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Malwarebytes vs McAfee Total Protection

Malwarebytes logo

Malwarebytes

Software

Protects every device, everywhere

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
McAfee Total Protection logo

McAfee Total Protection

Software

Award-winning antivirus trusted by millions

From
$29.99/year
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Malwarebytes has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Malwarebytes free version limited to on-demand scanning and removal; no real-time protection; McAfee Total Protection significant renewal price increase after first year (from $29.99 to $84.99/year)
  • They diverge on capability: Malwarebytes covers Malware detection & removal, McAfee Total Protection covers Real-time antivirus.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Malwarebytes and McAfee Total Protection actually diverge.

Attributes where Malwarebytes and McAfee Total Protection differ
AttributeMalwarebytesMcAfee Total Protection
Starting priceFree$29.99/year
Pricing modelfreemiumUnknown
Free tierYesNo
Founded20081987

Identical on both: platforms (Windows, macOS, iOS, Android), 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 Malwarebytes

  • Malware detection & removal
  • Ransomware protection
  • Real-time protection
  • Anti-exploit
  • Anti-phishing
  • Browser Guard
  • VPN
  • Brute Force Protection

Only in McAfee Total Protection

  • Real-time antivirus
  • Firewall
  • Safe browsing
  • Password manager
  • Secure VPN
  • Identity monitoring
  • Protection Score
  • Parental controls

Both cover

  • AV-TEST Certified
  • Cloud deployment
  • Desktop support
  • Mobile support
  • English language support
  • Spanish language support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Malwarebytes

  • Budget-conscious users performing manual scans via free versionnot McAfee Total Protection
  • Organisations needing real-time malware and ransomware protection via Premium subscriptionnot McAfee Total Protection
  • Users combining antivirus with privacy via Premium plus Privacy VPN bundlenot McAfee Total Protection

McAfee Total Protection

  • Antivirusnot Malwarebytes
  • Internet Securitynot Malwarebytes
  • Identity Protectionnot Malwarebytes

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

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

McAfee Total Protection

  • Significant renewal price increase after first year (from $29.99 to $84.99/year)
  • Customer support responsiveness issues reported as reason for switching
  • Renewal billing can be aggressive with auto-renewal defaults

Pricing, plan by plan

Malwarebytes

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Malwarebytes review.

McAfee Total Protection

$29.99/year
  • Basic$29.99/year
    • Antivirus
    • Firewall
    • 1 device
  • Plus$39.99/year
    • Antivirus
    • Firewall
    • 5 devices
  • Premium$49.99/year
    • Antivirus
    • Firewall
    • VPN
  • Advanced$74.99/year
    • Antivirus
    • Firewall
    • VPN

Which should you pick?

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.
Malwarebytes review

Choose McAfee Total Protection if

  • You need real-time antivirus.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, iOS, Android.
  • You also want firewall.
McAfee Total Protection review

Questions people ask

Is Malwarebytes or McAfee Total Protection better?
Neither clearly leads. Malwarebytes starts at Free and McAfee Total Protection at $29.99/year, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Malwarebytes or McAfee Total Protection?
Malwarebytes has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Malwarebytes and $29.99/year for McAfee Total Protection.
Does Malwarebytes or McAfee Total Protection run on more platforms?
Both run on Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use Malwarebytes for free?
Yes. Malwarebytes has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. McAfee Total Protection starts at $29.99/year.
What is Malwarebytes best used for?
Malwarebytes is most often used for budget-conscious users performing manual scans via free version, organisations needing real-time malware and ransomware protection via premium subscription, users combining antivirus with privacy via premium plus privacy vpn bundle. Of those, budget-conscious users performing manual scans via free version and organisations needing real-time malware and ransomware protection via premium subscription are not what McAfee Total Protection is typically brought in for.
What can Malwarebytes do that McAfee Total Protection cannot?
Malwarebytes covers Malware detection & removal, Ransomware protection, Real-time protection, Anti-exploit. McAfee Total Protection covers Real-time antivirus, Firewall, Safe browsing, Password manager. Both handle AV-TEST Certified, Cloud deployment, Desktop support, Mobile support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

McAfee Total Protection: How much does McAfee Total Protection cost?

McAfee Total Protection introductory pricing ranges from $29.99/year (Basic) to $74.99/year (Advanced), but renewal costs jump to $84.99/year after the first year.

Source
McAfee Total Protection: What is the trial period for McAfee Total Protection?

McAfee offers a 60-day money-back guarantee, allowing you to try the service risk-free for two months.

Source
McAfee Total Protection: How many devices can I protect with one McAfee Total Protection subscription?

Device coverage varies by plan: Basic covers 1 device, while other plans protect 5 to unlimited devices depending on the tier selected.

Source
McAfee Total Protection: Does McAfee Total Protection include VPN?

VPN is included in higher-tier McAfee plans if you opt for auto-renewal.

Source
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