Proton Pass vs Malwarebytes
Which is better in 2026? Five scores, side by side.
Proton Pass is the better app overall, scoring 9.0 to 8.0. Proton Pass wins on 5 of the 5 scores, Malwarebytes on 0.
Privacy-minded people who want a free password manager with email aliases
Windows and Mac users who want a trusted cleanup tool and extra scam protection
Score by score
The details
| Feature | Proton Pass | Malwarebytes |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Privacy & Security | Privacy & Security |
| Category rank | #4 of 10 | #10 of 10 |
| Developer | Proton AG | Malwarebytes |
| Pricing | Free + paid plans | Free + paid plans |
| Usable for free | Yes | Yes |
| iPhone & iPad | ✓ | ✓ |
| Android | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mac | ✓ | ✓ |
| Windows | ✓ | ✓ |
| Linux | ✓ | — |
| Web | ✓ | — |
Common questions
Is Proton Pass better than Malwarebytes?
Proton Pass is the better app overall, scoring 9.0 to 8.0. Proton Pass wins on 5 of the 5 scores, Malwarebytes on 0.
Which is cheaper, Proton Pass or Malwarebytes?
Proton Pass: Free plan; Pass Plus is $2.99 a month, billed $35.88 a year. Malwarebytes: Free cleanup scanner; Standard from $59.99/year for 3 devices. On value for money, Proton Pass scores higher.
Do Proton Pass and Malwarebytes work on the same devices?
Only Proton Pass runs on Linux, Web.
Which is more private, Proton Pass or Malwarebytes?
Proton Pass scores higher on privacy (9.7/10). Open source and end-to-end encrypted, under Swiss privacy law. App Store label: only diagnostics, not linked to you. Google Play lists no data shared with third parties.
Strengths and weaknesses
Proton Pass
- Free plan has no device or password limits
- Email aliases keep your real address private
- Open source with a clean privacy label
- Free plan caps aliases at 10
- 2FA codes and dark web monitoring need Plus
Proton Pass has one of the most generous free plans of any password manager. You get unlimited logins on unlimited devices, passkeys, a password generator and 10 hide-my-email aliases, so sites never see your real address. It's open source and end-to-end encrypted, from the team behind Proton Mail. Pass Plus adds unlimited aliases, a built-in 2FA authenticator, dark web monitoring and emergency access for $2.99 a month billed yearly.
Full Proton Pass 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 and in-app offers
Malwarebytes is a strong second line of defense. The free version is a handy on-demand scanner for cleaning up an infected PC or Mac, and paid plans add real-time protection plus web and scam blocking. On iPhone it focuses on scam texts, risky links and sketchy Wi-Fi, and Scam Guard can now check anything you share to it. The downsides are frequent upgrade prompts and overlap with protection already built into your system.
Full Malwarebytes review
