Malwarebytes: when to install it, and when not to
A second opinion rather than a second resident engine. Install it after the machine is clean, run a scan on a file or a machine you are unsure about, and…
The short version
Malwarebytes: Keep the free version as a second opinion when something feels wrong. Windows Defender already handles real-time protection well enough that paying for a second always-on scanner is mostly redundant.
| Licence / price | Free + paid tiers |
|---|---|
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Android, iOS |
| Category | Privacy & Security — 10 programs |
| Official download | https://www.malwarebytes.com/mwb-download ↗ |
What it is for
A second opinion rather than a second resident engine. Install it after the machine is clean, run a scan on a file or a machine you are unsure about, and leave it out of startup. That is the one role a second product can fill without fighting the built-in protection.
When to pick something else
If you want a full real-time replacement for Windows Security, read the antivirus decision guide first. Two always-on engines is not a layered defence, and the paid tier upsells a bundle of extras you may not need.
What independent reviewers found
We do not run lab tests or benchmarks. These summaries are written in our own words, with the publisher named and the original linked. Our citation policy explains what we will and will not reproduce.
AV-Comparatives — 2025
What the source says. AV-Comparatives' July-October 2025 real-world test included Malwarebytes Premium among the consumer products exposed to live malicious URLs. The report restricts reuse of its published results.
What we take from it. We describe the test and link to it rather than quoting its figures. A second engine is useful as an on-demand check, which is a different claim from 'it scored X'.
Real-World Protection Test, July-October 2025 ↗ (AV-Comparatives · 2025 · Independent lab test)
AV-TEST Institute — 2025
What the source says. AV-TEST's late-2025 Windows 11 round scores protection, performance and usability separately, and places the built-in Microsoft protection among the products that reached the maximum in all three.
What we take from it. That is the reason we position this tool as a second opinion rather than a replacement. The default already clears a high bar.
The best Windows antivirus software for home users (Nov-Dec 2025) ↗ (AV-TEST Institute · 2025 · Independent lab test)
How it compares in Privacy & Security
These are the alternatives we would consider for the same job. The notes are the same ones used on the main list, so there is no separate ranking hiding on this page.
| Program | Licence / price | Platforms | Why it is on the list |
|---|---|---|---|
| BleachBit Publisher's site ↗ | Free · Open source | Windows, Linux | Clears caches, logs and traces from dozens of applications, and shreds files properly. Only useful if you understand what you are deleting. Windows' own Disk Cleanup covers the safe basics. |
| O&O ShutUp10++ Publisher's site ↗ | Free · Closed source | Windows | A single portable screen of switches for Windows telemetry, ads, Cortana and background reporting, with a restore point button. Read each description before flipping it and you will not break anything. |
Practical notes
- Install it while the machine is still clean, so the first scan has a meaningful baseline.
- Turn off the trial of real-time protection if you intend to keep it as an on-demand scanner.
- A scan result is about the samples the engine knows, not a certificate that a file is safe.
Questions people ask
Can it run alongside Microsoft Defender?
As an occasional on-demand scan, yes. As a second always-on real-time engine, no - Windows will step aside or the two will conflict.
Where it appears in our guides
- Getting a few more years out of an older PC
- Do you need a third-party antivirus on Windows 11?
- Opening an archive safely: the extractor is part of your attack surface
See the full Privacy & Security explainer for the other 9 programs in this category.
How to read this page. How to read this page. Platform, licence and publisher details come from our directory data. Where an independent review, audit or survey is mentioned, it is summarised in our own words with the source named and linked; our /sources page sets out that policy. The recommendation, the trade-offs and every 'skip it if' line are our editorial judgement. We do not run benchmarks, publish measured performance figures or host installers, and every download link goes to the publisher's own site. If a detail is out of date, our About page explains how to tell us.