# Malwarebytes vs DeFNCE

The clearest difference is review sentiment: DeFNCE at 100% against Malwarebytes's 48%. DeFNCE also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 6) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 18.0). Malwarebytes's advantage is rating (4.5 vs 1.0) and ads (none vs shown). On price, update cadence and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Malwarebytes sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $2.49 per month. DeFNCE asks for nothing beyond the download.

Malwarebytes holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 1.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Malwarebytes has 112K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 48% of Malwarebytes's written reviews are positive against 100% of DeFNCE's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Malwarebytes ships an update every 2 weeks, DeFNCE every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Malwarebytes | DeFNCE |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (112K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/malwarebytes-mobile-security/id1327105431/reviews)** | [1.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/defnce/id1600654789/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **112K** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 47.7% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Every 4 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Ad-supported** |
| Best chart rank | **#33** | — |
| Size | 135 MB | 55 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Malwarebytes](https://appshunter.io/developer/610302098) | [Cyfirma Holdings Pte Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1600654791) |

## What reviewers say

### Malwarebytes

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

**Currently charting:** #33 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


### DeFNCE

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/defnce/id1600654789)

Learn essential cyber safety habits to protect your digital identity and data. Understand emerging threats like phishing and social engineering, and assess your personal cyber risk.

**Highlights:** Assess cyber risk status, Secure digital identity and emails, Optimize device security settings, Learn about phishing campaigns, Stay updated on cybercriminal activities

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Malwarebytes free?

Malwarebytes is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is DeFNCE free?

DeFNCE is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Malwarebytes or DeFNCE?

Malwarebytes is rated higher. Malwarebytes averages 4.5 out of 5 from 112K ratings, while DeFNCE averages 1.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Malwarebytes or DeFNCE have ads?

DeFNCE shows ads; Malwarebytes does not.

### Which is updated more often, Malwarebytes or DeFNCE?

Malwarebytes ships an update every 2 weeks, and DeFNCE every 4 weeks. Most recently, Malwarebytes was updated on October 29, 2026 and DeFNCE on October 24, 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.*