Our Verdict
Malwarebytes has been around since 2006, and it quickly made a name for itself on the back of its free antivirus program. Malwarebytes became the go-to security checkup service for many, while allowing users to scan their PCs for free.
Offering a free program isn’t a new strategy for antivirus software. They usually push users to upgrade to a paid service that offers more features and protection for more devices. For Malwarebytes, that upgrade is Malwarebytes Premium.
Is an upgrade worth it? In this Malwarebytes Premium review, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about the paid service.
Featured Partners
1
Avast
Price per year
INR 1,199 per year
Money back guarantee
30 days
Additional Features
Firewall, email security, ransomware & malware protection, real-time protection. Also includes 24/7 IT support
2
Surfshark Antivirus
No. of devices with antivirus protection
5 devices
Money back guarantee
30 days
Free VPN Included
Yes
3
Norton
Price Per Year
INR 1,199 per year
Firewall
Yes
Featured
Protection for PC gaming, Device & Online Security
Table of Contents
Other Benefits
We’ve talked about Malwarebytes’ personal and enterprise services, but not the offering in between them. Malwarebytes for Teams offers a middle ground for small businesses that only need to protect a few devices and it’s inexpensive.
At INR 3,116.95 ($37.49) per device, per year, Malwarebytes for Teams offers ransom protection, zero-day malware protection and phishing detection. It gives you access to a local installation of Malwarebytes on Windows, Mac and Android, as well as the Chrome browser extension.
This is a great way to save some money if you don’t need the extra features of the dedicated business plans. The core protection is the same, but Malwarebytes for Teams doesn’t include the cloud-based management console or on-demand reports (it still comes with automated monthly reports, however).
Fine Print
Malwarebytes offers solid protection and plenty of features, but it’s not as robust as some of the competition. In short, it charges more and offers less. Protection for a single device across your desktop and browser will run about INR 3,325.64 ($40) per year. Meanwhile, Kaspersky also charges around INR 3,325.64 ($40) for five devices for one year—and the plan includes a lot of extras.
Unlike a lot of antivirus services, Malwarebytes doesn’t offer an introductory rate on its plans. The Kaspersky plan mentioned above, for example, is the same price that Malwarebytes charges for five devices upon renewal. That means you have to spend more upfront.
In addition, Malwarebytes doesn’t offer multi-year plans like Kaspersky or Bitdefender. Both of those services offer an introductory rate and allow you to purchase up to three years of protection at once, which can save quite a bit of money in the long run.
Malwarebytes isn’t more expensive than other antivirus services, technically. However, when it gets down to brass tacks, it ends up costing more for the initial term.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Do I need an antivirus if I have Malwarebytes Premium?
You don’t need an additional antivirus if you have Malwarebytes Premium. It’s an antivirus service that can protect you from widespread threats in real time on your desktop and in your browser. In addition, you can run scans on demand if you’re worried you’ve been recently infected with a virus.
Is Malwarebytes Premium better than Windows Defender?
Malwarebytes Premium is better than Windows Defender (also known as Microsoft Defender). Along with Malwarebytes, Defender offers real-time protection and on-demand scans. However, Malwarebytes also offers behavioral detection to pick up on new malware.
That said, Windows Defender is better than Malwarebytes Free. Malwarebytes Free allows you to run scans on demand, which is helpful for tracking down recently infected machines. It doesn’t protect you from threats in real time, however, and Windows Defender does.
Is Malwarebytes free?
Yes, Malwarebytes still offers a free version of its antivirus software—and it’s one of the more robust options available without a subscription. The free plan can be used to protect both business and personal devices and still offers a strong level of protection against ransomware and other malicious bugs.
Is Malwarebytes worth paying for?
If you’re already using Malwarebytes Free, upgrading to Malwarebytes Premium is worth it. The free version allows you to run scans, but it doesn’t include real-time protection against new malware. Premium solves that problem, offers behavioral detection for programs and the ability to remove potentially unwanted applications.
What are some features that antivirus software should have?
Some essential features that you want the antivirus software you install on your computers to have include real-time scanning and the ability to schedule scans, automatic virus and program updates, quick access to an on-demand scanner and specific scanners like those for webmail, POP3 email, instant messaging, compressed files, scripts and other threats.