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Malwarebytes alternatives: 4 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Nov 1, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Malwarebytes: real-time protection requires a paid subscription, and higher tiers bundle a VPN and identity services some people won't need. We ranked 4 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Malwarebytes, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. ClamXAV currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1ClamXAV logoClamXAVPaidNomacOS5 of 566.5
2BlockBlock logoBlockBlockOpen sourceNomacOS5 of 562.6
3Avast Antivirus logoAvast AntivirusFree plan + paidNoWindows, macOS, Android +15 of 562.6
4KnockKnock logoKnockKnockOpen sourceNomacOS4 of 459.6
  1. ClamXAV logo

    1. ClamXAVTop pick

    Best for: Mac-only homes and businesses wanting a light, long-running antivirus subscription

    PaidmacOS

    66.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from Malwarebytes

    Mac-focused paid antivirus that stays light on resources, for people who only need to protect Macs.

    Pros

    • Made only for macOS, with background and scheduled scanning
    • Business plans add command-line control and central management
    • Long-running product with a 30-day free trial

    Cons

    • No free tier once the trial ends
    • Mac only, with no Windows or mobile apps
    • No bundled VPN or browser protection extension
    Visit ClamXAV 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 ClamXAV a good Malwarebytes alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Free trial
    30 days
    Checked Oct 30, 2026clamxav.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Home plan
    Up to 3 Macs
    Checked Oct 30, 2026clamxav.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Business features
    Command-line control
    Checked Oct 30, 2026clamxav.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Student discount
    30% off
    Checked Oct 30, 2026clamxav.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Owner
    Canimaan Software Ltd
    Checked Oct 30, 2026clamxav.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 Malwarebytes

    Free and open source; alerts on new persistent software on a Mac instead of relying on signatures.

    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 Malwarebytes 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. Avast Antivirus logo

    3. Avast Antivirus

    Best for: Home users who want a free real-time antivirus for Windows or Mac

    Free plan + paidWindows, macOS, Android, iOS

    62.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Malwarebytes

    Free edition includes real-time protection, which Malwarebytes Free lacks.

    Pros

    • Free edition includes real-time protection, not just scans
    • Covers Windows, Mac, Android and iPhone
    • Smart Scan checks malware, add-ons and settings together

    Cons

    • Free version shows frequent upgrade offers
    • Firewall and ransomware shields need a paid plan
    • Setup can offer extra Avast apps you may not want
    Visit Avast Antivirus 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 Avast Antivirus a good Malwarebytes alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Free version
    Avast Free Antivirus for Windows
    Checked Nov 1, 2026support.avast.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Windows support
    Windows 7 SP1 to Windows 11
    Checked Nov 1, 2026support.avast.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Mac version
    Avast Security for Mac
    Checked Nov 1, 2026support.avast.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Smart Scan
    Yes
    Checked Nov 1, 2026support.avast.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Owner
    Gen Digital
    Checked Nov 1, 2026press.avast.com(opens source in a new tab)
  4. KnockKnock logo

    4. 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 Malwarebytes

    Free on-demand Mac scan of everything set to auto-run, useful for checking a machine without a subscription.

    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 Malwarebytes 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 Malwarebytes alternative for…

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

ClamXAV logo

Best Malwarebytes alternative for most people

ClamXAV

Mac-focused paid antivirus that stays light on resources, for people who only need to protect Macs.

BlockBlock logo

Best Malwarebytes alternative for a free option

BlockBlock

Free and open source; alerts on new persistent software on a Mac instead of relying on signatures.

Avast Antivirus logo

Best Malwarebytes alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Avast Antivirus

Free edition includes real-time protection, which Malwarebytes Free lacks.

KnockKnock logo

Best Malwarebytes alternative for Mac

KnockKnock

Free on-demand Mac scan of everything set to auto-run, useful for checking a machine without a subscription.

Avast Antivirus logo

Best Malwarebytes alternative for Windows

Avast Antivirus

Free edition includes real-time protection, which Malwarebytes Free lacks.

Avast Antivirus logo

Best Malwarebytes alternative for iPhone and Android

Avast Antivirus

Free edition includes real-time protection, which Malwarebytes Free lacks.

Malwarebytes alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Malwarebytes?

ClamXAV ranks first right now. Mac-focused paid antivirus that stays light on resources, for people who only need to protect Macs. BlockBlock and Avast Antivirus follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Malwarebytes?

Yes. BlockBlock (open source), Avast Antivirus (free plan + paid) 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 Malwarebytes?

None of the 4 alternatives in this list is open source.

Why do people switch from Malwarebytes?

The complaints we hear most: 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.

How is this list ranked?

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