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Software · head to head

Malwarebytes vs Passbolt

Malwarebytes logo

Malwarebytes

Software

Protects every device, everywhere

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Passbolt logo

Passbolt

Software

Open-source password manager for teams with self-hosted or cloud deployment

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Malwarebytes free version limited to on-demand scanning and removal; no real-time protection; Passbolt pro Edition requires a minimum of 10 users, making it costlier for very small teams.
  • They diverge on capability: Malwarebytes covers Malware detection & removal, Passbolt covers Password sharing and folders.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Malwarebytes and Passbolt actually diverge.

Attributes where Malwarebytes and Passbolt differ
AttributeMalwarebytesPassbolt
Pricing modelfreemiumopen-source
PlatformsWindows, macOS, iOS, Androidweb, windows, mac, linux, api
Founded2008Unknown

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 Malwarebytes

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

Only in Passbolt

  • Password sharing and folders
  • Groups and role-based access
  • Browser extensions and CLI
  • Open API
  • LDAP provisioning and SSO
  • Activity audit log

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 Passbolt
  • Organisations needing real-time malware and ransomware protection via Premium subscriptionnot Passbolt
  • Users combining antivirus with privacy via Premium plus Privacy VPN bundlenot Passbolt

Passbolt

  • Self-hosting a team password manager for data sovereigntynot Malwarebytes
  • Provisioning vault access from an existing LDAP/AD directorynot Malwarebytes
  • Sharing credentials across engineering or IT teams via folders and groupsnot Malwarebytes
  • Automating credential retrieval through the CLI or open APInot 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

Passbolt

  • Pro Edition requires a minimum of 10 users, making it costlier for very small teams.
  • Community Edition lacks SSO and LDAP provisioning, which many organizations need for onboarding at scale.
  • Self-hosting the Community Edition requires infrastructure and maintenance effort compared to fully managed competitors.
  • Enterprise-tier support and HA consulting require custom, quote-based pricing rather than transparent rates.

Pricing, plan by plan

Malwarebytes

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Malwarebytes review.

Passbolt

Free
  • Community EditionFree
    • Unlimited users
    • Password sharing and folders
    • Role-based access control
  • Pro Edition$4.9/month
    • Minimum 10 users, billed annually
    • LDAP/AD provisioning
    • Single sign-on
  • Enterprise Edition$undefined/month
    • High availability and disaster recovery consulting
    • White-glove migration
    • Custom feature development

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 Passbolt if

  • You need password sharing and folders.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on web, windows, mac, linux, api.
  • You also want groups and role-based access.
Passbolt review

Questions people ask

Is Malwarebytes or Passbolt better?
Neither clearly leads. Malwarebytes starts at Free and Passbolt at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Malwarebytes or Passbolt?
Malwarebytes starts at Free and Passbolt at Free.
Does Malwarebytes or Passbolt run on more platforms?
Malwarebytes runs on Windows, macOS, iOS, Android. Passbolt runs on web, windows, mac, linux, api.
Can I use Malwarebytes for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
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 Passbolt is typically brought in for.
What can Malwarebytes do that Passbolt cannot?
Malwarebytes covers Malware detection & removal, Ransomware protection, Real-time protection, Anti-exploit. Passbolt covers Password sharing and folders, Groups and role-based access, Browser extensions and CLI, Open API.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Passbolt: Is Passbolt free to use?

Yes. The Community Edition is free forever with unlimited users, including password sharing, folders, groups, role-based access, browser extensions, a CLI, and an open API.

Source
Passbolt: What does the Pro Edition cost and add?

Pro Edition costs $4.90 per user per month billed annually, with a 10-user minimum, and adds LDAP/AD provisioning, single sign-on, account recovery escrow, activity audit logs, and next-business-day support.

Source
Passbolt: What license is Passbolt distributed under?

All Passbolt editions, including Pro and Enterprise, are distributed under the AGPL v3 open-source license.

Source
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