# McAfee vs Malwarebytes for antivirus software

McAfee and Malwarebytes are closely matched for core workflows. Both offer a trial; both support macos protection, android protection, ios protection, and real-time malware protection. McAfee has confirmed starting price of $39.99, renewal price of 109.99, and windows protection. Malwarebytes has confirmed ransomware protection.

## Key decision points

- McAfee has confirmed starting price of $39.99; starting price is not yet confirmed for Malwarebytes.
- McAfee has confirmed renewal price of 109.99; renewal price is not yet confirmed for Malwarebytes.
- McAfee has confirmed windows protection; windows protection is not yet confirmed for Malwarebytes.
- Malwarebytes has confirmed ransomware protection; ransomware protection is not yet confirmed for McAfee.

## Choose McAfee if…

- Choose McAfee if confirmed starting price of $39.99 matters to you; this detail is not yet confirmed for Malwarebytes.
- Choose McAfee if confirmed renewal price of 109.99 matters to you; this detail is not yet confirmed for Malwarebytes.
- Choose McAfee if confirmed windows protection matters to you; this detail is not yet confirmed for Malwarebytes.

## Choose Malwarebytes if…

- Choose Malwarebytes if confirmed ransomware protection matters to you; this detail is not yet confirmed for McAfee.

## Platforms

| Feature | McAfee | Malwarebytes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Windows protection | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://www.mcafee.com/en-us/consumer-support/help/system-requirement.html)) | Not confirmed |
| macOS protection | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://www.mcafee.com/en-us/consumer-support/help/system-requirement.html)) | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://www.malwarebytes.com/)) |
| Android protection | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://www.mcafee.com/en-us/consumer-support/help/system-requirement.html)) | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://www.malwarebytes.com/)) |
| iOS protection | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://www.mcafee.com/en-us/consumer-support/help/system-requirement.html)) | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://www.malwarebytes.com/)) |

## Features

| Feature | McAfee | Malwarebytes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Real-time malware protection | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://www.mcafee.com/en-us/antivirus/mcafee-total-protection.html)) | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://www.malwarebytes.com/)) |
| Ransomware protection | Not confirmed | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://www.malwarebytes.com/)) |
| Phishing protection | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://www.mcafee.com/en-us/antivirus/mcafee-total-protection.html)) | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://www.malwarebytes.com/)) |
| Web protection | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://www.mcafee.com/)) | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://www.malwarebytes.com/)) |
| Firewall | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://www.mcafee.com/)) | Not confirmed |
| VPN included | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://www.mcafee.com/)) | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://www.malwarebytes.com/)) |
| Password manager | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://www.mcafee.com/)) | Not confirmed |
| Identity monitoring | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://www.mcafee.com/en-us/identity-theft/protection.html)) | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://www.malwarebytes.com/)) |
| Dark web monitoring | Not confirmed | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://www.malwarebytes.com/)) |
| Parental controls | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://www.mcafee.com/learn/family-plans/)) | Not confirmed |

## Capacity

| Feature | McAfee | Malwarebytes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Number of devices | 5 (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://www.mcafee.com/en-us/antivirus/mcafee-total-protection.html)) | Not confirmed |

## Pricing

| Feature | McAfee | Malwarebytes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Free trial | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://www.mcafee.com/en-us/consumer-support/activate-product-key.html)) | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://www.malwarebytes.com/)) |
| Money-back guarantee | 30 (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://www.mcafee.com/en-us/consumer-support/activate-product-key.html)) | 60 (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://www.malwarebytes.com/)) |
| First-year price | $39.99 (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://www.mcafee.com/en-us/consumer-support/activate-product-key.html)) | Not confirmed |
| Renewal price | 109.99 (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://www.mcafee.com/en-us/consumer-support/activate-product-key.html)) | Not confirmed |

## Commercial

| Feature | McAfee | Malwarebytes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Affiliate programme | Not confirmed | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://www.malwarebytes.com/)) |

## Evidence

- **McAfee — Windows protection:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://www.mcafee.com/en-us/consumer-support/help/system-requirement.html. Evidence: “X64 processors: Microsoft Windows 11 and Windows 10 (RS5) and newer”
- **McAfee — macOS protection:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://www.mcafee.com/en-us/consumer-support/help/system-requirement.html. Evidence: “Build 4.23 or higher: macOS 13.x and above”
- **Malwarebytes — macOS protection:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://www.malwarebytes.com/. Evidence: “Protects PCs, Macs, Androids, and iPhones”
- **McAfee — Android protection:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://www.mcafee.com/en-us/consumer-support/help/system-requirement.html. Evidence: “Google Android smartphones and tablets 10 or higher”
- **Malwarebytes — Android protection:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://www.malwarebytes.com/. Evidence: “Protects PCs, Macs, Androids, and iPhones”
- **McAfee — iOS protection:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://www.mcafee.com/en-us/consumer-support/help/system-requirement.html. Evidence: “Apple iOS 16 or later”
- **Malwarebytes — iOS protection:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://www.malwarebytes.com/. Evidence: “Protects PCs, Macs, Androids, and iPhones”
- **McAfee — Real-time malware protection:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://www.mcafee.com/en-us/antivirus/mcafee-total-protection.html. Evidence: “Automatic, real-time protection with McAfee+”
- **Malwarebytes — Real-time malware protection:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://www.malwarebytes.com/. Evidence: “Malwarebytes Premium Security is a user-friendly and effective antivirus solution designed to protect your personal devices and data in real-time.”
- **Malwarebytes — Ransomware protection:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://www.malwarebytes.com/. Evidence: “Advanced antivirus protection against malware, ransomware, and more”
- **McAfee — Phishing protection:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://www.mcafee.com/en-us/antivirus/mcafee-total-protection.html. Evidence: “Scam protection and antivirus for automatic protection against fake messages, deepfake scams, viruses, malware, and more”
- **Malwarebytes — Phishing protection:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://www.malwarebytes.com/. Evidence: “Protection from malicious Websites and scams”
- **McAfee — Web protection:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://www.mcafee.com/. Evidence: “Web Protection”
- **Malwarebytes — Web protection:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://www.malwarebytes.com/. Evidence: “Protection from malicious Websites and scams”
- **McAfee — Firewall:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://www.mcafee.com/. Evidence: “Firewall”
- **McAfee — VPN included:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://www.mcafee.com/. Evidence: “Virtual Private Network (VPN)”
- **Malwarebytes — VPN included:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://www.malwarebytes.com/. Evidence: “Privacy from Wi-fi snoopers”
- **McAfee — Password manager:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://www.mcafee.com/. Evidence: “Password Manager”
- **McAfee — Identity monitoring:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://www.mcafee.com/en-us/identity-theft/protection.html. Evidence: “24/7 identity monitoring and alerts”
- **Malwarebytes — Identity monitoring:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://www.malwarebytes.com/. Evidence: “Our comprehensive identity theft monitoring and insurance keep your identity where it belongs—with you.”
- **Malwarebytes — Dark web monitoring:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://www.malwarebytes.com/. Evidence: “Malwarebytes Identity Theft Protection scans the dark web and other sources for your personal information.”
- **McAfee — Parental controls:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://www.mcafee.com/learn/family-plans/. Evidence: “Parental controls to help parents provide the supervision kids need to stay safe online.”
- **McAfee — Number of devices:** 5. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://www.mcafee.com/en-us/antivirus/mcafee-total-protection.html. Evidence: “Essential 5 Devices”
- **McAfee — Free trial:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://www.mcafee.com/en-us/consumer-support/activate-product-key.html. Evidence: “Free Trial Terms: At the end of your trial period you will be charged $39.99 for the first term.”
- **Malwarebytes — Free trial:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://www.malwarebytes.com/. Evidence: “Download today to start your free virus and malware scan.”
- **McAfee — Money-back guarantee:** 30. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://www.mcafee.com/en-us/consumer-support/activate-product-key.html. Evidence: “You will be provided a full refund upon request, by contacting Customer Support within 30 days of your initial purchase or 60 days of auto-renewal.”
- **Malwarebytes — Money-back guarantee:** 60. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://www.malwarebytes.com/. Evidence: “60-day money back guarantee on all annual plans”
- **McAfee — First-year price:** $39.99. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://www.mcafee.com/en-us/consumer-support/activate-product-key.html. Evidence: “At the end of your trial period you will be charged $39.99 for the first term.”
- **McAfee — Renewal price:** 109.99. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://www.mcafee.com/en-us/consumer-support/activate-product-key.html. Evidence: “After the first term, you will be automatically renewed at the renewal price (currently $109.99/yr).”
- **Malwarebytes — Affiliate programme:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://www.malwarebytes.com/. Evidence: “PARTNER WITH MALWAREBYTES Computer Repair Affiliates Strategic Business Partnerships Resellers”