Updated September 29, 2026 · ShieldCue Editorial Team
Avast SecureLine VPN vs Malwarebytes Browser Guard
What sets them apart
| Compare |  Avast SecureLine VPN |  Malwarebytes Browser Guard |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan limits | Free Antivirus free indefinitely; app may prompt reactivation of the free subscription after 12 months; includes Free Cleanup, Free BreachGuard and a 60-day SecureLine VPN trial (payment method required to activate the VPN trial). | Cleanup-only scanner for existing infections, no real-time protection; free download includes a 14-day Premium trial |
| Platforms | Windows, MacOS, Android, iOS, Android TV | Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari |
| Logging policy | States it does not sell users' personal data; security products send suspicious files to Avast Threat Labs for analysis and AntiTrack/BreachGuard block advertiser tracking. | No sale of personal data for monetary consideration; collects GeoIP, machine identifiers and usage/threat statistics, no browsing histories retained |
| Jurisdiction | CZ | US |
| Privacy tool type | Browser | Ad blocker |
| Price from | €3.33 | Not confirmed |
| Protocols | OpenVPN, IPsec | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Free plan (Yes).
We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings.
Key differences
- Malwarebytes Browser Guard scores higher overall: 9.5 vs 9.3.
- Platforms: only Avast SecureLine VPN offers MacOS, Android TV.
- Platforms: only Malwarebytes Browser Guard offers Mac, Chrome, Firefox.
- Support channels: only Avast SecureLine VPN offers Phone.
- Support channels: only Malwarebytes Browser Guard offers Email, Chat.
- Founded is lower at Avast SecureLine VPN: 1988 vs 2004.
- Pricing model: only Avast SecureLine VPN offers Budget.
- Privacy tool type: only Avast SecureLine VPN offers Browser.
- Privacy tool type: only Malwarebytes Browser Guard offers Ad blocker.
Our verdict on each
Avast SecureLine VPN
Avast SecureLine VPN suits readers who want one subscription covering a family of devices across a wide network while staying inside the Avast ecosystem, since the free security app already bundles the VPN. Entry pricing sits low at $4.99 a month, but renewal at $8.33 a month is where the real cost lands.
Malwarebytes Browser Guard
Malwarebytes Browser Guard suits readers who want ad blocking with a VPN added on, and a free way to start. A paid tier covers 1 to 20 devices and adds vpn, which makes it a household purchase rather than a single machine alone.
Score breakdown
| Area | Avast SecureLine VPN | Malwarebytes Browser Guard |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.5HigherMonthly price of $4.99 and long-term price of $3.99 both sit under the site medians of €7.89 and €3.97. | 9.1 |
| Offer | 9.1A free plan, a free version, 10 devices, 74 server countries and a VPN trial of 60 days inside the free security app. | 9.7Higher |
| Privacy | 9.5 | 9.9Higher |
Pick Avast SecureLine VPN if, pick Malwarebytes Browser Guard if
Pick Avast SecureLine VPN if cost matter most.
Pick Malwarebytes Browser Guard if offer and privacy matter most.
What we checked
Avast SecureLine VPN
- avast.com: 13 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Malwarebytes Browser Guard
- malwarebytes.com: 11 facts, checked September 26, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | Avast SecureLine VPN | Malwarebytes Browser Guard |
|---|---|---|
| Antivirus software | 17 of 92 | 13 of 92 |
| Privacy tools | 21 of 280 | 17 of 280 |
| Free antivirus | 13 of 62 | 9 of 62 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Avast SecureLine VPN | Malwarebytes Browser Guard |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Free, BudgetCovers more | Free |
| Legal entity | Avast Software s.r.o. | Malwarebytes Inc. |
| Headquarters | Czechia | United States |
| Founded | 1988Lower | 2004 |
| Support channels | Help centre, Phone, Community | Email, Chat, Help centre, Community |
Antivirus
| Fact | Avast SecureLine VPN | Malwarebytes Browser Guard |
|---|---|---|
| First-year price | $49.99 to $69.99 | Not confirmed |
| Renewal price | $8.33 | Not confirmed |
| Devices | 10 | 1 to 20Higher |
| Free version | Yes | Yes |
| Extras | VPN | VPN |
| Money-back period | 30 days | Not confirmed |
Identity protection
| Fact | Avast SecureLine VPN | Malwarebytes Browser Guard |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | $4.99 | Not confirmed |
| Free trial length | 60 days | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Avast SecureLine VPN | Malwarebytes Browser Guard | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price from | €3.33lowest quarter | Not confirmed | €7.50 |
Median across 50 listed providers.
Pros and cons
Avast SecureLine VPN
Pros
- Entry price is the draw: SecureLine VPN bills $4.99 a month, under the site median of €7.89, and the long-term plan drops to $3.99 a month.
- One subscription covers 10 devices across 74 server countries, against a site median of 7 devices.
- The free security app already bundles the VPN, per vpn, so a taste of the service sits inside a suite that also covers antivirus.
Cons
- Renewal is the sting: the long-term plan starts at $3.99 a month and renews at $8.33 a month.
- Free VPN use is limited to a trial of 60 days, and a payment method is required to activate it.
- Multi hop routing is the rarest of the extras in kill switch, split tunnelling and multi hop, at 13.2% against 33.1% for split tunnelling and 45% for the kill switch.
Malwarebytes Browser Guard
Pros
- A free plan and a free version exist, and the free download carries a trial of the paid tier.
- The free tools look for infections already present, with stopping new ones sitting in the paid tier.
- A paid tier adds vpn and covers 1 to 20, which suits a shared household.
Cons
- Browser privacy is not among its ad blocker, where ad blocking is the only entry.
- Support runs on email, chat and help centre only, with written help rather than a phone line.
- Extras beyond ad blocking are limited to vpn, and a VPN is the single addition.
Who each suits
Avast SecureLine VPN
Who it suits
- Households already paying Avast for antivirus, since the free security app bundles the VPN per vpn.
- People covering 10 devices who want one bill across desktop, mobile and TV, with 74 server countries to pick from.
- Streamers and travellers, because no logs, streaming and travel puts streaming and travel alongside no logs on the same plan.
Who should look elsewhere
- Readers chasing the smallest monthly figure: Apple Inc. lists $0.99 a month and Sinew Software Systems lists $1.99 a month.
- Larger households needing more device slots than 10, where ESET Brasil plans run 3 to 25 devices.
- Anyone wanting the VPN free for good, since the free plan covers antivirus and VPN use runs for 60 days.
Malwarebytes Browser Guard
Who it suits
- Readers who block ads and trackers as pages load rather than cleaning up afterwards.
- Households that want one paid tier covering 1 to 20 across desktop and mobile.
- People who want a free option first and a trial before committing to a paid plan.
Who should look elsewhere
- EasyOptOuts suits readers who want paid data removal rather than browser blocking.
- Apple Hide My Email covers email aliases through Sign in with Apple, a different job.
- Apple Inc. is for alias forwards and iCloud+ rather than ad and tracker blocking.
Current offers
Avast SecureLine VPN
Current offer
Free trial
SecureLine VPN 60-day free trial: 60 days free
Requires payment method; billed at the end of the trial unless cancelled first. Terms apply.
Source, checked September 26, 2026
First period offer
SecureLine VPN 1-year plan discount: Save 40%: $59.88 first year ($4.99/month) instead of $99.99/year
First year only; compared with renewal price $99.99/year.
Source, checked September 26, 2026
First period offer
SecureLine VPN 2 and 3-year plan discount: Save 51%: $95.76 for first 2 years ($3.99/month) or $143.64 for first 3 years ($3.99/month) instead of $194.99 / $294.99
First term only; compared with renewal price $99.99/year.
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Malwarebytes Browser Guard
Current offer
Free trial
14-day free trial of Malwarebytes Premium with free download: 14 days
Included with the free Malwarebytes download
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Discount code
Education, Military and Public Sector discount: Discounted subscription pricing
Verify student/faculty, military or government status via Proxi.ID; renews annually at the discount; not all offers available in all countries
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Discount code
Save 35% today on Boutique business plan: Save 35% today
Boutique business plan, protects 10 devices
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Questions about each
Avast SecureLine VPN
What does SecureLine VPN cost at the start and at renewal?+
The long-term plan is listed at $3.99 a month, and renewal on that subscription is $8.33 a month, so the opening term is the cheaper of the two. The monthly plan is $4.99 a month. Avast Premium Security, the bundle that includes the VPN, has a first-year price of $49.99 to $69.99.
Is there a free version of the VPN?+
The free version of the Avast security app includes the VPN, per vpn, but the VPN itself runs as a trial of 60 days and a payment method is required to activate it. The free plan covers antivirus, Free Cleanup and Free BreachGuard, so the VPN is a short taste inside a wider free package.
Malwarebytes Browser Guard
Is there a free plan to try?+
Yes, a free plan and a free version are both offered, and the free download carries a trial of the paid tier. The free tools are for infections already present on a machine, while stopping new ones sits with the paid tier, which adds vpn and covers 1 to 20.
What does the paid tier add over the free tools?+
The paid tier adds vpn to the ad blocking and extends coverage to 1 to 20. Since the free tools are for infections already present, the paid plan is the one that handles protection as a device is used day to day.
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