Alternatives · Antivirus
Emsisoft Anti-Malware alternatives
As of Nov 13, 2026, the best Emsisoft Anti-Malware alternative for most people is Bitdefender (2.8 GPA), second in our ranking of antivirus apps. It's also the best free one.
Emsisoft Anti-Malware compared with 6 alternatives: Malwarebytes, ESET, Bitdefender, Avira, Kaspersky and 1 more.
Emsisoft Anti-Malware is a paid product with a free trial, starting at $39.95 per year for 1 PC. 4 of the 6 alternatives are free or have a free plan. 2 more offer a free trial.
Listings checked up to Nov 12, 2026 · Where the facts come from
Black Friday: is there a Emsisoft Anti-Malware sale?
At a glance
| Tool | Price | Free plan | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emsisoft Anti-MalwareThis tool | Free trial · from $39.95/yr | Trial only | macOS, Windows |
| Malwarebytes | Free plan · from $59.99/yr | Yes | macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, Browser extension |
| ESET | Free trial · from $12.99/yr | Trial only | macOS, Windows, Android |
| Bitdefender | Free plan · from $49.99/yr | Yes | macOS, Windows, iOS, Android |
| Avira | Free plan | Yes | Windows, iOS, Android |
| Kaspersky | Free trial · from $64.99/yr | Trial only | macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android |
| ClamAV | Free | Free | macOS, Windows, Linux |
Price against what you get
Emsisoft Anti-Malware starts at $3.33 a month when paid by the year and scores 2.7 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. 1 of the 5 alternatives on this chart scores higher and starts lower: ESET.
Bitdefender and Kaspersky score higher without starting lower. ClamAV starts lower without scoring higher.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
How each one differs from Emsisoft Anti-Malware
Malwarebytes
Malware scanner and real-time protection, with VPN and ID plans
- Malwarebytes starts at $59.99 per year for up to 3 devices (Standard).
- Malwarebytes has a free plan, which Emsisoft Anti-Malware lacks.
- Malwarebytes also lists Android and iOS apps and a browser extension.
- Malwarebytes also covers vPN and ad and tracker blocking.
- Malwarebytes does not cover dashboards, which Emsisoft Anti-Malware does.
Suits: Cleaning up a computer that is already infected, for free
ESET
Antivirus and home security plans priced by device count
- ESET starts at $12.99 per year for 1 device (Mobile Security for Android).
- ESET also lists an Android app.
- ESET also covers vPN.
- ESET does not cover dashboards, which Emsisoft Anti-Malware does.
Suits: Buyers who want a light antivirus for one Windows PC or Mac
Bitdefender
Antivirus suites for computers and phones, with a free Windows tier
- Bitdefender starts at $49.99 per year at renewal (Antivirus Plus, 1 device), after a first year for $24.99.
- Bitdefender has a free plan, which Emsisoft Anti-Malware lacks.
- Bitdefender also lists Android and iOS apps.
- Bitdefender also covers password manager and vPN.
- Bitdefender does not cover dashboards, which Emsisoft Anti-Malware does.
Suits: Windows users who want free real-time antivirus
Avira
Free antivirus suite with a VPN, PC cleaner and password manager
- Avira has a free plan, which Emsisoft Anti-Malware lacks.
- Avira also lists Android and iOS apps.
- Avira lists no macOS app, which Emsisoft Anti-Malware has.
- Avira also covers password manager, vPN and ad and tracker blocking.
- Avira does not cover dashboards, which Emsisoft Anti-Malware does.
Suits: Windows users who want free antivirus plus cleanup and update tools
Kaspersky
Antivirus suites with a VPN and password manager on higher tiers
- Kaspersky starts at $64.99 per year at renewal (Standard, 1 device), after a first year for $49.99.
- Kaspersky also lists Linux, Android and iOS apps.
- Kaspersky also covers password manager, vPN and ad and tracker blocking.
- Kaspersky does not cover dashboards, which Emsisoft Anti-Malware does.
Suits: Buyers outside the US who want antivirus, VPN and passwords in one plan
ClamAV
Free open-source antivirus engine and command-line scanner
- ClamAV is free.
- ClamAV has a free plan, which Emsisoft Anti-Malware lacks.
- ClamAV also lists a Linux app.
- ClamAV is open source, according to its own site.
- ClamAV does not cover dashboards, which Emsisoft Anti-Malware does.
Suits: Mail servers and gateways that need a malware scanning step
Limits worth knowing in Emsisoft Anti-Malware
- The pricing page shows regional prices to some visitors; the $39.95 figure is the US price in the product page's own data and should be re-checked.
- The product page lists Windows 10 (64 bit) and later and macOS 11 and later; the pricing page describes the Home plan as for Windows PCs.
- Business Security and Enterprise Security (with EDR) are separate per-endpoint products; no VPN or password manager is listed for the Home plan.
- Sold with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Common questions
What are the alternatives to Emsisoft Anti-Malware?
The alternatives to Emsisoft Anti-Malware in this directory are Malwarebytes, ESET, Bitdefender, Avira, Kaspersky and ClamAV. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with Emsisoft Anti-Malware.
Is there a free alternative to Emsisoft Anti-Malware?
Yes. ClamAV is free to use. Malwarebytes, Bitdefender and Avira have a free plan alongside paid ones.
Which Emsisoft Anti-Malware alternatives work on Linux?
The Emsisoft Anti-Malware listing does not include a Linux app. Kaspersky and ClamAV list one.
Which Emsisoft Anti-Malware alternatives work on Android?
The Emsisoft Anti-Malware listing does not include an Android app. Malwarebytes, ESET, Bitdefender, Avira and Kaspersky list one.
Is there an open-source alternative to Emsisoft Anti-Malware?
ClamAV is described as open source on its own site.
When were these prices checked?
Each listing shows its own date. On this page they run from Oct 17, 2026 to Nov 12, 2026. Vendors change prices without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.