Updated September 28, 2026 · ShieldCue Editorial Team
Malwarebytes vs Optery
What sets them apart
| 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, Mac, Android, iOS, Chromebook | 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 9.1.
- Platforms: only Malwarebytes offers Windows, Mac, Chromebook.
- Platforms: only Optery offers Web, Browser extension.
- Support channels: only Malwarebytes offers Community.
- Support channels: only Optery offers Email.
- Founded is lower at Malwarebytes: 2004 vs 2020.
- Pricing model: only Optery offers Budget.
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.
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 | 9.3 | 9.8HigherMonthly rate $39.99 sits above the data removal median of €10.52, though yearly price ranks 2 of 23. |
| Offer | 8.7 | 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 | 9.3Higher | 8.5 |
Which one suits you
Pick Malwarebytes if privacy matter most.
Pick Optery if cost and offer matter most.
Where these facts come from
Malwarebytes
- malwarebytes.com: 12 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Optery
- optery.com: 12 facts, checked September 26, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | Malwarebytes | Optery |
|---|---|---|
| Identity theft protection | 24 of 117 | 12 of 117 |
| Privacy tools | 34 of 280 | 19 of 280 |
| Data removal services | 8 of 41 | 4 of 41 |
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 | Help centre, Community | Email, Help centre |
VPN
| Fact | Malwarebytes | Optery |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | Not confirmed | $39.99 |
| Devices | 1 to 20 | Not confirmed |
| Server countries | 62 | Not confirmed |
| No-logs audit | X41 D-Sec, 2026 | Not confirmed |
| Features | No logs, Streaming, Travel | Not confirmed |
| Audience | Business | Not confirmed |
| Money-back period | 60 days | Not confirmed |
| Features | Kill switch | Not confirmed |
Identity protection
| Fact | Malwarebytes | Optery |
|---|---|---|
| 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 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.
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
- 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.
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
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
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
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.
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.