Updated September 28, 2026 · ShieldCue Editorial Team
Cloaked, Inc. vs Malwarebytes
Where Cloaked, Inc. and Malwarebytes differ
| Compare |  Cloaked, Inc. |  Malwarebytes |
|---|---|---|
| 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, Mac, Android, iOS, Chromebook |
| 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: 9.1 vs 8.6.
- Platforms: only Cloaked, Inc. offers Chrome extension, Desktop.
- Platforms: only Malwarebytes offers Windows, Mac, Chromebook.
- Support channels: only Cloaked, Inc. offers Email, 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 people who want malware cleanup, a VPN and data removal in a single account, plus a free tier that scans existing infections. Plans cover 1 to 20 devices on Windows, Mac and Android, and the add-ons run to US data removal and 1 to 3 credit bureaus.
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. | 9.3Higher |
| Offer | 8.8Higher | 8.7 |
| Privacy | 8.2 | 9.3Higher |
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | Cloaked, Inc. | Malwarebytes |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | United States | United States |
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | Cloaked, Inc. | Malwarebytes |
|---|---|---|
| VPNs | 55 of 232 | 39 of 232 |
| Identity theft protection | 36 of 117 | 24 of 117 |
| Privacy tools | 51 of 280 | 34 of 280 |
| Data removal services | 14 of 41 | 8 of 41 |
| Free VPNs | 46 of 189 | 34 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 | 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 | 1 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 |
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 single subscription covers protection plus a bundled VPN, listed as vpn, with ad blocking as ad blocker.
- Plans cover 1 to 20 devices on Windows, Mac and Android.
- A free plan is available, and the free download includes a 14 Premium trial.
Cons
- Support runs on help centre and community only.
- Data removal is a yearly add-on at $99.99 and covers brokers in the United States, while the identity family plan is $199.99.
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
- People who want cleanup first: the free tier handles existing infections and the paid plan adds live cover with a VPN.
- Households and small offices that need 1 to 20 devices protected across Windows, Mac and Android.
- Readers shopping US identity and removal plans, where the identity family plan sits at $199.99.
Who should look elsewhere
- Apple Inc. users, who already get built-in protection across iOS, iPadOS and macOS.
- Small offices wanting a free endpoint product that covers 50 devices.
- ESET Brasil buyers, whose plans reach 1 to 25 devices for larger fleets.
Current offers
Cloaked, Inc.
Current offer
Free trial
14 days free: 14 days free
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Malwarebytes
Current offer
First period offer
Save 35% today: 35% off
Shown on the Boutique business (10 devices) plan on the pricing page
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Free trial
14-day free trial of Malwarebytes Premium: 14 days
Included with the free version download; not all offers available in all countries
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Discount code
Education, military and public sector discount
Verify status via Proxi.ID then checkout; discount renews on future renewals; 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
How much does Malwarebytes cost, and what happens at renewal?+
Malwarebytes sells protection as separate add-ons, so the headline figure depends on what you include. Data removal comes at $99.99 yearly and the identity theft plan is a family plan at $199.99, while first-year figures for this group sit near the €49.95 median. Renewal pricing follows the plan you pick, so read the renewal line before buying.
What does the free plan actually include?+
Free plan limits cover existing infections only, so the free tier is a cleanup-only scanner rather than live protection. The free download also carries a 14 Premium trial, and a free version is available, which makes it easy to weigh the paid tier against a no-cost scan.