Malwarebytes Privacy VPN Review 2026: A Great Beginner VPN

We recommend Malwarebytes Privacy VPN if you already have a Malwarebytes subscription and need some basic VPN protection. Based on our testing, Malwarebytes has minimal impact on speed, can bypass Netflix's geo-restrictions, and helps prevents data leaks.

However, it has a small server network that could easily become congested. But for a VPN created by an antivirus provider, Malwarebytes Privacy VPN still offers a decent service. We'll evaluate its cost, features, test results, and more in this review. 

At a glance

Price	Starts at $3.33/mo
Free version	No, only a seven-day free trial
Max # of connected devices	20
# of servers	150+ servers in 30+ countries
VPN protocol	WireGuard
No-logs policy	No logs
Headquarters	United States
Netflix access	Yes
Learn more	Get Malwarebytes Privacy VPN

Star rating summary

Our experience

Malwarebytes' virtual private network (VPN) is easy to install and use right away. We've previously tested the standalone app, but this time we tested the Privacy VPN directly from the Malwarebytes antivirus dashboard on our Windows 11 laptop.

When we've installed the VPN in the past, Malwarebytes provided a simple yet effective tutorial to explain the key features.

This time, the Malwarebytes Privacy VPN was just one component of the Malwarebytes security suite dashboard. Other providers offer more customization when resizing and moving the dashboard.

Connecting to a server is also easy. After selecting the country, a list of available servers by city populates. But we were surprised there were no recommended or optimized servers, which could confuse VPN beginners.

There were also no optimized servers for streaming, torrenting, or other common server uses, but this is expected from more basic VPNs. 

Finding advanced security features like split tunneling and multi-hop isn't straightforward as Malwarebytes uses its own labels for these VPN features. Malwarebytes calls split tunneling "connection rules" and multi-hop "connection mode." 

Malwarebytes Privacy VPN prices and plans

Malwarebytes Privacy VPN has a wide price range of $4.17–$6.67/mo. Your price depends on your subscription term length and the number of devices you wish to cover. 

You can cover anywhere from one to 20 devices, but the price increases with each additional device. 

Ultimately, the best option for Malwarebytes Privacy VPN is to purchase a bundle that includes Malwarebytes antivirus. See how the two plans compare in the table below. 

Features	Malwarebytes Privacy VPN	Malwarebytes Plus
Starting price	$4.17/mo	$6.67/mo
Max # of device connections	1-20	1-20
VPN
Ad and tracker blocker
Antivirus
Learn more	View plan	View plan

Malwarebytes Privacy VPN is on the higher end compared with other VPNs from antivirus providers. Here's how Malwarebytes Privacy VPN's starting price compares: 

• Malwarebytes Privacy VPN: Starts at $3.33/mo
• Bitdefender VPN: Starts at $2.50/mo
• Norton Secure VPN: Starts at $3.33/mo
• Total VPN: Starts at $1.59/mo

We'd also like to see Malwarebytes accept additional payment methods. Currently, it accepts PayPal and credit cards, including Visa, MasterCard, and American Express.

Other VPNs, like NordVPN and Surfshark, offer more robust VPN services and accept multiple payment methods, including cryptocurrency and gift cards. These anonymous payment options are especially ideal for anyone using a VPN for personal security.

Malwarebytes offers a free seven-day trial for its VPN service as well as a 60-day money-back guarantee.

Malwarebytes Privacy VPN features

Malwarebytes Privacy VPN is a reliable and secure choice for streaming and meeting basic security needs. However, some users may have security concerns about the company or the VPN service.

Server count and countries

• 150+ servers in 30+ countries

Having servers in different locations allows you to access specific content, improve your connection speed, and enhance privacy and security by connecting through different countries.

Currently, Malwarebytes Privacy VPN has 150+ servers spread across 30+ countries. We appreciated that it offers servers in South America and Asia. 

While Malwarebytes Privacy VPN has fewer servers than competitors, which are typically in the thousands, it still provides wide coverage across various continents. Just note that a smaller server count could lead to congestion if too many users are on the same servers.

No-logs policy and headquarters

• Malwarebytes Privacy VPN logs policy: No logs
• Malwarebytes Privacy VPN headquarters: Santa Clara, California, United States

Malwarebytes Privacy VPN follows a no-logs policy, and a third-party audit backs it up. In April 2026, the security firm X41 D-Sec reviewed the VPN's infrastructure and found no evidence of user activity logging. The company still collects a little data to run the service, like your license info, software version, and public key, but not your browsing activity or IP address.^[1]

A no-logs policy means the VPN doesn't record what you do online. That matters because a provider can't hand over data it never stored.

Where a VPN is headquartered matters too. Malwarebytes is based in Santa Clara, California, which puts it inside the Five Eyes alliance. Companies in these countries can be legally compelled to turn subscriber data over to police or government agencies. So a VPN's home country affects how much your data could be exposed to government requests.

If jurisdiction is a top concern, you may prefer a provider based outside these alliances, such as NordVPN (Panama), ExpressVPN (British Virgin Islands), or CyberGhost (Romania).

Kill switch

A kill switch is a feature that prevents your device from automatically switching back to its regular, unencrypted internet connection if the VPN unexpectedly disconnects. This is especially important if you’re using public Wi-Fi and want to prevent hackers from accessing your device. 

Malwarebytes Privacy VPN's kill switch feature is available for both macOS and Windows.

Multi-hop (double VPN)

Multi-hop, also known as double VPN, allows you to establish a connection through two different VPN servers. Malwarebytes calls this feature “Connection mode.”

By using multi-hop, your data is encrypted and routed through multiple VPN servers, making it harder for anyone to trace your online activity back to your device. This extra layer of protection is particularly useful in countering potential surveillance from entities like the Eyes alliances, especially given that Malwarebytes is based in the U.S.

The multi-hop feature is currently exclusive to Windows users, leaving mobile and macOS users out.

Split tunneling

Split tunneling is an advanced security feature that lets you redirect specific traffic through the VPN service. This can be helpful if you want to keep your VPN active but need to access certain websites that may block VPN traffic (e.g., a banking website). 

Malwarebytes Privacy VPN offers this feature, labeled "Connection rules" under VPN settings. 

Encryption

Malwarebytes Privacy VPN uses 256-bit ChaCha20 encryption. Although AES-256 is considered the gold standard because it's widely used by governments and financial institutions, ChaCha20 is simpler and often faster.

VPN protocol

Malwarebytes Privacy VPN only offers the WireGuard protocol, a free and open-source protocol designed to be faster than others like OpenVPN, IPsec, and IKEv2. 

WireGuard is optimized for mobile devices and offers faster speeds and more reliable connections.

Malwarebytes Privacy VPN test results

Testing VPNs helps us understand how fast and reliable they are at protecting your privacy and security. We tested Malwarebytes Privacy VPN's performance by measuring download, upload, and latency speeds while connected to its servers around the world. 

We also tested its effectiveness against Netflix geo-blocks and ensured there were no data leaks.

Speed tests

• Speed test results: Malwarebytes Privacy VPN dropped our download speeds by an average of 48%.

One of the most important aspects of a VPN is how it impacts your speed. That's why we run speed tests on each VPN we review. 

We start by setting a baseline speed, the speed before connecting to a VPN. Then, we connect to servers in various countries to determine how our speed is impacted as we connect to servers across the world. 

	No VPN	US to US	US to CA	US to EU	US to AU
Download speed	482.91 Mbps	432.82 Mbps	291.81 Mbps	106.18 Mbps	171.06 Mbps
Upload speed	307.87 Mbps	316.60 Mbps	289.08 Mbps	132.76 Mbps	118.18 Mbps
Latency (ping)	40 ms	22 ms	57 ms	135 ms	216 ms
Download speed % difference	N/A	-10.37%	-39.57%	-78.01%	-65.58%
Upload speed % difference	N/A	+2.84%	-6.10%	-56.88%	-61.61%
Latency % difference	N/A	-45.00%	+42.50%	+237.50%	+440.00

When we connected to a nearby U.S. server, download speeds dropped only about 10%, and upload speeds actually went up a touch. Latency even improved. A nearby VPN server can route your connection more efficiently than your normal path, so local performance stays strong.

Note that Malwarebytes Privacy VPN doesn't offer an optimal server location, so we just picked a location close to home. 

Once we started selecting faraway servers, our speeds started to drop, which is true of most VPNs. First, the Toronto server caused download speeds to fall about 40% but stayed above 290 Mbps. That's still fast enough for streaming, video calls, and heavy browsing.

Australia had the slowest upload speeds and the highest latency, which makes sense because it's the longest distance. Upload fell about 62% and latency climbed to 216 ms. Download speeds held up better than the U.K., but anything real-time like gaming would feel the delay.

Malwarebytes Privacy VPN keeps speeds strong on nearby servers and holds up well at medium range. Long-distance connections slow down more, but that's normal for any VPN.

Netflix tests

• Netflix test results: Malwarebytes Privacy VPN unblocked Netflix U.S., Canada, and U.K., but failed to unblock Netflix Australia.

We've been particularly impressed with Malwarebytes Privacy VPN’s ability to access most Netflix libraries. All the VPN servers we tested unblocked Netflix’s worldwide libraries. If you're new to streaming with a VPN, we recommend learning how to watch Netflix with a VPN.

	US to US	US to CA	US to UK	US to AU
Did it work with Netflix?

Malwarebytes Privacy VPN unblocked Netflix U.S., Canada, and U.K. without issue. Note that there are no streaming-optimized servers, so you can select any server in the country you want to stream from. 

However, we connected to both the Melbourne and the Sydney servers and Malwarebytes Privacy VPN was immediately detected. 

It's important to note that streaming platforms are always trying to detect and block VPNs. On the other hand, VPNs are always trying to find ways around detection, so you may find different VPN servers, a whole different VPN, or even try Netflix on another day if you run into trouble.

DNS and WebRTC leak tests

• DNS leak test results: Malwarebytes Privacy VPN passed its DNS leak test.
• WebRTC leak test results: Malwarebytes Privacy VPN partially passed its WebRTC leak test. 

A DNS leak test checks if your device accidentally shares your browsing activity outside of the private VPN tunnel, potentially exposing it to your internet service provider (ISP) or others. A WebRTC leak test verifies if your actual IP address is revealed when using WebRTC, which could also jeopardize your privacy.

We used BrowserLeaks to detect leaks, and none of the servers we tested showed any IP or DNS leaks. This means that when you use the Malwarebytes Privacy VPN service, your browsing information stays protected inside the VPN tunnel, and your real IP address remains hidden when using WebRTC applications.

The only issue occurred during the WebRTC leak test. Although there was no local IP leak, the WebRTC IP was flagged for not matching our remote IP address.

Kill switch test

• Kill switch test results: Malwarebytes Privacy VPN passed its kill switch test.

A kill switch is an essential security feature of any VPN worth considering. If your internet connection cuts out or your VPN connection drops for any reason, a kill switch can prevent your IP address from being exposed. 

One way to test whether this feature actually works is by switching between servers during an IP test. We enabled the kill switch while connected to a server in Argentina. Then, we switched to a server in Australia, but our true location was never exposed. 

Malwarebytes Privacy VPN compatibility

	Compatibility
Windows
macOS
Linux
Android
iOS
Routers
Browser extensions
Smart TVs

Whether you're using a Windows computer, a Mac, an Android device, or an iOS device, Malwarebytes Privacy VPN has you covered. 

Malwarebytes Privacy VPN customer support and reputation

Support type	Malwarebytes Privacy VPN
Email or live chat
Phone
Online guides or forums

Malwarebytes Privacy VPN has a large knowledge base with helpful guides, FAQs, forums, and a blog. But if you need an immediate answer, you'll have to start with the AI chatbot before being connected with an agent. 

Live chat

Although Malwarebytes offers an (ostensibly) 24/7 AI chatbot, the bot is populated with pre-set prompts, so you need to navigate through them to get your question answered. 

The ability to chat with a live agent is restricted to subscription holders. To begin, you must access the AI chatbot first. The bot will decide whether your assistance requires connecting with a human or submitting a support ticket. For the latter, you need to submit a ticket and wait to hear back via email. 

When we clicked to talk to a live agent, we were redirected to the AI chatbot prompt.

Help Center

Although Malwarebytes offers a Help Center, it isn’t immediately evident from the account page. You need to click on a short list of (most likely) common topics to be directed to the Help Center. 

There are a lot of user guides, but the info is short and sweet. So, if we wanted to find out whether Malwarebytes Privacy VPN offers torrenting support, for example, we would need to search externally. From there, we were directed to numerous forum threads. 

So, the info is out there, but you may have to comb through guides, blog articles, and even forums to get the answers you're looking for.

Malwarebytes Privacy VPN user reviews

The App Store and Google Play ratings reflect Malwarebytes Mobile Security (which includes the VPN). Ratings are based on five stars.

• Apple App Store rating: 4.5/5
• Google Play Store rating: 4.4/5
• Trustpilot rating: 4.2/5

Overall, Malwarebytes Mobile Security received consistently high ratings across iOS and Android users. This app includes the antivirus and the VPN. Reviewers believe the app provides peace of mind and dependable protection.

Malwarebytes previously had an underwhelming Trustpilot score, but it has since increased from 3.7 to 4.2, with 71% of reviewers giving the service five stars. Reviewers call out benefits such as the effective malware protection and intuitive interface. The most frequent issues were with renewals and activation, with a minority expressing dissatisfaction with the dashboard's navigation. 

Top alternatives

Malwarebytes Privacy VPN impressed us with its ability to unblock Netflix, but we also found its feature set lacking. Luckily, there are plenty of VPN providers on the market. Based on our extensive testing and research, we recommend these top VPN alternatives:

Bottom line: Is Malwarebytes Privacy VPN good?

Malwarebytes Privacy VPN is a good choice if you want basic security and streaming capabilities. It offers a user-friendly interface, strong encryption, and a kill switch that cuts off internet access if the VPN connection drops. It can also be bundled with Malwarebytes antivirus for multi-layer device protection.

However, the server network is limited, which could cause lag due to overcrowding. Malwarebytes Privacy VPN is best suited for existing Malwarebytes users who don't need the extra features of a premium VPN.

Malwarebytes Privacy VPN FAQs