Avast vs Malwarebytes 2025: Avast Edges Into the Lead

Looking at Avast vs. Malwarebytes, you’ll see some differences between these two well-known antivirus programs. Avast is ideal for individuals seeking enhanced online shopping security, including standard features such as phishing and ransomware protection. It also offers one of the best free antivirus programs on the market.

Malwarebytes offers a free web security browser extension that complements other antivirus programs and is available at a lower price point than Avast. For paid plans, Malwarebytes ranges from $44.99–$232.49/yr as compared to Avast’s pricing of $35.88-$119.88/yr (first year only).

We’ll dig into the differences and similarities between these two antivirus programs in our Avast vs. Malwarebytes review.

Avast vs. Malwarebytes overview

• Avast: Best for a variety of security features for numerous devices
• Malwarebytes: Best for a lower-cost antivirus solution

	Our Pick
Star rating	4.8 AllAboutCookies writers and editors score products based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.	4.6 AllAboutCookies writers and editors score products based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.
Starting price	Starts at $35.88/first yr	Starts at $44.99/yr
Max number of protected devices	Up to 30	Up to 20
Free version
Malware scans	Manual and scheduled scans	Free version: Manual scans only Premium version: Manual and scheduled scans
Phishing protection
Ransomware protection		Yes — Windows only
Real-time protection
Firewall	Yes — Windows only
Ad blocker		Yes — Browser Guard
Compatibility	Windows, macOS, Android, iOS	Windows, macOS, Android, iOS
Learn more	Get Avast Read Avast Review	Get Malwarebytes Read Malwarebytes Review

Avast pros and cons

Avast includes a firewall for PC users and offers a Stay Safe Virus Guarantee if you use the auto-renew subscription option. This guarantee refunds your money if you get a virus that Avast can’t remove. Avast also covers up to 30 devices with the Avast One Platinum plan for $119.88/yr (first year only). Avast has a definite edge over Malwarebytes when it comes to device coverage.

Malwarebytes pros and cons

Malwarebytes’ plans start and top off at a lower price. But the features you get with Avast may make the potentially higher price more worth your while.

Pricing

Avast costs more than Malwarebytes, but it offers significantly more value. 

	Our Pick
Price range	$35.88-$119.88/yr (first year only)	$44.99–$232.49/yr
Best value plan	Avast One Silver Family for $59.88/first yr	Malwarebytes Standard (1 Year) starting at $44.99/yr
Money-back guarantee	Yes — 30 days	Yes — 60 days
Learn more	Get Avast Read Avast Review	Get Malwarebytes Read Malwarebytes Review

Avast plans

Avast plans could cost you more, but we like that it offers a few different plans, so it’s easier to find one that fits your budget. Aside from Avast One Silver Family, which bundles antivirus, privacy, and identity protection features, you can opt for the lower-cost Avast Premium plan.

We chose the Avast One Silver Family Individual plan as it strikes a good balance and costs less than half of the Avast One Platinum plan. For $59.88/first yr, you’ll get antivirus security for up to five devices, which is much cheaper than what Malwarebytes costs for the same number of devices ($79.99/first yr).

Avast comes with a money-back guarantee as well, but only for 30 days. Still, this gives you a whole month to try it out and get your money back if you don’t like it.

Please note that purchasing Avast through Google Play or the Apple App Store is subject to restrictions based on the vendors' refund policies. If you want the full 30- or 60-day period to try the software, we recommend buying it directly from Avast or Malwarebytes to avoid possible refund headaches.

Malwarebytes plans

Malwarebytes may offer a more budget-friendly option, but you only have two plans to choose from: Malwarebytes Standard (1 Year) and Malwarebytes Ultimate (1 Year). If you want to grab the Malwarebytes Privacy VPN, you can choose between coverage for three or five devices, but the Premium plan with no VPN covers up to 10 devices, and the price increases as you add more coverage.

Since Malwarebytes only offers two plans, we went with the Malwarebytes Standard (1 Year) plan that starts at $44.99/yr. This gives you the option to choose the exact number of devices you want coverage for — up to 10. But this plan doesn't include a virtual private network.

The one area where Malwarebytes has a bit of an edge over Avast is the money-back guarantee. You’ll have 60 days to try the software, and if you decide not to keep it, you can get a refund.

Features

Avast is more feature-rich.

Feature	Our Pick
Manual and scheduled scans
Phishing protection
Ransomware protection		Yes — Windows only
Firewall	Yes — Windows only
Device optimization tools
VPN
Ad blocker
Parental controls
Password manager
Extras	Webcam protection, breach monitoring	Identity theft protection
Learn more	Get Avast Read Avast Review	Get Malwarebytes Read Malwarebytes Review

In comparing Avast vs. Malwarebytes, the features are quite different. For instance, Malwarebytes won’t give you a firewall with the antivirus software, but its Premium + Privacy VPN bundle comes with a VPN, which costs you $99.99 per year. (We’ll caution you that Malwarebytes Privacy VPN is best for lightweight streaming and logs some of your data, so it may not be the best option.)

Malwarebytes also includes an ad blocker via the Browser Guard feature. The extension provides a safer, more private internet experience by blocking ads and suspicious websites that could compromise your online security.

In contrast, Avast antivirus doesn’t come with an ad blocker. However, it comes stocked with a firewall for Windows users, and the Avast SecureLine VPN is included with all Avast One plans.

You’ll also get some device optimization tools that can be very handy, like the Network Inspector, which scans your network to check for vulnerabilities and security problems. The Wi-Fi security alerts warn you if an intruder is attempting to gain access.

Lastly, if you choose to auto-renew your subscription, you get the Stay Safe Virus Guarantee that refunds your money if your device gets malware that Avast cannot remove. If these weren’t enough to get you interested, Avast has a data breach alert feature to give you a heads-up if your sensitive information gets leaked.

Test results

We take our antivirus reviews seriously, and we know you do too. Not only do we perform our own testing to check out these products, but we also rely on independent third-party tests to get a complete sense of how these products hold up to rigid scrutiny. For Avast vs. Malwarebytes, we checked AV-TEST scores for both antivirus products. 

Avast vs. Malwarebytes AV-TEST scores

	Our Pick
Windows score	18/18	17/18
macOS score	18/18	N/A
Android score	17/18	14/18
Learn more	Get Avast Read Avast Review	Get Malwarebytes Read Malwarebytes Review

The test table shows that Avast received near-perfect scores across the board for Windows, macOS, and Android, meaning its malware detection, performance, and usability were top-tier. Malwarebytes only received 17/18 for Windows. What we can see from the test results for Windows is that Malwarebytes didn’t show any false detections of legitimate software or false warnings while installing software. It did, however, score lower than the industry average for protection against zero-day cyber threats.

Malwarebytes also did not submit to macOS testing. That doesn’t necessarily mean this software isn’t good, though. Since antivirus companies pay for these tests, sometimes they may choose not to have a product examined. However, the Android score demonstrates that Malwarebytes can't offer good protection compared to top-tier software like Avast.

  

Compatibility and customer support

	Our Pick
Windows
macOS
Android
iOS
Browser extensions	Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Opera, Avast Secure Browser	Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Safari
24/7 customer support
Customer support options	Live chat, phone, email, support forums, online guides	Automated chat, email, online guides
Learn more	Get Avast Read Avast Review	Get Malwarebytes Read Malwarebytes Review

Compatibility experience

Both antivirus programs featured user-friendly interfaces and were easy to use. With Avast, scanning was fast and easy for both the Smart and Deep Scan functions. Features like the Network Inspector and Ransomware Shield are on by default, so there’s nothing extra for you to do.

We also liked that Avast has a Personal Privacy section where you decide how you want to share data or if you want to share it at all.

When testing Malwarebytes, we noticed that you can only use the Full Scan feature with Windows. If you use a Mac, you’ll have to be satisfied with just Quick Scan.

We like the scanning reports that come with Malwarebytes Premium because they allow you to check your scanning history for the last 30 days to see if any malicious files were discovered.

Customer support experience

There aren’t many options if you need customer support from Malwarebytes. You can enter a support ticket and wait for an email response or check out the online product guide. But that’s it.

Avast, on the other hand, delivers multiple ways to get support. There’s no live chat option, but you have access to phone support and can call 24/7 to get help with non-Avast technical issues if you pay for the premium support plan. Avast offers an automated chat function to provide additional assistance, but it is limited since it’s not a live chat.

If you’d rather do some troubleshooting on your own, you can view Avast’s online knowledge base or use the support forums to get help from the community.

Avast vs. Malwarebytes alternatives

Avast is one of the best antivirus programs we've tested. It has consistently strong performance scores during in-house and third-party testing, its interface is sleek and user-friendly, and it offers advanced web protection. But if you want a more robust security suite, unlimited device protection, or a budget-friendly option with good performance scores, consider our other top recommended alternatives:

FAQs

Bottom line: Is Malwarebytes better than Avast?

When comparing Malwarebytes vs. Avast, our testing shows that Avast has more features and better protection scores. 

Even Avast's base plans can protect against deepfakes, phishing sites, and online fraud. Meanwhile, Avast Ultimate offers a VPN, an ad blocker with anti-tracking, and premium PC device optimization tools.