Updated September 29, 2026 · ShieldCue Editorial Team
Malwarebytes vs Optery
Where Malwarebytes and Optery differ
| Compare |  Malwarebytes |  Optery |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan limits | Cleanup-only scanner for existing infections, no real-time protection; free download includes a 14-day Premium trial | Free quarterly exposure reporting and self-service opt-out tools only; no automated removals |
| Platforms | Windows, MacOS, Android, iOS | Web, iOS, Android, Browser extension |
| Logging policy | No sale of personal data for monetary consideration; collects GeoIP, machine identifiers and usage/threat statistics, no browsing histories retained | Collects profile/contact, device/IP, web analytics, social and geolocation data; uses Google Analytics and retargeting/advertising cookies; data kept while account is active and deleted on account deletion; does not sell or rent personal data for monetary consideration |
| Price from | Not confirmed | $39.99 |
| Protocols | WireGuard | Not confirmed |
| Open source | Not confirmed | No |
| Privacy tool type | Ad blocker | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Free plan (Yes), 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
- Optery scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 9.0.
- Platforms: only Malwarebytes offers Windows, MacOS.
- Platforms: only Optery offers Web, Browser extension.
- Support channels: only Malwarebytes offers Community.
- Founded is lower at Malwarebytes: 2004 vs 2020.
- Pricing model: only Optery offers Budget.
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.
Optery
Optery suits readers who want scanning and removals run for them each month instead of working through opt-out forms by hand. Coverage reaches 950 data brokers across US, CA and AU, the figure that sets it apart from cheaper self-service tools.
Score breakdown
| Area | Malwarebytes | Optery |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Not confirmed | 9.8Monthly rate $39.99 sits above the data removal median of €10.52, though yearly price ranks 2 of 23. |
| Offer | 8.6Premium plans bundle the VPN, with a free plan, a 14 trial and 60 days to change your mind. | 9.4HigherFree plan gives quarterly exposure reporting and self-service opt-out tools only; paid plans add Monthly automated scanning and removals over 950 brokers. |
| Privacy | 9.7Higher | 8.5 |
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | Malwarebytes | Optery |
|---|---|---|
| Identity theft protection | 28 of 117 | 12 of 117 |
| Privacy tools | 40 of 280 | 19 of 280 |
| Data removal services | 10 of 41 | 4 of 41 |
Sources behind this comparison
Malwarebytes
- malwarebytes.com: 12 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Optery
- optery.com: 12 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Malwarebytes | Optery |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Free | Free, BudgetCovers more |
| Legal entity | Malwarebytes Inc. | OPTERY, INC. |
| Headquarters | United States | United States |
| Founded | 2004Lower | 2020 |
| Support channels | Email, Help centre, CommunityCovers more | Email, Help centre |
Antivirus
| Fact | Malwarebytes | Optery |
|---|---|---|
| Devices | 3 to 20 | Not confirmed |
| Free version | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Extras | VPN | Not confirmed |
| Money-back period | 60 days | Not confirmed |
Identity protection
| Fact | Malwarebytes | Optery |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | Not confirmed | $39.99 |
| Credit bureaus monitored | 1 to 3 | 635Higher |
| Insurance amount | $1,000,000 to $2,000,000 | Not confirmed |
| Family plan price | $199.99 | Not confirmed |
| Free trial length | 14 days | Not confirmed |
Data removal
| Fact | Malwarebytes | Optery |
|---|---|---|
| Yearly price | $99.99 | $39 to $249Lower |
| Data brokers covered | from 100 | 950 |
| Countries covered | United States | United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South AfricaCovers more |
| Removal frequency | Ongoing continuous monitoring and removal | Monthly automated scanning and removals |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Malwarebytes | Optery | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price from | Not confirmed | $39.99highest quarter | $8 |
Median across 82 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.
Optery
Pros
- Paid plans come with Monthly automated scanning and removals, which is the whole reason to pay rather than filing opt-out forms by hand.
- Coverage spans 950 data brokers across US, CA and AU, a list close to DeleteMe's 969.
- Annual billing runs $39 to $249, starting below the data removal yearly median of €104.36.
Cons
- Monthly billing of $39.99 runs well above the data removal median of €10.52, so the short commitment is the expensive way in.
- Free plan limits stop at quarterly exposure reporting and self-service opt-out tools, so the scanning and removals arrive with the paid plans (Monthly automated scanning and removals).
- Support runs on email and help centre only, so there is no live chat or phone line for a removal that gets stuck.
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
Optery
Who it suits
- Readers who want Monthly automated scanning and removals handled for them and would rather not track opt-out forms themselves.
- People in the United States, CA and AU who want a free look at their exposure before paying anything.
- Readers who want broker removals and credit bureau monitoring together, since 635 bureaus are covered.
Who should look elsewhere
- EasyOptOuts, for readers who cap the yearly bill at $19.99.
- Surfshark, whose yearly price of €121.23 is in euro against Optery's $39 to $249 in dollars, if a single currency's figure settles your budget.
- DeleteMe, if the length of the removal list decides it: 969 sites against 950.
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
Optery
Current offer
Discount code
Optery's 2026 Fall Sale: 20% off
Use promo code FALL2026 at checkout
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Malwarebytes | Optery |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | No | Yes |
| Canada | No | Yes |
| New Zealand | No | Yes |
| South Africa | No | Yes |
| United States | No | Yes |
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.
Optery
What does Optery cost, and is annual billing cheaper than monthly?+
Entry pricing starts at $39.99, and the monthly rate is $39.99. Annual billing runs $39 to $249 across the paid plans, so the lower end of that yearly range is much lighter than paying month to month. Read the monthly figure as the cost of trying the service and the yearly range as the commitment, with several tiers in between.
Is there a free plan, and what is left out of it?+
Yes. The free plan covers quarterly exposure reporting and self-service opt-out tools, and it stops there: automated removals sit with the paid plans. That makes it a way to see which brokers hold your details and to handle the opt-outs yourself. Paid plans begin at $39.99 if you want the service to submit and resubmit them.