McAfee is one of the grand old names in cybersecurity dating back to 1987. Although it was born in the days before PC-based distributed computing, it has steadily modernized its tools for cloud-based ecosystems. Malwarebytes has only been around since 2008. In that time, it gained a reputation for producing reliable security tools born in the cloud. Both antivirus tools are popular, though they tend to operate in slightly different markets.
- Malwarebytes: Best for knowledgeable users and small businesses that prefer control over antivirus and malware removal.
- McAfee: Best for individuals and small to mid-sized businesses that prioritize a suite of set-and-forget security services that includes AV in one subscription.
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Malwarebytes vs McAfee: Comparison table
| Feature | ||
|---|---|---|
| Our rating (out of 5) | ||
| Starting price | $49.99 for 2 devices per year. | $49.99 per year for unlimited devices (for one person). |
| Support | Self-help knowledge base, live chat, and email, but limited in phone support. | Basic support includes a knowledge base and community forum. Higher levels of support include live agent help. |
| What does the basic offering for individuals include? | AV and malware removal with bundled add-ons for VPN and identity theft protection. | AV plus VPN and ID protection. |
| Is AV available as part of an Integrated Business Suite? | The small business package includes protection against malware, spyware, ransomware, and brute-force attacks. | Larger packages include scam protection, firewall, VPN, password manager, and data clean-up. |
| Performance Impact | Minimal. | At times, there can be delays due to the application’s consumption of resources. |
Malwarebytes vs McAfee: Pricing
In the McAfee vs. Malwarebytes debate, it’s important to note the different pricing tiers catering to user needs. There are so many diverse pricing plans for individuals and businesses that it is important to determine: the number of devices that need to be covered; whether the additional features included are worth the money; if it is wise to pay more for certain add-on services; or if the best bet may be to opt for a complete security suite.
SEE: Cybersecurity: Benefits and Best Practices (TechRepublic Premium)
Malwarebytes Pricing
Malwarebytes offers the following plans (all numbers are first year only):
- Standard: $34.99 per year for one device (add $5 or so for each additional device).
- Plus: $44.99 per year for one device (add $5 or so for each additional device).
- Ultimate: $119.99 per year for three devices (add about $20 or so for each additional device) year.
- Family: $99.98 per year for up to 10 devices.
- Ultimate Family: $232.49 per year for up to 10 devices.
- Small Office: $519.99 for 20 devices.
McAfee pricing
I found McAfee pricing to be more complex than Malwarebytes. But there are deals for basic AV, AV plus other tools, and complete suites. There are many subscription options with subtle differences between them for both single and multiple device protection. Pay attention to the features included with each and use the company’s plan comparison tool to achieve the best deal.
Here are the primary pricing options for AV:
- Basic: $29.99 per year for one device.
- Essential: $39.99 per year for up to 5 devices.
- Premium: $49.99 per year for unlimited devices.
- Advanced: $89.99 per year unlimited.
These are first year prices, which may increase when renewal is due.
Both companies offer promotional pricing throughout the year. Thus, the values cited here may be higher or lower from month to month based on the latest offers. However, I found McAfee to be cheaper overall. Users are advised to download free trials for each and determine whether Malwarebytes malware removal tools offer sufficient value to warrant the extra cost. Further, many McAfee packages throw in a VPN, a firewall, anti-spam and a password manager, which can add up to considerable savings, especially for small businesses.
Malwarebytes vs McAfee: Feature comparison
Let’s compare the standout features of each antivirus solution.
Support
Malwarebytes primarily offers self-support via an extensive knowledge base and a chatbot. Emails will be answered within about 24 hours. Phone support is limited.
McAfee has a more extensive range of support options. As well as an online knowledge base (not as good as Malwarebytes), it has live chat, phone support, and a community forum. Email responses are rapid – a few hours in many cases. I would recommend McAfee support overall, though the knowledge base of Malwarebytes is hard to beat.
Performance impact
All applications use system resources, but some consume them more than others. In this department, Malwarebytes wins. I noticed minimal performance impact when it operates. Not so with McAfee. There was a definite slow-down when it was running, though not enough to prevent other applications from working. For those users with the latest devices and higher-end systems, this might not be much of an issue. But for individuals or small businesses with aging hardware, Malwarebytes looks to be the better choice.
Basic AV package
There are so many varying offerings from these two vendors (especially McAfee) that I decided to look at the basic AV tools from them to see what is included at no additional charge.
Malwarebytes offers a neat package that includes AV, malware protection and removal, and basic ransomware tools. This can be summed up as AV and spyware signature-based protection along with some good detection tools to locate malware on systems and remove it.
McAfee AV includes scam/ID protection, malware protection, a VPN, and personal data clean-up at no additional charge. I get the impression, though, that McAfee doesn’t really want to sell basic AV. It incentivizes users to opt for a larger suite.
Suite
Anyone looking for a comprehensive security suite should choose McAfee. It offers several packages that include AV plus scam protection, firewall, VPN, password manager, data clean-up, web protection, a social privacy manager, a protection score, and more.
The Malwarebytes small business package supplies protection against malware, spyware, ransomware, and brute-force attacks, but little else. You have to pay more for a VPN, a browser guard, an adware cleaner, and a personal data remover. There is no firewall or password manager add-on, so users must find a third-party supplier.
Malwarebytes pros and cons
Pros
- Real-time protection.
- Easy to use.
- Low system impact when running.
- Rapid scanning.
- Good detection and removal of malware.
Cons
- Lacks a comprehensive suite offering.
- VPN is available only as an add-on at an extra fee.
- No password manager or firewall
McAfee pros and cons
Pros
- Many plans offer unlimited devices.
- Less expensive than Malwarebytes.
- A large variety of subscription options.
- Plans come with password manager, firewall, and VPN.
- Full security suite options are available.
Cons
- Resource-intensive.
- Reputation for having intrusive ads when the subscription runs out and for being difficult to completely remove.
Malwarebytes vs McAfee on Reddit
The antivirus Reddit community is split on McAfee. Some users say it is a good basic AV while others say it tends to “spam you with popups” and can be a “resource hog” for machines. One person said it was “adware” and hard to uninstall. The Reddit consensus on Malwarebytes is that it is good for removal of malware but could be better at prevention.
Should your business use Malwarebytes or McAfee?
Both Malwarebytes and McAfee offer a range of cybersecurity tools. Malwarebytes is more narrowly focused on malware detection and removal. McAfee offers a broader suite of tools. It is all down to user needs whether you choose one or the other.
Choose Malwarebytes if:
- You are a knowledgeable individual who prefers control over AV options, settings, and malware/virus removal.
- Your computers and devices are aging and have limited system resources.
- If you or your business is plagued by malware and requires a simple removal tool.
Choose McAfee if:
- You have a great many devices that you want covered by one license.
- You also need a VPN, a firewall, anti-spam and a password manager in one package at an affordable price.
Methodology
To compare Malwarebytes and McAfee AV, I reviewed company websites, customer reviews, online forums, and peer reviews. I also visited Reddit and scrolled through a great many user comments of each to form a consensus based on the opinions of power users.
