All About Cookies is an independent, advertising-supported website. Some of the offers that appear on this site are from third-party advertisers from which All About Cookies receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear).
All About Cookies does not include all financial or credit offers that might be available to consumers nor do we include all companies or all available products. Information is accurate as of the publishing date and has not been provided or endorsed by the advertiser.
The All About Cookies editorial team strives to provide accurate, in-depth information and reviews to help you, our reader, make online privacy decisions with confidence. Here's what you can expect from us:
Best for Bundled Antivirus Protection
/images/2024/05/17/7249df62-b35e-4ac5-bfc4-0e28a6a30b9e.png)
Anti-ransomware, spyware, adware, worms, trojan, and rootkits protection
Real-time protection scans, phishing and scam site prevention, and ability to quickly isolate dangerous files
Choice between 3 plans, all of which include a VPN, Safe Browsing, and 24/7 customer support
Best for Beginners
/images/2022/09/08/logo-malwarebytes.png){kind=logo}
Free version includes manual scans to identify and remove malware, ransomware, and other threats
Premium features include a VPN, ad blocker, identity theft services, and more
As more of our lives become digital and are spent online, it’s no surprise that cybercriminals are lurking on the internet, waiting to steal your personal information or infect your device with malicious code.
Antivirus software is one of the easiest ways to protect your device and your information from cybercriminals. Not sure whether Aura Antivirus or Malwarebytes is right for you? We’ve researched and tested the best antivirus software programs to bring you an expert comparison of prices, features, compatibility, and more.
Antivirus software is one of the simplest ways to stay safe online, but there are many products to choose from. Aura Antivirus vs. Malwarebytes are two above-average antivirus programs that not only remove harmful malware from your device but offer a host of other cybersecurity features as well.
 |
 | |
| Starting price | $35.99/first yr | $44.99/yr |
| Free version | ||
| Max number of protected devices | Up to 10 devices | 1 device for free plan
Up to 20 for paid plans |
| 24/7 customer support | ||
| Compatibility | Windows, Mac, Android, iOS (VPN only), Chrome, Firefox, Edge | Windows, Mac, Android, iOS |
| Real-time protection | ||
| Phishing protection | ||
| Ransomware protection | ||
| Learn more | Get Aura Antivirus | Get Malwarebytes |
Our Pick |
| |
| Price range | $35.99 - $59.99/first yr | $44.99–$99.99/yr |
| Best value plan | Ultimate plan for $59.99/first yr | Complete Protection for $99.99/yr |
| Money-back guarantee | Yes — 60 days | Yes — 60 days |
| Learn more | Get Aura Antivirus | Get Malwarebytes |
Aura’s best value plan is their Ultimate plan, which costs $25.00/mo (billed annually). With this premium plan, you get a lot more than just standard antivirus protection. Aura Ultimate covers up to 10 devices for antivirus. It also includes a VPN (virtual private network), a password manager, identity protection, financial fraud protection, and 24/7 customer support. With a 60-day money-back guarantee, Aura makes it incredibly easy for you to test drive the antivirus software and return it if it doesn’t suit your needs.
By contrast, Malwarebytes' best value plan costs nearly twice as much as Aura Ultimate, coming in at $99.99/yr. That said, Malwarebytes offers many enhanced features, such as $2 million in identity theft insurance, as well as social media, credit report, and dark web monitoring.
Our Pick |
| |
| Manual and scheduled scans | ||
| Real-time protection | ||
| Phishing protection | ||
| Ransomware protection | ||
| Firewall | ||
| Parental controls | Not included | |
| Password manager | ||
| VPN | ||
| Ad blocker | ||
| Device optimization tools | ||
| Learn more | Get Aura Antivirus | Get Malwarebytes |
Antivirus protects you and your device from harmful, malicious code. Some antivirus features, such as real-time protection, phishing, and ransomware protection, are essential, and both Malwarebytes and Aura Antivirus offer them.
As phishing scams and ransomware continue to rise, we like to see programs that do more than just block computer viruses and trojans. Malwarebytes and Aura Antivirus both offer a VPN, allowing you to browse anonymously, protecting your online privacy. We were impressed that Aura Antivirus offers even more features to boost your online security, namely a password manager and an ad blocker. While these features certainly aren’t essential for an antivirus, they’re nice to have to help keep you and your personal information secure online.
/images/2024/03/04/aura_antivirus_review_overview_of_steps_taken_8.png)
/images/2022/09/08/malwarebytes-antivirus-review_scan-history.png)
Third-party testing is important to give users a good indication of how the software will perform at home. These tests allow the products to demonstrate their features and components in real-life scenarios, including real-world threats.
|
Our Pick | |
| AV-Test Windows score | N/A | 17/18 |
| AV-Test macOS score | N/A | N/A |
| AV-Test Android score | N/A | N/A |
| Learn more | Get Aura Antivirus | Get Malwarebytes |
In terms of protection against zero-day malware attacks, Malwarebytes tested slightly lower than the standard in September, coming in at 98.4%, where the industry standard is 99.2%. In October, Malwarebytes was back up to standard at 99.2%. The dip in September caused a slight drop to 5.5 / 6 points. Malwarebytes also lost a half point in performance, which showed an overall slight downtrend in speed. We were pleased to see Malwarebytes receive perfect marks in usability, which reflects the impact of the software on the whole computer.
Unfortunately, Aura has no third-party testing available, meaning we couldn’t verify how Aura Antivirus stands up against real-time threats.
Our Pick |
| |
| Windows | ||
| macOS | ||
| Android | ||
| iOS | ||
| Browser extensions | Yes — Chrome, Firefox, Edge | Yes — Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari |
| 24/7 customer support | ||
| Customer support options | Phone, live chat, Help Center, online guides | AI chatbot and online guides |
| Learn more | Get Aura Antivirus | Get Malwarebytes |
Our experience with Malwarebytes was easy and straightforward. The interface was easy to use, and the initial antivirus scan was quick and thorough. We ran multiple scans, the longest lasting 11 seconds and scanning almost 54,000 files. We were disappointed, however, that you can use the Malwarebytes full scan option only on a PC or Windows machine. But Malwarebytes offers a detection history feature we liked because it provides an in-depth view of the scanning history and shows the number of threats found.
/images/2022/09/08/malwarebytes-antivirus-review_real-time-protection.png)
We tested Aura and found a similar interface and ease-of-use results. Signing up took minutes, and downloading the app was fast and easy. We didn’t experience any lag time running scans. With Aura Antivirus, a full scan of 300,000 files took just over 10 minutes.
/images/2024/03/04/aura_antivirus_review_quarantined_threats__1.png)
Signing up and downloading Aura was quick and easy. Aura found threats and immediately quarantined them until we could review them. We did notice a few mistakes with Aura. First, it mixed up the street address and city of our location. Then it found a car title from a car owned in 2000, but none more recent. Lastly, Aura alerted us that it found two malware threats, which were non-harmful applications. Still, we would rather have false positives than no alert.
Overall, Aura Antivirus is solid antivirus software. It downloads quickly and easily and offers an easy experience for users. Additional security features like a VPN, password manager, and ad blocker help keep your identity safe and your device running smoothly.
If you’re looking for a straightforward antivirus program, Malwarebytes is a good option. But suppose you’re looking for a more robust antivirus that offers additional features, like a firewall, password manager, or network scanner. In that case, you may want to look at other options like McAfee or another one of the best antivirus programs.
Aura checks for all types of malicious files, including ransomware. Once detected, the file will be isolated and quarantined until you can review it. After 7 days, all quarantined files are automatically deleted.
If you’re looking for bundled antivirus protection at an affordable price, Aura Antivirus is a better fit than Norton LifeLock. Aura offers more features, both essential antivirus features and added features, for a lower price than Norton.
Aura Antivirus offers many pros, including bundling above-average security features with its antivirus software. For users looking for antivirus and additional protection, Aura is a good choice. However, Aura’s reasonable pricing increases after the first year, which may deter some budget-conscious users, and there is no third-party testing available.
Aura Antivirus and Malwarebytes are both solid antivirus options that offer many features. Aura Antivirus offers not only antivirus protection but also a bundle of other cybersecurity features, like a VPN, password manager, and ad blocker, to bolster your online privacy. However, after the first year, the price of Aura Antivirus increases, which may hinder some users. Additionally, Aura Antivirus doesn’t have third-party testing information. It’s not the end of the world, but that’s an important component for some users.
Malwarebytes offers a slightly less comprehensive security suite. It combines antivirus protection with different security options to suit your needs. However, Malwarebytes might not be the best option for a Mac user looking for full scanning.
In today’s world, the need for antivirus protection is paramount. In our opinion, Aura Antivirus is a better bang for your buck, especially for the first year.
Anti-ransomware, spyware, adware, worms, trojan, and rootkits protection
Real-time protection scans, phishing and scam site prevention, and ability to quickly isolate dangerous files
Choice between 3 plans, all of which include a VPN, Safe Browsing, and 24/7 customer support
There are many facets to consider when choosing the best antivirus program, including your budget, the features you’re looking for, and what protection you’re seeking. We’ve tested and researched many antivirus solutions, so if Aura or Malwarebytes aren’t the right fit for you, we recommend these cybersecurity alternatives:
Real-time protection from viruses, malware, and online threats
Blocks tracking cookies and ads, proactively monitors for data breaches, and option to schedule smart scans
100% compatible with Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS operating systems on up to 3 devices
/images/2023/01/26/best-antivirus-software.png)
/images/2023/03/24/best-antivirus-for-iphone.png)
/images/2024/06/20/totalav_vs._kaspersky.jpg)
/images/2024/06/14/norton_vs._aura_antivirus.jpg)
/images/2024/06/07/norton_vs._trend_micro.jpg)
/images/2024/05/31/totalav_vs._malwarebytes.jpg)
/images/2024/05/31/norton_vs._avira.jpg)
/images/2024/05/27/totalav-vs-avast.png)
/authors/courtney.png){kind=small}
/authors/kate_quinlan_headshot_april_2024.png){kind=small}
/images/2024/05/17/7249df62-b35e-4ac5-bfc4-0e28a6a30b9e.png)
/images/2022/09/22/logo-totalav.png){kind=logo}
/authors/courtney.png)