Updated September 29, 2026 · ShieldCue Editorial Team
Malwarebytes Browser Guard vs PIA
Where Malwarebytes Browser Guard and PIA differ
| Compare |  Malwarebytes Browser Guard |  PIA |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | YesHas it | No |
| Platforms | Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari | Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Chrome, Firefox, Opera, Smart TV, Gaming |
| Logging policy | No sale of personal data for monetary consideration; collects GeoIP, machine identifiers and usage/threat statistics, no browsing histories retained | No-logs: never tracks, stores, records or sells browsing data; RAM-only servers, no-logs policy audited by Deloitte |
| Privacy tool type | Ad blocker | Ad blocker, BrowserCovers more |
| Price from | Not confirmed | $11.95 |
| Free plan limits | Cleanup-only scanner for existing infections, no real-time protection; free download includes a 14-day Premium trial | Not confirmed |
| Protocols | Not confirmed | WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPSec |
| Open source | Not confirmed | Yes |
Same on both: Jurisdiction (US).
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Key differences
- Malwarebytes Browser Guard scores higher overall: 9.5 vs 9.2.
- Free plan: only Malwarebytes Browser Guard.
- Platforms: only Malwarebytes Browser Guard offers Mac, Edge, Safari.
- Platforms: only PIA offers MacOS, Linux, Opera.
- Support channels: only Malwarebytes Browser Guard offers Community.
- Founded is lower at Malwarebytes Browser Guard: 2004 vs 2010.
- Pricing model: only Malwarebytes Browser Guard offers Free.
- Pricing model: only PIA offers Budget.
- Privacy tool type: only PIA offers Browser.
Our verdict on each
Malwarebytes Browser Guard
Malwarebytes Browser Guard suits readers who want ad blocking with a VPN added on, and a free way to start. A paid tier covers 1 to 20 devices and adds vpn, which makes it a household purchase rather than a single machine alone.
PIA
PIA suits readers who want an audited no-logs policy, open source apps and a long plan, with the long-term plan running 39 months at $2.03 a month. The trade-off is entry pricing at $11.95 a month for the single term and a renewal figure of $47.88.
Score breakdown
| Area | Malwarebytes Browser Guard | PIA |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.1 | 9.2HigherCost lands mid-table: PIA's monthly plan is $11.95 against the €7.89 figure, while the long-term plan holds at $2.03. |
| Offer | 9.7Higher | 9.3The plan bundles kill switch and multi hop and 91 server countries in one subscription, plus a 30 day money back window. |
| Privacy | 9.9Higher | 9.1 |
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | Malwarebytes Browser Guard | PIA |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | United States | United States |
Choosing between them
Pick Malwarebytes Browser Guard if offer, privacy, and free plan matter most.
Pick PIA if privacy tool type matter most.
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | Malwarebytes Browser Guard | PIA |
|---|---|---|
| Privacy tools | 17 of 280 | 28 of 280 |
| Ad blockers and private DNS | 9 of 63 | 15 of 63 |
What we checked
Malwarebytes Browser Guard
- malwarebytes.com: 11 facts, checked September 26, 2026
PIA
- privateinternetaccess.com: 12 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- en.wikipedia.org: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Malwarebytes Browser Guard | PIA |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Free | Budget |
| Legal entity | Malwarebytes Inc. | PIA Private Internet Access, Inc. |
| Headquarters | United States | United States |
| Founded | 2004Lower | 2010 |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Help centre, CommunityCovers more | Email, Chat, Help centre |
Antivirus
| Fact | Malwarebytes Browser Guard | PIA |
|---|---|---|
| Renewal price | Not confirmed | $47.88 |
| Devices | 1 to 20 | Not confirmed |
| Free version | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Extras | VPN | Not confirmed |
| Money-back period | Not confirmed | 30 days |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Malwarebytes Browser Guard | PIA | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price from | Not confirmed | $11.95above the median | $8 |
Median across 82 listed providers.
Pros and cons
Malwarebytes Browser Guard
Pros
- A free plan and a free version exist, and the free download carries a trial of the paid tier.
- The free tools look for infections already present, with stopping new ones sitting in the paid tier.
- A paid tier adds vpn and covers 1 to 20, which suits a shared household.
Cons
- Browser privacy is not among its ad blocker, where ad blocking is the only entry.
- Support runs on email, chat and help centre only, with written help rather than a phone line.
- Extras beyond ad blocking are limited to vpn, and a VPN is the single addition.
PIA
Pros
- The logging policy is no-logs, with browsing data never tracked, stored, recorded or sold, and Deloitte has audited it.
- The apps are open source, which suits readers who read the client code before trusting it.
- A network of 91 server countries, above the 46.5 figure for VPN brands.
Cons
- There is no free plan, so the 30 day money back window is the only route in before you commit.
- PIA's monthly plan at $11.95 sits above the €7.89 monthly figure across the site.
- Support runs on email, chat and help centre only, with no phone number in that list.
Who each suits
Malwarebytes Browser Guard
Who it suits
- Readers who block ads and trackers as pages load rather than cleaning up afterwards.
- Households that want one paid tier covering 1 to 20 across desktop and mobile.
- People who want a free option first and a trial before committing to a paid plan.
Who should look elsewhere
- EasyOptOuts suits readers who want paid data removal rather than browser blocking.
- Apple Hide My Email covers email aliases through Sign in with Apple, a different job.
- Apple Inc. is for alias forwards and iCloud+ rather than ad and tracker blocking.
PIA
Who it suits
- Readers who want an audited no-logs policy and open source apps in a single subscription.
- Long-term buyers, since the long-term plan runs 39 months at $2.03 with a 30 day money back window.
- People who need one account across Windows, macOS and Linux and a wide spread of exit locations.
Who should look elsewhere
- Readers who want to browse options before paying anything, since PIA has no free plan and Apple Inc. at $0.99 suits lighter privacy budgets.
- Readers who want a different kind of protection: ESET Brasil spans 40 to 70, a different footprint from PIA's 91.
- Readers on a strict budget for one subscription, since Sinew Software Systems lists $1.99 against PIA's monthly plan at $11.95.
Current offers
Malwarebytes Browser Guard
Current offer
Free trial
14-day free trial of Malwarebytes Premium with free download: 14 days
Included with the free Malwarebytes download
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Discount code
Education, Military and Public Sector discount: Discounted subscription pricing
Verify student/faculty, military or government status via Proxi.ID; renews annually at the discount; not all offers available in all countries
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Discount code
Save 35% today on Boutique business plan: Save 35% today
Boutique business plan, protects 10 devices
Source, checked September 26, 2026
PIA
Current offer
Discount code
83% off on 3 Years + 3 Months EXTRA plan: 83% off, $2.03/mo (autorenews at $79 every 3 years)
amounts shown in USD, discount calculated against current monthly service pricing of $11.95/mo
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Free trial
30-day money-back guarantee: 30 days
new subscribers only; subscriptions bought via third-party app stores such as the Apple App Store are subject to those stores' terms
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Questions about each
Malwarebytes Browser Guard
Is there a free plan to try?+
Yes, a free plan and a free version are both offered, and the free download carries a trial of the paid tier. The free tools are for infections already present on a machine, while stopping new ones sits with the paid tier, which adds vpn and covers 1 to 20.
What does the paid tier add over the free tools?+
The paid tier adds vpn to the ad blocking and extends coverage to 1 to 20. Since the free tools are for infections already present, the paid plan is the one that handles protection as a device is used day to day.
PIA
How much does PIA cost a month?+
The monthly plan is priced at $11.95. The long-term plan drops to $2.03 a month when bought for 39 months, which is where most of the saving sits. Renewal is quoted separately at $47.88, so budget for a second figure as well as the monthly rate.
What does PIA cost at renewal?+
Renewal is listed at $47.88, set apart from the $2.03 monthly rate that opens the long-term plan. The two figures are not interchangeable, so a buyer who budgets on the headline rate alone is not prepared for the second term. Read the renewal line before committing to a long subscription.
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