Independent reviews. Real tests. Smarter security decisions.
Price captures verified 2026-08-09; overall scores unpublished
Malwarebytes is the Security Checklist pack shortlist for cleanup-focused and second-opinion malware workflows, not a default “replace Defender forever” purchase for every household. Premium Security marketing presents Standard, Plus, and Ultimate tiers. On 2026-08-09 the Windows product page showed Individual cards at Standard $59.99/yr, Plus $79.99/yr, and Ultimate $139.99/yr (promo; device entitlements differ by page, confirm checkout). Scores and detection rates remain unpublished, see the verification register.
Overall score
Verdict pending verification
Pending test record
Plan gates pending verification
Policy review pending
From $59.99/yr Standard (Windows page/WP JSON, reconfirmed 2026-08-09), malwarebytes.json
Best for
Cleanup / second-opinion workflows (qualitative)
Starting price
From $59.99/yr Standard (Windows page Individual cards, 2026-08-09); Plus $79.99 · Ultimate $139.99 promo, confirm at purchase
Plan tiers
Standard / Plus / Ultimate (Premium Security marketing, 2026-08-09)
Device counts (vendor)
Premium page: Standard 3 · Plus 10 · Ultimate 20 (selectors differ, confirm checkout)
Refund period
60-day money-back advertised (vendor materials, 2026-08-09)
Review status
Research draft, overall score not yet published
Malwarebytes is the Security Checklist pack shortlist for cleanup-focused and second-opinion malware workflows, not a default “replace Defender forever” purchase for every household. Premium Security marketing presents Standard, Plus, and Ultimate tiers. On 2026-08-09 the Windows product page showed Individual cards at Standard $59.99/yr, Plus $79.99/yr, and Ultimate $139.99/yr (promo; device entitlements differ by page, confirm checkout). Scores and detection rates remain unpublished, see the verification register.
Editorial analysis
These notes are qualitative and claim-safe. Numeric scores, prices, and lab figures stay pending until verified.
If your story is “I think something got through after a download,” Malwarebytes is often the right qualitative conversation. If your story is “protect five family devices all year with suite extras,” compare Bitdefender’s Total Security packaging too. Same affiliate category, different leftover jobs.
Use free capabilities to learn the product, but confirm what real-time features require payment. We do not invent feature gates from memory or mockups. If free on-demand scanning solves the incident, you may not need Premium at all.
Premium Security marketing presents Standard, Plus, and Ultimate. The /premium page describes Standard/Plus/Ultimate device counts at 3/10/20 (plus a single-device Standard option). Separately, malwarebytes.com/windows Individual cards showed Standard $59.99/yr, Plus $79.99/yr, and Ultimate $139.99/yr on 2026-08-09, each card also saying “3 devices,” which conflicts with the Premium selector story. Re-verify the exact SKU in checkout; do not assume every page’s device math matches.
Sometimes Malwarebytes is used on-demand while Defender stays real-time. Vendor guidance matters; careless double real-time stacks can cause conflicts. We do not invent compatibility guarantees, read current install docs before disabling anything.
Ultimate marketing may reference identity insurance and credit monitoring. Those are vendor-stated add-ons with eligibility limits, not reasons to skip free credit freezes or MFA. Do not treat insurance marketing as a Security Checklist restitution guarantee.
No fabricated removal success rates, “advanced threat” buzzword scores, threat-volume marketing stats without ledger approval, or coupon codes. Unscored gauges wait on real test records.
No fabricated test counts. Methodology pillars stay visible while evidence is still pending.
Protection claims cited only from approved sources, no invented lab scores or detection rates.
Setup friction, scanning clarity, and day-to-day impact on normal use.
Real-time protection, cleanup tools, web shields, and suite extras that change buy/no-buy outcomes.
Resource impact and reliability notes publish only when a test record exists.
Plan fit versus free built-in protection. Starting prices publish from claim ledgers; scores stay N/Pub until test records exist.
Commercial prices stay unpublished until verified. Cards below show honest pending states, never invented amounts.
Free tier (verify limits)
Feature gates pending verification
$59.99 / $79.99 / $139.99 per year (Individual cards)
Verified 2026-08-09, malwarebytes.json (malwarebytes.com/windows); device entitlements differ by page
Suite alternative
From $24.99/yr Antivirus Plus (1 device, first year)
Verified 2026-08-09, bitdefender.json#bitdefender-starting-price; Total Security Individual from $59.99/yr; renewals may differ
30-day money-back advertised (bitdefender.com, 2026-08-09)
Free baseline
Included with Windows (verify edition)
Not an affiliate product
Bundle alternative
From A$3.49/mo Starter (24-mo plan)
Verified 2026-08-09, surfshark.json#surfshark-starting-price; AUD geo on surfshark.com/pricing; USD not returned from research fetch (ISS-028)
30-day money-back advertised (surfshark.com, 2026-08-09)
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Deal links use first-party tracking. Overall scores are not yet published, see the verification register.
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