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, Mac, Android, iOS, Chromebook | Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Android TV, Apple TV, Fire TV, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Routers |
| Monthly price | Not confirmed | €2.49 |
| Long-term plan price | Not confirmed | €2.49 |
| Devices | 1 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 9.1.
- 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 Malwarebytes offers Mac, Chromebook.
- Platforms: only Surfshark offers MacOS, Linux, Android TV.
- Support channels: only Malwarebytes offers Community.
- Support channels: only Surfshark offers Email, Chat.
- Money-back period is higher at Malwarebytes: 60 days vs 30 days.
- Founded is lower at Malwarebytes: 2004 vs 2018.
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.
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 | 9.3 | 9.6HigherSurfshark'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 | 8.7 | 9.5HigherThe plan bundles private dns, ad blocker and search with a 7 trial and a 30 money-back window. |
| Privacy | 9.3Higher | 8.7 |
The numbers side by side
| Fact | Malwarebytes | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Server countries | 62 | 100 |
| Money-back period | 60 days | 30 days |
Choosing between them
Pick Malwarebytes if privacy and money-back period matter most.
Pick Surfshark if cost, offer, server countries, protocols, and features matter most.
Sources behind this comparison
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 | 39 of 232 | 12 of 232 |
| Identity theft protection | 24 of 117 | 7 of 117 |
| Privacy tools | 34 of 280 | 7 of 280 |
| Ad blockers and private DNS | 17 of 63 | 6 of 63 |
| Data removal services | 8 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 | 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 |
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 | 1 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 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.
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
- 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.
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
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
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
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.
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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