Softwr

Cybersecurity · head to head

Beyond Identity vs ESET NOD32 Antivirus

Beyond Identity logo

Beyond Identity

Cybersecurity

Phishing-resistant passwordless authentication with device trust enforced at every login

From
On request
Rated
-
ESET NOD32 Antivirus logo

ESET NOD32 Antivirus

Cybersecurity

Essential antivirus protection

From
$39.99/year
Rated
-

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Beyond Identity it is an authentication layer, not an identity provider, so you keep and keep paying for Okta or Entra ID underneath and the combined per-user cost is roughly double a single-vendor approach.; ESET NOD32 Antivirus the advertised price applies to the first term only, and renewal reverts to the official list price
  • They diverge on capability: Beyond Identity covers Device-bound credentials, ESET NOD32 Antivirus covers Antivirus & Antispyware.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Beyond Identity and ESET NOD32 Antivirus actually diverge.

Attributes where Beyond Identity and ESET NOD32 Antivirus differ
AttributeBeyond IdentityESET NOD32 Antivirus
Starting priceOn request$39.99/year
Pricing modelquotesubscription
PlatformsWindows, macOS, Linux, iOS, AndroidDesktop
FoundedUnknown1992

Identical on both: free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Cybersecurity).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Beyond Identity

  • Device-bound credentials
  • Continuous device posture
  • No shared secrets
  • Identity provider integration
  • Secure developer signing
  • Administrator policy engine

Only in ESET NOD32 Antivirus

  • Antivirus & Antispyware
  • Exploit Blocker
  • Advanced Machine Learning
  • Anti-Phishing
  • UEFI Scanner
  • Script-Based Attack Protection
  • Ransomware Shield
  • Gamer Mode

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Beyond Identity

  • An organisation that suffered a breach through MFA push fatigue and needs a factor that cannot be socially engineerednot ESET NOD32 Antivirus
  • A software company enforcing that code is only signed from a managed device with current patchesnot ESET NOD32 Antivirus
  • A firm with contractors on unmanaged laptops that must meet posture requirements before reaching internal systemsnot ESET NOD32 Antivirus
  • A security team wanting to remove passwords from the helpdesk workload rather than adding another factor on topnot ESET NOD32 Antivirus

ESET NOD32 Antivirus

  • Antivirus and anti malware protection for home Windows, macOS and Android devicesnot Beyond Identity
  • Blocking phishing and ransomware on personal computersnot Beyond Identity

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Beyond Identity

  • It is an authentication layer, not an identity provider, so you keep and keep paying for Okta or Entra ID underneath and the combined per-user cost is roughly double a single-vendor approach.
  • Every device that authenticates needs the platform authenticator installed, which makes onboarding contractors, third parties and shared kiosks awkward and sometimes impossible.
  • Pricing is quoted per user with no published rates, so buyers cannot benchmark it against the increasingly capable passkey support now included in identity provider base licences.
  • Losing all enrolled devices requires an administrative recovery path, and organisations that design that path poorly reintroduce a social-engineering target at the helpdesk.
  • Legacy applications that only speak passwords or older protocols need a federation shim or stay outside the policy, so coverage is rarely complete in an estate with old systems.

ESET NOD32 Antivirus

  • The advertised price applies to the first term only, and renewal reverts to the official list price
  • Any saving shown is the difference between the introductory price and that list price rather than an ongoing discount
  • Device coverage is chosen at purchase and priced accordingly, so protecting another machine means changing the licence

Pricing, plan by plan

Beyond Identity

On request
  • Secure Access Platform$undefined/year
    • Per-user annual subscription quoted by seat count
    • Deployed alongside an existing identity provider rather than replacing it
    • Device posture integrations with major EDR and MDM vendors included

ESET NOD32 Antivirus

$39.99/year
  • NOD32 Antivirus$39.99/year
    • 1 Device
    • Antivirus & Antispyware
    • Anti-Phishing
  • Internet Security$49.99/year
    • 1 Device
    • All NOD32 features
    • Firewall
  • Smart Security Premium$59.99/year
    • 1 Device
    • All Internet Security features
    • Password Manager

Which should you pick?

Choose Beyond Identity if

  • You need device-bound credentials.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android.
  • You also want continuous device posture.

Choose ESET NOD32 Antivirus if

  • You need antivirus & antispyware.
  • You work on Desktop.
  • You also want exploit blocker.

Questions people ask

Is Beyond Identity or ESET NOD32 Antivirus better?
Neither clearly leads. Beyond Identity starts at On request and ESET NOD32 Antivirus at $39.99/year, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Beyond Identity or ESET NOD32 Antivirus?
Beyond Identity starts at On request and ESET NOD32 Antivirus at $39.99/year.
Does Beyond Identity or ESET NOD32 Antivirus run on more platforms?
Beyond Identity runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android. ESET NOD32 Antivirus runs on Desktop.
What is Beyond Identity best used for?
Beyond Identity is most often used for an organisation that suffered a breach through mfa push fatigue and needs a factor that cannot be socially engineered, a software company enforcing that code is only signed from a managed device with current patches, a firm with contractors on unmanaged laptops that must meet posture requirements before reaching internal systems, a security team wanting to remove passwords from the helpdesk workload rather than adding another factor on top. Of those, an organisation that suffered a breach through mfa push fatigue and needs a factor that cannot be socially engineered and a software company enforcing that code is only signed from a managed device with current patches are not what ESET NOD32 Antivirus is typically brought in for.
What can Beyond Identity do that ESET NOD32 Antivirus cannot?
Beyond Identity covers Device-bound credentials, Continuous device posture, No shared secrets, Identity provider integration. ESET NOD32 Antivirus covers Antivirus & Antispyware, Exploit Blocker, Advanced Machine Learning, Anti-Phishing.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Beyond Identity: Does it replace Okta or Entra ID?

No. It sits in front of them as the authentication method. Budget for both.

ESET NOD32 Antivirus: Does ESET offer a free trial, and what do I get access to?

ESET offers a free 30-day trial with no credit card required. The trial includes full access to all features in the tier you choose before you commit to a paid subscription.

Source
Beyond Identity: What happens when a user loses their laptop?

They authenticate from another enrolled device, or go through an administrative recovery flow. Designing that recovery well matters, because it is the weakest point.

ESET NOD32 Antivirus: What subscription contract lengths are available?

ESET offers subscription terms ranging from 1 to 10 years depending on the tier. Home Security Essential and Premium plans support 1-10 years, while Ultimate requires 5-10 years. Business plans also support multi-year terms.

Source
Beyond Identity: Is it different from passkeys?

The credential mechanism is similar in spirit. The difference is enforcing device security posture at every authentication, which standard passkeys do not do.

ESET NOD32 Antivirus: Will my renewal price change after the first year?

ESET states that the advertised price is valid for the first term only. They send advance notification via email before renewal price increases occur, allowing you to decide whether to continue.

Source
ESET NOD32 Antivirus: How many devices can I protect on a single subscription?

You can customize the number of protected devices from 1-10 on most plans. Premium and Ultimate tiers include VPN access that varies by device count: Essential/Premium include 3-5 VPN devices, while Ultimate covers 10-25 VPN devices depending on total plan size.

Source
ESET NOD32 Antivirus: Is there an extra charge to protect Android devices?

Android protection is available as an optional add-on at $5 per year per device, in addition to your main subscription cost.

Source
Share

Related pages

Other head to heads