Updated September 29, 2026 · ShieldCue Editorial Team
Cloaked, Inc. vs Malwarebytes
What sets them apart
| Compare | ||
|---|---|---|
| Free plan limits | Free one-time data exposure scan | Cleanup-only scanner for existing infections, no real-time protection; free download includes a 14-day Premium trial |
| Platforms | iOS, Android, Chrome extension, Desktop | Windows, MacOS, Android, iOS |
| Logging policy | End-to-end encrypted with zero-knowledge architecture; no browsing history collected for Cloaked VPN; no advertising cookies; data never sold | No sale of personal data for monetary consideration; collects GeoIP, machine identifiers and usage/threat statistics, no browsing histories retained |
| Price from | $14.99 | Not confirmed |
| Privacy tool type | Not confirmed | Ad blocker |
Same on both: Free plan (Yes), Protocols (WireGuard), Jurisdiction (US).
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 scores higher overall: 9.0 vs 8.6.
- Platforms: only Cloaked, Inc. offers Chrome extension, Desktop.
- Platforms: only Malwarebytes offers Windows, MacOS.
- Support channels: only Cloaked, Inc. offers Chat, Phone.
- Support channels: only Malwarebytes offers Community.
- Founded is lower at Malwarebytes: 2004 vs 2020.
- Pricing model: only Cloaked, Inc. offers Budget.
Our verdict on each
Cloaked, Inc.
Cloaked bundles a VPN, data broker removal and identity theft protection in a single subscription aimed at households and small teams in the US and Canada. Device cover of 1 to 4 suits people with a small household, and a 14 day trial lets the bundle be tried before a longer commitment.
Malwarebytes
Malwarebytes suits readers who want a VPN inside a wider security bundle rather than a standalone tunnel. Its 62 server countries and 3 to 20 covered devices read well, though a free version with limits and email-led support may not close the deal.
Score breakdown
| Area | Cloaked, Inc. | Malwarebytes |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.6Entry price of $14.99 covers the VPN, removal and identity protection, higher than the €6.84 median entry price here. | Not confirmed |
| Offer | 8.8Higher | 8.6Premium plans bundle the VPN, with a free plan, a 14 trial and 60 days to change your mind. |
| Privacy | 8.2 | 9.7Higher |
Licences and countries
| Country | Cloaked, Inc. | Malwarebytes |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | United States | United States |
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | Cloaked, Inc. | Malwarebytes |
|---|---|---|
| VPNs | 55 of 232 | 44 of 232 |
| Identity theft protection | 36 of 117 | 28 of 117 |
| Privacy tools | 51 of 280 | 40 of 280 |
| Data removal services | 14 of 41 | 10 of 41 |
| Free VPNs | 46 of 189 | 37 of 189 |
What we checked
Cloaked, Inc.
- cloaked.com: 12 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Malwarebytes
- malwarebytes.com: 12 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Cloaked, Inc. | Malwarebytes |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Free, BudgetCovers more | Free |
| Legal entity | Cloaked, Inc. | Malwarebytes Inc. |
| Headquarters | United States | United States |
| Founded | 2020 | 2004Lower |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centre | Email, Help centre, Community |
VPN
| Fact | Cloaked, Inc. | Malwarebytes |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | $14.99 | Not confirmed |
| Long-term plan price | $9.99 | Not confirmed |
| Devices | 1 to 4 | 3 to 20Higher |
| Server countries | from 70 | 62 |
| No-logs audit | Cloaked VPN infrastructure independently audited by third-party security firms | X41 D-Sec, 2026 |
| Features | No logs | No logs, Streaming, TravelCovers more |
| Audience | Business | Business |
| Money-back period | Not confirmed | 60 days |
| Features | TOTP | Kill switch |
| Owner | Cloaked, Inc. | Not confirmed |
| Longest plan (months) | 12 months | Not confirmed |
Password managers
| Fact | Cloaked, Inc. | Malwarebytes |
|---|---|---|
| Family plan | Family: you + 3, $29.99/month or $299.99/year | Not confirmed |
| Security audit | SOC 2 Type 2, ISO 27001, ISO 27701, PCI DSS v4.0.1 | Not confirmed |
| Encryption | End-to-end encrypted, zero-knowledge architecture | Not confirmed |
Secure email
| Fact | Cloaked, Inc. | Malwarebytes |
|---|---|---|
| End-to-end encryption | All messages, emails and texts are encrypted inside Cloaked; zero-knowledge architecture with a separate encrypted database per user | Not confirmed |
Data removal
| Fact | Cloaked, Inc. | Malwarebytes |
|---|---|---|
| Yearly price | $119.99 | $99.99Lower |
| Data brokers covered | from 1,000 | from 100 |
| Countries covered | United States, CanadaCovers more | United States |
| Removal frequency | Always-on continuous monitoring and re-removal in the background | Ongoing continuous monitoring and removal |
Identity protection
| Fact | Cloaked, Inc. | Malwarebytes |
|---|---|---|
| Credit bureaus monitored | Not confirmed | 1 to 3 |
| Insurance amount | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 to $2,000,000Higher |
| Family plan price | $29.99Lower | $199.99 |
| Free trial length | 14 days | 14 days |
Antivirus
| Fact | Cloaked, Inc. | Malwarebytes |
|---|---|---|
| Free version | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Extras | Not confirmed | VPN |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Cloaked, Inc. | Malwarebytes | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price from | $14.99highest quarter | Not confirmed | $8 |
Median across 82 listed providers.
Pros and cons
Cloaked, Inc.
Pros
- Data removal reaches from 1,000 brokers, with monitoring always on and background re-removal.
- Identity theft cover pays $1,000,000, above the €876,962.20 median here.
- The VPN lists no logs, runs on WireGuard and has been independently audited by third-party security firms.
Cons
- Device cover stops at 1 to 4, below the 7 median across the tools compared here.
- Removal and identity protection are stated for US and CA only, so coverage stays in North America.
- The free plan gives Free one-time data exposure scan, so nothing ongoing is covered without paying.
Malwarebytes
Pros
- A free version is offered and free is listed as a pricing model, so you can size the service up before paying.
- The VPN ships with Premium as vpn, so it costs less to add on than to buy a separate tunnel.
- Server reach of 62 countries sits above the site median of 46.5.
Cons
- WireGuard is the only protocol listed, which leaves you with WireGuard if your network blocks it.
- Support runs on email, help centre and community only, with email and a help centre rather than live chat.
- A kill switch is the only extra feature listed, so kill switch covers the basics.
Who each suits
Cloaked, Inc.
Who it suits
- People in the US and Canada who want removal, a VPN and identity cover on one bill.
- Smaller households and families, given device cover of 1 to 4 and a family plan on the price list.
- Teams buying privacy tooling for a small staff, since Cloaked is built for the business segment.
Who should look elsewhere
- Apple Hide My Email, at $0.99, if inbox aliases are the whole aim and a full bundle is more than you need.
- EasyOptOuts, at $19.99, if data broker removal is the only job in hand.
- Apple Inc., at $0.99, for alias protection handled inside iCloud rather than a bundle.
Malwarebytes
Who it suits
- Readers who want a single security subscription and can add the VPN to it
- People who travel often and value server reach over protocol choice
- Households with several devices that need covering at once
Who should look elsewhere
- Readers who need live chat support during setup
- Anyone whose network blocks WireGuard, the only listed protocol
- Readers who want the free tier to handle real-time protection
Current offers
Cloaked, Inc.
Current offer
Free trial
14 days free: 14 days free
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Malwarebytes
Current offer
Free trial
14-day free trial of Malwarebytes Premium with free download: 14 days
Included with the free version download; antivirus product, not the VPN; not all offers available in all countries
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Free trial
Try free Privacy VPN
Free trial link on the Privacy VPN page pointing to the Malwarebytes store
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Discount code
Save 35% today on Boutique business plan: 35%
not all offers available in all countries
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Discount code
Education, military, public sector and first responder discount
Status verified through Proxi.ID; discount renews annually at the discounted rate; not all offers available in all countries
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Cloaked, Inc. | Malwarebytes |
|---|---|---|
| Canada | Yes | No |
| United States | Yes | No |
Questions about each
Cloaked, Inc.
What does a Cloaked subscription cost?+
Cloaked starts at $14.99 a month, with an annual option at $119.99. A long-term plan is $9.99, and the family plan begins at $29.99 a month. One fee covers the VPN, data removal and identity theft protection rather than a separate subscription for each.
Is the price the same when I renew?+
The published annual price is $119.99 for a term of 12 months, and 12 months is the longest term listed. Monthly billing is $14.99, so the annual figure is lower than paying the monthly rate over the same period.
Malwarebytes
Does Malwarebytes offer a free VPN?+
A free version is offered, and free lists free among the pricing models. The free download also carries a 14 Premium trial, so you can size up the paid features before deciding. The free tier itself is narrower than a paid plan, so treat it as a taste rather than a replacement.
How long is the money-back period?+
Malwarebytes gives 60 days to change your mind, which is a long window for a privacy subscription. That sits alongside the 14 trial included with the free download. Together they leave room to test the service before deciding.