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Best for Bundled Antivirus Protection
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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
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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
Antivirus software is one of the easiest ways to protect your device and your information from cybercriminals. While both Aura Antivirus and Malwarebytes are reliable options, we found Aura to be slightly better.
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.
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| Star rating | ||
| Starting price | $35.99/first yr | Free or $44.99/yr |
| Max number of protected devices | Up to 10 devices | Free: 1 device
Premium: Up to 20 |
| Malware scans | Manual | Free: Manual
Premium: Manual and scheduled |
| Real-time protection | ||
| Phishing protection | ||
| Ransomware protection | ||
| 24/7 customer support | ||
| Compatibility | Windows, Mac, Android | Windows, Mac, Android, iOS |
| Learn more | Get Aura Antivirus | Get Malwarebytes |
We use our proprietary grading rubric in all of our testing, which considers ease-of-use, third-party testing scores, internal testing scores, price, compatibility, and features offered, among other metrics.
This means that our testing process is designed to ensure that the product isn't too confusing, protects as it claims, and offers you a lot for a reasonable price. We download and run each program on our own computers on home networks, just like you would. Our ratings reflect the real-world performance of the antivirus product. This ensures that we can recreate a similar experience for you and give our best advice on whether or not it's worthwhile.
To learn more about how we test, check out our full antivirus testing methodology here.
Aura has reliable malware scanning, but you can't schedule one. It offers reliable protection against phishing attempts and can protect up to 10 devices. It also includes extras such as a virtual private network (VPN)and a password manager. One huge advantage Aura has over malwarebytes is 24/7 customer support.
Malwarebytes is a bit pricey, but it does have a free plan that covers one device. The three paid plans can cover up to 20 devices, and include real-time protection and an ad blocker.
Malwarebytes adds identity theft protection in its highest paid tier.
Aura is much cheaper than Malwarebytes, but still has solid features. Aura Antivirus is the better value.
Our Pick |
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| Price range | $35.99-$59.99/first yr | Free–$99.99/yr |
| Best value plan | Ultimate plan for $59.99/first yr | Complete Protection for $119.99/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, 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 $119.99/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 |
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| 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.
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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.
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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 |
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| 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.
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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.
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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
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