Malwarebytes vs. McAfee: Which One is Better? [2021 Top Picks]
Find the Best Antivirus for You & Your Devices
Which Antivirus is Better?
Which Antivirus is Better?
McAfee is a really good antivirus. It scored top marks in all of our malware testing, it comes with a ton of really well-designed features, and all of its internet security tools are easy to find and use. Malwarebytes is a decent antivirus and is a bit easier to use, but it just can’t compete with McAfee.
Malwarebytes vs. McAfee: Features
McAfee Total Protection Multi-Device covers 5 devices and includes:
- Customizable firewall.
- Web protection & browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge.
- System tuneup tools.
- Network scanner.
- VPN with unlimited data.
- Password manager (True Key).
- Identity theft protection (US users only).
- 30-day money-back guarantee.
- And more…
Malwarebytes Premium + Privacy covers 5 devices and comes with:
- Web protection & ad blocker.
- VPN with unlimited data.
- 60-day money-back guarantee.
McAfee vs. Malwarebytes: Final Verdict
- 1st place:
- 2nd place:
McAfee is better than Malwarebytes in almost all areas, including speed, security, performance, and features.
If you want an affordable internet security suite that includes all of the tools you need to stay safe online in 2021, go with McAfee.
Malwarebytes is easier to use than McAfee. If you’re only looking for a good antivirus scanner that comes bundled with a decent VPN, go with Malwarebytes.
McAfee has one of the best anti-malware scanners on the market, is really good at detecting fake and risky websites, and provides a ton of useful tools, like system tuneup, network protection, a VPN, a password manager, parental controls, and ID theft protection. Malwarebytes is an ok antivirus, but it only has a malware scanner, anti-phishing protection, and a VPN. Malwarebytes may be easier to use than McAfee, but McAfee is an overall much better product. Malwarebytes has a 60-day money-back guarantee, and its pricing is near-identical to McAfee’s.
Frequently Asked Questions
The first thing to do is to understand what you need — all antiviruses come with different internet security tools to help you stay protected, so identifying what level of protection you want will help you figure out which product is right for you.
Some antiviruses have a virtual private network (VPN), some have safe browsing extensions, and some have a password manager. Some only work on certain operating systems, while others cover all operating systems across multiple devices.
It’s important to compare the best antiviruses on the market to find the perfect one with the functionality you need.
A high-quality antivirus suite will detect, flag, and remove viruses and various types of malware. It will also offer real-time protection against all threats, regardless of whether you are browsing the internet, downloading software, shopping online, or opening email. For additional security, many antivirus suites offer a VPN, secure storage, and a password manager — these things all add several layers of protection against various cyber threats.
For more information on how antiviruses work, read this.
An antivirus needs to protect against all types of malware — trojans, rootkits, worms, spyware, viruses, ransomware, and anything else that might cause damage to your devices. This is done in a variety of ways, but the most essential feature of an antivirus is real-time protection — this makes sure that an active threat is effectively stopped before anything serious can happen.
Other things to look for include — excellent detection rates, fast system performance, included extra features (like a VPN, password manager, etc.), easy-to-use interface, good customer support, and overall value.
When researching antiviruses, it’s a good idea to visit a few well-known antivirus software websites such as Norton, McAfee, and Bitdefender to directly compare each antivirus’s features.
You can also look at the expert opinions of our reviewers at SafetyDetectives.com to find the most up-to-date and unbiased information about the best cybersecurity products on the market today.