Updated September 29, 2026 · ShieldCue Editorial Team
Malwarebytes vs NordVPN
Malwarebytes vs NordVPN: the differences
| Compare |  Malwarebytes |  NordVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Devices | 3 to 20Higher | 10 |
| Server countries | 62 | 150Higher |
| No-logs audit | X41 D-Sec, 2026 | Independent no-logs verification, first in 2018 and verified four more times since; auditor not named on the page |
| Money-back period | 60 daysHigher | 30 days |
| Protocols | WireGuard | OpenVPN, NordLynx, NordWhisper |
| Features | Kill switch | Kill switch, Split tunnelling, Multi hop, ObfuscationCovers more |
| Platforms | Windows, MacOS, Android, iOS | Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Android TV, TvOSCovers more |
| Monthly price | Not confirmed | €14.99 |
| Long-term plan price | Not confirmed | €3.49 |
| Renewal price | Not confirmed | €139.08 |
| Jurisdiction | US | Not confirmed |
| Owner | Not confirmed | Nord Security |
| Longest plan (months) | Not confirmed | 27 months |
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
- NordVPN scores higher overall: 9.1 vs 9.0.
- Devices is higher at Malwarebytes: 3 to 20 vs 10.
- Server countries is higher at NordVPN: 150 vs 62.
- Protocols: only Malwarebytes offers WireGuard.
- Protocols: only NordVPN offers OpenVPN, NordLynx, NordWhisper.
- Features: only NordVPN offers Split tunnelling, Multi hop, Obfuscation.
- Platforms: only NordVPN offers Linux, Chrome, Firefox.
- Support channels: only Malwarebytes offers Community.
- Support channels: only NordVPN offers Chat.
- Money-back period is higher at Malwarebytes: 60 days vs 30 days.
Our verdict on each
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.
NordVPN
NordVPN suits people who want broad server reach and a no-logs policy under independent audit, and who can commit to a long plan. The catch is entry price: €14.99 a month on the monthly plan, with €139.08 due at renewal.
Score breakdown
| Area | Malwarebytes | NordVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Not confirmed | 8.7Monthly plan runs at €14.99 and the longest plan at €3.49 a month, with €139.08 billed on renewal. |
| Offer | 8.6Premium plans bundle the VPN, with a free plan, a 14 trial and 60 days to change your mind. | 9.6HigherCovers 150 server countries, 10 devices and features including kill switch, split tunnelling and multi hop. |
| Privacy | 9.7Higher | 9.0 |
Feature by feature
| Features | Malwarebytes | NordVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Kill switch | Yes | Yes |
| Split tunnelling | No | Yes |
| Multi hop | No | Yes |
| Obfuscation | No | Yes |
Sources behind this comparison
Malwarebytes
- malwarebytes.com: 15 facts, checked September 26, 2026
NordVPN
- nordvpn.com: 17 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- nordlocker.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | Malwarebytes | NordVPN |
|---|---|---|
| VPNs | 44 of 232 | 1 of 232 |
| Identity theft protection | 28 of 117 | 1 of 117 |
| Privacy tools | 40 of 280 | 1 of 280 |
| Ad blockers and private DNS | 19 of 63 | 1 of 63 |
| Data removal services | 10 of 41 | 1 of 41 |
| Free VPNs | 37 of 189 | 1 of 189 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Malwarebytes | NordVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Features | No logs, Streaming, Travel | No logs, Streaming, Travel |
| Audience | Business | Not confirmed |
| Pricing model | Free | Free |
| Legal entity | Malwarebytes Inc. | Nord Security |
| Headquarters | United States | Lithuania |
| Founded | 2004Lower | 2012 |
| Support channels | Email, Help centre, Community | Email, Chat, Help centre |
Privacy tools
| Fact | Malwarebytes | NordVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Not confirmed | €14.99 |
| Free plan | YesHas it | No |
| Free plan limits | Cleanup-only scanner for existing infections, no real-time protection; free download includes a 14-day Premium trial | Not confirmed |
| Logging policy | No sale of personal data for monetary consideration; collects GeoIP, machine identifiers and usage/threat statistics, no browsing histories retained | No logs: VPN servers keep no logs, with independent no-log audits |
| Privacy tool type | Ad blocker | Ad blocker |
Antivirus
| Fact | Malwarebytes | NordVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Free version | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Extras | VPN | Not confirmed |
Identity protection
| Fact | Malwarebytes | NordVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Credit bureaus monitored | 1 to 3Higher | 1 |
| Insurance amount | $1,000,000 to $2,000,000 | $2,000,000 |
| Family plan price | $199.99 | Not confirmed |
| Free trial length | 14 days | Not confirmed |
Data removal
| Fact | Malwarebytes | NordVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Yearly price | $99.99 | Not confirmed |
| Data brokers covered | from 100 | Not confirmed |
| Countries covered | United States | Not confirmed |
| Removal frequency | Ongoing continuous monitoring and removal | Not confirmed |
Password managers
| Fact | Malwarebytes | NordVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Security audit | Not confirmed | Regular independent third-party security audits; ISO/IEC 27001 and SOC 2 |
| Zero-knowledge encryption | Not confirmed | Yes |
Encrypted storage
| Fact | Malwarebytes | NordVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Free storage | Not confirmed | 3 |
| Price per TB per year | Not confirmed | €77.88 |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Malwarebytes | NordVPN | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | Not confirmed | €14.99highest quarter | €7.99 |
| Long-term plan price | Not confirmed | €3.49below the median | €3.99 |
| Devices | 3 to 20highest quarter | 10at the median | 10 |
| Server countries | 62at the median | 150highest quarter | 62 |
| Renewal price | Not confirmed | €139.08highest quarter | €69.99 |
| Money-back period | 60 dayshighest quarter | 30 daysat the median | 30 days |
Median across 132 listed providers.
Pros and cons
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.
NordVPN
Pros
- Covers 150 server countries, the highest count in the ranking, with 10 devices per account
- Features include kill switch, split tunnelling and multi hop alongside the stated no logs, streaming and travel use cases
- Protocol choice covers OpenVPN, NordLynx and NordWhisper
Cons
- Entry price is high: €14.99 a month on the monthly plan puts it near the bottom of the monthly price ranking
- There is no free plan, so the free version comparison starts with nothing to test
- Renewal is charged at €139.08, a jump from the €3.49 monthly rate on the introductory long plan
Who each suits
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
NordVPN
Who it suits
- People who need coverage across 150 server countries rather than a handful of nearby ones
- Households or small teams that need 10 connected devices on one subscription
- Subscribers comfortable committing to a long plan, since €3.49 is only reached on the longest term
Who should look elsewhere
- People wanting a free tier, since there is no free plan to start on
- Anyone who needs to pay month to month on a small budget, as €14.99 a month is the priciest end of the monthly ranking
- Readers who need phone support, since the listed channels are email, chat and help centre
Current offers
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
NordVPN
Current offer
Discount code
75% off + 3 months extra: 75% off
Intro offer on the 2-year plan (first 27 months), VAT may apply, savings versus renewal price
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Bonus
+ 3 EXTRA months on 2-year plans: 3 extra months
Offer terms apply, additional terms apply to Ultra plan, VAT may apply
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Free trial
Free trial for new users on Android: 3 days free
New users, Android app via Google Play; not available in India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and South Korea
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Malwarebytes | NordVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Afghanistan | No | Yes |
| Aland Islands | No | Yes |
| Albania | No | Yes |
| Algeria | No | Yes |
| American Samoa | No | Yes |
| Andorra | No | Yes |
| Angola | No | Yes |
| Anguilla | No | Yes |
8 of 250 countries where either is available.
Questions about each
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.
NordVPN
How much does NordVPN cost to start with?+
The monthly plan is priced at €14.99. Committing to the longest term, 27 months, brings the monthly figure down to €3.49. That lower rate is introductory, and the 30 money back window still applies if the subscription is not a fit.
What do I pay when the plan renews?+
Renewal is charged at €139.08 for the long term, against the €3.49 monthly rate that applies at the start. Budget for the renewal figure rather than the headline monthly number, since the per month rate is the part that is promotional. The two prices together tell the full cost of staying.
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