Updated September 29, 2026 · ShieldCue Editorial Team
Malwarebytes vs NordVPN
Malwarebytes vs NordVPN: the differences
| Compare |  Malwarebytes |  NordVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Devices | 1 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, Mac, Android, iOS, Chromebook | Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Android TV, TvOS |
| 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
- Devices is higher at Malwarebytes: 1 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 Malwarebytes offers Mac, Chromebook.
- Platforms: only NordVPN offers MacOS, Linux, Chrome.
- Support channels: only Malwarebytes offers Community.
- Support channels: only NordVPN offers Email, Chat.
- Money-back period is higher at Malwarebytes: 60 days vs 30 days.
Our verdict on each
Malwarebytes
Malwarebytes suits people who want malware cleanup, a VPN and data removal in a single account, plus a free tier that scans existing infections. Plans cover 1 to 20 devices on Windows, Mac and Android, and the add-ons run to US data removal and 1 to 3 credit bureaus.
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 | 9.3Higher | 8.7Monthly plan runs at €14.99 and the longest plan at €3.49 a month, with €139.08 billed on renewal. |
| Offer | 8.7 | 9.6HigherCovers 150 server countries, 10 devices and features including kill switch, split tunnelling and multi hop. |
| Privacy | 9.3Higher | 9.0 |
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | Malwarebytes | NordVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | United States | Lithuania |
Where these facts come from
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 | 39 of 232 | 1 of 232 |
| Identity theft protection | 24 of 117 | 1 of 117 |
| Privacy tools | 34 of 280 | 1 of 280 |
| Ad blockers and private DNS | 17 of 63 | 1 of 63 |
| Data removal services | 8 of 41 | 1 of 41 |
| Free VPNs | 34 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 | 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 |
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 | 1 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 single subscription covers protection plus a bundled VPN, listed as vpn, with ad blocking as ad blocker.
- Plans cover 1 to 20 devices on Windows, Mac and Android.
- A free plan is available, and the free download includes a 14 Premium trial.
Cons
- Support runs on help centre and community only.
- Data removal is a yearly add-on at $99.99 and covers brokers in the United States, while the identity family plan is $199.99.
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
- People who want cleanup first: the free tier handles existing infections and the paid plan adds live cover with a VPN.
- Households and small offices that need 1 to 20 devices protected across Windows, Mac and Android.
- Readers shopping US identity and removal plans, where the identity family plan sits at $199.99.
Who should look elsewhere
- Apple Inc. users, who already get built-in protection across iOS, iPadOS and macOS.
- Small offices wanting a free endpoint product that covers 50 devices.
- ESET Brasil buyers, whose plans reach 1 to 25 devices for larger fleets.
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
First period offer
Save 35% today: 35% off
Shown on the Boutique business (10 devices) plan on the pricing page
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Free trial
14-day free trial of Malwarebytes Premium: 14 days
Included with the free version download; not all offers available in all countries
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Discount code
Education, military and public sector discount
Verify status via Proxi.ID then checkout; discount renews on future renewals; 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
How much does Malwarebytes cost, and what happens at renewal?+
Malwarebytes sells protection as separate add-ons, so the headline figure depends on what you include. Data removal comes at $99.99 yearly and the identity theft plan is a family plan at $199.99, while first-year figures for this group sit near the €49.95 median. Renewal pricing follows the plan you pick, so read the renewal line before buying.
What does the free plan actually include?+
Free plan limits cover existing infections only, so the free tier is a cleanup-only scanner rather than live protection. The free download also carries a 14 Premium trial, and a free version is available, which makes it easy to weigh the paid tier against a no-cost scan.
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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