# Malwarebytes vs Guardio

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Guardio at 91% against Malwarebytes's 48%. Guardio also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.5) and update cadence (weekly vs every 3 weeks). On price, ratings volume, 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 Guardio sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $12.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Guardio holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 109K and 42K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 48% of Malwarebytes's written reviews are positive against 91% of Guardio's.

Malwarebytes ships an update every 3 weeks, Guardio weekly. Both last shipped on September 25, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Malwarebytes | Guardio |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (109K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/malwarebytes-mobile-security/id1327105431/reviews) | **[4.8 (42K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/guardio-mobile-security/id1640981560/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **109K** | 42K |
| Positive reviews | 47.6% of reviews | **91.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#38** | #113 |
| Size | 128 MB | 90 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **16.4** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Malwarebytes](https://appshunter.io/developer/610302098) | [Guardio LTD](https://appshunter.io/developer/1640981562) |

## 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


### Guardio

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/guardio-mobile-security/id1640981560)

**Currently charting:** #113 Top Free · Utilities, #185 Top Grossing · Utilities (US App Store)

This app offers comprehensive digital protection for your devices, identity, and online accounts. It detects and alerts you to threats like phishing, leaked passwords, and identity theft, providing guidance to enhance your online safety.

**Highlights:** Real-time personal info exposure alerts, Phishing and scam detection, Identity monitoring, Suspicious message filtering (iOS), Cross-device security coverage, Security status overview, Guidance for issue resolution

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Individual (Monthly) | $12.99 | per month |
| Individual (Monthly) | $14.99 | per month |
| Individual (Yearly) | $119.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🔒 Protects against malicious websites and scams
- 🚀 Blocks threats in real-time
- 💡 Provides identity theft protection
- 👍 Easy to use and set up
- 🔒 Safeguards personal information

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Difficult to cancel subscription
- 🔒 Concerns about data privacy and selling user information
- 💰 Expensive subscription fees
- 🐛 Unreliable detection of data leaks
- 🐛 Glitchy and buggy app performance

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes and freezes
- Authentication issues and inability to log in
- Subscription cancellation problems
- Inaccurate data leak notifications

**Requested features**

- Expand email protection beyond just Gmail
- Provide more detailed information on data leaks
- Improve customer support and communication
- Offer a free tier with basic features


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Malwarebytes free?

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

### Is Guardio free?

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

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

Guardio is rated higher. Malwarebytes averages 4.5 out of 5 from 109K ratings, while Guardio averages 4.8 from 42K ratings.

### Do Malwarebytes or Guardio have ads?

Neither Malwarebytes nor Guardio shows ads.

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

Malwarebytes ships an update every 3 weeks, and Guardio weekly. Most recently, Malwarebytes was updated on September 25, 2026 and Guardio on September 25, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Malwarebytes or Guardio?

Malwarebytes currently peaks at #38 in the App Store charts, and Guardio at #113. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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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.*