Comparison

Avira Mobile Security vs Malwarebytes

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Avira Mobile Security

Enhance your iPhone's privacy and security with a VPN for anonymous browsing, identity protection against email leaks, and web protection against malicious sites. It also includes call blocking and contact backup features.

Highlights
  • Free VPN for anonymous browsing
  • Identity Safeguard for email leak detection
  • Web Protection against phishing and malware
  • Call Blocker for unwanted calls
  • Contacts Backup and Restore
  • Device Analyzer for storage and memory
Features
Read full description

Why iPhones deserve Avira? We’re a multi-award-winning German security company with +30 years of experience and a global vision: To keep people connected and secure in our digital world. Avira loves iPhones. Your phone is state-of-the-art—give it privacy and security to match: • Care about your Privacy? Keep your data safe and your online activity anonymous with our Free VPN • Email leaked? Find out fast with Identity Safeguard • Browsing online? Web Protection checks the safety of sites first Avira Mobile Security protects your phone: • VPN: Secure your connection with a simple push of a button for complete privacy as you surf. When you use our VPN, all your data goes through a secure connection—so it can’t be intercepted or stolen. Plus, we use military-grade encryption to keep your data extra safe. The auto-secure function detects if your WiFi network is untrusted, and we promise our servers don’t save your log files. • Web Protection: Like online shopping and banking? Do you store your credit card details online? This categorizes and blocks phishing, malware, spam, and fraud so you can browse freely and safely. • Identity Safeguard: Find out if your email addresses have been hacked. Schedule the frequency (once a day/week/month), and we’ll automatically scan your email, and those of your contacts, to check whether they were leaked online in a security breach. • Call Blocker: Create your own blacklist and block spam and other unwanted calls and texts. • Contacts Backup: Easily back up and restore contacts straight from your phone and send them to your email, Dropbox, or Google Drive. Avira Mobile Security lets nothing stand in the way of your iPhone’s awesomeness: • Device Analyzer: View your iPhone’s use of storage and memory to see where you can make gains. * VPN service is not available for use within India as a result of governmental regulations requiring the logging and saving of user data, but you can still use your VPN service when traveling outside of India. Avira Mobile Security keeps everything you do between you and your iPhone: Privacy Policy available at https://www.avira.com/en/general-privacy Terms and Conditions available at https://www.avira.com/en/legal-terms

About

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.

Highlights
  • Ad Blocking for Safari
  • Text Message Filtering
  • Digital Footprint Scanner
  • Identity Protection
  • Secure VPN
  • Web Protection
  • Call Protection
Features
Read full description

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

Screenshots

Avira Mobile Security4 screens
Malwarebytes4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Avira Mobile Security at 67% against Malwarebytes's 48%. Avira Mobile Security also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 18.0). Malwarebytes's advantage is ratings volume (111K vs 4.6K) and rating (4.5 vs 4.3). 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Avira Mobile Security sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and Malwarebytes sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $2.49 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Malwarebytes holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Malwarebytes has 111K ratings behind it against 4.6K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 67% of Avira Mobile Security's written reviews are positive against 48% of Malwarebytes's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Avira Mobile Security ships an update monthly, Malwarebytes every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on October 13, 2026.

Scorecard5 real differences · 6 level
Avira Mobile Security versus Malwarebytes: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAvira Mobile SecurityMalwarebytes
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.3 (4.6K ratings)4.5 (111K ratings) — better
Positive reviews67.0% of reviews — better47.7% of reviews
Number of ratings4.6K111K — better
Update frequencyMonthlyEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank—#38 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS13.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size83 MB133 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAvira HoldingMalwarebytes

Customer experience

Avira Mobile Security

All ratings4,649 ratings
Positive81.3%
Neutral5.8%
Negative12.9%
Written reviews1,723 reviews
Positive67.0%
Neutral9.0%
Negative24.0%

Malwarebytes

All ratings111,069 ratings
Positive88.4%
Neutral4.3%
Negative7.4%
Written reviews2,912 reviews
Positive47.7%
Neutral9.2%
Negative43.0%

User reviews

Avira Mobile Security

From 4.6K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🔒 Great security and organizing photos, reducing risks
  • 👍 Easy to use, straightforward and efficient
  • 🚀 Fast and accurate scanning
  • 🔒 Stopped a Trojan virus
  • 👍 Useful tools like photo deduplication

Room to improve

  • 🤑 Many features require paid subscription
  • 🐛 VPN frequently disconnects or doesn't work as expected
  • 🤔 Confusing interface, difficult to navigate
  • 🤖 Aggressive upselling and ads for paid features
  • 🤕 Caused issues with WiFi and internet connectivity

Malwarebytes

From 111K App Store ratings

What we love

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

Room to improve

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

Bugs and requests

Avira Mobile Security

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Login/account issues, unable to restore purchases
  • Inconsistent VPN behavior, frequently turning off
  • Scanning issues, getting stuck at certain percentages
  • Compatibility problems with newer iOS versions
  • Unexplained charges and subscription issues

Requested features

5 requests
  • Dark mode option
  • Improved VPN functionality and reliability
  • Better customer support and communication channels
  • Ability to selectively delete duplicate photos
  • More transparency on free vs paid features

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

In-app purchases

10 purchases

Avira Mobile Security

Subscriptions10
  • Identity & Web Protection$1.991 Month
  • Ultimate Security - Pro + VPN$3.491 Month
  • Identity & Web Protection$5.491 Year
Show 7 more
  • Pro: Identity & Web Protection7 Days trial$5.491 Year
  • Identity & Web Protection2 variants$14.991 Year
  • Ultimate Security - Pro + VPN$22.991 Year
  • Prime Mobile Trial$22.991 Year
  • Pro+Unlimited VPN+Spam Caller$29.991 Year
  • Pro+Unlimited VPN+Spam Caller$34.991 Year
  • Pro+Unlimited VPN+Spam Caller$39.991 Year
6 purchases

Malwarebytes

Subscriptions6
  • Standard7 Days trial$2.491 Month
  • Standard7 Days trial$19.991 Year
  • Plus7 Days trial$44.991 Year
Show 3 more
  • Standard (3 devices)7 Days trial$59.991 Year
  • Plus (3 devices)7 Days trial$79.991 Year
  • Advanced1 Year trial$139.991 Year

Questions

Is Avira Mobile Security free?
Avira Mobile Security is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Malwarebytes free?
Malwarebytes is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Avira Mobile Security or Malwarebytes?
Malwarebytes is rated higher. Avira Mobile Security averages 4.3 out of 5 from 4.6K ratings, while Malwarebytes averages 4.5 from 111K ratings.
Do Avira Mobile Security or Malwarebytes have ads?
Neither Avira Mobile Security nor Malwarebytes shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Avira Mobile Security or Malwarebytes?
Avira Mobile Security ships an update monthly, and Malwarebytes every 2 weeks. Most recently, Avira Mobile Security was updated on October 13, 2026 and Malwarebytes on October 13, 2026.

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