McAfee vs Malwarebytes
Malwarebytes comes out ahead of McAfee on 4 of the 7 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
Malwarebytes takes it, 4–3 on rounds.
On the published figures and the independent review sites, Malwarebytes takes 4 of 7 rounds. Treat that as a starting point and check the current figures on both pages, because prices and plans move.
Choose McAfee if…
- • You want McAfee's edge on how often it cries wolf and how much it slows your pc
Choose Malwarebytes if…
- • You want Malwarebytes's edge on how much it blocks and what reviewers say
Round by round
- Round 1How much it blocksMalwarebytes winsMcAfee5/10
98.5%
AV-Comparatives Real-World Protection Test, February to May 2026
- 98.5%, against 98.8%
Source: av-comparatives.org ↗
Malwarebytes8/1098.8%
AV-Comparatives Real-World Protection Test, February to May 2026
Source: av-comparatives.org ↗
Malwarebytes wins this round on independent review-site data, not on its own claims.
- Round 2How often it cries wolfMcAfee wins
McAfee wins this round on independent review-site data, not on its own claims.
- Round 3How much it slows your PCMcAfee winsMalwarebytes5/10
17.6
AV-Comparatives Performance Test, April 2026
- 17.6, against 3.3
Source: av-comparatives.org ↗
McAfee wins this round on independent review-site data, not on its own claims.
- Round 4What reviewers sayMalwarebytes winsMcAfee5/10
4.3 out of 5
average rating from 78 reviews on Capterra
- 4.3 out of 5, against 4.5 out of 5
Source: capterra.com ↗
Malwarebytes wins this round on independent review-site data, not on its own claims.
- Round 5What customers say on TrustpilotMalwarebytes winsMcAfee5/10
1.3 out of 5
TrustScore from 3,467 reviews on Trustpilot
- 1.3 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 6How easy it is to useMalwarebytes winsMcAfee5/10
4.3 out of 5
ease-of-use rating from Capterra reviewers
- 4.3 out of 5, against 4.6 out of 5
Source: capterra.com ↗
Malwarebytes wins this round on independent review-site data, not on its own claims.
- Round 7How reviewers rate its supportMcAfee winsMalwarebytes5/10
4 out of 5
customer-service rating from Capterra reviewers
- 4 out of 5, against 4.1 out of 5
Source: capterra.com ↗
McAfee wins this round on independent review-site data, not on its own claims.
Side by side
- 98.5%, against 99.3%
- 4.3 out of 5, against 4.4 out of 5
- 1.3 out of 5, against 4.7 out of 5
- 4.1 out of 5, against 4.2 out of 5
- 98.8%, against 99.3%
- 39, against 5
- 17.6, against 5.3
- 4.5 out of 5, against 4.7 out of 5