Malwarebytes vs Avast
Avast comes out ahead of Malwarebytes on 3 of the 6 things that decide this, going by what each company publishes and what independent review sites report. The one that matters for you may be one the leader loses.
The verdict
Avast takes it, 3–1 on rounds.
On the published figures and the independent review sites, Avast takes 3 of 6 rounds. Treat that as a starting point and check the current figures on both pages, because prices and plans move.
Choose Malwarebytes if…
- • You want Malwarebytes's edge on what customers say on trustpilot
Choose Avast if…
- • You want Avast's edge on how much it blocks and how often it cries wolf
Round by round
- Round 1How much it blocksAvast winsMalwarebytes5/10
98.8%
AV-Comparatives Real-World Protection Test, February to May 2026
- 98.8%, against 99.3%
Source: av-comparatives.org ↗
Avast8/1099.3%
AV-Comparatives Real-World Protection Test, February to May 2026
Source: av-comparatives.org ↗
Avast wins this round on independent review-site data, not on its own claims.
- Round 2How often it cries wolfAvast wins
Avast wins this round on independent review-site data, not on its own claims.
- Round 3How much it slows your PCAvast winsMalwarebytes5/10
17.6
AV-Comparatives Performance Test, April 2026
- 17.6, against 5.5
Source: av-comparatives.org ↗
Avast wins this round on independent review-site data, not on its own claims.
- Round 4What customers say on TrustpilotMalwarebytes winsAvast5/10
4.3 out of 5
TrustScore from 46,348 reviews on Trustpilot
- 4.3 out of 5, against 4.5 out of 5
Source: trustpilot.com ↗
Malwarebytes wins this round on independent review-site data, not on its own claims.
- Round 5What AV-TEST scored itTie
Nothing to separate them here.
- Round 6Is there a free versionTie
Nothing to separate them here.
Side by side
- 98.8%, against 99.3%
- 39, against 5
- 17.6, against 5.3
- 4.5 out of 5, against 4.7 out of 5
- 4.3 out of 5, against 4.7 out of 5
- 5.5, against 3.3
- 99.3%, against 99.5%
- 4.3 out of 5, against 4.5 out of 5