Software · head to head
Grammarly vs Malwarebytes
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Grammarly occasional false positives and grammatically incorrect suggestions that can introduce errors; Malwarebytes free version limited to on-demand scanning and removal; no real-time protection
- They diverge on capability: Grammarly covers Grammar checking, Malwarebytes covers Malware detection & removal.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Grammarly and Malwarebytes actually diverge.
| Attribute | Grammarly | Malwarebytes |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Unknown | freemium |
| Platforms | Web, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android |
| Founded | 2009 | 2008 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in Grammarly
- Grammar checking
- Spelling correction
- Punctuation
- Clarity suggestions
- Engagement feedback
- Delivery insights
- Plagiarism checker
- Citation generator
Only in Malwarebytes
- Malware detection & removal
- Ransomware protection
- Real-time protection
- Anti-exploit
- Anti-phishing
- Browser Guard
- VPN
- Brute Force Protection
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Grammarly
- Email writingnot Malwarebytes
- Document editingnot Malwarebytes
- Academic writingnot Malwarebytes
- Business communicationnot Malwarebytes
- Content creationnot Malwarebytes
Malwarebytes
- Budget-conscious users performing manual scans via free versionnot Grammarly
- Organisations needing real-time malware and ransomware protection via Premium subscriptionnot Grammarly
- Users combining antivirus with privacy via Premium plus Privacy VPN bundlenot Grammarly
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Grammarly
- Occasional false positives and grammatically incorrect suggestions that can introduce errors
- Privacy concerns about sending text to Grammarly's servers for analysis
- AI capabilities sometimes produce hallucinations and fabricated citations that appear grammatically correct
Malwarebytes
- Free version limited to on-demand scanning and removal; no real-time protection
- Upgrade requires purchase of Malwarebytes Premium for automatic protection
- Privacy VPN add-on requires separate subscription or bundle with Premium
Pricing, plan by plan
Grammarly
Free- FreeFree
- Basic grammar and spelling checks
- Tone visibility
- 100 AI prompts per month
- Pro$12/month
- Sentence rewrites
- Tone adjustment
- Plagiarism and AI detection
Malwarebytes
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Malwarebytes review.
Which should you pick?
Choose Grammarly if
- You need grammar checking.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android.
- You also want spelling correction.
Choose Malwarebytes if
- You need malware detection & removal.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Windows, macOS, iOS, Android.
- You also want ransomware protection.
Questions people ask
- Is Grammarly or Malwarebytes better?
- Neither clearly leads. Grammarly starts at Free and Malwarebytes at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Grammarly or Malwarebytes?
- Grammarly starts at Free and Malwarebytes at Free.
- Does Grammarly or Malwarebytes run on more platforms?
- Grammarly runs on Web, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android. Malwarebytes runs on Windows, macOS, iOS, Android.
- Can I use Grammarly for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Grammarly best used for?
- Grammarly is most often used for email writing, document editing, academic writing, business communication. Of those, email writing and document editing are not what Malwarebytes is typically brought in for.
- What can Grammarly do that Malwarebytes cannot?
- Grammarly covers Grammar checking, Spelling correction, Punctuation, Clarity suggestions. Malwarebytes covers Malware detection & removal, Ransomware protection, Real-time protection, Anti-exploit.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Grammarly: Does Grammarly have a free version?
Yes, Grammarly offers a free tier with basic spelling, grammar, and punctuation checks, tone visibility, and 100 AI prompts per month. The Pro plan ($12/month annual) adds sentence rewriting, plagiarism detection, and 2,000 AI prompts.
SourceGrammarly: What platforms does Grammarly work with?
Grammarly works across 1 million+ apps including Google Docs, Microsoft Word, Outlook, Slack, Gmail, and web browsers. It also integrates with productivity tools like Asana, Jira, Monday.com, Confluence, and HubSpot.
SourceGrammarly: Can I use Grammarly offline?
Grammarly requires an internet connection to function, though the browser extension works with some offline text areas. For offline use, the desktop app and browser extensions sync when reconnected.
SourceGrammarly: What is included in the Enterprise plan?
The Enterprise plan includes unlimited team members, dedicated support, custom roles and permissions, data loss prevention, bring-your-own-key encryption, and unlimited AI prompts. Pricing is custom and available by contacting sales.
SourceRelated pages
More on Malwarebytes
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