# IObit Malware Fighter review (2026): is the free plan enough? > Windows anti-malware with a free edition and a paid Pro edition Checked Nov 13, 2026 ยท graded Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA. IObit Malware Fighter is a Windows security program that scans for viruses, spyware and ransomware and adds browser protections such as homepage monitoring, anti-tracking and download scanning. A free edition covers basic detection and real-time protection. The Pro edition is sold per year for one to three PCs and adds the Bitdefender engine, ransomware defense and privacy protection. - **Category:** Antivirus & Malware Protection - **Made by:** IObit - **Website:** https://www.iobit.com/en/malware-fighter.php - **Runs on:** Windows - **Who should skip it:** Skip it if you use a Mac or a phone, as only Windows is covered. - **Facts last checked:** Nov 13, 2026 ## Pricing As of Nov 13, 2026, IObit Malware Fighter has a free plan, and paid plans start at $19.95 per year for 1 PC (sale price shown, $39.95 crossed out; renewal price not stated). - **Pricing model:** Free plan - **Free plan:** IObit Malware Fighter 14 Free: basic antivirus protection, quick threat detection, basic privacy protection and basic real-time protection. - **Free trial:** None listed. | Plan | Price | What you get | | --- | --- | --- | | 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. | Read from https://www.iobit.com/en/malware-fighter-pro.php on Nov 13, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with IObit Malware Fighter before buying. ## Key features - **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. ## Good for - Windows users who want a free second-opinion malware scanner - Home users covering up to three PCs on one yearly license ## Worth knowing - 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. ## ToolGPA grades **GPA: 2.4 out of 4**, graded Nov 13, 2026. IObit Malware Fighter has a free edition with basic protection and a Pro edition from $19.95 a year with Bitdefender engine protection and ransomware defence. It runs on Windows only. The Pro prices are shown as 50% off with no end date and no renewal price is stated. - **Value for money: B.** Pro 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. - **Free plan and trial: B.** A free edition with basic antivirus and basic real-time protection, with a smaller malware database than Pro. - **Features: C.** Scanning and real-time protection, with ransomware defence and scam blocking in Pro only. The free edition is a basic one. - **Ease of use: B.** No store rating on record, but it is a Windows program you install and run with little setup. - **Platforms and integrations: D.** Windows only: the page lists Windows 11, 10, 8 and 7 and no Mac or phone app. These are ToolGPA's own grades. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from IObit's own pages on 13 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews. ## Where it stands among antivirus apps - IObit Malware Fighter's GPA of 2.4 is higher than 32 of the 56 other antivirus apps we grade, and level with 8. - It stands best on free plan and trial (B, above 47 of 56) and worst on platforms and integrations (D, above 0). - Its paid plans start at $1.66 a month when paid by the year, against a middle price of $4.17 for the category: 3 of the 34 others that charge start lower. - On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.0 out of 4. 3 tools score higher and cost less. The category's chart of price against score: https://toolgpa.com/charts/antivirus ## Keep it, or make your own? **Keep it.** To replace IObit Malware Fighter 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. It costs $19.95 a year. - You could make: Ad and tracker blocking: an app builder makes this well. - You could not: An engine that recognises new malware as it appears. - You could not: A real app for Windows. Something home-made would be a web page. A judgement by ToolGPA from this listing, by rules that are the same for every tool. Nothing was built to test it. **Tags:** Malware protection, Ad and tracker blocking ## Alternatives - [Malwarebytes](https://toolgpa.com/tools/malwarebytes): Malware scanner and real-time protection, with VPN and ID plans. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/iobit-malware-fighter-vs-malwarebytes) - [Emsisoft Anti-Malware](https://toolgpa.com/tools/emsisoft): Dual-engine malware scanner for home PCs, with a web console. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/emsisoft-vs-iobit-malware-fighter) - [Avira](https://toolgpa.com/tools/avira): Free antivirus suite with a VPN, PC cleaner and password manager. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/avira-vs-iobit-malware-fighter) - [Comodo Internet Security](https://toolgpa.com/tools/comodo-antivirus): Windows antivirus and firewall that sandboxes unknown files. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/comodo-antivirus-vs-iobit-malware-fighter) - [Zemana AntiMalware](https://toolgpa.com/tools/zemana-antimalware): Windows malware scanner and removal tool. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/iobit-malware-fighter-vs-zemana-antimalware) ## Sources The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Nov 13, 2026: - https://www.iobit.com/en/malware-fighter.php - https://www.iobit.com/en/malware-fighter-pro.php Page: https://toolgpa.com/tools/iobit-malware-fighter Listed by ToolGPA (toolgpa.com).