Malwarebytes vs Avast: Free Versions, Prices and Refunds

Pick Avast if you want free antivirus that protects your Windows PC in real time, or the lowest first-year price to cover up to 10 devices. Pick Malwarebytes if you want a free scanner to clean up a machine that is already infected, or a paid plan with simple pricing, a no-cap VPN option and a 60-day money-back guarantee.

The free versions are the biggest difference, and they do different jobs. One guards a PC all the time, the other is a cleanup tool you run when something is wrong. The paid plans both cover Windows, Mac, Android and iOS.

Malwarebytes vs Avast at a glance

Is the free version of Malwarebytes or Avast better?

For everyday protection, Avast's. For cleaning up a problem, Malwarebytes'. They are not the same kind of tool.

Malwarebytes says plainly: "Malwarebytes Free scanner finds and removes infections that are already on your device." Its comparison table gives Free on-demand scanning and removal, but not real-time protection, which it keeps for the paid Premium Security. It calls Free "a cleanup tool for cyberattacks that have already damaged a device."

Avast Free Antivirus runs all the time on a Windows PC. Its free feature list includes File Shield, which scans every file added to or opened on your PC, Behavior Shield, Web Guard for scam sites and phishing links, Mail Shield, Ransomware Shield, a firewall, Wi-Fi Network Inspector and a Rescue Disk. Avast says you can use it "for as long as you want," though after 12 months the app may ask you to reactivate the free subscription. It runs on Windows 7 through 11 and asks for 4 GB of RAM and 2 GB of disk space.

Which is cheaper, Malwarebytes or Avast?

Avast is cheaper in the first year, especially for many devices. On 6 November 2026 we compared both US pricing pages:

• Avast Premium Security, 10 devices: $69.48 for the first year, with a renewal price of $99.99 a year.
• Avast Premium Security, 1 PC: $49.08 for the first year, renewing at $77.99, with one mobile device included free.
• Malwarebytes Standard, 3 devices: from $59.99 a year.
• Malwarebytes Plus, 3 devices with VPN: from $79.99 a year.

So for about $10 more in year one, Avast covers 10 devices to Malwarebytes Standard's 3. Avast says its first year is often discounted, that renewal prices for some plans may increase, and that it sends a billing reminder before renewal. Malwarebytes shows "starts from" prices and did not list a separate renewal price on the page we read.

What do the paid plans include?

• Malwarebytes Standard: real-time protection against viruses, phishing, exploits, ransomware, Trojans, botnets and spyware on Windows, Mac, Android or iOS, plus Browser Guard, an ad and tracking blocker and data breach alerts.
• Malwarebytes Plus: everything in Standard plus a WireGuard VPN that Malwarebytes says has no logging and no data cap.
• Malwarebytes Ultimate: $139.99 for the year (shown down from $279.99) for 1 adult and 3 devices, adding identity protection with $2 million insurance and a personal data remover.
• Avast Premium Security: premium protection in the Avast One app, across Windows, Mac, Android and iOS on the multi-device plan. On a phone alone, you install the free Avast Mobile Security app and upgrade inside it.

Malwarebytes backs its plans with a 60-day money-back guarantee. Avast's is 30 days, from the first purchase or from each renewal date.

Is Avast safe after the browsing data case?

It is worth knowing the history. In June 2024 the US Federal Trade Commission finalised an order requiring Avast to pay $16.5 million. The FTC said Avast had sold users' browsing data to more than 100 third parties through its subsidiary Jumpshot, while marketing its products as protection against online tracking. The order bars Avast from selling, disclosing or licensing web browsing data for advertising. If that history bothers you, Malwarebytes or another brand is the simpler choice.

Comparing more brands? See Bitdefender vs Norton or our list of Avast alternatives.

Which should you choose?

• You want free, always-on protection for a Windows PC: Avast Free Antivirus.
• Your PC is already infected and you need a cleanup: Malwarebytes Free.
• You want to cover a family's 10 devices cheaply in year one: Avast Premium Security.
• You want antivirus and an uncapped VPN together: Malwarebytes Plus.
• You want the longest refund window: Malwarebytes, at 60 days.

FAQ

Does Malwarebytes Free protect in real time?

No. Malwarebytes Free scans and removes existing infections. Real-time protection needs Premium Security.

Is Avast Free Antivirus really free?

Yes, on Windows, for as long as you keep using it. The app may ask you to reactivate the free subscription after 12 months.

Do Malwarebytes and Avast work on Mac and iPhone?

Yes. Both paid lines cover Windows, Mac, Android and iOS.

Which has the better refund policy?

Malwarebytes offers 60 days. Avast offers 30 days from purchase or from each renewal.