Malwarebytes Review: What the Free and Paid Versions Do
Malwarebytes Free scans and removes malware on demand but offers no real-time protection. Paid plans start at $59.99 a year for three devices.
By Galactic News Editorial · Published 2026-11-07T22:38:16+00:00 · Updated 2026-11-07T22:38:16+00:00
Malwarebytes Review: What the Free and Paid Versions Do
Malwarebytes Free is a cleanup tool. It scans your device when you ask it to. It removes what it finds. It does not protect you in real time. Paid plans add that protection. This malwarebytes review explains what each version does. It covers prices, features and who should pay. This is a research-based review. No hands-on testing was done for it.
Malwarebytes Review: The Free Version
Malwarebytes Free works on Windows, Mac and Android. You download it at no cost. You run a scan on demand. The scanner looks for malware, adware and potentially unwanted programs. It quarantines what it finds. You review the results and remove them. Free users can set up one scheduled scan per month on Windows. The free version also includes Browser Guard as a browser extension. Browser Guard blocks scam sites, ads and trackers. Since version 5.7.0, free users also get a Privacy VPN with 10 GB of data per 30 days. The key limit is clear. Free Malwarebytes does not block threats before they run. It cleans up after an infection. It does not stop one in progress. That makes it a second-opinion scanner, not a full antivirus replacement.
Malwarebytes Pricing and Paid Plans
Malwarebytes now sells three consumer tiers. The old Premium name is gone. Prices below are US list prices from the official site, reported in October 2026. First-year discounts are common. Check the checkout page before you buy.
| Plan | Price per year | Devices | What it adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Windows, Mac, Android | On-demand scan and removal |
| Standard | $59.99 | 3 devices | Real-time protection, Browser Guard |
| Plus | $79.99 | 3 devices | Standard plus full Privacy VPN |
| Ultimate | $279.99 list ($139.99 first year seen) | 1 adult, 3 devices | Plus plus identity protection |
Standard is also listed at $44.99 a year for one device in some price listings. The three-device price is $59.99 a year. That works out to $5.00 a month when billed annually. Plus costs $79.99 a year for three devices. Ultimate lists at $279.99 a year. It was seen on offer at $139.99 for the first year. Family plans cover 10 devices. Every paid plan carries a 60-day money-back guarantee on eligible direct purchases. App store terms can differ.
What Paid Plans Add
Paid plans switch on Real-Time Protection. It has four layers on Windows. Web Protection blocks malicious websites. Malware Protection blocks harmful files. Ransomware Protection blocks encryption attacks. Exploit Protection blocks attacks that use software flaws. Paid plans also add the full Threat Scan. They add weekly scheduled scans by default. They include data breach notifications. Plus adds the full Privacy VPN. The VPN uses WireGuard. It has no data cap on Plus. It unlocks the full server list on all platforms. Ultimate adds identity protection. That includes dark web and breach alerts. It includes bank and credit card alerts. It includes three-bureau credit monitoring. It includes social media monitoring. It includes identity recovery specialists. It includes a personal data remover. It includes up to $2 million in identity insurance.
How It Tests
Independent labs test the paid engine. AV-TEST gave Malwarebytes Premium 17.5 out of 18 in March to April 2026. It scored 5.5 out of 6 for protection. That earned a Top Product award. AV-Comparatives reported a 97.8 percent real-world threat blocking score in July to August 2025. The same reports note a weakness. False alarms were higher than some rivals. That cost it award tiers in some tests. Free users should note one point. The free scanner is not tested as a real-time engine. Its scores do not apply to the free version.
Who Should Pay, and Who Should Not
Pay for Standard if you want simple real-time protection. It suits readers who want a light app that stays out of the way. Pay for Plus if you also want a VPN. It costs $20 a year more than Standard for three devices. That is cheaper than most standalone VPNs. Pay for Ultimate only if you want identity monitoring bundled in. Its renewal price roughly doubles after the first year. Check the renewal figure before you commit. Stay on Free if you already run another real-time antivirus. Running two real-time engines can cause conflicts. It can slow your device. It can make problems hard to diagnose. Free also suits readers who only need a second-opinion scan. Windows Defender already gives free real-time protection on Windows. Malwarebytes Free pairs well with it as a cleanup tool.
Bottom Line
Malwarebytes Free is a strong cleanup scanner. It is not a full antivirus. Standard at $59.99 a year for three devices is the sensible paid pick for most readers. Plus at $79.99 a year is good value if you want the VPN too. Ultimate is hard to justify unless you want its identity protection bundle. Watch the renewal price. It rises sharply after the first year on Ultimate.