Proton Mail vs Malwarebytes
Which is better in 2026? Five scores, side by side.
Proton Mail is the better app overall, scoring 8.7 to 7.9. Proton Mail wins on 5 of the 5 scores, Malwarebytes on 0.
People who want private, encrypted email without giving up a modern inbox
Windows and Mac users who want a trusted cleanup tool and extra scam protection
Score by score
The details
| Feature | Proton Mail | Malwarebytes |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Privacy & Security | Privacy & Security |
| Category rank | #6 of 8 | #8 of 8 |
| Developer | Proton AG | Malwarebytes |
| Pricing | Free + paid plans | Free + paid plans |
| Usable for free | Yes | Yes |
| iPhone & iPad | ✓ | ✓ |
| Android | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mac | ✓ | ✓ |
| Windows | ✓ | ✓ |
| Linux | ✓ | — |
| Web | ✓ | — |
Strengths and weaknesses
Proton Mail
- Strong encryption with a privacy-first business model
- Free plan works well for a personal inbox
- Password-protected emails to non-Proton users
- Search and filters are weaker than Gmail's
- Free plan has tight storage and feature limits
Proton Mail is the easiest way to move your email somewhere private. Messages are stored with zero-access encryption, emails between Proton users are end-to-end encrypted, and there's no ad-driven scanning of your inbox. Paid plans add custom domains, more addresses and more storage. The trade-offs are weaker search and fewer integrations than Gmail. Get it if privacy matters more than convenience.
Full Proton Mail review
Malwarebytes
- Free scanner is great for cleaning up infections
- Light enough to run alongside built-in antivirus
- Simple, clear interface
- Real-time protection requires a subscription
- Frequent upgrade prompts in the free version
Malwarebytes is a strong second line of defense. The free version is a good on-demand scanner for cleaning up an infected Windows PC or Mac, and Premium adds real-time protection plus web and scam blocking. On iPhone, it focuses on filtering scam texts and blocking ads and trackers. The downsides are frequent upgrade prompts and overlap with protection already built into your operating system.
Full Malwarebytes review
