Malwarebytes is one of the most popular names in the security solution industry. With its extensive methods for safeguarding the systems against malicious programs, it had become a consumer favorite very quickly just after its launch.
When it was launched in 2008, Malwarebytes used to offer its premium version for a lifetime subscription. That is, you have to pay for a premium version just for one time, and you will get a lifetime subscription.
It is still unclear whether that was a publicity gimmick or a genuine offer to the consumers, but Malwarebytes was unstoppable after this offer came to existence. It got a tremendous response, and many people bought the premium subscription for their systems.
However, things got changed from 2014. Malwarebytes changed its subscription model, and lifetime subscription was replaced with the annual subscription.
Well, this change was inevitable; otherwise, it would have been difficult for Malwarebytes to maintain the quality, and eventually, it would have lacked behind in the competition for providing security services.
Although, as expected, consumers were not at all impressed by the changes in the subscription model. They felt betrayed by the decision. However, the people who bought the lifetime subscription were allowed to use the premium services without paying any additional price. They were restricted from using the premium version in more than one device. Though the company claims it as per the license terms, it was always limited to use the program in a single device. Still, premium subscribers were continuously exploiting it, so they have to enforce the restrictions.
Malwarebytes Free vs Paid Comparison
Using the free version of Malwarebytes along with Windows Defender in Windows 10 is more than enough for you. However, if you still want to know what extra Malwarebytes provides in its paid version, let us point out that.
As far as the free version is concerned, you only get the Malwarebytes malware scanner in that. It is a powerful scanner to find malicious threats such as viruses and other malware. You can also update its database for free. However, you have to scan every time manually.
On the other hand, you get a lot more in the paid version:
- AI and machine learning based real-time protection
- Protection against online scammers
- A strong defense against the ransomware attacks
- Anti-exploits
- Scheduled Scan
You get all the features of the paid version for 14 days trial, when you install the Malwarebytes for the first time. As you can see, there are clearly more advanced features available in Malwarebytes paid version.
Is it Worth Paying for the Malwarebytes Paid version?
Well, it mostly depends on your usage and requirements. If you spend a lot of time on the web for your work, there is always a threat of attacks by cybercriminals using malicious programs such as ransomware, trojans, keyloggers, etc. Also, if you have some important files stored in your system, you don’t want cybercriminals to encrypt them and then demand ransom from you. If underage children use the device, there is a constant concern that they might accidentally click a malware-infected link.
For tackling all such scenarios and many like those, you might need a strong antimalware that provides you full support 24×7, so that you need not have to worry about handling them manually. In that case, buying the premium version can benefit you.
If you feel paying around $40 per year for an antimalware is a lot to spend, you can always look for alternatives of Malwarebytes, such as MalwareFox.
MalwareFox is one of the best alternatives to Malwarebytes. It is a light-weighted application that is loaded with a lot of advanced features.
Just like Malwarebytes, MalwareFox also comes with a paid premium version. However, it cost quite less than Malwarebytes. You only have to pay $24.95 for a full annual subscription.
Before buying, you can check this page for full details on why you should go for MalwareFox. If you still have doubts, then before buying, you can test it using the trial version, which MalwareFox provides free for 14 days.
When it comes to securing your devices from harmful threats, money should be the least concern. However, if you are getting better offers from an equally good application, why not go for that.
