer we collected
Who does AI recommend more?
Microsoft Defender, named ahead of ESET in every answer
Follow ESET vs Microsoft Defender and get free monthly updates on what changed
By continuing you'll get index updates and occasional product news from Brandwave. Unsubscribe any time. Privacy
Top endpoint security software in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Microsoft Defender appeared in all five answers. ESET was mentioned in two out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. 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.
CrowdStrike1st- Microsoft Defender2nd
SentinelOne3rd
Sophos4th
Bitdefender5th- ESET6th
Malwarebytes–
Trellix–
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- CrowdStrike5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Microsoft Defender5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- SentinelOne5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Sophos4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Bitdefender2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- ESET2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Malwarebytes0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Trellix0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about endpoint security software
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which endpoint security software should I use?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best endpoint security software options?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best endpoint security software for business devices?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“endpoint security software”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“endpoint protection software”
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 eight endpoint security software we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.
Share of searches by month for ESET, Microsoft Defender. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Malwarebytes | Bitdefender | CrowdStrike | ESET | Sophos | Microsoft Defender | SentinelOne | Trellix |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 29.8% | 23.2% | 11.4% | 13.1% | 8.5% | 8.6% | 4% | 1.4% |
| Nov 2025 | 36.1% | 22.7% | 9.4% | 12.9% | 7.1% | 7% | 3.3% | 1.4% |
| Dec 2025 | 33.6% | 25.3% | 8.7% | 12% | 7.5% | 7.9% | 3.7% | 1.3% |
| Jan 2026 | 36.5% | 22.3% | 9.4% | 12.8% | 7% | 7.6% | 3.3% | 1.1% |
| Feb 2026 | 34.6% | 21.2% | 10.8% | 12.3% | 8% | 8% | 3.7% | 1.3% |
| Mar 2026 | 36.4% | 22.3% | 11.3% | 10.8% | 7% | 6.9% | 3.9% | 1.4% |
| Apr 2026 | 39.1% | 20% | 10% | 11.3% | 7.3% | 7.3% | 3.5% | 1.5% |
| May 2026 | 35.8% | 20.8% | 11% | 10.4% | 7.8% | 8% | 3.8% | 2.4% |
| Jun 2026 | 36.7% | 21.3% | 11.2% | 10.6% | 8.2% | 6.8% | 3.9% | 1.4% |
| Jul 2026 | 35.8% | 23.2% | 10.9% | 10.4% | 8% | 6.6% | 3.8% | 1.3% |
| Aug 2026 | 35.9% | 21.8% | 11.2% | 10.7% | 7.8% | 7.5% | 3.9% | 1.4% |
| Sep 2026 | 37.1% | 23.6% | 11.7% | 9.5% | 7.1% | 6.5% | 3.4% | 1.2% |
How has the ESET and Microsoft Defender comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- ESET was ahead of Microsoft Defender in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, ESET’s share of searches among endpoint security software worldwide moved from 13.1% to 9.5%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 375K to 264K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Microsoft Defender’s share of searches among endpoint security software worldwide moved from 8.6% to 6.5%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 245K to 181K.
How did search popularity change for endpoint security software worldwide in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, ESET lost share of searches among endpoint security software worldwide, from 10.7% to 9.5%.
In September 2026, Microsoft Defender lost share of searches among endpoint security software worldwide, from 7.5% to 6.5%.
How are branded searches counted?
11 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
9 branded search terms
- antivirus eset
- endpoint security eset
- eset
- eset antivirus
- eset app
- eset com
- eset endpoint security
- eset protect
- eset software
Microsoft Defender
2 branded search terms
- microsoft defender
- windows defender
Other head-to-heads among endpoint security software
Put your own brand in this comparison
Brandwave tracks your branded demand next to the rival you actually watch, with your campaigns, spend and outcomes on the same timeline.