Try our new research platform with insights from 80,000+ expert users

ESET Endpoint Encryption vs Microsoft BitLocker comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Apr 20, 2025

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
3rd
Average Rating
8.4
Reviews Sentiment
7.3
Number of Reviews
15
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
Microsoft BitLocker
Ranking in Endpoint Encryption
1st
Average Rating
8.2
Reviews Sentiment
7.4
Number of Reviews
65
Ranking in other categories
Mobile Data Protection (1st)
 

Mindshare comparison

As of April 2025, in the Endpoint Encryption category, the mindshare of ESET Endpoint Encryption is 19.9%, up from 12.7% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Microsoft BitLocker is 40.2%, up from 39.9% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Endpoint Encryption
 

Featured Reviews

Lucky  Lushaba - PeerSpot reviewer
Has an user-friendly UI which even a non-technical person can use
The product should be more responsive regarding feedback if it detects something in our infrastructure. I believe there's a backend that their engineers use to detect viruses in our system. We would appreciate it if they could promptly provide feedback and give us recommendations on how to better protect our infrastructure beyond their system. Additionally, we hope for improved integration with the other systems we currently use. It would be beneficial if they could collaborate to create something that facilitates integration between these systems.
Douglas Curry - PeerSpot reviewer
Users can easily deploy and manage it
The solution's most valuable feature is that it is simple to deploy and manage. I can't say what features of the tool I like since it is very much a deploy-and-forget product. We don't use any advanced features of the tool in my company. The tool's recovery options are good, especially since it integrates with Active Directory, making everything a simple process. The product's integration capabilities are good.

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"The solution's UI is user-friendly. Even a non-technical person can use it."
"The setup is getting easier."
"It is a very stable solution. Stability-wise, I rate the solution a ten out of ten."
"The product is easy to implement and configure."
"The most valuable feature is that everything is done on the server."
"The tool does not slow down the computer."
"The most valuable feature of ESET Endpoint Encryption is the high level of encryption protection."
"The Remote Administrator is the most valuable feature that ESET offers for us. Centralized management of our ESET environment is what I like about the Remote Administrator."
"You can do a silent remote deployment very fast."
"The solution has a feature that automatically asks the users to upgrade their password once we set up the process."
"Whole Disk Encryption is great. BitLocker runs seamlessly during boot up."
"It is an encryption tool and provides security."
"I like BitLocker because it gives us strong encryption to protect our data."
"The best thing about it is the encryption type and the way it requires TPM when someone tries to access the drive."
"It is easy to implement and has AD integration."
"The solution works the way it's supposed to - stability and scalability are fine."
 

Cons

"If you have issues with your network, you can't get updates, which is a problem."
"Integration with central management needs improvement."
"ESET Endpoint Encryption needs to improve pricing and security."
"My problem is that there's a technical glitch and they don't have a fix for it. It's not working with the latest version of Windows, which is a problem."
"Sometimes the server console is very slow, so the performance could be improved."
"From an admin perspective, the solution's UI could be more user-friendly."
"The initial setup could be made easier."
"The solution should have better synchronization with active directory users and passwords for use in the encryption."
"It is not good for cross-compatibility, so our Mac users are not able to use it."
"The encryption takes a long time to complete, and our system runs very slowly while it is encrypting."
"The deployment process regarding prerequisites and automation could be easy to understand."
"Some of the technical internal functions, such as encryption protocols or something similar, could be improved."
"We recently found some stability issues with Microsoft BitLocker."
"I would like to see improvement in the solution's central management of passwords. Currently, we install it separately."
"The primary aspect for improvement lies in expanding our developer base, which would accelerate the development process and bring these enhancements to fruition"
"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."
 

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."
"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."
"The pricing is mid-ranged and could be more cost-effective."
"On a scale of one to ten, where one is the lowest and ten is the highest, I rate its pricing a two."
"The solution is expensive."
"For reasons unknown, Microsoft products seem to be getting more expensive."
"This solution is included with Microsoft Server and my clients did not have to pay for anything extra."
"We didn't pay for additional licenses since the solution is built into Windows."
"It is free. It is enabled as part of the operating system. Once you have an operating system license, you're licensed for Bitlocker."
"The tool is cheap compared to the products offered by competitors. If one is cheap and ten is expensive, I rate the tool's price as one."
"BitLocker is included in our license and doesn't cost us anything extra."
"I think it's reasonably priced because I've never heard any complaints from my company about its costs."
report
Use our free recommendation engine to learn which Endpoint Encryption solutions are best for your needs.
849,190 professionals have used our research since 2012.
 

Answers from the Community

TK
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
MB
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
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
Computer Software Company
16%
Comms Service Provider
12%
Government
8%
Retailer
7%
Computer Software Company
12%
Government
10%
Manufacturing Company
9%
Financial Services Firm
9%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
 

Questions from the Community

What needs improvement with ESET Endpoint Encryption?
My problem is that there's a technical glitch and they don't have a fix for it. It's not working with the latest version of Windows, which is a problem. My hands are kind of tied.
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: April 2025.
849,190 professionals have used our research since 2012.