How Much Does Malwarebytes Cost in 2026?

Malwarebytes built its reputation on being the 'specialist malware scanner' that catches things mainstream AVs miss. For years, it was the $40 'add-on' scanner you'd run alongside Norton or McAfee for second-opinion detection. That positioning has ended — Malwarebytes now competes head-on with full-suite AVs at full-suite prices. The free tier remains genuinely useful: on-demand manual scanning (no real-time protection) when you suspect an infection. Runs alongside your main AV without conflicts. Standard at $44.99/year for 1 device is real-time antivirus + anti-malware — lightest footprint in category, minimal performance impact on older machines. Plus at $59.99/year adds Malwarebytes VPN (unlimited, WireGuard-based) — one of the faster bundled VPNs in category. Ultimate at $119.99 for 5 devices adds identity monitoring + credit monitoring — comparable to Bitdefender Ultimate Security ($119.99). Standalone Identity at $89.99 is for users with a different AV who want Malwarebytes' identity monitoring alone. Renewal discipline: Malwarebytes is less aggressive on renewal jumps than Norton or McAfee — Standard typically renews at $59.99 (vs $44.99 first year). AV-Test scores are solid but behind Bitdefender. Where Malwarebytes wins: lightest system footprint, free manual scanner tier, less aggressive renewal pricing. Where it loses: no longer the 'cheap second-opinion' scanner at current full-AV pricing, test scores mid-pack vs Bitdefender's top-tier, brand still known for old 'supplement' positioning creates market confusion.