IObit Malware Fighter vs MalwareFox (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, MalwareFox grades higher than IObit Malware Fighter: 2.6 against 2.4 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
IObit Malware Fighter grades higher on the free plan. MalwareFox grades higher on platforms. They get the same grade on value for money, features and ease of use.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
IObit Malware Fighter
Windows anti-malware with a free edition and a paid Pro edition
MalwareFox
Lightweight Windows antivirus with an Android app
Which one is for you
Pick IObit Malware Fighter if
- Fits if you want a free Windows scanner you can upgrade later
- Works for one to three PCs on a low yearly price
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you use a Mac or a phone, as only Windows is covered
- Not for you if you want ransomware defence without paying, because it is a Pro feature
- Watch out: Pro prices are shown as 50% to 56% off with no end date, and no renewal price is stated
- Tight if you have more than 3 PCs: Pro is sold for 1, 2 or 3 only
Pick MalwareFox if
- Fits if you want a low-priced Windows antivirus billed yearly
- Works for a household with a few Windows PCs and an Android phone
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you use a Mac or an iPhone, as neither is listed
- Not for you if you want real-time protection free, as it needs a paid plan
- Watch out: the page says new-customer prices go up on December 1
- Watch out: the Android app is a separate purchase at $1.25 a month
- Tight if you want one Windows device only, since the Single Device plan has no Android
How we grade them
| 2.4GPAIObit Malware FighterFair | 2.6GPAMalwareFoxGood | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | BPro is $19.95 a year for 1 PC, about $1.66 a month, inside the cheapest quarter, and the free edition costs nothing. The sale price has no end date shown and no renewal price is given. | B$24 a year for 1 Windows device, which is $2 a month and inside the cheapest quarter of this category. The page says it does not do introductory pricing. |
| Free plan and trial | BA free edition with basic antivirus and basic real-time protection, with a smaller malware database than Pro. | CA free version you can keep after the trial, but real-time and ransomware protection are paid. |
| Features | CScanning and real-time protection, with ransomware defence and scam blocking in Pro only. The free edition is a basic one. | CReal-time protection, ransomware shield and zero-day defence on Windows. The Android app is a separate purchase and the free version's scope is not spelled out. |
| Ease of use | BNo store rating on record, but it is a Windows program you install and run with little setup. | BNo store rating on record, but it is an antivirus you install and run. |
| Platforms and integrations | DWindows only: the page lists Windows 11, 10, 8 and 7 and no Mac or phone app. | BWindows and Android only, no Mac, no iPhone and no integrations. |
| Best for | Windows PCs that want a free scanner with a paid upgrade | a light Windows antivirus with an Android app |
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: IObit Malware Fighter and MalwareFox. How we grade
Price against what you get
IObit Malware Fighter starts at $1.66 a month when paid by the year and scores 2.0 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. MalwareFox starts at $2 a month and scores 2.7.
MalwareFox scores higher, and starts $0.34 a month higher: the question is whether the extra is worth that to you. Of the other antivirus apps on the chart, 3 score higher than IObit Malware Fighter for less, and 2 score higher than MalwareFox for less.
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
Where they differ
- IObit Malware Fighter also covers ad and tracker blocking.
- MalwareFox also covers disk cleanup.
At a glance
| IObit Malware Fighter | MalwareFox | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Free plan |
| Starts at | $19.95 per year for 1 PC (sale price shown, $39.95 crossed out; renewal price not stated) | $2 per month for 1 Windows device, billed annually ($24 a year) |
| Free plan | IObit Malware Fighter 14 Free: basic antivirus protection, quick threat detection, basic privacy protection and basic real-time protection. | A free version can be kept after the trial; full real-time and ransomware protection needs a paid plan. |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| Windows | ||
| Android | ||
| Made by | IObit | MalwareFox |
| Price read from | iobit.com | malwarefox.com |
| Checked | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 |
Worth knowing
IObit Malware Fighter
- Windows only: the product page lists Windows 11, 10, 8 and 7 and no Mac version.
- The Pro prices on the page are shown as discounts of 50% to 56% with no end date, and no renewal price is stated.
- Pro licenses are sold for 1, 2 or 3 PCs only; no larger tier is shown.
- The vendor offers a 60-day money-back guarantee on Pro.
MalwareFox
- No macOS or iOS app is listed; the Single Device plan is Windows only.
- The page says prices for new customers go up on December 1 and shows a countdown.
- The Android app is a separate purchase at $1.25 per month, per the pricing page.
- The free version's exact scope is not spelled out on the pages read.
Key features
IObit Malware Fighter
- Malware scanning
- Smart Scan checks critical areas, Full Scan covers all disks, and Custom Scan checks a file or folder you pick.
- Ransomware defense
- On Pro, Ransomware Shield watches for unauthorized file encryption and SafeBox password-protects chosen documents.
- Web and download protection
- Surfing Protection blocks phishing and fake sites, and Download Protection scans downloaded files and email attachments.
- Privacy tools
- Anti-Tracking clears tracking cookies, Homepage Advisor flags changes to your homepage and search engine, and Browser Password Guard protects stored browser passwords.
- Bitdefender engine on Pro
- Pro adds the Bitdefender antivirus engine to IObit's own, and the page lists a larger malware database than the free edition.
- AI Script Guard
- New in version 14: the vendor says it predicts and stops suspicious script activity, including from AI agents.
MalwareFox
- Real-time protection
- Stops malware as it appears, with ransomware lockdown that blocks unauthorized file encryption.
- Zero-day and fileless defense
- Behavior-based blocking aimed at unknown and fileless attacks, according to the vendor.
- Browser cleaner
- Removes hijackers, adware and unwanted toolbars from the browser.
- Privacy and cleanup tools
- Includes a privacy cleaner, secure file delete, backup and a firewall, as listed on the homepage.
- Android app
- Scans apps, blocks phishing pages and offers remote locate, lock and wipe if a phone is lost.
Plans
IObit Malware Fighter
Free$0
Basic antivirus and basic real-time protection, with a smaller malware database than Pro.
Pro, 1 PC$19.95
per year for 1 PC, sale price shown, renewal price not stated
Pro with Bitdefender real-time protection, ransomware defense and scam blocking. Shown as 50% off a crossed-out $39.95 with no end date on the page.
Pro, 2 PCs$22.95
per year for 2 PCs, sale price shown, renewal price not stated
Same Pro features for 2 PCs, shown as 51% off a crossed-out $46.95; adds sharing with family members.
Pro, 3 PCs$23.99
per year for 3 PCs, sale price shown, renewal price not stated
Same Pro features for 3 PCs, shown as 56% off a crossed-out $54.95.
MalwareFox
Single Device$2
per month for 1 device, billed annually ($24 a year)
Windows only: real-time protection, ransomware shield, zero-day defense, browser cleaner and privacy tools.
Three Devices$3
per month for 3 devices, billed annually ($36 a year)
Windows and Android; adds cloud management, Android app privacy audit and anti-theft.
Five Devices$4
per month for 5 devices, billed annually ($48 a year)
Same features as the three-device plan, for five devices.
Ways to pay less
IObit Malware Fighter
No public discounts listed.
MalwareFox
- Other savings
60-day money-back guarantee
The pricing page promises a full refund if you email within 60 days of buying.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, IObit Malware Fighter or MalwareFox?
As of Nov 13, 2026, IObit Malware Fighter is cheaper to start with: $1.66 a month when paid by the year, against $2 a month for MalwareFox. IObit Malware Fighter starts at $19.95 per year for 1 PC (sale price shown, $39.95 crossed out; renewal price not stated), and MalwareFox starts at $2 per month for 1 Windows device, billed annually ($24 a year).
Which has a free plan, IObit Malware Fighter or MalwareFox?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both IObit Malware Fighter and MalwareFox have a free plan.
Which platforms do IObit Malware Fighter and MalwareFox run on?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only MalwareFox lists an Android app. Both list a Windows app. A platform missing from a listing is one its maker's pages did not mention.
More comparisons
How this page was made
- The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
- The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
- Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
- The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.