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Malwarebytes Browser Guard alternatives: 4 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Malwarebytes Browser Guard: some protections need a paid Malwarebytes plan, and fewer filtering controls than dedicated blockers. We ranked 4 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Malwarebytes Browser Guard, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. uBlock Origin currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1uBlock Origin logouBlock OriginOpen sourceYesBrowser extension, Android5 of 566.5
2AdGuard logoAdGuardPaidNoWindows, macOS, Linux +34 of 462.6
3Ghostery logoGhosteryFreeYesBrowser extension, iOS, Android4 of 459.6
4Quad9 logoQuad9FreeNoWindows, macOS, Linux +24 of 457.2
  1. uBlock Origin logo

    1. uBlock OriginTop pick

    Best for: Firefox users who want the most capable, lightweight browser blocker available

    Open sourceBrowser extension, Android

    66.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from Malwarebytes Browser Guard

    Also blocks malware domains, with much finer control over filtering.

    Pros

    • Very efficient on CPU and memory
    • Deep controls: custom filters, element picker, dynamic filtering
    • No acceptable-ads programme, no donations sought

    Cons

    • Removed from the Chrome Web Store; Chromium support is ending
    • Advanced mode is easy to misconfigure
    • Browser-only, so it can't block ads inside apps
    Visit uBlock Origin 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 uBlock Origin a good Malwarebytes Browser Guard alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    License
    GPLv3
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Donations
    None sought
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Chrome Web Store
    Removed 31 August 2026
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Best browser
    Firefox
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Default lists
    EasyList, EasyPrivacy and uBO lists
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
  2. AdGuard logo

    2. AdGuard

    Best for: People who want ads blocked in every app and browser on their devices

    PaidWindows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Browser extension

    62.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Malwarebytes Browser Guard

    Paid app adding phishing protection and blocking across all apps.

    Pros

    • System-wide filtering in browsers, apps and games
    • Lifetime licence option
    • Detailed filters, custom rules and per-app control

    Cons

    • Full apps are paid
    • Full Android app is installed outside Google Play
    • Local HTTPS filtering requires trusting a root certificate
    Visit AdGuard 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 AdGuard a good Malwarebytes Browser Guard alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Free trial
    14 days
    Checked Oct 25, 2026adguard.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Licences
    Personal 3 devices, Family 9 devices
    Checked Oct 25, 2026adguard.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Lifetime licence
    Available
    Checked Oct 25, 2026adguard.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Refunds
    30-day money-back guarantee
    Checked Oct 25, 2026adguard.com(opens source in a new tab)
  3. Ghostery logo

    3. Ghostery

    Best for: People who want ads, trackers and cookie pop-ups handled automatically

    FreeOpen sourceBrowser extension, iOS, Android

    59.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Malwarebytes Browser Guard

    Free open-source blocker with automatic cookie-banner rejection.

    Pros

    • Rejects cookie banners automatically
    • Shows which trackers each site uses
    • Open source and free on all major browsers

    Cons

    • Fewer custom filtering options than uBlock Origin
    • Not available in Chrome on Android
    • Past data-monetisation history still worries some users
    Visit Ghostery 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 Ghostery a good Malwarebytes Browser Guard alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    License
    GPL-3.0
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Cookie pop-ups
    Never-Consent rejects them automatically
    Checked Oct 25, 2026ghostery.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Browsers
    Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, Opera, Brave
    Checked Oct 25, 2026ghostery.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Downloads
    100+ million
    Checked Oct 25, 2026ghostery.com(opens source in a new tab)
  4. Quad9 logo

    4. Quad9

    Best for: Anyone wanting free malware and phishing protection at DNS level with no setup

    FreeWindows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS

    57.2

    score / 100

    Why switch from Malwarebytes Browser Guard

    Free DNS that blocks malicious domains for every device, not just the browser.

    Pros

    • Free, with no account needed
    • Blocks malware and phishing domains
    • No logging of IP addresses; Swiss non-profit

    Cons

    • Does not block ads or most trackers
    • No custom blocklists or dashboard
    • Protection depends on threat feeds catching new domains
    Visit Quad9 Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.369
    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 Quad9 a good Malwarebytes Browser Guard alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Price
    Free
    Checked Oct 25, 2026quad9.net(opens source in a new tab)
    Resolver address
    9.9.9.9
    Checked Oct 25, 2026quad9.net(opens source in a new tab)
    IP logging
    None
    Checked Oct 25, 2026quad9.net(opens source in a new tab)
    Blocks
    Malware, phishing, spyware, botnets
    Checked Oct 25, 2026quad9.net(opens source in a new tab)

The best Malwarebytes Browser Guard alternative for…

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

uBlock Origin logo

Best Malwarebytes Browser Guard alternative for most people

uBlock Origin

Also blocks malware domains, with much finer control over filtering.

Ghostery logo

Best Malwarebytes Browser Guard alternative for a free option

Ghostery

Free open-source blocker with automatic cookie-banner rejection.

uBlock Origin logo

Best Malwarebytes Browser Guard alternative for open source

uBlock Origin

Also blocks malware domains, with much finer control over filtering.

AdGuard logo

Best Malwarebytes Browser Guard alternative for Mac

AdGuard

Paid app adding phishing protection and blocking across all apps.

Quad9 logo

Best Malwarebytes Browser Guard alternative for Windows

Quad9

Free DNS that blocks malicious domains for every device, not just the browser.

AdGuard logo

Best Malwarebytes Browser Guard alternative for Linux

AdGuard

Paid app adding phishing protection and blocking across all apps.

AdGuard logo

Best Malwarebytes Browser Guard alternative for iPhone and Android

AdGuard

Paid app adding phishing protection and blocking across all apps.

Malwarebytes Browser Guard alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Malwarebytes Browser Guard?

uBlock Origin ranks first right now. Also blocks malware domains, with much finer control over filtering. AdGuard and Ghostery follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Malwarebytes Browser Guard?

Yes. uBlock Origin (open source), Ghostery (free) and Quad9 (free) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Malwarebytes Browser Guard?

Yes: uBlock Origin and Ghostery.

Which Malwarebytes Browser Guard alternatives work on Linux?

AdGuard and Quad9 run on Linux.

Why do people switch from Malwarebytes Browser Guard?

The complaints we hear most: some protections need a paid Malwarebytes plan; fewer filtering controls than dedicated blockers; closed source.

How is this list ranked?

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