# Malwarebytes vs Privacy Defender

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | Malwarebytes | Privacy Defender |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (109K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/malwarebytes-mobile-security/id1327105431/reviews)** | [4.0 (30 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/privacy-defender-security/id1588734793/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **109K** | 30 |
| Positive reviews | 47.6% of reviews | **73.9% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Subscription |
| Best chart rank | **#38** | — |
| Size | 128 MB | 66 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **16.4** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Malwarebytes](https://appshunter.io/developer/610302098) | [Pligence Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1588734795) |

## What reviewers say

### Malwarebytes

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/malwarebytes-mobile-security/id1327105431)

**Currently charting:** #38 Top Grossing · Utilities (US App Store)

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:** Safari Extension, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Standard | $2.49 | per month |
| Standard | $19.99 | per year |
| Plus | $44.99 | per year |
| Standard (3 devices) | $59.99 | per year |
| Plus (3 devices) | $79.99 | per year |
| Advanced | $139.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Keeps devices updated and protected
- 🔒 Provides security and peace of mind
- 👍 Easy to use and set up
- 🚀 Excellent protection and performance

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Activation and subscription issues
- 🐛 Inconsistent or non-functional features
- 🐛 Fails to block spam calls and texts
- 🔋 Drains battery life
- 💰 Expensive subscription

**Reported bugs**

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

**Requested features**

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


### Privacy Defender

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/privacy-defender-security/id1588734793)

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:** Safari Extension

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Privacy Defender - Per Month | $1.99 | per month |
| Privacy Defender - 6 Months | $10.99 | per 6 months |
| Privacy Defender  - 1 Year | $20.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked 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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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*