The Emsisoft Anti-Malware Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Emsisoft Anti-Malware in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Emsisoft Anti-Malware
The Insider’s Guide
Dual-engine malware scanner for home PCs, with a web console
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among antivirus apps, read from Emsisoft Anti-Malware’s own pages.
Made by Emsisoft · checked Nov 12, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Emsisoft Anti-Malware’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Emsisoft Anti-Malware’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 12, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.4
GPA, above 7 of the 25 other antivirus apps we grade
Emsisoft Anti-Malware Home scans for viruses, spyware and unwanted programs with a two-engine scanner and adds real-time file, web and behavior protection plus anti-ransomware. Home devices are managed from a web console and a mobile app. Emsisoft also sells Business Security and Enterprise Security plans for organizations.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Emsisoft Anti-Malware, taken from its own pages and our grades.
You install it and scan, with nothing to set up.
- 1
Best for Windows antivirus with two engines
Emsisoft Anti-Malware Home scans with two engines and blocks ransomware, for $39.95 a year for 1 PC.
- 2
Paid plans start at $3.33 a month when paid by the year
As its pricing page puts it: $39.95 per year for 1 PC.
- 3
You can try it first
30-day free trial
- 4
It runs on 2 platforms
Windows and macOS.
- 5
Dual-engine scanning
Finds and cleans viruses, spyware and potentially unwanted programs with two scan engines.
- 6
Real-time File Guard
Checks downloaded and modified files as they appear, including with AI-supported detection.
- 7
Web protection and browser security
Blocks connections to malicious and phishing websites.
- 8
A 2.4 GPA, above 7 of 25
That is against the other antivirus apps we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Keep it
To replace Emsisoft Anti-Malware you would be making an engine that recognises new malware as it appears. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
Emsisoft Anti-Malware at a glance
- Pricing
- Free trial, from $39.95 per year for 1 PC
- Free plan
- No
- Free trial
- 30-day free trial
- Runs on
- macOS, Windows
- Made by
- Emsisoft
- Category
- Antivirus & Malware Protection
- Our grade
- 2.4 GPA, fair
The report card
Best for Windows antivirus with two engines
Emsisoft Anti-Malware Home scans with two engines and blocks ransomware, for $39.95 a year for 1 PC. There's a 30-day trial and no free plan, and no VPN or password manager comes with it.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | C | $39.95 a year for 1 PC, about $3.33 a month, between the cheaper quarter ($2.92) and the middle ($4.50) of antivirus tools. The pricing page shows regional prices. |
| Free plan and trial | C | 30-day free trial, and the page doesn't say whether it needs a card. No free edition. |
| Features | B | Dual-engine scanning, real-time file guard, web protection, behavior blocker and anti-ransomware, with a management console. No VPN or password manager. |
| Ease of use | B | No store rating on record. You install it and scan, with nothing to set up. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | Windows and Mac, which are computers only. No phone apps listed. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who Emsisoft Anti-Malware is for
- Fits if you want a Windows antivirus with anti-ransomware and no extras
- Works for a Mac or Windows owner who wants a 30-day look before paying
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you want a free edition, as there's only the 30-day trial
- Not for you if you need a VPN or password manager, as the Home plan lists neither
- Too light for phones, since there's no Android or iOS app listed
- Watch out: the pricing page shows regional prices, so the $39.95 US price may differ where you are
Good to know
Good for
- Home users who want a malware scanner without a bundled VPN or password manager
- Households with a few Windows PCs managed from one console
Worth knowing
- 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.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$3.33
A month to start, paid by the year
Emsisoft Anti-Malware is a paid product with a free trial, starting at $39.95 per year for 1 PC.
Anti-Malware Home
$39.95
per year for 1 PC
Dual-engine scanner, real-time protection, web protection, anti-ransomware and the management console. Priced for 1, 3 or 5 devices and for 1, 2 or 3 year terms.
Trying it first
30-day free trial
Read from emsisoft.com on Nov 12, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
2
Places it runs: macOS and Windows
Dual-engine malware scanner for home PCs, with a web console. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: malware protection, dashboards.
Dual-engine scanning, real-time file guard, web protection, behavior blocker and anti-ransomware, with a management console.
- Dual-engine scanning
- Finds and cleans viruses, spyware and potentially unwanted programs with two scan engines.
- Real-time File Guard
- Checks downloaded and modified files as they appear, including with AI-supported detection.
- Web protection and browser security
- Blocks connections to malicious and phishing websites.
- Behavior Blocker and anti-ransomware
- Watches running processes for suspicious actions, including file encryption typical of ransomware, and steps in when it sees them.
- Management console
- A web console and Android and iOS apps show alerts and protection settings for the home devices on the account.
Where it runs
- macOS
- Windows
What it works with
Its own pages name no integrations.
Emsisoft Anti-Malware is made by Emsisoft.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
7/25
Other antivirus apps it is graded above
Emsisoft Anti-Malware's GPA of 2.4 is higher than 7 of the 25 other antivirus apps we grade, and level with 5.
It stands best on features (B, above 9 of 25) and worst on platforms and integrations (C, above 3).
Its paid plans start at $3.33 a month when paid by the year, against a middle price of $4.50 for the category: 6 of the 20 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.7 out of 4. 4 tools score higher and cost less.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 26 antivirus apps we grade, cut by the letter each got. Emsisoft Anti-Malware’s own letter is outlined.
- CValue for moneyAbove 5 of 25
- CFree plan and trialAbove 5 of 25
- BFeaturesAbove 9 of 25
- BEase of useAbove 4 of 25
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 3 of 25
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 22 antivirus apps. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Emsisoft Anti-Malware is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
To replace Emsisoft Anti-Malware you would be making an engine that recognises new malware as it appears. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
That makes this kind of software worth paying for, not this one in particular: 13 of the 25 other antivirus apps grade higher. It costs $39.95 a year.
What you could not
- An engine that recognises new malware as it appears.
- Connections that pull numbers from dozens of other services.
- A real app for macOS and Windows. Something home-made would be a web page.
- The depth: we grade its features B, which means it covers the whole job.
What this rests on. Emsisoft Anti-Malware’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Malwarebytes, ESET, Bitdefender, Avira and Kaspersky
The 5 tools Emsisoft Anti-Malware is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.2GPA
Malwarebytes
Free plan · from $59.99/yr
Malware scanner and real-time protection, with VPN and ID plans.
- Malwarebytes has a free plan. Emsisoft Anti-Malware does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Malwarebytes lists Android and iOS apps.
- Only Malwarebytes lists a browser extension.
- 2.6GPA
ESET
Free trial · from $12.99/yr
Antivirus and home security plans priced by device count.
- Only ESET lists an Android app.
- Emsisoft Anti-Malware also covers dashboards.
- ESET also covers vPN.
- 2.8GPA
Bitdefender
Free plan · from $49.99/yr
Antivirus suites for computers and phones, with a free Windows tier.
- Bitdefender has a free plan. Emsisoft Anti-Malware does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Bitdefender lists Android and iOS apps.
- Emsisoft Anti-Malware also covers dashboards.
- 2.4GPA
Avira
Free plan
Free antivirus suite with a VPN, PC cleaner and password manager.
- Avira has a free plan. Emsisoft Anti-Malware does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Emsisoft Anti-Malware lists a macOS app.
- Only Avira lists Android and iOS apps.
- 2.2GPA
Kaspersky
Free trial · from $64.99/yr
Antivirus suites with a VPN and password manager on higher tiers.
- Only Kaspersky lists Linux, Android and iOS apps.
- Emsisoft Anti-Malware also covers dashboards.
- Kaspersky also covers password manager, vPN and ad and tracker blocking.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
11
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Emsisoft Anti-Malware free?
No, Emsisoft Anti-Malware is a paid product, but you can try it first.
How much does Emsisoft Anti-Malware cost?
Emsisoft Anti-Malware lists one plan. Anti-Malware Home: $39.95 per year for 1 PC.
What platforms does Emsisoft Anti-Malware work on?
Emsisoft Anti-Malware is available on Windows and macOS.
Does Emsisoft Anti-Malware have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. Emsisoft Anti-Malware is listed for Windows and macOS.
Does Emsisoft Anti-Malware have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. Emsisoft Anti-Malware is listed for Windows and macOS.
Is Emsisoft Anti-Malware open source?
Emsisoft Anti-Malware is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Nov 12, 2026.
Who makes Emsisoft Anti-Malware?
Emsisoft Anti-Malware is made by Emsisoft.
What are the alternatives to Emsisoft Anti-Malware?
The closest alternatives to Emsisoft Anti-Malware in our directory are Malwarebytes, ESET, Bitdefender, Avira and Kaspersky.
How does Emsisoft Anti-Malware compare with other antivirus apps?
Emsisoft Anti-Malware's GPA of 2.4 is higher than 7 of the 25 other antivirus apps we grade, and level with 5.
Is Emsisoft Anti-Malware good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Emsisoft Anti-Malware C for value for money. Its paid plans start at $3.33 a month when paid by the year, against a middle price of $4.50 for the category: 6 of the 20 others that charge start lower.
Could I make my own version of Emsisoft Anti-Malware?
To replace Emsisoft Anti-Malware you would be making an engine that recognises new malware as it appears.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Emsisoft Anti-Malware’s own pages on Nov 12, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 12, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Emsisoft's own pages on 12 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Emsisoft. Prices change, so check emsisoft.com before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
5,038
Tools graded, in 95 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
5,038
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Emsisoft Anti-Malware, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/emsisoft
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Emsisoft Anti-Malware: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 12, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/emsisoft
Know someone choosing between antivirus apps?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/emsisoft/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded antivirus apps after Emsisoft Anti-Malware, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Antivirus & Malware Protection Insider's GuideEvery one of the 26 antivirus apps we grade, compared
- Avast Insider's GuideFree antivirus for PC, Mac and phones, with paid Premium and Ultimate3.0 GPA
- AVG Insider's GuideFree antivirus for Windows, with paid Internet Security and Ultimate2.8 GPA
- Bitdefender Insider's GuideAntivirus suites for computers and phones, with a free Windows tier2.8 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Emsisoft Anti-Malware’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Emsisoft Anti-Malware is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Emsisoft. Prices and plans change: check emsisoft.com before you buy.