F-Secure vs Malwarebytes

Updated November 2026 · AppBreakup editorial

F-Secure

Finnish consumer antivirus and online security suites for Windows, Mac, Android and iOS.

Paid

Visit F-Secure F-Secure profile

Malwarebytes

Anti-malware suite for Windows, Mac, Android and iOS, with a free cleanup scanner and paid real-time protection.

Free plan + paid

Visit Malwarebytes Malwarebytes profile

The short answer

F-Secure suits households that want a paid, always-on security suite with banking and scam protection from a Finnish company under the GDPR. Malwarebytes suits people who want a free cleanup scanner first, with the option to pay for real-time protection later. The biggest difference is the free tier: Malwarebytes has a usable free scanner, while F-Secure only offers a trial and a one-off online scanner.

F-Secure or Malwarebytes: our take

F-Secure sells Internet Security, which scans for viruses, ransomware and spyware and adds browsing protection, banking protection for shopping and payments, scam warnings for untrusted stores and SMS, and a gaming mode. F-Secure Total adds a VPN plus password and identity monitoring. Malwarebytes starts from a different place: its free version is a scanner that removes infections already on a computer, and many people keep it next to the antivirus built into Windows or macOS. Paying for Premium Security adds real-time protection against viruses, ransomware, exploits and phishing, plus the Browser Guard extension that blocks scam sites, ads and trackers.

On price, F-Secure starts at €49.99/year for 1 device, with a 30-day free trial and a 30-day money-back guarantee. Malwarebytes starts at $59.99 a year for 3 devices on the Standard plan, the Plus plan at $79.99 a year adds a VPN, and Standard Family is $119.99 a year for 10 devices; its money-back guarantee runs 60 days. Neither offers free real-time protection.

Both cover Windows, Mac, Android and iOS, and both say features differ between platforms, so check the app for your phone before buying. F-Secure leans on its European base, saying it handles personal data under the GDPR and does not sell user data. Malwarebytes also has a separate Teams product for small businesses.

Pick F-Secure if you want one paid suite that focuses on everyday online banking, shopping and scam protection, and you value a European provider. Pick Malwarebytes if you mainly need to clean up an infected machine for free, or want a familiar anti-malware tool across several devices with a longer refund window.

Choose F-Secure if…

Households wanting a European antivirus suite with scam and banking protection across their devices
Covers Windows, Mac, Android and iOS in one subscription
Banking and scam protection beyond basic virus scanning

Choose Malwarebytes if…

People who want a familiar anti-malware scanner across several platforms
You want a free option (F-Secure is paid only)
Free scanner is handy for cleaning up an already infected machine
One subscription covers Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices

What is F-Secure?

F-Secure is a Finnish security company whose consumer products protect home computers and phones. Its standalone Anti-Virus product has been folded into F-Secure Internet Security, which scans for viruses, ransomware and spyware and adds browsing protection that flags dangerous sites, banking protection for shopping and payments, scam protection that warns about untrusted stores and SMS scams, and a gaming mode. F-Secure Total bundles that with a VPN, password and identity monitoring. The company stresses its European base: it says it handles personal data under the GDPR and does not sell user data. It is a paid subscription priced per number of devices and years, with a 30-day free trial and a 30-day money-back guarantee; a free online scanner is also offered for one-off PC checks. Apps cover Windows, macOS, Android and iOS, though some features differ by platform.

What is Malwarebytes?

Malwarebytes is one of the best-known consumer anti-malware brands. Its free version is a scanner that finds and removes infections that are already on a computer. The paid Premium Security subscription adds real-time protection against viruses, ransomware, exploits and phishing, quarantines threats automatically and bundles the Browser Guard extension for blocking scam sites, ads and trackers. Higher tiers add a VPN and identity theft protection. It covers Windows, Mac, Android and iOS, with exact features varying by platform, and a single plan can protect several devices. People often install the free scanner to clean up a machine and keep it alongside the antivirus built into Windows or macOS. Paid plans are sold as yearly subscriptions with a money-back guarantee, and there is a separate Teams product for small businesses.

Side by side

Attribute	F-Secure	Malwarebytes
Pricing	Paid	Free plan + paid
Open source	No	No
Self-hostable	No	No
Platforms	Windows, macOS, Android, iOS	Windows, macOS, Android, iOS
Best for	Households wanting a European antivirus suite with scam and banking protection across their devices	People who want a familiar anti-malware scanner across several platforms
Status	Active	Active

Verified facts, compared

Facts both apps publish, checked on each vendor's own site.

Fact	F-Secure	Malwarebytes
Starting price	€49.99/year for 1 device	$59.99 a year (Standard, 3 devices)
Platforms	PC, Mac, Android, iOS	Windows, Mac, Android, iOS
Money-back guarantee	30 days	60 days