The IObit Malware Fighter Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about IObit Malware Fighter 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.
IObit Malware Fighter
The Insider’s Guide
Windows anti-malware with a free edition and a paid Pro edition
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among antivirus apps, read from IObit Malware Fighter’s own pages.
Made by IObit · checked Nov 13, 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 IObit Malware Fighter’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on IObit Malware Fighter’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 13, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.4
GPA, above 32 of the 56 other antivirus apps we grade
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.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about IObit Malware Fighter, taken from its own pages and our grades.
No store rating on record, but it is a Windows program you install and run with little setup.
- 1
Best for Windows PCs that want a free scanner with a paid upgrade
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.
- 2
Paid plans start at $1.66 a month when paid by the year
As its pricing page puts it: $19.95 per year for 1 PC (sale price shown, $39.95 crossed out; renewal price not stated).
- 3
There is a free plan
IObit Malware Fighter 14 Free: basic antivirus protection, quick threat detection, basic privacy protection and basic real-time protection.
- 4
It runs on Windows
Windows.
- 5
Malware scanning
Smart Scan checks critical areas, Full Scan covers all disks, and Custom Scan checks a file or folder you pick.
- 6
Ransomware defense
On Pro, Ransomware Shield watches for unauthorized file encryption and SafeBox password-protects chosen documents.
- 7
Web and download protection
Surfing Protection blocks phishing and fake sites, and Download Protection scans downloaded files and email attachments.
- 8
A 2.4 GPA, above 32 of 56
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 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.
IObit Malware Fighter at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan, from $19.95 per year for 1 PC (sale price shown, $39.95 crossed out; renewal price not stated)
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- Windows
- Made by
- IObit
- Category
- Antivirus & Malware Protection
- Our grade
- 2.4 GPA, fair
The report card
Best for Windows PCs that want a free scanner with a paid upgrade
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.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 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. |
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 IObit Malware Fighter is for
- Fits if you want a free Windows scanner you can upgrade later
- Works for one to three PCs on a low yearly price
Who it is not for
- 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
Good to know
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.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$1.66
A month to start, paid by the year. There is a free plan too
IObit Malware Fighter has a free plan. Paid plans start at $19.95 per year for 1 PC (sale price shown, $39.95 crossed out; renewal price not stated).
The sale price has no end date shown and no renewal price is given.
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.
The free plan
IObit Malware Fighter 14 Free: basic antivirus protection, quick threat detection, basic privacy protection and basic real-time protection.
Read from iobit.com on Nov 13, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
1
Place it runs: Windows
Windows anti-malware with a free edition and a paid Pro edition. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: ad and tracker blocking, malware protection.
Scanning and real-time protection, with ransomware defence and scam blocking in Pro only.
- 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.
Where it runs
- Windows
What it works with
Its own pages name no integrations.
IObit Malware Fighter is made by IObit.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
32/56
Other antivirus apps it is graded above
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.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 57 antivirus apps we grade, cut by the letter each got. IObit Malware Fighter’s own letter is outlined.
- BValue for moneyAbove 46 of 56
- BFree plan and trialAbove 47 of 56
- CFeaturesAbove 7 of 56
- BEase of useAbove 23 of 56
- DPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 56
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 36 antivirus apps. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. IObit Malware Fighter 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 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.
What you could make
- Ad and tracker blocking: an app builder makes this well.
What you could not
- An engine that recognises new malware as it appears.
- A real app for Windows. Something home-made would be a web page.
What this rests on. IObit Malware Fighter’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, Emsisoft Anti-Malware, Avira, Comodo Internet Security and Zemana AntiMalware
The 5 tools IObit Malware Fighter 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.
- Only Malwarebytes lists macOS, Android and iOS apps.
- Only Malwarebytes lists a browser extension.
- Malwarebytes also covers vPN.
- 2.4GPA
Emsisoft Anti-Malware
Free trial · from $39.95/yr
Dual-engine malware scanner for home PCs, with a web console.
- IObit Malware Fighter has a free plan. Emsisoft Anti-Malware does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Emsisoft Anti-Malware lists a macOS app.
- IObit Malware Fighter also covers ad and tracker blocking.
- 2.4GPA
Avira
Free plan
Free antivirus suite with a VPN, PC cleaner and password manager.
- Only Avira lists Android and iOS apps.
- Avira also covers password manager and vPN.
- 2.6GPA
Comodo Internet Security
Free plan · from $29.99/yr
Windows antivirus and firewall that sandboxes unknown files.
- IObit Malware Fighter also covers ad and tracker blocking.
- Comodo Internet Security also covers file sync.
- 1.4GPA
Zemana AntiMalware
Paid
Windows malware scanner and removal tool.
- IObit Malware Fighter has a free plan. Zemana AntiMalware does not.
- IObit Malware Fighter also covers ad and tracker blocking.
- Zemana AntiMalware also covers system monitor.
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 IObit Malware Fighter free?
IObit Malware Fighter has a free plan. IObit Malware Fighter 14 Free: basic antivirus protection, quick threat detection, basic privacy protection and basic real-time protection.
How much does IObit Malware Fighter cost?
IObit Malware Fighter lists 4 plans. Free: $0.
What platforms does IObit Malware Fighter work on?
IObit Malware Fighter is available on Windows.
Does IObit Malware Fighter have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. IObit Malware Fighter is listed for Windows.
Does IObit Malware Fighter have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. IObit Malware Fighter is listed for Windows.
Is IObit Malware Fighter open source?
IObit Malware Fighter is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Nov 13, 2026.
Who makes IObit Malware Fighter?
IObit Malware Fighter is made by IObit.
What are the alternatives to IObit Malware Fighter?
The closest alternatives to IObit Malware Fighter in our directory are Malwarebytes, Emsisoft Anti-Malware, Avira, Comodo Internet Security and Zemana AntiMalware.
How does IObit Malware Fighter compare with other 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.
Is IObit Malware Fighter good value for money?
ToolGPA grades IObit Malware Fighter B for value for money. 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.
Could I make my own version of IObit Malware Fighter?
To replace IObit Malware Fighter 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 IObit Malware Fighter’s own pages on Nov 13, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 13, 2026. 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.
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 IObit. Prices change, so check iobit.com before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
7,721
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.
7,721
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- IObit Malware Fighter, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/iobit-malware-fighter
- 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, "IObit Malware Fighter: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 13, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/iobit-malware-fighter
Know someone choosing between antivirus apps?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/iobit-malware-fighter/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded antivirus apps after IObit Malware Fighter, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Antivirus & Malware Protection Insider's GuideEvery one of the 57 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 IObit Malware Fighter’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. IObit Malware Fighter is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by IObit. Prices and plans change: check iobit.com before you buy.