Malwarebytes antivirus review 2025
Trusted, legitimate desktop and mobile antivirus
Malwarebytes is trusted, legitimate anti-malware software that protects Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android devices from viruses, ransomware, and spyware, while offering credit and identity protection tools to reduce the risk and impact of cybercriminals’ activities.
Starting from $44.99 for the Standard plan, Malwarebytes offers on-demand and scheduled scans, with real-time protection that blocks malware, ransomware, and other threats. During my in-house tests, Malwarebytes demonstrated strong Windows protection for a range of threats, including malware, spyware, and phishing attacks. However, its performance on macOS was less reliable, and in general it’s not as powerful as alternative antivirus software.
For better protection on any device, I recommend choosing TotalAV, which recently scored 100% for real-time protection in both in-house and independent lab tests.
Malwarebytes pros and cons
| Malwarebytes pros | Malwarebytes cons |
| ✅ Strong protection: Malwarebytes performed well during independent lab tests in stopping malware, ransomware, and other threats. | ❌ Free version very limited: The free version lacks real-time protection, making it more of a reactive tool than a proactive defense. |
| ✅ Lightweight on your system: Malwarebytes doesn’t slow down system performance, with a low impact on CPU and RAM. | ❌ Expensive premium protection: Compared to competitors, the full premium package can be a bit pricey for the features offered. |
| ✅ Beginner-friendly software: Its clean, intuitive design makes it easy to use for both beginners and advanced users. | ❌ macOS protection poorer: Malwarebytes performed well on Windows, but its protection for Mac was worse. |
Malwarebytes offers respectable real-time protection for Windows, which stopped 9/10 test files from EICAR in my in-house test circuit. MacOS performance was worse, blocking a little over 50% of my simulated cyber threats, and this was only after an initial complete failure because Malwarebytes requires full disk access – something that wasn’t clear during setup. However, the software effectively catches phishing websites and blocks them before they can harm your device, and it’ll even block potentially unwanted programs for removal. With a very low impact on your computer’s CPU and RAM, this is a lightweight antivirus that offers solid protection, particularly for Windows machines, but won’t slow you down.
How much does Malwarebytes cost
Malwarebytes offers three antivirus plans; Standard, Plus, and Ultimate. Each tier gives you access to different features. The Standard plan is ideal for personal device security, while Plus adds on a premium VPN service, which is useful if you travel frequently or regularly use public Wi-Fi. Finally, Ultimate includes credit and identity safeguards, making it a good choice for people who want total protection. I found the Malwarebytes price tag to be reasonable, with Standard priced at $44.99/year, Plus at $59.99, and Ultimate at $143.99.
| Antivirus feature | Standard | Plus | Ultimate |
| Real-time protection | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Malware removal | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Ransomware removal | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Web protection | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Exploit protection | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| VPN | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Performance optimization | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Identity theft protection | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Priority customer support | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Devices covered | 1 | 5 | 5 |
Malwarebytes' free trial lasts 14 days and lets you use all of the Premium features without commitment. While I ultimately used the full trial and subscribed to the Ultimate plan, Malwarebytes' extremely generous 60-day money-back guarantee meant I was able to get a full refund when done with my testing.
If you’re a day-to-day web user, I recommend picking the Standard plan for robust device security. Alternatively, if you enjoy streaming and want to unblock and access international content libraries, you might want to consider the Plus plan for the VPN. Of course, as part of my thorough test process, I also conducted a full test of Malwarebytes’ free version and compared it to the paid plans.
Malwarebytes free version review
Malwarebytes has a free version of its antivirus, though it’s of course more limited than the paid plans. With Malwarebytes Free, you’ll be able to scan your computer for viruses, but you don’t get real-time protection. This feature is crucial to stop malware from infecting your computer in the first place. Once malware’s on your device, it can cause problems not only for your device, but for your identity and credit too.
Besides real-time protection, Malwarebytes Free also lacks web filtering, ransomware protection, and exploit protection. However, it’s still a good line of defense to fully scan your system and remove malware that could be lurking without you knowing about it. I also found Malwarebytes Free to be very easy to use, so it’s well-suited to beginners.
As part of my testing, I used sample EICAR malware files to see whether Malwarebytes Free could detect the most common attacks. Of the 10 sample EICAR malware files that I loaded onto my device, the free version failed to block some zero-day threats and web-based attacks that a full-featured antivirus would have caught in real-time.
With all the above in mind, I recommend Malwarebytes Standard as a minimum. This gives you unrestricted access to real-time protection, web filtering, and ransomware defense, all of which are crucial for comprehensive protection. The free version is a good backup tool, but relying on it as your sole line of defense could still leave you exposed.
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Getting started with Malwarebytes Premium
Installing Malwarebytes was a simple process. Once you've opened the software client for the first time, you'll see options down the left-hand side to access the Dashboard and Settings. If you've chosen the Ultimate plan as I did for my tests, you'll have a third option for Identity Protection. Within the dashboard, it's easy to launch a full scan, and the software recommends doing so after first-time setup.
On both desktop and mobile device tests, including Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android, I found the interface extremely easy to use – it’s well-suited to antivirus beginners. Aside from starting a malware scan, it’s simple to check whether your real-time protection is enabled and view historical data on the threats that Malwarebytes has stopped. On the Plus and Ultimate plans, you can also quickly enable Malwarebytes VPN to protect your data and connection on unsecured networks.
There’s also a Trusted Advisor that awards a Protection Score of up to 100. Personally, I found this to be a superfluous feature; the number has no real value, besides being an indicator of the features you've enabled. According to Malwarebytes' website, the number increases when you enable a feature and decreases if you disable it. Assuming you have access to full functionality, I suggest ensuring that the VPN and real-time protection are active. This will provide you with strong security for streaming, browsing, and gaming.
Opening the Scan option lets you perform a full system scan. If you choose the scan scheduler feature, you can select from quick, full, and custom scans to be automatically launched on a specified frequency – hourly, daily, weekly, or monthly. During my in-house tests on a Windows 11 PC, Malwarebytes Ultimate detected 9/10 EICAR test malware files. This positioned it similarly to independent lab tests, with a strong protection score. However, on macOS, it didn't detect a single one of 150 test malware files.
After collaborating with my colleagues, we were able to determine that Malwarebytes requires full disk access on macOS. This can be configured quickly within your Mac’s Security & Privacy settings. Once I’d enabled full disk access, I saw Malwarebytes identify a little over 50% of the sample malware files that I’d planted in the Downloads folder. Overall, I was less impressed with Malwarebytes as a macOS protection tool, though the software recouped some points in my book by blocking 99% of ads during my Browser Guard tests.
I tested the free Browser Guard extension for Edge, Firefox, and Chrome, which automatically blocks potentially malicious websites that could infect your device. My tests with such extensions involve visiting a range of free movie streaming websites, which frequently score low for trustworthiness and can often host malicious ads. Malwarebytes blocked 18 of the 20 websites I attempted to visit, offering solid protection.
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Is Malwarebytes safe: testing results by independent experts
An important part of any antivirus evaluation is to understand how well the software performed in independent expert test circuits. This includes well-known antivirus evaluation providers, AV-TEST and AV-Comparatives.
In the latest assessment data available from AV-TEST, Malwarebytes Premium achieved a protection score of 5.5 out of 6.0, a respectable score for protection against malware. Performance-wise, it also scored 5.5 out of 6.0; this mirrors my own experience in that Malwarebytes has a minimal impact on your system’s CPU power and memory (RAM). Malwarebytes was awarded a perfect score of 6.0 for usability, again reflecting my own experience in finding this a very beginner-friendly antivirus solution.
Next, I reviewed how Malwarebytes performed in another lab’s tests, AV-Comparatives, which started evaluating this antivirus in 2021. AV-Comparatives’ tests include an assessment of system load, in terms of CPU and RAM usage, which is compared to competing antivirus programs. During my in-house tests, Malwarebytes didn’t place excessive load on my system, and the independent lab tests show good results and strong competitive performance among competitor software.
Finally, I also reviewed the MRG Effitas 360 Assessment for Malwarebytes, which covered multiple different attack vectors. The software scored Level 1 Certification, which means that it offers complete protection against all malware threats posed within the test. It also blocked 100% of exploits, ransomware threats, and online banking threats.
Does Malwarebytes protect against all types of viruses?
Independent tests have shown that Malwarebytes is adept at stopping numerous attacks, including malware, ransomware, adware, trojans, and spyware. It’s also shown that Malwarebytes can stop PUPs, or potentially unwanted programs – these are software apps that appear legitimate but can cause problems on your device.
Malwarebytes brings a multi-layered defense that includes real-time protection, which uses advanced technology to detect and stop online threats, block malicious phishing sites, and prevent ransomware attacks as they occur. Upgrade to the Premium plan and you get always-on protection and detection of emerging and future threats.
The Premium version enhances security with always-on protection, ensuring users stay safeguarded against emerging and future threats.This is enhanced further by Browser Guard, a browser extension that can stop you from visiting malicious websites, trackers, and other online threats directly from the web browser.
In order to verify the accuracy of these results, I conducted in-house tests myself using official EICAR (European Institute for Computer Anti-Virus Research) files to put Malwarebytes through its paces.
| Types of malware | Does Malwarebytes antivirus block it? | Results |
| Viruses | ✅ Yes | Malwarebytes detected and purged the vast majority of virus threats in independent lab tests, in addition to blocking 9/10 EICAR test malware files during my in-house tests. |
| Ransomware | ✅ Yes | The antivirus was able to stop ransomware sample files before they could execute their malicious script and lock down my device. |
| Spyware | ✅ Yes | While testing Malwarebytes, I noted that it uses advanced behavioral analysis to detect spyware that attempts to steal sensitive data, preventing keylogging and unauthorized tracking. |
| Trojans | ✅ Yes | Malwarebytes succeeded in identifying and blocking trojans during my in-house test circuit, preventing them from being able to infect my device in the first place with real-time protection. |
| Adware | ✅ Yes | This antivirus can block adware as well as blocking frustrating ads that can potentially contain malware. The Browser Guard ad blocker performed well in my tests, blocking intrusive adverts on free streaming sites. |
| Malicious websites | ✅ Yes | When I tested websites known for malicious ads, including free streaming sites, Malwarebytes blocked every attempted visit to protect my device. |
| Phishing attacks | ✅ Yes | I simulated phishing attacks via SMS, which contained unverified links to unofficial websites. Malwarebytes was able to block the phishing threats so that they couldn’t be interacted with. |
My own test results aligned with those that I saw from AV-TEST and AV-Comparatives, as well as the research from the MRG Effitas 360 Assessment. While Malwarebytes didn’t block 100% of threats, it did offer robust real-time protection for the majority of malware attacks, besides also blocking a whole range of other cyberthreats.
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Malware protection test
To assess Malwarebytes' malware protection strength, I subscribed to the Ultimate plan, before then using Malwarebytes Free for comparison. My testing focused on all platforms – Windows and macOS, as well as iOS and Android.
For the malware protection test, I downloaded EICAR test files, which is an industry-standard way of evaluating antivirus efficiency. On Windows, I planted 10 malware samples, while on Mac, I ultimately tested Malwarebytes against 150 malicious files due to issues in getting the software to recognize any malware. Additionally, I assessed whether real-time protection blocked threats before execution or if on-demand scanning was required.
- Windows: Malwarebytes' real-time protection blocked 9 out of 10 malware files before they could execute, meaning that the software offers strong defense. Though one file slipped through, it was later caught during a full system scan.
- Mac: Initially, Malwarebytes blocked 1 out of 150 threats. This result surprised me, as I’ve seen Malwarebytes score well in independent lab tests. However, after enabling Full Disk Access, detection improved to around 50%. It’s still not a great result, but it indicated that the software was working correctly.
I was impressed by the fact that Malwarebytes can also scan for PUPs – potentially unwanted programs. What qualifies as a PUP can vary based on opinion and app behavior, but generally these are programs that might spam you with pop-up ads (adware) or modify your browser settings without your permission.
When I moved onto testing the free version, I noticed a big limitation – it lacks real-time protection. This means that malware could still infect your device, and you’d be relying on manual scans to catch it after the damage had potentially already been done. While it’s better than having no protection, I personally suggest trying Malwarebytes’ 30-day money-back guarantee if you want to test the software for yourself without commitment.
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Phishing protection test
My malware protection tests focused on how well Malwarebytes can block harmful software like viruses and Trojans, while my phishing protection test looked at how well it blocks malicious websites designed to steal your personal information. Many users don’t even realize that this is an attack vector, but a malicious site or a site containing malicious adverts, whether intentional or not, can compromise your device simply by visiting it once.
I tested the Ultimate version of Malwarebytes again to vet the phishing protection features. In terms of simulated threats, I used live URLs linked to real websites that I know to contain potentially malicious ads, as well as other URLs from PhishTank and OpenPhish.
- Browser Guard: Malwarebytes’ web extension blocked 87% of phishing links, preventing access to known fraudulent sites. However, some new phishing pages (less than a day old) bypassed detection.
- Email-Based Phishing: Clicking on malicious links in simulated phishing emails triggered Malwarebytes' web protection, blocking 80% of the threats I introduced. Based on competitors like TotalAV, this figure is a little below industry average; this highlights the importance of keeping on your guard.
Overall, Malwarebytes offered strong but not perfect phishing safeguards. I was impressed with the Browser Guard extension overall though, making it a solid addition to the real-time protection offered by this antivirus.
Ransomware protection test
Ransomware is a type of malware that forcibly encrypts and locks down your files, or even your entire device until you pay a ransom to regain access. Many people fall victim to this scam, but in reality, you don’t always get your device or files returned to you. You may be asked for even greater sums of money – as a result, prevention is the best protection.
I carried out my ransomware protection test with Malwarebytes Ultimate, focusing on real-time protection against sample ransomware files. As part of these tests, I simulated ransomware attacks using a virtual machine with Malwarebytes installed. This ensured a realistic test environment but could not compromise my device.
- Real-time protection: Malwarebytes successfully blocked 9 out of 10 ransomware attempts. My files were guarded against rogue encryption, and detected ransomware was quarantined before it could execute its malicious payload.
Malwarebytes' ransomware protection appears to be adept at blocking ransomware attacks, especially when paired with its real-time protection feature. However, competing software like TotalAV is more effective and offers 100% real-time detection.
Exploit protection test
Exploit protection relates to vulnerabilities in legitimate software apps that cybercriminals target to attack your device. It’s not quite the same as typical malware; instead, hackers use these weaknesses to remotely access your device or introduce malware that bypasses your protections. So, exploit protection focuses on safeguarding these vulnerabilities so that they can’t be targeted.
My Malwarebytes exploit protection test used the Ultimate plan and involved simulating threats like Javascript exploits and PDF exploits. The former type of attack exploits vulnerabilities in the Javascript codebase used in web browsers, while the latter leverages vulnerabilities in PDF-reading software.
- Exploit Protection: Malwarebytes blocked 90% of exploit attempts, stopping abuse of known vulnerabilities in both Microsoft Office and Adobe Acrobat. That said, it was weaker with and missed two zero-day exploits.
I found Malwarebytes' exploit protection to be a useful feature for guarding against common software vulnerabilities. However, it struggles more with zero-day exploits or vulnerabilities in outdated software. I recommend using this feature in conjunction with the regular habit of updating all your software apps, including your device’s operating system software.
Malwarebytes CPU usage
This antivirus is known for being a slimline application that’s easy for beginners to understand, which is likely a contributing factor in Malwarebytes’ CPU usage being so low. My first test was to check my Mac’s Activity Monitor app while Malwarebytes was idling in the background. The result was around 0.7% CPU usage, which is extremely low.
Next, I checked how much load Malwarebytes was placing on my CPU during an antivirus scan. I expected this result to be much higher, but again the results were surprising – Malwarebytes CPU usage was just 2.9% during a full scan. While this result lines up with many of the best antivirus programs available, I’ve seen some well-known antivirus software spike up to 60-80% during intensive scanning.
Additional Malwarebytes features
While testing core Malwarebytes protection, I noted the inclusion of other useful features that offer further online safeguards. Here’s a quick overview of other features included in the Malwarebytes package.
- Identity theft protection: This feature will actively monitor your personal information and alert you if your data has appeared in a breach. Malwarebytes scans for breaches and other forms of compromised personal data, including your personal email addresses and credit card numbers. If the data appears online or on the dark web, you’ll be alerted via your Malwarebytes dashboard so that you can take preventative or remedial action.
- Ad blocker: Malwarebytes’ Ad Blocker feature is a nice addition to its web protection tools, albeit not the best ad blocker available. In my tests, it could block intrusive ads and trackers that can lead to slower browser performance or risk your privacy. So, blocking legitimate ads can improve your browsing experience, but it can also stop you from seeing malicious ads that can infect your device. My only criticism is that it can’t block YouTube ads; other popular ad blockers like Surfshark Clean Web 2.0 have this capability.
- Malwarebytes VPN: Using the VPN tool encrypts your internet connection; all of your data is hidden from cybercriminals, and your ISP can’t see what you’re doing online. It’s a great boon to have when you’re using risky public Wi-Fi or trying to bypass content restrictions online. However, my colleague’s NordVPN vs Malwarebytes VPN comparison determined that it lacks a lot of the power and functionality of leading VPNs like NordVPN.
Malwarebytes Mac vs Windows review
Malwarebytes on Windows brings solid protection against all types of malware, with strong real-time protection, anti-ransomware, exploit protection, and anti-phishing. Unfortunately, I noted during my tests that exploit protection is a feature unique to the Windows version of Malwarebytes. As a result of a slimmed-down experience on Mac, the software feels more robust and developed on Windows machines. On the other hand, the Mac experience is streamlined and in my opinion is good for beginners to antivirus software.
Malwarebytes Android vs iPhone app
Malwarebytes looks similar across both Android and iPhone smartphones, though there are some differences in the software on each platform, mostly due to native Apple restrictions. For example, real-time protection and anti-theft tracking features both work on Android, but Apple doesn’t allow interaction with core operating system functionality that’s required for these features to work. Apple uses app sandboxing to prevent apps from taking actions outside of their “sandbox” – i.e., modifying system-critical processes. As a result, these features are absent on iOS.
Instead, Apple’s version of Malwarebytes focuses on the useful web protection and ad blocking features. Like any antivirus for iPhone, it doesn't include real-time app scanning or device scanning like you’d get on the desktop versions of the antivirus.
How can you contact Malwarebytes customer service?
Malwarebytes offers several ways to contact customer support, including live chat and email support. I was disappointed to see that there’s no option to contact them by phone if you find that method of support easier. Below, I’ve summarized the available channels and their approximate response times:
| Malwarebytes customer support | Response times |
| Live chat | Immediate or within a few minutes |
| Averages 24 to 48 hours | |
| Community forums | Varies based on community input |
| Knowledge base / FAQ | Immediate access to troubleshooting guides |
When contacting a company, I always opt for the fastest responses that live chat delivers, so this was my preferred way of getting in touch. During my tests, I used live chat to test response times and ask a technical question so that I could gauge the agent’s knowledge of their product, which took around a minute to connect. Overall, the response time and answer that I got from Malwarebytes was satisfactory enough that I’m confident you can get useful support from the company if you get stuck or want to ask a specific question.
Final verdict: is Malwarebytes a good antivirus in 2025
Malwarebytes is a safe and legitimate antivirus program owned by the Malwarebytes Corporation, which is headquartered in California. The antivirus performed well in my tests, though performance was better on Windows. My Windows protection tests blocked 9/10 malware files, while on Mac the results were closer to 50% success. The iOS version also lacks device scanning functionality and other nice-to-have features that you can get on Android and Windows.
The bottom line is that while Malwarebytes provides reasonable protection against malware, I struggled to find a reason why you’d choose it over a more popular and well-developed antivirus like TotalAV, which has 100% real-time protection. This is particularly relevant when you consider that Malwarebytes has a fairly premium price tag.
FAQ
Is Malwarebytes a legit antivirus?
Yes, Malwarebytes is a legitimate and trusted antivirus solution from a well-known brand that offers strong real-time protection. While it didn’t stop every single sample malware file in independent lab tests nor my own in-house tests, it still offers strong protection against malware, trojans, worms, adware, and spyware, besides having anti-phishing and browser protection features. However, it isn’t as powerful as several competing packages, such as TotalAV.
What are the disadvantages of Malwarebytes?
Malwarebytes’ disadvantages include real-time protection that doesn’t catch every virus, a limited free tier, and a very expensive price tag on its highest-cost plan. That said, it still performed well in independent and in-house tests, and it doesn’t slow down your system. On the Standard plan, users can still enjoy good protection against viruses, trojans, malware, and other threats.
Is there a better antivirus than Malwarebytes?
Yes, TotalAV is currently the best antivirus available, with 100% real-time malware protection, safeguards to protect you against phishing and web attacks, and a much more affordable price tag. It also offers a 7-day free trial that’s followed by a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can test its features risk-free.
Can you use Malwarebytes for free forever?
While you can use Malwarebytes free for as long as you like, you’ll only be able to launch manual scans, which means you won’t be protected against malware in real time. In other words, malware could still make it onto your device; Malwarebytes’ scans only remove viruses that have already infected your computer. Instead, I recommend trying Malwarebytes’ 30-day money-back guarantee. You can still get a full refund if you decide to cancel, but you’ll get 30 days in which to test the full version and see the benefits for yourself.
