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ClamXAV alternatives: 3 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Nov 1, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave ClamXAV: no free tier once the trial ends, and mac only, with no Windows or mobile apps. We ranked 3 alternatives by how directly each one replaces ClamXAV, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Malwarebytes currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Malwarebytes logoMalwarebytesFree plan + paidNoWindows, macOS, Android +14 of 466.5
2BlockBlock logoBlockBlockOpen sourceNomacOS5 of 562.6
3KnockKnock logoKnockKnockOpen sourceNomacOS4 of 459.6
  1. Malwarebytes logo

    1. MalwarebytesTop pick

    Best for: People who want a familiar anti-malware scanner across several platforms

    Free plan + paidWindows, macOS, Android, iOS

    66.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from ClamXAV

    Covers Windows, Android and iOS too, and has a free cleanup scanner alongside paid plans.

    Pros

    • Free scanner is handy for cleaning up an already infected machine
    • One subscription covers Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices
    • Paid plans include a scam and ad blocking browser extension

    Cons

    • Real-time protection requires a paid subscription
    • Higher tiers bundle a VPN and identity services some people won't need
    • Feature set differs between operating systems
    Visit Malwarebytes Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.3100
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Malwarebytes a good ClamXAV alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Free version
    Cleanup scanner
    Checked Nov 1, 2026malwarebytes.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Starting price
    $59.99/year
    Checked Nov 1, 2026malwarebytes.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Money-back guarantee
    60 days
    Checked Nov 1, 2026malwarebytes.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    Windows, Mac, Android, iOS
    Checked Nov 1, 2026malwarebytes.com(opens source in a new tab)
  2. BlockBlock logo

    2. BlockBlock

    Best for: Mac users and admins who want to approve anything that sets itself to run at login or boot

    Open sourcemacOS

    62.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from ClamXAV

    Free, open-source Mac tool that flags new persistent software as it's installed.

    Pros

    • Catches persistence attempts as they happen instead of after a scheduled scan
    • Alerts show the responsible process, signing details and VirusTotal results
    • Free and open source, made by a non-profit with a long Mac security track record

    Cons

    • Does not detect or remove known malware the way a scanner does
    • Alerts for legitimate installers need judgement from the user
    • macOS only, and requires Full Disk Access and system privileges
    Visit BlockBlock Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.387
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is BlockBlock a good ClamXAV alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    License
    GPL-3.0
    Checked Oct 29, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    What it monitors
    Persistence locations
    Checked Oct 29, 2026objective-see.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    macOS 10.15+
    Checked Oct 29, 2026objective-see.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Monitoring engine
    Apple Endpoint Security Framework
    Checked Oct 29, 2026objective-see.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Owner
    Objective-See Foundation (non-profit)
    Checked Oct 29, 2026objective-see.org(opens source in a new tab)
  3. KnockKnock logo

    3. KnockKnock

    Best for: Mac users and responders checking a machine for anything that persists across restarts

    Open sourcemacOS

    59.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from ClamXAV

    Free Mac scanner for reviewing startup items when a subscription antivirus feels like too much.

    Pros

    • No installation; run it from anywhere and delete it when done
    • Clear signed, third-party and unsigned markers make odd items easy to spot
    • Optional VirusTotal checks with a free personal API key

    Cons

    • On-demand only, with no real-time protection
    • Lists legitimate apps alongside threats, so results need interpretation
    • Runs only on macOS
    Visit KnockKnock Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.377
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is KnockKnock a good ClamXAV alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    License
    GPL-3.0
    Checked Nov 1, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    macOS 10.15+
    Checked Nov 1, 2026objective-see.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Installation
    None needed
    Checked Nov 1, 2026objective-see.org(opens source in a new tab)
    VirusTotal
    Optional, with API key
    Checked Nov 1, 2026objective-see.org(opens source in a new tab)

The best ClamXAV alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Malwarebytes logo

Best ClamXAV alternative for most people

Malwarebytes

Covers Windows, Android and iOS too, and has a free cleanup scanner alongside paid plans.

BlockBlock logo

Best ClamXAV alternative for a free option

BlockBlock

Free, open-source Mac tool that flags new persistent software as it's installed.

Malwarebytes logo

Best ClamXAV alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Malwarebytes

Covers Windows, Android and iOS too, and has a free cleanup scanner alongside paid plans.

KnockKnock logo

Best ClamXAV alternative for Mac

KnockKnock

Free Mac scanner for reviewing startup items when a subscription antivirus feels like too much.

Malwarebytes logo

Best ClamXAV alternative for Windows

Malwarebytes

Covers Windows, Android and iOS too, and has a free cleanup scanner alongside paid plans.

Malwarebytes logo

Best ClamXAV alternative for iPhone and Android

Malwarebytes

Covers Windows, Android and iOS too, and has a free cleanup scanner alongside paid plans.

ClamXAV alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to ClamXAV?

Malwarebytes ranks first right now. Covers Windows, Android and iOS too, and has a free cleanup scanner alongside paid plans. BlockBlock and KnockKnock follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to ClamXAV?

Yes. Malwarebytes (free plan + paid), BlockBlock (open source) and KnockKnock (open source) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to ClamXAV?

None of the 3 alternatives in this list is open source.

Why do people switch from ClamXAV?

The complaints we hear most: no free tier once the trial ends; mac only, with no Windows or mobile apps; no bundled VPN or browser protection extension.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces ClamXAV, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.