Malwarebytes vs Privacy Defender
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- Ad Blocking for Safari
- Text Message Filtering
- Digital Footprint Scanner
- Identity Protection
- Secure VPN
- Web Protection
- Call Protection
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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
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.
- 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
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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
Verdict
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
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.
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.
Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and August 25, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Malwarebytes | Privacy Defender |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.5 (109K ratings) — better | 4.0 (30 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 47.6% of reviews | 73.9% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 109K — better | 30 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 3 weeks |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases — better | Subscription |
| Best chart rank | #38 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | 16.4 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 128 MB | 66 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Malwarebytes | Pligence Inc. |
Customer experience
Malwarebytes
Privacy Defender
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
Malwarebytes
- Standard7 Days trial$2.491 Month
- Standard7 Days trial$19.991 Year
- Plus7 Days trial$44.991 Year
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- Standard (3 devices)7 Days trial$59.991 Year
- Plus (3 devices)7 Days trial$79.991 Year
- Advanced1 Year trial$139.991 Year
Privacy Defender
- 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?
Is Privacy Defender free?
Which has better reviews, Malwarebytes or Privacy Defender?
Do Malwarebytes or Privacy Defender have ads?
Which is updated more often, Malwarebytes or Privacy Defender?
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