Comparison

McAfee vs Malwarebytes

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

Head to head
About

McAfee

This app offers comprehensive protection against online threats, including scam detection for texts and emails, VPN for secure browsing, and identity monitoring. It helps safeguard your personal information and devices from various cyber risks.

Highlights
  • Scam Detector for texts and emails
  • Secure VPN for public Wi-Fi
  • Identity monitoring and alerts
  • Transaction and credit monitoring
  • Safe browsing with malicious site blocking
  • Personal data cleanup from brokers
Features
Read full description

Introducing McAfee Scam Detector — Know which texts and emails are real or fake. All-in-one protection to help you stay a step ahead of scammers and online threats. Includes scam detection, personal info removal from risky sites, identity monitoring, VPN, award-winning protection for all your devices, and more. McAfee Security protects smartphones, tablets, Macs, and PCs with robust privacy features, bank-grade VPN encryption, and breach monitoring for safe browsing. Stay protected and private with McAfee, the most trusted name in online and mobile security. MCAFEE SECURITY FEATURES: SCAM DETECTOR ▪ Text scam protection filters risky messages and lets you block harmful sites if clicked ▪ Identify risky emails before opening them with explanations to help you avoid future scams with email scam protection SECURE VPN* ▪ Keep personal data and locations private with bank-grade Wi-Fi VPN encryption ▪ Defend your mobile devices against unsecured public Wi-Fi hotspots ▪ Connect to different countries and change your location & IP address IDENTITY MONITORING* ▪ Scan and monitor online personal data for security breaches ▪ Receive alerts and secure your info quickly with our protection tips ▪ Monitor up to 10 email addresses, ID numbers, passport numbers, bank cards TRANSACTION & CREDIT MONITORING ▪ Protect yourself from financial fraud and stay on top of all your financial transactions ▪ Monitor your credit to keep track of changes to your credit score and catch unauthorized activity SMART SCAN ▪ Scan your device and your personal information for issues. Get guidance to fix issues quickly and easily. SAFE BROWSING ▪ Block malicious websites automatically so you can browse safely ▪ Safe browsing alerts protect you from phishing and leaking personal info SOCIAL PRIVACY MANAGER ▪ Protects your personal information and reduces the amount of data collected on all your social accounts WI-FI & SYSTEM SCAN ▪ Receive alerts when connecting to an unsecured Wi-Fi network or hotspot ▪ Wi-Fi scan analyzes networks for security and ensures a safer online connection PERSONAL DATA CLEANUP ▪ Find out if your personal data has been collected by data brokers and remove it from sites ONLINE ACCOUNT CLEANUP ▪ Enhances online security by scanning your email, evaluating account risks, and facilitating data deletion, reducing data exposure risk -- PLANS AND SUBSCRIPTIONS McAfee Security - Free ▪ Single device protection ▪ Wi-Fi Scan ▪ Identity Scan ▪ System Scan McAfee Basic Protection ▪ Single device protection ▪ Secure VPN* ▪ Basic Identity Monitoring* ▪ Wi-Fi Scan ▪ Safe Browsing ▪ System Scan ▪ Text Scam Detector McAfee+ Advanced: ▪ Unlimited device protection ▪ Secure VPN* ▪ Identity Monitoring* ▪ Wi-Fi Scan ▪ Safe Browsing ▪ Social Privacy Manager ▪ System Scan ▪ Scam Detector ▪ Online Account Cleanup ▪ Personal Data Cleanup ▪ Transaction Monitoring ▪ Credit Monitoring ▪ ID Restoration ▪ Security Freeze ▪ 24/7 online security experts *Not all features are available for all devices, locations or subscriptions not listed in the description. See System Requirements for additional information. Privacy Policy: You can view our privacy policy and terms at https://www.mcafee.com/consumer/en-us/policy/global/legal.html To provide you with the best possible experience, McAfee Security requires iOS 16 and above. You are encouraged to update your device to the latest version to receive timely security updates, maximum protection, and enhanced performance. COPYRIGHT & TRADEMARK McAfee and the McAfee logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of McAfee LLC or its subsidiaries in the United States and other countries. Copyright © 2026 McAfee LLC

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

McAfee4 screens
Malwarebytes4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: McAfee at 4.7 against Malwarebytes's 4.5. On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and update cadence 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. McAfee sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 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

McAfee holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 238K and 109K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 52% of McAfee's written reviews are positive against 48% of Malwarebytes's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on September 24, 2026.

Scorecard1 real difference · 10 level
McAfee versus Malwarebytes: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMcAfeeMalwarebytes
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (238K ratings) — better4.5 (109K ratings)
Positive reviews51.6% of reviews — better47.6% of reviews
Number of ratings238K — better109K
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 3 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemiumFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#14 — better#35
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size406 MB128 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMcAfee, LLC.Malwarebytes

Customer experience

McAfee

All ratings238,168 ratings
Positive94.3%
Neutral3.0%
Negative2.7%
Written reviews2,493 reviews
Positive51.6%
Neutral8.4%
Negative40.0%

Malwarebytes

All ratings109,165 ratings
Positive88.4%
Neutral4.2%
Negative7.4%
Written reviews2,825 reviews
Positive47.6%
Neutral9.2%
Negative43.2%

User reviews

McAfee

From 238K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Great protection
  • 🔒 Secure VPN
  • 👍 Easy to use
  • 💡 Useful features like media vault

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
  • 🔋 Drains battery
  • 🔒 Issues with VPN connectivity
  • 💰 Expensive subscription

Malwarebytes

From 109K 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

McAfee

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • App keeps logging users out
  • VPN not working as expected
  • Compatibility issues with iOS updates

Requested features

3 requests
  • More customization options
  • Improved scanning and detection capabilities
  • Better integration with other devices

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

McAfee

Subscriptions10
  • Monthly Basic Subscription$2.991 Month
  • Monthly Standard Subscription7 Days trial$2.991 Month
  • Monthly Plus Subscription7 Days trial$9.991 Month
Show 7 more
  • Monthly Advanced Subscription1 Month trial$9.991 Month
  • Total Protection Monthly1 Month trial$9.991 Month
  • McAfee+ Advanced Monthly1 Month trial2 variants$19.991 Month
  • Yearly Standard Subscription7 Days trial$29.991 Year
  • Yearly Plus Subscription7 Days trial$79.991 Year
  • Total Protection Yearly1 Year trial$99.991 Year
  • McAfee+ Advanced Yearly1 Year trial$199.991 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 McAfee free?
McAfee 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, McAfee or Malwarebytes?
McAfee is rated higher. McAfee averages 4.7 out of 5 from 238K ratings, while Malwarebytes averages 4.5 from 109K ratings.
Do McAfee or Malwarebytes have ads?
Neither McAfee nor Malwarebytes shows ads.
Which is updated more often, McAfee or Malwarebytes?
McAfee ships an update every 3 weeks, and Malwarebytes every 3 weeks. Most recently, McAfee was updated on September 24, 2026 and Malwarebytes on September 24, 2026.
Which is more popular, McAfee or Malwarebytes?
McAfee currently peaks at #14 in the App Store charts, and Malwarebytes at #35. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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