In the first half of 2019, cyber threats exposed more than 4.1 billion records? Staying connected with friends and family, working, and attending school is impossible without the internet. You can put your computer and personal information at risk without a strong and reliable antivirus program.
Avast and Malwarebytes are two of the biggest names in the business. This article will explain the strengths and weaknesses of each program and help you make an informed decision.
Features of Avast Vs Malwarebytes
Free versions of neither Avast nor Malwarebytes offer a wide range of features. The real comparison will come with the premium versions.
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Free Tiers
Avast offers two main features in its free version: ransomware protection and antivirus protection. Basically, it’s an antivirus program that does what it’s meant to do. But there’s not much more to it.
Malwarebytes is an antivirus program that filters out spyware and malware. It’s that simple. The program does not provide real-time protection or detection. It does not track ransomware either. Malwarebytes is exceptionally good at spotting malware, but the free version is a one-trick pony. Additionally, both free versions monitor only one device.
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Premium Tiers
You can use more features and tools when you invest a few dollars in antivirus software. In addition to providing Wi-Fi network security, Avast monitors for fake and unsafe websites online, helps protect your PC from phishing websites, and blocks remote access attacks.
This can also be done for up to ten devices simultaneously by Avast. In the end, dropping this protection to only one PC or other device only saves you $10 per year – which is not worth it, particularly when you consider the benefits of full-spectrum protection for every device.
A real-time, 24/7 malware monitoring service, Malwarebytes provides protection against malware and other threats. Additionally, it works to prevent exploit attacks and ransomware attacks. In addition to protecting against malicious websites, Malwarebytes helps prevent stolen data and identity theft.
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Tiers + Premium
The highest pricing tiers for both companies have different names, so “Premium+” is the generic term for the highest price point.
At this price range, Avast offers two additional tools: SecureLine VPN, which secures your browsing regardless of which connection you use, and Cleanup Premium, a tool that increases PC performance by removing unnecessary files.
The highest price tier of Malwarebytes comes with a VPN. By preventing unauthorized tracking, masked location, encrypting your connection, and more, the Malwarebytes Privacy VPN is also reducing the lag often associated with VPNs.
There are a lot of features in both programs, especially at higher price points. However, Avast still comes out on top due to its larger number of features and higher number of devices protected by the software.
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User Interface
Malwarebytes and Avast both have relatively simple and easy-to-understand user interfaces. However, Malwarebytes is simpler, while Avast has more options for the user.
You can view the status of your computer via Avast, but it breaks the options into three categories: Protection, Privacy, and Performance. The options below show you additional sections that you can choose from.
Malwarebytes displays your recent history offers a new scan option, as well as sliders for turning off the web, malware, and ransomware protection. In addition, there is a more comprehensive settings menu, but all the main features of the tool are in one place.
When comparing Malwarebytes and Avast, the UI feels a bit dated, and the lack of tools becomes more evident when you compare their interfaces.
Which Is Better Between Avast &Malwarebytes?
There is no question that both of these programs do a good job, but it comes down to which one offers the best protection for the most affordable price. If you could only choose one program among these, Avast would be the best choice.
The best bang for your buck and the most features. Malwarebytes is not a bad program by any means, but it’s a lot more limited and expensive if you break it down by device.