Updated September 28, 2026 · ShieldCue Editorial Team
Aura vs Malwarebytes
What sets them apart
| Compare |  Aura |  Malwarebytes |
|---|---|---|
| Devices | 10 | 1 to 20Higher |
| Server countries | 100Higher | 62 |
| Features | Kill switch, Split tunnellingCovers more | Kill switch |
| Platforms | Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android | Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Chromebook |
| Monthly price | $15 | Not confirmed |
| Long-term plan price | $12 | Not confirmed |
| No-logs audit | Not confirmed | X41 D-Sec, 2026 |
| Protocols | Not confirmed | WireGuard |
| Streaming services | Netflix, YouTube | Not confirmed |
| Longest plan (months) | 12 months | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Money-back period (60 days), Jurisdiction (US).
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Key differences
- Malwarebytes scores higher overall: 9.1 vs 8.8.
- Devices is higher at Malwarebytes: 1 to 20 vs 10.
- Server countries is higher at Aura: 100 vs 62.
- Features: only Aura offers Split tunnelling.
- Platforms: only Aura offers MacOS.
- Platforms: only Malwarebytes offers Mac, Chromebook.
- Support channels: only Aura offers Email, Phone.
- Support channels: only Malwarebytes offers Community.
- Founded is lower at Malwarebytes: 2004 vs 2017.
- Features: only Malwarebytes offers No logs, Travel.
Our verdict on each
Aura
Aura suits households and small businesses who want identity protection and a VPN in one subscription rather than a single-purpose VPN. It scores 4.9 overall, with 8.2 for the offer, while the monthly price of $15 sits well above the €7.89 typical on this site.
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 | Aura | Malwarebytes |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.3Monthly price of $15 and long-term price of $12 both sit far above the site medians of €7.89 and €3.97. | 9.3Higher |
| Offer | 9.1HigherOne subscription spans VPN, 3 credit bureaus, from 425 brokers, an ad blocker, 10 devices and 100 server countries. | 8.7 |
| Privacy | 9.2 | 9.3Higher |
Choosing between them
Pick Aura if offer, server countries, and features matter most.
Pick Malwarebytes if devices matter most.
How the counts compare
| Fact | Aura | Malwarebytes |
|---|---|---|
| Devices | 10 | 1 to 20 |
| Server countries | 100 | 62 |
| Money-back period | 60 days | 60 days |
Availability and regulation
| Country | Aura | Malwarebytes |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | United States | United States |
How they place
| Ranking | Aura | Malwarebytes |
|---|---|---|
| VPNs | 51 of 232 | 39 of 232 |
| Identity theft protection | 34 of 117 | 24 of 117 |
| Privacy tools | 47 of 280 | 34 of 280 |
| Ad blockers and private DNS | 21 of 63 | 17 of 63 |
| Data removal services | 12 of 41 | 8 of 41 |
| Free VPNs | 43 of 189 | 34 of 189 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Aura | Malwarebytes |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Streaming | No logs, Streaming, TravelCovers more |
| Audience | Business | Business |
| Pricing model | Budget | Free |
| Legal entity | Aura Sub, LLC | Malwarebytes Inc. |
| Headquarters | United States | United States |
| Founded | 2017 | 2004Lower |
| Support channels | Email, Phone, Help centre | Help centre, Community |
Privacy tools
| Fact | Aura | Malwarebytes |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $15 | Not confirmed |
| Free plan | No | YesHas it |
| Free plan limits | 14-day free trial, once per customer; no free tier | Cleanup-only scanner for existing infections, no real-time protection; free download includes a 14-day Premium trial |
| Logging policy | No VPN activity logging; personal data not sold to third parties | No sale of personal data for monetary consideration; collects GeoIP, machine identifiers and usage/threat statistics, no browsing histories retained |
| Open source | No | Not confirmed |
| Privacy tool type | Ad blocker | Ad blocker |
Password managers
| Fact | Aura | Malwarebytes |
|---|---|---|
| Family plan | 5 adults, unlimited kids and unlimited devices | Not confirmed |
| Security audit | ISO 27001 certified and SOC 2 Type II third-party audited | Not confirmed |
| Encryption | 256-AES | Not confirmed |
Identity protection
| Fact | Aura | Malwarebytes |
|---|---|---|
| Credit bureaus monitored | 3 | 1 to 3 |
| Insurance amount | $1,000,000 to $5,000,000Higher | $1,000,000 to $2,000,000 |
| Family plan price | $32Lower | $199.99 |
| Free trial length | 14 days | 14 days |
Parental controls
| Fact | Aura | Malwarebytes |
|---|---|---|
| Yearly price | $120 to $384 | $99.99Lower |
Data removal
| Fact | Aura | Malwarebytes |
|---|---|---|
| Data brokers covered | from 425 | from 100 |
| Countries covered | Not confirmed | United States |
| Removal frequency | Not confirmed | Ongoing continuous monitoring and removal |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Aura | Malwarebytes | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | $15highest quarter | Not confirmed | $9 |
| Long-term plan price | $12highest quarter | Not confirmed | $4.50 |
| Devices | 10at the median | 1 to 20highest quarter | 10 |
| Server countries | 100highest quarter | 62at the median | 62 |
| Money-back period | 60 dayshighest quarter | 60 dayshighest quarter | 30 days |
| Longest plan (months) | 12 monthsat the median | Not confirmed | 12 months |
Median across 139 listed providers.
Pros and cons
Aura
Pros
- One subscription covers the VPN, credit monitoring, data broker removal and an ad blocker, priced from $15.
- Annual plan drops to $12, against a site long-term median of €3.97.
- Server reach of 100 countries ranks 7 of 62, above the 48.5 site median.
Cons
- The monthly price of $15 is well above the €7.89 site median and ranks 121 of 133.
- The long-term plan price of $12 ranks 102 of 112, so the saving is smaller than at most rivals.
- Free plan is no, and 14-day free trial, once per customer; no free tier means the only way to test it costs nothing for a limited window.
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
Aura
Who it suits
- Households that want identity monitoring and a VPN from one provider, priced from $15.
- Small businesses, since business is the stated audience.
- People who value no VPN activity logging and a ISO 27001 certified and SOC 2 Type II third-party audited over the cheapest monthly fee.
Who should look elsewhere
- Apple Inc. users, whose iCloud Private Relay runs at $0.99 with no identity monitoring attached.
- Anyone set on a free tier, since free plan is no.
- Sinew Software Systems users, who want a password manager at $1.99 instead of a VPN.
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
Aura
Current offer
Free trial
14-day free trial on all Aura plans: 14 days free
Free trial offer can only be redeemed once per customer; full access to plan features depends on identity verification and credit eligibility
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 | Aura | Malwarebytes |
|---|---|---|
| Canada | Yes | No |
| United States | Yes | No |
Questions about each
Aura
How much does Aura cost at the start and at renewal?+
The single VPN plan lists $15 a month, while the long-term plan price is $12 for 12 months. Yearly billing for the wider bundle runs $120 to $384. Buyers who commit to the long-term plan pay a lower rate per month than the entry monthly price suggests.
Is there a free plan or free trial?+
Free plan is no, so there is no permanent free tier. 14-day free trial, once per customer; no free tier means a 14 day trial is offered once per customer. Anyone unwilling to pay after the trial window has nothing to fall back on.
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.