Alternatives · Antivirus
Malwarebytes alternatives
Malwarebytes compared with 12 alternatives: Bitdefender, Norton 360, Avast, ESET, McAfee and 7 more.
Malwarebytes has a free plan. Paid plans start at $59.99 per year for up to 3 devices (Standard). 6 of the 12 alternatives are free or have a free plan. 4 more offer a free trial.
12 tools · Listings checked up to Oct 17, 2026 · Where the facts come from
At a glance
| Tool | Price | Free plan | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|
| MalwarebytesThis tool | Free plan · from $59.99/yr | Yes | macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, Browser extension |
| Bitdefender | Free plan · from $49.99/yr | Yes | macOS, Windows, iOS, Android |
| Norton 360 | Free trial · from $84.99/yr | Trial only | macOS, Windows, iOS, Android |
| Avast | Free plan | Yes | macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, Browser extension |
| ESET | Free trial · from $12.99/yr | Trial only | macOS, Windows, Android |
| McAfee | Free plan | Yes | macOS, Windows, iOS, Android |
| AVG | Free plan | Yes | macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, Browser extension |
| Avira | Free plan | Yes | Windows, iOS, Android |
| F-Secure | Free plan · from $49.99/yr | Yes | macOS, Windows, iOS, Android |
| Intego | From $39.99/yr | No | macOS, Windows, iOS |
| Sophos Home | Free trial · from $59.99/yr | Trial only | macOS, Windows, iOS, Android |
| TotalAV | From $99/yr | No | macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, Browser extension |
| Webroot | Free trial · from $34.99/yr | Trial only | macOS, Windows, iOS, Android |
Price against what you get
Malwarebytes starts at $5 a month when paid by the year and scores 2.7 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. 3 of the 8 alternatives on this chart score higher and start lower: Bitdefender, ESET and Webroot.
Norton 360 and TotalAV score higher without starting lower. F-Secure and Intego start 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 Malwarebytes
- Free plan · from $49.99/yr
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. Malwarebytes starts at $59.99 per year for up to 3 devices (Standard).
- Only Malwarebytes lists a browser extension.
- Bitdefender also covers password manager.
- Malwarebytes also covers ad and tracker blocking.
Suits: Windows users who want free real-time antivirus
- Free trial · from $84.99/yr
Norton 360
Antivirus suite with VPN, password manager and PC cloud backup
- Norton 360 starts at $84.99 per year at renewal (Standard, 1 device), after a first year from $34.99. Malwarebytes starts at $59.99 per year for up to 3 devices (Standard).
- Malwarebytes has a free plan. Norton 360 does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Malwarebytes lists a browser extension.
- Norton 360 also covers password manager.
Suits: Households that want antivirus, a VPN and a password manager in one subscription
- Free plan
Avast
Free antivirus for PC, Mac and phones, with paid Premium and Ultimate
- Malwarebytes also covers ad and tracker blocking.
Suits: Windows users who want real-time antivirus without paying
- Free trial · from $12.99/yr
ESET
Antivirus and home security plans priced by device count
- ESET starts at $12.99 per year for 1 device (Mobile Security for Android). Malwarebytes starts at $59.99 per year for up to 3 devices (Standard).
- Malwarebytes has a free plan. ESET does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Malwarebytes lists an iOS app.
- Only Malwarebytes lists a browser extension.
- Malwarebytes also covers ad and tracker blocking.
Suits: Buyers who want a light antivirus for one Windows PC or Mac
- Free plan
McAfee
Antivirus, VPN and identity monitoring for PCs, Macs and phones
- Only Malwarebytes lists a browser extension.
- Malwarebytes also covers ad and tracker blocking.
Suits: Households that want one subscription across PCs, Macs and phones
- Free plan
AVG
Free antivirus for Windows, with paid Internet Security and Ultimate
- Malwarebytes also covers ad and tracker blocking.
Suits: Windows users who want real-time antivirus without paying
- Free plan
Avira
Free antivirus suite with a VPN, PC cleaner and password manager
- Only Malwarebytes lists a macOS app.
- Only Malwarebytes lists a browser extension.
- Avira also covers password manager.
Suits: Windows users who want free antivirus plus cleanup and update tools
- Free plan · from $49.99/yr
F-Secure
Finnish antivirus and VPN suite that renews at the new-customer price
- F-Secure starts at $49.99 per year for 1 device (Internet Security). Malwarebytes starts at $59.99 per year for up to 3 devices (Standard).
- Only Malwarebytes lists a browser extension.
- F-Secure also covers password manager.
- Malwarebytes also covers ad and tracker blocking.
Suits: Buyers who want a renewal price that matches the advertised one
- From $39.99/yr
Intego
Mac antivirus and firewall suite, with a VPN and a Windows edition
- Intego starts at $39.99 per year at renewal (Essential, 1 Mac), after a first year for $29.99. Malwarebytes starts at $59.99 per year for up to 3 devices (Standard).
- Malwarebytes has a free plan. Intego does not.
- Only Malwarebytes lists an Android app.
- Only Malwarebytes lists a browser extension.
- Intego also covers disk cleanup.
Suits: Mac owners who want antivirus and a firewall built for macOS
- Free trial · from $59.99/yr
Sophos Home
Business-grade antivirus for up to 10 Windows PCs and Macs
- Sophos Home starts at $59.99 per year for 10 computers at renewal, after a first year for $44.99. Malwarebytes starts at $59.99 per year for up to 3 devices (Standard).
- Malwarebytes has a free plan. Sophos Home does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Malwarebytes lists a browser extension.
- Malwarebytes also covers vPN and ad and tracker blocking.
Suits: Families who look after the computers of relatives in other homes
- From $99/yr
TotalAV
Antivirus with tune-up tools, plus VPN and ad blocking on higher plans
- TotalAV starts at $99 per year for up to 4 devices (Plus). Malwarebytes starts at $59.99 per year for up to 3 devices (Standard).
- Malwarebytes has a free plan. TotalAV does not.
- TotalAV also covers password manager and disk cleanup.
Suits: Households that want antivirus, VPN and ad blocker in one bill
- Free trial · from $34.99/yr
Webroot
Lightweight cloud antivirus, with identity and VPN bundles
- Webroot starts at $34.99 per year for 1 device (Essentials), first term; renewal price not stated. Malwarebytes starts at $59.99 per year for up to 3 devices (Standard).
- Malwarebytes has a free plan. Webroot does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Malwarebytes lists a browser extension.
- Webroot also covers password manager.
- Malwarebytes also covers ad and tracker blocking.
Suits: Older or slower PCs that need light antivirus
Limits worth knowing in Malwarebytes
- Malwarebytes Free has no real-time protection: it only finds and removes infections when you run a scan.
- Ultimate's $139.99 covers the first year only; it then renews at $279.99 a year, and subscriptions bought online renew automatically.
- Several protections, such as exploit protection, firewall control and webcam monitoring, are Windows-only.
- Home plans are for personal use; small businesses are sold Malwarebytes for Teams separately.
Common questions
What are the alternatives to Malwarebytes?
The alternatives to Malwarebytes in this directory are Bitdefender, Norton 360, Avast, ESET, McAfee, AVG, Avira, F-Secure, Intego, Sophos Home, TotalAV and Webroot. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with Malwarebytes.
Is there a free alternative to Malwarebytes?
Yes. Bitdefender, Avast, McAfee, AVG, Avira and F-Secure have a free plan alongside paid ones.
When were these prices checked?
Every listing on this page was checked on Oct 17, 2026, against the pages it cites. Vendors change prices without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.