Avira vs Malwarebytes
We give Avira a 2.4 GPA and Malwarebytes a 2.2, out of 4.0. Avira grades higher on value for money and the free plan. Malwarebytes grades higher on ease of use. They get the same grade on features and platforms.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Malwarebytes
Malware scanner and real-time protection, with VPN and ID plans
How we grade them
| 2.4GPAAviraFair | 2.2GPAMalwarebytesFair | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | CNo prices on record: avira.com turned our reader away, so there's no two-year figure for a household, and C is the grade for no stated price. What paying mostly buys is an unlimited VPN and automatic updating, through the Pro versions and Avira Prime. | DFive devices means Standard Family, $119.99 a year for up to 10, with no first-year deal on record. So two years cost $239.98, about $10 a month, in the dearest tenth of antivirus. With three devices or fewer, Standard at $59.99 a year halves that. |
| Free plan and trial | BAvira Free Security gives a Windows PC real-time antivirus, web and ad blocking, a password manager, a software updater and a cleaner. One person could live on that. The VPN stops at 500 MB a month, and Android gets 100 MB a day. | CMalwarebytes Free scans Windows PCs and Macs and removes what it finds, for nothing. But it has no real-time, ransomware or phishing protection, so it cleans up after an infection rather than stopping one. |
| Features | CAntivirus, ad and tracker blocking, a driver and software updater, more than 30 cleanup tools and a password manager on Windows. The phones have gaps the listing names: the iPhone app mentions no virus scans, and Android web protection is Pro. | CReal-time protection on Windows, Mac and Android, Browser Guard against scam sites, Scam Guard for messages, and a VPN from Plus up. The gap is in the listing itself: exploit protection, firewall control and webcam monitoring are Windows-only. |
| Ease of use | C4.26 from about 4,700 App Store ratings, middling for this category. | BNo store rating on record. It's a program you install and run, and the free scanner needs nothing set up before the first scan. |
| Platforms and integrations | BWindows, Android and iPhone, and the password manager syncs between them. There's no Mac app on our record and no API, so it stops at B. | BWindows, Mac, Android, iPhone, and Browser Guard for Chrome, Firefox, Edge and Safari. No web app, integration list or API on record, so it stops at B. |
| Best for | a free Windows suite with a VPN taster | cleaning up a computer that's already infected |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: Avira and Malwarebytes. How we grade
Where they differ
- Only Malwarebytes lists a macOS app.
- Only Malwarebytes lists a browser extension.
- Avira also covers password manager.
At a glance
| Avira | Malwarebytes | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Free plan |
| Starts at | Not published | $59.99 per year for up to 3 devices (Standard) |
| Free plan | Avira Free Security for Windows: real-time antivirus, web and ad blocking, a VPN with 500 MB a month, a software updater, PC cleaner and password manager. | Malwarebytes Free scans Windows PCs and Macs on demand and removes infections already there. It has no real-time, ransomware or phishing protection. |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Browser extension | ||
| Made by | Avira Operations GmbH & Co. KG | Malwarebytes Inc. |
| Price read from | Not confirmed | malwarebytes.com |
| Checked | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 17, 2026 |
Who each one suits
Avira
- Windows users who want free antivirus plus cleanup and update tools
- People who need a small amount of VPN data without paying
- Android users wanting a free scanner with app locking
Malwarebytes
- Cleaning up a computer that is already infected, for free
- Households that want one antivirus across Windows, Mac and phones
- Buyers who want a VPN in the same subscription as their antivirus
Worth knowing
Avira
- Avira's website and help center refused automated reads on 2026-10-17, so its plan prices are not listed here; check avira.com before buying.
- The free VPN stops at 500 MB a month on Windows and 100 MB a day on Android; unlimited VPN needs a paid plan.
- The iPhone app offers a VPN, web protection, email breach checks and call blocking; its listing does not mention virus scans.
- On Android, web protection and microphone and camera blocking are Pro features; the scanner, VPN allowance and app lock are free.
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.
Key features
Avira
- Real-time virus protection
- A cloud-backed scan engine detects and blocks malware and potentially unwanted apps bundled with other software, and repair tools help fix damaged files.
- Ad and tracker blocking
- The browser protection blocks dangerous and phishing sites as well as infected ads and trackers.
- VPN with a free allowance
- The free Windows app includes a no-logs VPN with 500 MB a month and servers in 33 countries; the Android app gives 100 MB a day. Avira Prime removes the limit.
- Software and driver updater
- Finds outdated apps and drivers, including third-party ones, and fetches updates from their official sources. Automatic updating is a paid feature.
- PC cleaner and tune-up tools
- Over 30 tools for clearing junk and registry leftovers, finding duplicate files, speeding up startup, boosting games and wiping disks.
- Password manager
- Generates and stores passwords, fills logins, syncs across devices, keeps card details and notes, and produces two-factor codes.
Malwarebytes
- Real-time malware protection
- Premium Security blocks malware, ransomware and potentially unwanted programs as they arrive on Windows, Mac and Android. The free version only cleans up afterwards.
- Browser Guard
- A free extension for Chrome, Firefox, Edge and Safari that blocks ads, third-party trackers and sites known to spread malware or scams.
- Scam Guard and text and call filtering
- Scam Guard checks suspicious messages and links and suggests what to do. Phones get scam text filtering, and the iPhone app also blocks spam calls.
- Privacy VPN
- Plus, Plus Family and Ultimate include a WireGuard-based VPN with no metering of data, on desktop and mobile.
- Windows-only extras
- On Windows, Premium Security adds exploit and brute force protection, firewall control, webcam monitoring, a file shredder and system tweaks.
- Identity protection
- Ultimate adds dark web and account alerts, three-bureau credit monitoring, recovery specialists, $2 million identity insurance and a personal data remover.
Plans
Avira
Pricing could not be confirmed. See avira.com.
Malwarebytes
Free$0
On-demand scanner that finds and removes malware already on the device. Free apps for Android and iOS too.
Standard$59.99
per year for up to 3 devices
Premium Security antivirus with Browser Guard's scam, ad and tracker blocking and data breach alerts. Also sold for a single device.
Plus$79.99
per year for up to 3 devices
Everything in Standard plus Privacy VPN, a WireGuard VPN with no data cap.
Standard Family$119.99
per year for up to 10 devices
Standard's antivirus and Browser Guard for up to 10 devices.
Plus Family$149.99
per year for up to 10 devices
Antivirus, Browser Guard and Privacy VPN for up to 10 devices.
Ultimate$279.99
per year for 3 devices at renewal, after a first year for $139.99
Adds identity protection with $2M insurance and a data remover for 1 adult. First year $139.99. Family: $199.99, then $399.99.
Ways to pay less
Avira
No public discounts listed.
Malwarebytes
- Other savings
Ultimate at $139.99 for the first year
The pricing page shows Ultimate at 50% off, $139.99 instead of $279.99, and Ultimate Family at $199.99 instead of $399.99. The discount is for the first year only.
