# Malwarebytes vs Norton Private Browser

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Norton Private Browser at none against Malwarebytes's 6. Norton Private Browser also leads on iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.0). Malwarebytes's advantage is ratings volume (109K vs 152) and rating (4.5 vs 4.2). On price, update cadence, ads 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. Norton Private Browser asks for nothing beyond the download.

Malwarebytes holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Malwarebytes has 109K ratings behind it against 152, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 48% of Malwarebytes's written reviews are positive against 38% of Norton Private Browser's.

Malwarebytes ships an update every 3 weeks, Norton Private Browser every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Malwarebytes | Norton Private Browser |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (109K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/malwarebytes-mobile-security/id1327105431/reviews)** | [4.2 (152 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/norton-private-browser/id6670603868/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **109K** | 152 |
| Positive reviews | **47.6% of reviews** | 38.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 5 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#38** | — |
| Size | 128 MB | 87 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Malwarebytes](https://appshunter.io/developer/610302098) | [Gen Digital Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/355033599) |

## 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


### Norton Private Browser

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/norton-private-browser/id6670603868)

Experience a secure and private browsing experience with built-in ad blocking and advanced protection against malicious websites and trackers. Encrypt your downloaded files and lock your browser for ultimate peace of mind.

**Highlights:** Built-in AdBlocker, Web Shield protection, Secure File Vault, Private Mode, Browser Lock, Privacy Cleaner

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Malwarebytes free?

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

### Is Norton Private Browser free?

Norton Private Browser is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Malwarebytes or Norton Private Browser?

Malwarebytes is rated higher. Malwarebytes averages 4.5 out of 5 from 109K ratings, while Norton Private Browser averages 4.2 from 152 ratings.

### Do Malwarebytes or Norton Private Browser have ads?

Neither Malwarebytes nor Norton Private Browser shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Malwarebytes or Norton Private Browser?

Malwarebytes ships an update every 3 weeks, and Norton Private Browser every 5 weeks. Most recently, Malwarebytes was updated on September 24, 2026 and Norton Private Browser on September 21, 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.*