Malwarebytes review

Pros and cons

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

Core features

Malwarebytes VPN is the privacy side of a wider security subscription. The plan covers 3 to 20 at once, which is more than the site median of 7, so a single subscription can cover a phone, a laptop and a few household screens without a second plan. The feature set is deliberately short. A kill switch appears as the only listed extra, and kill switch names it, so nothing beyond core protection is promised. The service is marketed for streaming and for travel, and both of those show up among the listed features alongside the no-logs claim. A free version is offered, and free means budget readers are part of the target too. A 14 trial gives a longer look, while 60 days of cover back the decision. Premium bundles the VPN as vpn, so it is the add-on version rather than a standalone product.

Where it runs

The VPN runs on the full set of main platforms: Windows, macOS and Android. That means a single subscription covers a Windows laptop, a Mac, and both phone platforms, which suits readers who switch between a work machine and a personal phone. Device counts are the other side of the equation, and 3 to 20 is generous by the standards of the category. For context, the site median sits at 8, so Malwarebytes clears the typical plan. The app footprint matters mainly for one reason: nothing has to be given up for a platform you already own. If you already hold the security suite, the VPN arrives through vpn rather than as a separate download.

Audits, logging and jurisdiction

Malwarebytes Inc. is the legal entity, and the service sits under US, so US rules and US courts set the terms. The no-logs claim is the one that matters most to privacy-minded readers, and it has been checked independently: X41 D-Sec, 2026 carried out the audit. That is the difference that separates Malwarebytes from a tunnel with no outside verification of its logging promise. The logging policy is fairly clear about scope. No personal data is sold for monetary consideration, and while the service does collect GeoIP data, machine identifiers and usage and threat statistics, browsing histories are not retained. Data is gathered for operating and threat detection rather than for profiling, which is a narrower footprint than several services in this category. No licence or regulator is listed for the VPN itself.

The company behind it

The company behind the VPN is Malwarebytes Inc., a long-established security vendor rather than a VPN-only startup. It was founded in 2004 and is headquartered in the United States, so the same organisation supplies the antivirus, the privacy tools and the tunnel. That consolidation is the main argument for the subscription: vpn means the VPN rides along with the security plan you may already hold. Support is available through email, help centre and community, which covers email, a help centre and community forums. It is a documentation-led setup rather than a live-chat one, so expect written answers and self-service. The wider Malwarebytes range also extends to identity protection and data removal, which is useful if you want one vendor across several privacy jobs.

How Malwarebytes compares

• 

  NordVPN

  Malwarebytes vs NordVPN9.0 vs 9.1
• 

  NordVPN Threat Protection

  9.0 vs 8.8
• 

  WEBROOT master

  9.0 vs 8.5
• 

  Kaspersky

  9.0 vs 9.5
• 

  Kaspersky Latam

  9.0 vs 9.4
• 

  Kaspersky

  9.0 vs 9.1
• 

  NordPass

  9.0 vs 9.2
• 

  ESET Brasil

  ESET Brasil covers 3 to 25, a higher ceiling than 3 to 20, so it suits larger households.

  9.0 vs 9.4
• 

  ESET

  9.0 vs 9.2
• 

  360 Total Security (Qihoo 360)

• 

  SpyHunter

  9.0 vs 8.8
• 

  Proton

  9.0 vs 9.3
• 

  Proton Mail

  9.0 vs 9.0
• 

  Proton Pass

  9.0 vs 9.0
• 

  AdGuard

  9.0 vs 9.4

Frequently asked questions

Sources

• malwarebytes.com checked September 26, 2026

  Backs: Founded, Support channels

  “Marcin founded Malwarebytes in 2004”

• malwarebytes.com/blog/product/2026/04/vpnsoftwareaudit checked September 26, 2026

  Backs: No-logs audit

  “Malwarebytes thanks the penetration testing firm X41 D-Sec for conducting its audit”

• malwarebytes.com/company checked September 26, 2026

  Backs: Headquarters

  “Based in Santa Clara, California, Malwarebytes has offices and (remote) employees all over the United States and the world.”

• malwarebytes.com/free-tools checked September 26, 2026

  Backs: Free plan

  “we still provide many free options to get you started on your security journey”

• malwarebytes.com/identity-theft-protection checked September 26, 2026

  Backs: Credit bureaus monitored, Family plan price, Insurance amount

  “Instant online access to your credit reports and scores from Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion (single-bureau or 3-bureau available depending on plan)”

• malwarebytes.com/legal/privacy-policy checked September 26, 2026

  Backs: Logging policy

  “We do not sell your personal data to third parties in exchange for monetary consideration.”

• malwarebytes.com/personal-data-remover checked September 26, 2026

  Backs: Data brokers covered, Countries covered, Yearly price, Removal frequency

  “Deep scans across 100+ data brokers' databases”

• malwarebytes.com/premium checked September 26, 2026

  Backs: Extras, Free plan limits, Privacy tool type

  “Privacy VPN Protect your connection across desktop and mobile.”

• malwarebytes.com/pricing checked September 26, 2026

  Backs: Audience, Money-back period

  “Sole proprietor ... Boutique business ... Small office”

• malwarebytes.com/pricing/special-offers checked September 26, 2026

  Backs: Free trial length, Free version, Pricing model

  “Your download includes a 14-day free trial of Malwarebytes Premium.”

• malwarebytes.com/tos checked September 26, 2026

  Backs: Jurisdiction, Legal entity

  “The laws of California, U.S.A., excluding California's conflict of laws rules, will apply to any disputes arising out of or relating to these Terms.”

• malwarebytes.com/vpn checked September 26, 2026

  Backs: Devices, Features, Features, Platforms, Protocols

  “Protect 3 devices for ... Cover up to 20 devices depending on your plan.”

• malwarebytes.com/vpn/servers checked September 26, 2026

  Backs: Server countries

  “We have 153 dedicated and owned diskless servers in 62 locations.”