Updated September 29, 2026 · ShieldCue Editorial Team
Malwarebytes vs Surfshark
Malwarebytes vs Surfshark: the differences
| Compare |  Malwarebytes |  Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Server countries | 62 | 100Higher |
| No-logs audit | X41 D-Sec, 2026 | Deloitte 2025 |
| Money-back period | 60 daysHigher | 30 days |
| Jurisdiction | US | NL |
| Protocols | WireGuard | WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2, DausosCovers more |
| Features | Kill switch | Kill switch, Split tunnelling, Multi hopCovers more |
| Platforms | Windows, MacOS, Android, iOS | Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Android TV, Apple TV, Fire TV, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, RoutersCovers more |
| Monthly price | Not confirmed | €2.49 |
| Long-term plan price | Not confirmed | €2.49 |
| Devices | 3 to 20 | 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
- Surfshark scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 9.0.
- Server countries is higher at Surfshark: 100 vs 62.
- Protocols: only Surfshark offers OpenVPN, IKEv2, Dausos.
- Features: only Surfshark offers Split tunnelling, Multi hop.
- Platforms: only Surfshark offers Linux, Android TV, Apple TV.
- Support channels: only Malwarebytes offers Community.
- Support channels: only Surfshark offers Chat.
- Money-back period is higher at Malwarebytes: 60 days vs 30 days.
- Founded is lower at Malwarebytes: 2004 vs 2018.
- Features: only Malwarebytes offers Travel.
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.
Surfshark
Surfshark suits households and small teams that want a wide network at a modest rate, and it reaches further than most rivals at this price. Its long-term plan price is €2.49, under the site median for long-term plans, €3.97, and every purchase carries a 30 money-back window.
Score breakdown
| Area | Malwarebytes | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Not confirmed | 9.6Surfshark's long-term plan price of €2.49 undercuts the site median €3.97, while the monthly plan at €2.49 keeps entry low. |
| Offer | 8.6Premium plans bundle the VPN, with a free plan, a 14 trial and 60 days to change your mind. | 9.5HigherThe plan bundles private dns, ad blocker and search with a 7 trial and a 30 money-back window. |
| Privacy | 9.7Higher | 8.7 |
Availability and regulation
| Country | Malwarebytes | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | United States | Netherlands |
Feature by feature
| Features | Malwarebytes | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Kill switch | Yes | Yes |
| Split tunnelling | No | Yes |
| Multi hop | No | Yes |
How the counts compare
| Fact | Malwarebytes | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Server countries | 62 | 100 |
| Money-back period | 60 days | 30 days |
What we checked
Malwarebytes
- malwarebytes.com: 15 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Surfshark
- surfshark.com: 16 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- en.wikipedia.org: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | Malwarebytes | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| VPNs | 44 of 232 | 12 of 232 |
| Identity theft protection | 28 of 117 | 7 of 117 |
| Privacy tools | 40 of 280 | 7 of 280 |
| Ad blockers and private DNS | 19 of 63 | 6 of 63 |
| Data removal services | 10 of 41 | 2 of 41 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Malwarebytes | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Features | No logs, Streaming, TravelCovers more | No logs, Streaming |
| Audience | Business | Business |
| Pricing model | Free | Budget |
| Legal entity | Malwarebytes Inc. | Surfshark B.V. |
| Headquarters | United States | Netherlands |
| Founded | 2004Lower | 2018 |
| Support channels | Email, Help centre, Community | Email, Chat, Help centre |
Privacy tools
| Fact | Malwarebytes | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 7-day free trial, 3 devices |
| Logging policy | No sale of personal data for monetary consideration; collects GeoIP, machine identifiers and usage/threat statistics, no browsing histories retained | No-logs policy, independently verified by Deloitte in 2023 and 2025; RAM-only server network |
| Privacy tool type | Ad blocker | Private dns, Ad blocker, SearchCovers more |
Antivirus
| Fact | Malwarebytes | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Free version | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Extras | VPN | Not confirmed |
Identity protection
| Fact | Malwarebytes | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Credit bureaus monitored | 1 to 3 | Not confirmed |
| Insurance amount | $1,000,000 to $2,000,000Higher | $1,000,000 |
| Family plan price | $199.99 | Not confirmed |
| Free trial length | 14 daysHigher | 7 days |
Data removal
| Fact | Malwarebytes | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Yearly price | $99.99 | €121.23 |
| Data brokers covered | from 100 | Not confirmed |
| Countries covered | United States | United States, United Kingdom, Canada, SwitzerlandCovers more |
| Removal frequency | Ongoing continuous monitoring and removal | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Malwarebytes | Surfshark | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | Not confirmed | €2.49lowest quarter | €7.99 |
| Long-term plan price | Not confirmed | €2.49lowest quarter | €3.99 |
| Devices | 3 to 20highest quarter | Not confirmed | 10 |
| Server countries | 62at the median | 100highest quarter | 62 |
| Money-back period | 60 dayshighest quarter | 30 daysat the median | 30 days |
| Longest plan (months) | Not confirmed | 27 monthshighest quarter | 12 months |
Median across 139 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.
Surfshark
Pros
- Servers in 100 countries, ranking 7 on coverage among 62 brands compared.
- The no-logs policy is independently verified by Deloitte, with the current audit listed as Deloitte 2025.
- A single subscription covers Windows, macOS and Linux.
Cons
- There is no free plan, so the 7-day free trial, 3 devices is the only way to try Surfshark before paying.
- Support runs on email, chat and help centre only, with no phone line for urgent problems.
- Price-first readers have cheaper options: MEGA lists $1.67 and Sinew Software Systems lists $1.99 for a long-term 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
Surfshark
Who it suits
- Households covering several device types, with apps across Windows, macOS and Linux.
- Small teams priced for business, with 100 server countries and privacy extras of private dns, ad blocker and search in one subscription.
- Readers who put audit evidence first, since the no-logs policy is verified by Deloitte and the current audit is Deloitte 2025.
Who should look elsewhere
- Readers chasing the lowest long-term rate, where MEGA at $1.67 and Sinew Software Systems at $1.99 sit lower.
- Buyers looking for antivirus rather than a network, where ESET Brasil is the comparison to read, with 40 to 70 server countries in its coverage.
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
Surfshark
Current offer
Bonus
+3 EXTRA months, Save 85% on Surfshark Starter: Starter EUR 2.49/mo., sale price EUR 67.23 for the first 27 months (old price EUR 444.15)
24-month plans, VAT may apply, 30-day money-back guarantee
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Free trial
7-day free trial: 7 days free on 3 devices
Available on all 12-month and 24-month plans; payment by credit card, Apple Pay or PayPal
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Malwarebytes | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
Surfshark
What does Surfshark cost month to month and on a long commitment?+
Surfshark's monthly plan is listed at €2.49 and the yearly plan at €121.23. The longest plan runs 27 months, which brings the monthly rate to €2.49, below the site median for long-term plans, €3.97. A 30 money-back window sits behind the longer commitments.
Is there a free plan, or only a trial?+
The free plan is no, so nothing runs indefinitely at no cost. What is offered is a 7 trial, and the stated free plan limits read 7-day free trial, 3 devices. After that trial ends, the 30 money-back window is the route to a full refund if the service does not fit your setup.
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