Comparison

Malwarebytes vs Privacy Defender

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Malwarebytes

This app offers comprehensive mobile security and privacy protection for Apple devices. It includes features like ad blocking, scam text filtering, and identity protection. A free trial is available, with ongoing free protection and optional premium subscription features.

Highlights
  • Ad Blocking for Safari
  • Text Message Filtering
  • Digital Footprint Scanner
  • Identity Protection
  • Secure VPN
  • Web Protection
  • Call Protection
Features
Read full description

Malwarebytes delivers mobile security and digital protection beyond your device. We help protect you against online scams, harmful websites, annoying ads, sketchy calls, identity risks, and more. From banking to personal accounts, your phone carries some of your most important information. Malwarebytes keeps you safe with simple, smart security. Malwarebytes is designed for everybody: professionals, families, and first-time smartphone users. No complicated setup. No IT expertise needed. Just easy protection that safeguards your digital life. Start your 7-day free trial to unlock all features. SCAM & CALL PROTECTION Scammers use fake calls, texts, malicious links, and websites to imitate banks, delivery services, retailers, and other trusted brands. Alongside robocall filtering, Malwarebytes helps protect against: - Suspicious text scams and phishing attempts - Malicious links and unsafe websites - Brand impersonation and social engineering attacks - Annoying spam calls SAFER BROWSING & AD BLOCKER Web Protection: Blocks phishing sites and risky links before you enter payment or personal data. Ad blocking: Reduce intrusive ads and trackers while browsing. FAST VPN FOR PRIVATE BROWSING Incognito alone does not hide all of your online activity. Malwarebytes VPN helps protect your privacy on public Wi-Fi or while traveling. Encrypt your internet connection for added privacy Shield your IP address from trackers and advertisers Browse more safely on public Wi-Fi IDENTITY THEFT PROTECTION Your email addresses, passwords, and personal information may be exposed in data breaches without you knowing. Digital Footprint Scanner: Run an email scan and check where your personal information may have been leaked. Data breach insights: See where your information may have been exposed and review steps to help secure affected accounts. 24/7 monitoring: Get real-time support and up to $2 million in identity theft insurance WHY CHOOSE MALWAREBYTES? - Mobile security against scams, spam calls, sketchy websites, and more privacy risks. - Built by Malwarebytes, with 17+ years as a trusted name in antivirus and cybersecurity. - Secure VPN and digital footprint tools for added privacy - Simple protection without complicated setup - No third-party ads in the Malwarebytes app - 4 million daily threats blocked Malwarebytes for iOS FAQs: - Can Malwarebytes help protect my iPhone from scam texts and phishing links? Malwarebytes helps detect suspicious text scams, phishing attempts, malicious links, and brand impersonation. - Can Malwarebytes protect me on public Wi-Fi? Malwarebytes VPN encrypts your internet connection, protects your privacy on public Wi-Fi, and alerts you to turn on VPN whenever you join an unsecure network. - Can Malwarebytes check whether my information was exposed in a data breach? The Digital Footprint Scanner checks your email against known data breaches and shows you how to secure your accounts. - Does Malwarebytes scan iPhones for viruses? Because of iOS platform restrictions, Malwarebytes does not perform traditional malware-file scans on iPhone. Instead, it focuses on proactive protection against phishing sites, scam texts, spam calls, malicious links, and unsafe websites. TRIAL & DEVICE INFORMATION 7-day free trial: Unlock device protection features during the trial (Identity Theft Protection not included). Premium features require a subscription after the trial unless canceled. Manage your subscription in Apple ID settings. Family Sharing: Premium subscription features are not eligible for Family Sharing. Compatible with iOS 18 or later with an active internet connection. iPad users can benefit from Web Protection (Premium) and Ad Blocking (Included) for safer Safari browsing. Identity Protection features vary by region. Terms: https://www.malwarebytes.com/tos EULA: https://www.malwarebytes.com/eula

About

Privacy Defender

This all-in-one mobile security app offers online protection, ad blocking, and identity safeguards. It secures your personal information with a password manager, secure notes, and safe browsing features. Stay informed about security threats and protect your data from malware and phishing.

Highlights
  • Online security and safe browsing
  • Ad and tracker blocking
  • Password manager with secure notes
  • AES 256-bit encryption
  • Face ID/Fingerprint unlock
  • Security news and awareness
Features
Read full description

Privacy Defender is an All-In-One Mobile Security & Privacy App which provides Online Security, Ad blocking, Identity Protection and Mobile Security to iOS Users and keeps Mobile User's personal Information Private, Safe and Secure. Mobile Security - Safe Online Browing & Ad Blocker • Safe browsing experience by blocking Malicious websites that distributes Malware & Viruses. • Block Phishing Websites that steal Users personal and financial data. • Protects Mobile Users Personal Information by allowing only secure internet connectivity on insecure Wi-Fi networks. • Block Ads & Trackers to provide AdBlock and Ad Blocker functionality from annoying Ad Trackers and pop-ups. • Provides clutter free environment by blocking Ad Trackers when browsing websites. • Saves battery usage and increases performance by blocking Social Media Ad Trackers. Password Manager & Secure Notes • Privacy Defender & Security App has a Password Manager and Secure Notes Manager to provide ultimate Hacker Protection. • Built-in Secure Vault with AES 256-bit encryption to safeguard your information & data. • Password Manager and Secure Notes are protected by Master Password and provides easy access through Face ID or Fingerprint. • Master Password is the key to encrypt and decrypt the information and Privacy Defender App cannot access your personal data. • Mobile Users can also create secure passwords in one click with the built-in password generator. • Store items in different categories such as logins, credit cards, addresses etc. Security Threats, News & Awareness • Provides latest security news and awareness campaign to identify Frauds • Mobile and User Data Security by identifying outdated and Vulnerable IOS. User Consent Privacy Defender App will collect, store and process URL’s, IP Addresses and Domain Names visited by the User to identify suspicious malicious sites. User’s Personal Identifiable Information is neither collected, stored nor shared with any 3rd party. Payment will be charged to iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase. Subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. You will be charged for renewal within 24 hours prior to the end of the current period, and identify the cost of the renewal. No cancellation of the current subscription is allowed during the active subscription period. Note that uninstalling the App will not cancel your subscription. You can manage subscriptions and auto-renewal by going to your Apple ID after purchase. You can find automatic charging information later in our app by going to "Settings" > "Legal" > "Subscription Terms". Any unused portion of a free trial period, if offered, will be forfeited when the user purchases a subscription to that publication, where applicable. Privacy Policy: https://privacydefender.app/PrivacyPolicy Terms of Use: https://privacydefender.app/PrivacyPolicy/Useragreement

Screenshots

Malwarebytes4 screens
Privacy Defender4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Malwarebytes at 4.5 against Privacy Defender's 4.0. Malwarebytes also leads on monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription) and ratings volume (109K vs 30). Privacy Defender's advantage is review sentiment (74% vs 48%) and iOS requirement (16.4 vs 18.0). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Malwarebytes sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $2.49 per month and Privacy Defender sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Malwarebytes holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Malwarebytes has 109K ratings behind it against 30, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 48% of Malwarebytes's written reviews are positive against 74% of Privacy Defender's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and August 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
Malwarebytes versus Privacy Defender: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMalwarebytesPrivacy Defender
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (109K ratings) — better4.0 (30 ratings)
Positive reviews47.6% of reviews73.9% of reviews — better
Number of ratings109K — better30
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 3 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterSubscription
Best chart rank#38 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS18.016.4 — better
Further details — not scored
Size128 MB66 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMalwarebytesPligence Inc.

Customer experience

Malwarebytes

All ratings109,165 ratings
Positive88.4%
Neutral4.2%
Negative7.4%
Written reviews2,825 reviews
Positive47.6%
Neutral9.2%
Negative43.2%

Privacy Defender

All ratings31 ratings
Positive74.2%
Neutral6.5%
Negative19.4%
Written reviews23 reviews
Positive73.9%
Neutral4.3%
Negative21.7%

Bugs and requests

Malwarebytes

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Activation and subscription problems
  • Incompatibility with newer iOS versions
  • Inability to scan or detect malware on devices

Requested features

4 requests
  • Add bulk reporting of scam numbers
  • Improve text message filtering
  • Implement automatic updates
  • Provide more comprehensive dashboard and scanning capabilities

Privacy Defender

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

6 purchases

Malwarebytes

Subscriptions6
  • Standard7 Days trial$2.491 Month
  • Standard7 Days trial$19.991 Year
  • Plus7 Days trial$44.991 Year
Show 3 more
  • Standard (3 devices)7 Days trial$59.991 Year
  • Plus (3 devices)7 Days trial$79.991 Year
  • Advanced1 Year trial$139.991 Year
3 purchases

Privacy Defender

Subscriptions3
  • Privacy Defender - Per Month$1.991 Month
  • Privacy Defender - 6 Months$10.996 Months
  • Privacy Defender - 1 Year$20.991 Year

Questions

Is Malwarebytes free?
Malwarebytes is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Privacy Defender free?
Privacy Defender is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Malwarebytes or Privacy Defender?
Malwarebytes is rated higher. Malwarebytes averages 4.5 out of 5 from 109K ratings, while Privacy Defender averages 4.0 from 30 ratings.
Do Malwarebytes or Privacy Defender have ads?
Neither Malwarebytes nor Privacy Defender shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Malwarebytes or Privacy Defender?
Malwarebytes ships an update every 3 weeks, and Privacy Defender every 3 weeks. Most recently, Malwarebytes was updated on September 25, 2026 and Privacy Defender on August 25, 2026.

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