Kaspersky vs Malwarebytes

Updated November 2026 · AppBreakup editorial

Kaspersky

Consumer antivirus and security suite, the successor to Kaspersky Anti-Virus and Internet Security.

Paid

Visit Kaspersky Kaspersky 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

Kaspersky suits home users outside the US who want a full paid security suite with VPN, password manager and parental controls. Malwarebytes suits people who want a free cleanup scanner or a lighter paid anti-malware layer across Windows, Mac, Android and iOS. The biggest difference is availability: Kaspersky is no longer sold or updated in the United States, while Malwarebytes is.

Kaspersky or Malwarebytes: our take

Kaspersky's old Anti-Virus, Internet Security and Total Security products are now three subscriptions: Standard, Plus and Premium. All include real-time scanning against viruses, ransomware and spyware, payment protection and cleanup tools; higher tiers add an unlimited VPN, a password manager, identity protection and Safe Kids parental controls. It runs on Windows, macOS, Android and iOS, with Linux support for some distributions. It scores well in independent lab tests, but sales and updates in the US ended in 2024 after a government ban, and some organisations elsewhere avoid it for policy reasons. There is no free tier, and plans carry a 30 days money-back guarantee.

Malwarebytes has a free version that works as a cleanup scanner for removing infections already on a machine. Real-time protection against viruses, ransomware, exploits and phishing needs Premium Security, which starts at $59.99/year and includes 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, though features differ by platform, and the money-back guarantee is 60 days. It has no Linux app.

For someone in the US, or in an organisation that rules out Kaspersky, Malwarebytes is the practical choice. Outside the US, Kaspersky offers a broader all-in-one suite with parental controls and a password manager for families who want everything in one subscription. Malwarebytes fits people who just want to clean up a suspicious machine for free, or who are happy keeping the antivirus built into Windows or macOS and adding Malwarebytes on top.

Choose Kaspersky if…

Home users outside the US who want a full security suite with VPN and parental controls bundled
You need Linux, which Malwarebytes doesn't list
Strong results in independent antivirus lab tests
Higher plans bundle VPN, password manager and parental controls

Choose Malwarebytes if…

People who want a familiar anti-malware scanner across several platforms
You want a free option (Kaspersky 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 Kaspersky?

Kaspersky is a long-running antivirus brand from the Russian-founded company Kaspersky Lab. Its older standalone products, Kaspersky Anti-Virus, Internet Security and Total Security, were folded into three subscription plans: Standard, Plus and Premium. All of them include real-time scanning against viruses, ransomware and spyware, plus payment protection and cleanup tools such as a duplicate and large-file finder. Higher tiers add an unlimited VPN, a password manager, identity protection and the Safe Kids parental controls. It runs on Windows, macOS, Android and iOS, with Linux support listed for some distributions. Plans are paid yearly subscriptions with a money-back period rather than a free tier. Kaspersky products score well in independent lab tests, but sales and updates in the United States ended in 2024 after a US government ban, and some organisations elsewhere avoid it for similar policy reasons.

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	Kaspersky	Malwarebytes
Pricing	Paid	Free plan + paid
Open source	No	No
Self-hostable	No	No
Platforms	Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux	Windows, macOS, Android, iOS
Best for	Home users outside the US who want a full security suite with VPN and parental controls bundled	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	Kaspersky	Malwarebytes
Platforms	Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux	Windows, Mac, Android, iOS
Money-back guarantee	30 days	60 days