Malwarebytes Review
Malwarebytes built its reputation as the tool other antivirus programs call in when they miss something, and that specialist history still shows in how it handles stubborn infections. Its real-time protection has closed most of the gap with the leaders, though it still comes at the highest price on this list.
- Excellent at finding and fully removing stubborn malware, adware, and PUPs other tools miss
- Fast, lightweight scans thanks to its on-demand scanning heritage
- Simple, uncluttered interface that is easy to hand to a less technical user
- Effective ransomware and web/exploit protection on Premium
- Widely trusted as a second-opinion scanner alongside other security tools
- Highest entry price on this list despite a lower overall score than cheaper competitors
- Free tier is on-demand only, with no real-time protection at all
- No bundled VPN; Malwarebytes Privacy VPN is sold as a separate subscription
- Slightly behind Bitdefender and Kaspersky in the toughest zero-day protection tests
Protection Rate
Malwarebytes has invested heavily in improving its real-time protection scores in recent years, and its 2026 AV-TEST results show real progress, though it still trails Bitdefender and Kaspersky slightly in the highest-pressure zero-day tests. Where it continues to stand out is manual remediation: its scanning engine remains excellent at finding and fully removing stubborn malware, adware, and PUPs that other tools sometimes leave partially behind.
Performance Impact
Malwarebytes runs light in the background, and its scans are noticeably faster than several competitors on this list, a legacy of its roots as an on-demand second-opinion scanner built for speed. Real-time protection has a slightly larger footprint than the old standalone scanner did, but it remains one of the less resource-hungry full suites we test.
Features
Malwarebytes Free is on-demand only, meaning it scans and removes threats when you run it manually but does not protect you in real time, a meaningful gap compared to every other free tier on this list. Premium adds real-time protection, ransomware protection, and web/exploit protection. Unlike most competitors here, a VPN is not bundled in; Malwarebytes Privacy VPN is a separate purchase.
Pricing
Malwarebytes Premium currently starts at $59.99 per year, the highest entry price of any product on this list despite scoring below several cheaper competitors. You are largely paying for its malware-removal reputation and lightweight scanning rather than a large bundled feature set, since the VPN and other extras are sold separately instead of included.
UI / UX
Malwarebytes keeps its interface deliberately simple: a single dashboard with scan status, threat history, and protection toggles, without the dense settings menus some full suites accumulate. It is an easy product to hand to a less technical user, though that simplicity means fewer configuration options for anyone who wants finer control.
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FAQ
Is Malwarebytes a good antivirus?
Yes, particularly for removing stubborn malware, adware, and PUPs. Its real-time protection scores have improved significantly, though it still trails the very top scorers slightly in independent zero-day testing.
Does Malwarebytes have a free version?
Yes, but Malwarebytes Free only scans and removes threats on demand. It does not include real-time protection, unlike the free tiers offered by several competitors.
Is Malwarebytes worth it compared to a free antivirus?
If you want real-time protection, yes, since the free version does not provide it. Many users also run Malwarebytes Free alongside another antivirus specifically as a second-opinion scanner for stubborn infections.
Does Malwarebytes include a VPN?
Not by default. Malwarebytes Privacy VPN is sold separately rather than bundled into the Premium plan, unlike most other products on this list.
How much does Malwarebytes cost?
Malwarebytes Premium currently starts at $59.99 per year, the highest starting price among the products we rank here.