Malwarebytes Privacy VPN Review 2025: A Great Beginner VPN

Malwarebytes Privacy VPN has all the standard features and decent performance, but is it worth the price? We were glad Malwarebytes passed our leak tests and unblocked all the Netflix libraries we tested.

But, it's only available as an annual subscription and it's hard to trust a VPN without an audited no-logs policy. The small server network could also be limiting, especially if they become congested. 

Malwarebytes Privacy VPN is among the better VPNs created by antivirus providers. We'll evaluate its cost, features, test resutls, and more in this review. 

At a glance

Price	$3.33–$14.99/mo
Free version	No, only a 7-day free trial
Max # of connected devices	20
# of servers	130+ servers in 32+ countries
VPN protocol	WireGuard
No-logs policy	No logs
Headquarters	United States
Netflix access	Yes
Learn more	Get Malwarebytes Privacy VPN

We last tested Malwarebytes Privacy VPN on April 25, 2025.

Our experience

Malwarebytes's virtual private network (VPN) is easy to install and use right away. After selecting the Windows download, we just needed to log in. Malwarebytes even offers a simple yet effective tutorial to explain the key features. 

It's a little annoying that the dashboard is static in the lower right-hand corner of the screen, and there's no option to pin the app to our nav bar. Essentially, we have to exit out of the dashboard to minimize it and can only open it again by clicking the desktop shortcut. 

Other providers offer more customization when resizing and moving dashboard. But the Malwarebytes dash is more compact compared to other VPNs. 

Connecting to a server is also easy. After selecting the country, a list of available servers by city populates, making the selection process a breeze. 

We were surprised there were no recommended or optimized servers, which could leave VPN beginners confused. There were also no optimized servers for streaming, torrenting, or other common server uses, but this is expected for more basic VPNs. 

Identifying and locating advanced security features like split tunneling and multi-hop isn't straightforward because Malwarebytes has its own labels for these VPN features. Malwarebytes calls split tunneling "connection rules" and multi-hop "connection mode." 

Confusing, right? We thought so too. 

We would probably use Malwarebytes Privacy VPN if we already had a Malwarebytes bundle. Otherwise, there are better services to choose from. 

Who is Malwarebytes VPN best for?

• Recommended for beginners who don't need advanced functionality or multiple devices

Malwarebytes Privacy VPN is a good option for basic privacy and security, but there are limitations to consider. While this VPN offers both multi-hop and split tunneling functions, these features are limited to Windows.

And while the monthly investment is low, there’s only an annual subscription option. Not everyone needs 12 months' worth of VPN services. 

Luckily Malwarebytes says you can cancel at any time. If you fall within its 60-day money-back guarantee, you can submit a support ticket to customer service and receive a refund.

Also, the pre-set plans display a maximum of five device connections, which may be perfect or not enough for some.  There is an option during the checkout process to increase the number of devices to 20, but you'll be paying the equivalent of $15.00/mo for the trouble. 

If you have a large household, it's better to consider a VPN provider that offers unlimited simultaneous connections.

Overall, there are other VPNs that offer greater privacy, more flexibility, and better device coverage. But the average person is likely to find this sufficient for their everyday needs, and the ability to bundle the VPN with Malwarebytes antivirus protection is a bonus (if you're okay with paying extra). 

Prices and subscriptions

Malwarebytes VPN has a wide price range of $3.33–$14.99/mo. Your price depends on your subscription term length and how many devices you wish to cover. 

You can cover anywhere from one to 20 devices, just note that your price will increase with each price. We also noted that the price appears the same whether you choose a one-year or a two-year subscription. 

Here's how Malwarebytes Privacy VPN's starting price compares to top VPN providers: 

• Malwarebytes Privacy VPN: $3.33/mo (billed annually)
• Surfshark: $1.99/mo (billed every two years)
• NordVPN: $3.09/mo (billed every two years)
• ExpressVPN: $4.99/mo (billed every two years)

Surfshark already offers unlimited simultaneous connections, so it's more cost-efficient than Malwarebytes Privacy VPN. NordVPN and ExpressVPN are two of the top performers we've tested, so Malwarebytes Privacy VPN may not stack up to these for advanced users. 

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	$3.33/mo (billed annually)	$4.99/mo (billed annually)
Max # of device connections	20	20
VPN
Ad and tracker blocker
Antivirus
Learn more	View plan	View plan

Speaking of prices, we'd love to see Malwarebytes accept additional payment methods. Currently, it only accepts PayPal as well as credit cards, including Visa, MasterCard, and American Express.

Other VPNs, like ExpressVPN and NordVPN, accept multiple payment methods, including cryptocurrency and gift cards. And Mullvad VPN even accepts cash. The anonymity these types of payments provide is especially ideal for anyone using a VPN for personal security.

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

• 130+ servers in 32+ 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 over 130+ servers spread across 32+ countries. Here is the breakdown by continent:

• Europe: Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine
• North America: Canada, Mexico, United States
• Middle East: Cyprus, Israel, Turkey
• Asia: Indonesia, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand
• South America: Brazil, Colombia, Peru
• Africa: South Africa
• Oceania: Australia, New Zealand
  

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 the smaller server count could lead to congestion if there are too many users on the same servers.

No-logs policy and headquarters

• Malwarebytes Privacy VPN logs policy: Malwarebytes VPN logs minimal data, including license data, software version, and public key.
• Malwarebytes Privacy VPN headquarters: Santa Clara, California, United States

Malwarebytes Privacy VPN claims to have a "no-logs policy," but its privacy policy suggests some data collection. It notes collecting your license data to activate your license, your software version to provide updates, and your public key so that your VPN app can establish a connection.

Being based in California, United States, raises concerns due to surveillance alliances like the Five Eyes alliance. A VPN provider in such jurisdictions may have to share user data with the government. If you’re concerned about privacy, you may prefer VPNs based in countries outside of these alliances to minimize the risk of government surveillance and data sharing, such as NordVPN (Panama), ExpressVPN (British Virgin Islands), or CyberGhost (Romania).

While not a true no-logs policy, this stance isn't unusual in the VPN world. It's worth noting that Malwarebytes Privacy VPN doesn’t log network data, which includes personal information like email addresses and IP addresses.

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 gaining access to your device. 

Malwarebytes Privacy VPN has an automatic kill switch feature for both macOS and Windows.

Multi-hop (double VPN)

The multi-hop feature is currently exclusive to Windows users, so mobile and macOS users are left out. With multi-hop, also known as double VPN, you can establish a connection through two different VPN servers, enhancing your online privacy and security. Malwarebytes calls this “connection mode.”

By using multi-hop, your data gets encrypted and passes through multiple VPN servers, making it harder for anyone to trace your online activities 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.

Considering these factors, if you have lesser security needs, are a macOS or a mobile user, or prioritize simplicity and user-friendliness, Malwarebytes Privacy VPN without multi-hop may still be a suitable choice.

Split tunneling

Split tunneling is an advanced security feature that allows you to redirect select 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 have restrictions against VPNs (e.g., a banking website). 

Malwarebytes VPN offers this function, but it's a little confusing to find because it's labeled as "connection rules" in the Settings. 

Encryption

Malwarebytes Privacy VPN uses a strong encryption method called the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES), specifically AES-256. AES is military-grade encryption specifically chosen by the U.S. government to protect important and secret information. 

AES is widely used around the world to encrypt sensitive data, both in software and hardware. By using 256-bit encryption, Malwarebytes Privacy VPN ensures your data is secure and protected from unauthorized access. This means your information stays private while using the VPN.

VPN protocol

Malwarebytes Privacy VPN uses the WireGuard tunneling protocol, a free and open-source option designed to be faster than other VPN protocols like OpenVPN, IPsec, and IKEv2. It's paired with AES-256 to encrypt your data. 

WireGuard also runs better on mobile devices and offers faster speeds and more reliable connections.

Test results

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

We also tested how formidable it was against Netflix geo-blocks and ensured there were no data leaks.

Speed tests

• Speed test results: Malwarebytes Privacy VPN droped our download speeds by an average of 39% 

One of the most important aspects of a VPN is how it impacts your speed. That's why we test all the VPNS we review for speed and how it's 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	456.64 Mbps	435.13 Mbps	415.52 Mbps	151.05 Mbps	120.41 Mbps
Upload speed	475.47 Mbps	453.10 Mbps	459.31 Mbps	10.42 Mbps	341.87 Mbps
Latency (ping)	17 ms	20 ms	77 ms	122 ms	252 ms
Download speed % difference	N/A	-4.71%	-9.00%	-66.92%	-73.63%
Upload speed % difference	N/A	-4.70%	-3.40%	-97.81%	-28.10%
Latency % difference	N/A	+17.65%	+352.94%	+617.65%	+1,382.35%

Although Malwarebytes doesn't recommend an optimal server, we searched for the closest location to us. We were pleased to see that drop was marginal when connecting to a Houston server from our location in Austin. 

Malwarebytes Privacy VPN had the largest impact on our speeds when connected to servers in the U.K. and Australia. It's normal to see at least some drop in download and upload speeds when connecting to a VPN. especially when connecting to servers on the other side of the world.

Although the overall average speed drop is close to 40%, this was mostly due to the results with the faraway servers. We also didn't notice any lag or buffering as we browsed while using different servers, so we were happy with Malwarebytes Privacy VPN's performance. 

Netflix tests

• Netflix test results: Malwarebytes Privacy VPN unblocked all four Netflix libraries with ease. 

Something we’re seriously impressed with is Malwarebytes Privacy VPN’s access to Netflix. All the VPN servers we tested with unblocked Netflix’s worldwide libraries. If you're new to streaming with a VPN, we recommend you learn how to watch Netflix on a VPN.

Netflix only flagged Malwarebytes VPN while we were connected to the Manchester server. However, once we switched over to the London server, the Netflix U.K. library loaded just fine. 

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

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 trying Netflix on another day may work 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 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 tested had any IP, WebRTC, or DNS leaks. This means that when you use the Malwarebytes VPN service, your browsing Information stays protected inside the VPN tunnel, and your real IP address remains hidden when using WebRTC applications.

Kill switch test

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

A kill switch is an essential security feature of any VPN worth its salt. If your internet cuts out or your VPN connection drops for any reason, a kill switch can ensure that your IP address isn't exposed. 

One way to test whether this feature actually works is by switching between servers during an IP test. After enabling the kill switch, we connected to a Milan server. However, any time we selected another server, we got a registration server error from the VPN.

Although our IP address never appeared, we don't think the kill switch is usable and this is the second time we've gotten this result.

Compatibility

Whether you're using a Windows computer, a Mac, an Android device, or an Apple device, Malwarebytes Privacy VPN has got you covered. This VPN is compatible with desktop and mobile apps for:

• Windows 7 and up
• macOS Catalina 10.15.4 and up
• Android 9 and up
• iOS 14 and up

Customer support

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 rely on the AI chatbot. 

AI chatbot 

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. 

Chat with a live agent

The ability to chat with a live agent is restricted to subscription holders. Plus, it's a runaround to try and connect with a live agent. 

Basically, you need to 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 more information on whether Malwarebytes VPN offers torrenting support, for example, we need to turn to a Google search instead. From there, we're 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. And for those who are wondering, no, Malwarebytes doesn't support torrenting. 

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 can recommend the following as solid alternatives:

Malwarebytes Privacy FAQs

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, leading to fewer server options compared to competitors as well as potential slowness due to overcrowding. 

If you require stronger security, additional features, monthly subscription plans, or broader device coverage, other premium VPN providers may be worth considering.