Malwarebytes Privacy VPN Review 2023: 4 Con and 2 Pros

by Petr Novák
updated August 24, 2023 (Report a bug)

1. Malwarebytes Privacy VPN: Fast VPN with a Trial Version for 7 days for Free

   • The app collects a lot of personal data
   • Low number of servers (only 500)
   • Compatible only with basic platforms
   • Failed to unblock Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+ or HBO Max

   • Average download (172 Mb/s) and upload (139 Mb/s)
   • Lots of additional apps for VPN

   Malwarebytes Privacy VPN is a service operated by the US company Malwarebytes Inc. Its main product is anti-malware software; VPN is intended primarily as a complement to it. In our testing, it received an overall rating of 5.8/10, making it one of the below-average services.

   A significant drawback of Malwarebytes Privacy VPN is the large amount of data it stores. Although it is not data obtained from VPN usage, the most trusted services like Proton VPN Plus do not collect any data. The app also lacks VPN connection masking and multi-hop, where all traffic is routed through two different servers simultaneously.

   The low number of servers that Malwarebytes Privacy VPN operates, only 500, also had a negative impact on the final grade.

   In the streaming platform test, Malwarebytes Privacy VPN worked only on the YouTube server. We were unable to unblock foreign content from Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+, or HBO Max.

   The benefit of Malwarebytes Privacy VPN is the additional malware blocking app that comes with the subscription. The VPN app itself has implemented a kill switch feature, and the transmitted data is protected by 256-bit encryption and the WireGuard protocol. This is becoming a standard among VPNs; its main advantage is its high speed.

   Transfer speeds for Malwarebytes Privacy VPN were above average compared to other reviewed VPNs. In repeated tests, we measured average download of 172 Mb/s and upload of 139 Mb/s.

2. Malwarebytes Privacy VPN Subscription: Discount Code, Free Trial, Money Back Guarantee…

   • Your Price: $5.00​17% off  $4.17 /mo (5 devices)
   • Money Back Guarantee: Yes (60 days)
   • Free Trial: Yes (7 days)
   • Cryptocurrency payments:
     No

     Bitcoin :No
     Dash :No
     Ethereum :No
     Ripple :No

   Get this VPN 17% cheaper

   Malwarebytes Privacy VPN can be subscribed to separately or as part of a bundle with antivirus and web browser protection. Standalone solutions are available for individual users and businesses, making the pricing structure rather opaque.

   The subscription price for Malwarebytes Privacy VPN devices is a maximum of $4.17 per month. There is an even cheaper subscription for one or three devices.

   The subscription length is one year in all cases; no other options are offered.

   Debit and credit cards or the PayPal platform can be used to pay for the Malwarebytes Privacy VPN subscription. When purchasing from the mobile app, payment can be made via Google Pay and Apple Pay.

   The trial version of Malwarebytes Privacy VPN is available for free for 7 days. A money-back guarantee is available within 60 days of purchase; just contact customer support.

3. Malwarebytes Privacy VPN and Supported Devices: Android, iOS, macOS…

   • Device limit: 5

   Platforms supported

   • Android:
     Yes

     Android is supported by 99 % of reviewed VPNs
   • Android TV:
     No

     Android TV is supported by 38 % of reviewed VPNs
   • Apple TV:
     No

     Apple TV is supported by 18 % of reviewed VPNs
   • Fire TV:
     No

     Fire TV is supported by 42 % of reviewed VPNs
   • Chromebook:
     No

     Chromebook is supported by 21 % of reviewed VPNs
   • Chromecast:
     No

     Chromecast is supported by 16 % of reviewed VPNs
   • iOS:
     Yes

     iOS is supported by 99 % of reviewed VPNs
   • Kodi:
     No

     Kodi is supported by 23 % of reviewed VPNs
   • Linux:
     No

     Linux is supported by 60 % of reviewed VPNs
   • Mac:
     Yes

     Mac is supported by 98 % of reviewed VPNs
   • NAS:
     No

     NAS is supported by 27 % of reviewed VPNs
   • nVidia Shield:
     No

     nVidia Shield is supported by 18 % of reviewed VPNs
   • Playstation:
     No

     Playstation is supported by 22 % of reviewed VPNs
   • Raspberry Pi:
     No

     Raspberry Pi is supported by 17 % of reviewed VPNs
   • Roku:
     No

     Roku is supported by 17 % of reviewed VPNs
   • Router:
     No

     Router is supported by 53 % of reviewed VPNs
   • Windows:
     Yes

     Windows is supported by 100 % of reviewed VPNs
   • xBox:
     No

     xBox is supported by 22 % of reviewed VPNs

   Browser Extensions

   • Brave :
     No

     The Brave browser add-on is offered by 47 % of reviewed VPNs.
   • Chrome :
     No

     The Chrome browser add-on is offered by 47 % of reviewed VPNs.
   • Edge :
     No

     The Edge browser add-on is offered by 20 % of reviewed VPNs.
   • Firefox :
     No

     The Firefox browser add-on is offered by 35 % of reviewed VPNs.
   • Opera :
     No

     The Opera browser add-on is offered by 47 % of reviewed VPNs.
   • Safari :
     No

     The Safari browser add-on is offered by 0 % of reviewed VPNs.
   • Vivaldi :
     No

     The Vivaldi browser add-on is offered by 47 % of reviewed VPNs.

   Depending on the subscription option paid, Malwarebytes Privacy VPN can be used on 1, 3, or 5 devices simultaneously. In this review, we tested the subscription for 5 devices.

   The Malwarebytes Privacy VPN app is available for Windows and macOS computers, as well as for Android and iOS mobile devices.

   The Malwarebytes Privacy VPN app cannot be used on Linux, Android TV, Apple TV, Fire TV, or Roku smart TVs, PlayStation and Xbox game consoles, or NAS or Raspberry Pi devices. VPNs lack support for traffic on a router, which can easily secure all devices connected to the same network.

   The Malwarebytes Privacy VPN extension is not available for any browser.

   The compatibility level of Malwarebytes Privacy VPN is very low, costing it several points in the overall rating. If you need to use VPNs on other types of platforms, we recommend that you choose NordVPN (subscription price $3.74 per month) or Surfshark ($2.30 per month).

4. Malwarebytes Privacy VPN App: User-friendliness, whitelist, server selection…

   • App Languages: 🇺🇸 English +8 more🇩🇪 German 🇪🇸 Spanish 🇫🇷 French 🇷🇺 Russian 🇵🇹 Portuguese 🇮🇹 Italian 🇳🇱 Dutch 🇵🇱 Polish
   • Whitelisting:
     Yes

     Whitelisting is supported by 53 % of reviewed VPNs

   The Malwarebytes Privacy VPN app for desktop and mobile devices is simple to use, so even a less experienced user will quickly understand the controls. The graphical design is better than average, but the option to switch between light and dark mode is only available in the Windows version.

   The application environment is available in 9 different languages.

   The connection location can be selected manually from a list of countries; selecting a specific server is not possible. Additionally, Malwarebytes Privacy VPN does not support automatic connection to the fastest possible server.

   In the settings, you can create a whitelist of trusted applications and sites to which the Internet connection will be routed directly, even when the VPN is activated. You can also activate an automatic connection to the VPN when the computer boots or when the VPN fails.

   The VPN can be combined with antivirus and browser protection, while call protection, ad blocking, and SMS filtering are also available in the mobile app.

5. Malwarebytes Privacy VPN Connection Speed: Upload, Download & Latency

   • Traffic limit: Unlimited

   Download speed

   Higher is better. The average download of all tested VPNs is 101 Mb/s.

   Upload speed

   Higher is better. The average upload of all tested VPNs is 71 Mb/s.

   Server latency

   A lower value is better. The average response rate of all tested VPNs is 64 ms.
   Malwarebytes Privacy VPN does not limit the user in the amount of data transferred; this is standard among paid VPNs.

   The app does not support automatic server selection based on the current connection speed, so for testing purposes, we selected them manually. We achieved very good results when connecting to the physically closest location; the slowdown compared to a connection without a VPN was quite small.

   The measured download speed of 172 Mb/s is above average compared to other VPNs, so Malwarebytes Privacy VPN can be used for downloading bulky files. While the speed is fast enough for watching 4K video content, Malwarebytes Privacy VPN had major problems unblocking platforms.

   The average upload value of 139 Mb/s was also very good, so Malwarebytes Privacy VPN can be used for torrenting or data sharing.

   The response value of 35 ms is marginally sufficient for VPN-enabled video gaming or secure video calls. The services at the top of the rankings performed better; for example, we measured that CyberGhost VPN had 11 ms and AdGuard VPN had 7 ms. Unlike transfer speeds, for response rates, lower is better.

6. Malwarebytes Privacy VPN Server Locations

   • Number of servers:
     500

     The average number of servers for the reviewed VPNs is 1662.
   • Number of countries:
     42

     The average number of countries available for the reviewed VPNs is 39.

   Europe	🇦🇱 Albania 🇧🇪 Belgium 🇧🇬 Bulgaria 🇨🇿 Czech Republic 🇩🇰 Denmark 🇪🇪 Estonia 🇫🇮 Finland 🇫🇷 France 🇭🇷 Croatia 🇮🇪 Ireland 🇮🇹 Italy 🇱🇻 Latvia 🇱🇺 Luxembourg 🇭🇺 Hungary 🇲🇩 Moldova 🇩🇪 Germany 🇳🇱 Netherlands 🇳🇴 Norway 🇵🇱 Poland 🇵🇹 Portugal 🇦🇹 Austria 🇷🇴 Romania 🇬🇷 Greece 🇲🇰 Northern Macedonia 🇸🇰 Slovakia 🇬🇧 United Kingdom 🇷🇸 Serbia 🇪🇸 Spain 🇸🇪 Sweden 🇨🇭 Switzerland 🇺🇦 Ukraine
   North America	🇨🇦 Canada 🇺🇸 USA
   South America	🇧🇷 Brazil 🇨🇴 Colombia
   Asia	🇭🇰 Hong Kong 🇮🇱 Israel 🇯🇵 Japan 🇸🇬 Singapore
   Africa	🇿🇦 South Africa
   Oceania	🇦🇺 Australia 🇳🇿 New Zealand

   Malwarebytes Privacy VPN does not publish exact server counts. In total, there should be over 500, spread across 42 countries around the world. The number of servers is only one of the qualitative indicators; their configuration or the number of active users also plays a major role.

   Servers for Malwarebytes Privacy VPN are available on all continents, with the most in Europe. Among the available countries are the USA, Canada, UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, or South Africa; among the less frequented locations, Albania, Croatia, Moldova, Northern Macedonia, or Colombia are represented.

   It does not offer dedicated servers for streaming or torrenting, but this type of traffic is supported in all locations. All servers are run directly by Malwarebytes Inc. without an intermediary, which increases security and privacy levels.

   For example, ExpressVPN operates 3,000 servers in 59 countries, and PureVPN has 6,500 servers in 69 different locations.

7. Malwarebytes Privacy VPN Security Features: DNS Leak Protection, Kill Switch…

   • DNS leak protection :
     No

     DNS leak protection is offered by 96% of the reviewed VPNs.
   • Kill Switch:
     Yes

     Kill Switch is supported by 84% of the reviewed VPNs.
   • Multi-Hop:
     No

     Multi-Hop connection is offered by 21 % of the VPNs reviewed.
   • Tor:
     No

     Tor support is offered by 15 % of the reviewed VPNs.

   Malwarebytes Privacy VPN lacks advanced DNS leak protection. However, no leaks occurred during testing, and our real IP address was not revealed.

   The kill switch is only available in the desktop application for Malwarebytes Privacy VPN. This feature prevents the user’s real IP address from being revealed by immediately disconnecting the device from the Internet in case of a connection failure with the VPN server.

   Multi-hop connectivity (also known as Double VPN) is not available with Malwarebytes Privacy VPN. Its principle is to connect through two different VPN servers at the same time, which increases both security and privacy. The feature is offered by, for example, NordVPN or Private Internet Access.

   The only available protocol for Malwarebytes Privacy VPN is WireGuard, which is fast, secure, and used by a number of VPN services. The transmitted data is protected by 256-bit AES encryption. This is considered very secure and is used by banks, among others, to secure their systems.

   Malwarebytes Privacy VPN cannot be used on the Tor network.

   The user account on the Malwarebytes Privacy VPN website is secured by two-factor authentication. A code sent by email will then be required along with the password when logging in; this protection cannot be turned off.

8. Malwarebytes Privacy VPN & Streaming: Netflix, YouTube, Amazon Prime…

   • Amazon Prime:
     No

     Amazon Prime streaming is supported by 53 % of reviewed VPNs
   • Disney+:
     No

     Disney+ streaming is supported by 55 % of reviewed VPNs
   • HBO:
     No

     HBO streaming is supported by 59 % of reviewed VPNs
   • Hulu:
     No

     Hulu streaming is supported by 49 % of reviewed VPNs
   • Netflix:
     No

     Netflix streaming is supported by 64 % of reviewed VPNs
   • YouTube:
     Yes

     YouTube streaming is supported by 89 % of reviewed VPNs

   Malwarebytes Privacy VPN is not suitable for unblocking foreign content from streaming platforms.

   During testing of Malwarebytes Privacy VPN, we achieved very limited success. While we were able to play video from Netflix and HBO, we were unable to unblock foreign libraries. A stream from Amazon Prime failed to load at all, instead displaying a message warning us to not use a VPN.

   We were only able to unlock video from Disney Plus and YouTube platforms. The average measured download speed of 172 Mb/s is sufficient for 4K video playback on its own. For this, a minimum speed of at least 50 Mbps is specified as necessary.

   For unblocking foreign content on streaming platforms, other VPNs are preferable; we achieved very good results with NordVPN and Surfshark. Both VPNs unblocked all platforms tested, have sufficient speed for 4K playback, and are perfectly secure to boot.

9. Features of Malwarebytes Privacy VPN: AdBlock, Static IP…

   • Blocks Ads:
     No

     Ad blocking is offered by 45 % of the VPNs reviewed.
   • Blocks Malware:
     No

     Malware blocking is offered by 36 % of the VPNs reviewed.
   • Blocks Trackers:
     No

     Trackers blocking is offered by 39 % of the VPNs reviewed.

   Ad-blocking, malware, and tracker-blocking features are offered by Malwarebytes Privacy VPN as part of the browser protection services add-on package.

   You can use split tunneling directly in Malwarebytes Privacy VPN and select applications that will connect directly to the Internet even when VPN protection is enabled. Auto-connect is also available to ensure automatic connection when the computer is turned on.

   Of the advanced features, Malwarebytes Privacy VPN does not offer multi-hop connectivity, nor does it offer a Stealth mode that can mask activated VPN protection.

   Neither static nor dynamic IP addresses are available with Malwarebytes Privacy VPN for an additional fee. Along with the VPN, you can order Malwarebytes antivirus to protect your device from hackers and ransomware. The mobile phone app will provide protection from dangers on the Internet, block annoying ads, unwanted calls, and can filter SMS messages.

   Malwarebytes also offers a free version of an antivirus program with limited features, and an app to efficiently clean unnecessary files from your computer.

10. Malwarebytes Privacy VPN‘s CPU usage and App Performance

    When testing the Malwarebytes Privacy VPN desktop application, we did not observe any significant slowdown of the device. Most VPN apps are designed to avoid restricting the user’s use of the computer.

    The macOS app took about 40 MB of RAM and around 100 MB of the computer’s hard drive. Malwarebytes Privacy VPN is very CPU and battery friendly, with a load in both cases of within 1%.

    If you don’t need to use the VPN, we recommend disabling the app completely to optimize your device’s performance. This is because apps with VPN protection deactivated still run in the background.

11. Malwarebytes Privacy VPN Torrenting Servers

    • Torrenting servers:
      Yes

      Torrenting support is offered by 88 % of the reviewed VPNs.

    Malwarebytes Privacy VPN allows torrenting in all locations but does not operate any dedicated servers specifically for P2P file sharing.

    When the VPN is enabled, other users are shown a dummy IP address assigned by Malwarebytes Privacy VPN. The user’s real IP address is hidden from other torrenting application users and third parties.

    In our tests, we measured Malwarebytes Privacy VPN‘s average download speed at 172 Mb/s and upload speed at 139 Mb/s. This makes the VPN suitable for torrenting due to its above-average speeds, zero data transfer limit, and kill switch feature. When engaging in P2P file sharing, avoid distributing copyrighted works.

12. What is the country of origin of Malwarebytes Privacy VPN?

    • Country of origin: 🇺🇸 USA

    The operator of Malwarebytes Privacy VPN is Malwarebytes Inc. The company was founded in 2008 in the U.S. state of Illinois. Today, it is headquartered in Santa Clara, California, with regional headquarters for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa in Ireland. As the name suggests, the primary business of Malwarebytes Inc. is the development of anti-malware software.

    The U.S. is a member of the 5 Eyes group of countries, whose intelligence agencies can monitor Internet traffic and share information among themselves. The company must release information about users when requested to do so by authorized authorities.

    In addition, customers from the European Union are covered by GDPR.

13. Malwarebytes Privacy VPN and Privacy: Logging Policy, Security Issues…

    • No-Logs Policy:
      Yes

      The No-Logs Policy is followed by 79% of reviewed VPNs.

    According to the claims on its website, Malwarebytes Privacy VPN does not store any logs of Internet behavior.

    The privacy policy states that the company stores quite a bit of information, which it also shares with third parties. This includes names, email addresses, payment details, and internet providers. However, this information is not obtained during the use of the VPN app.

    The data collected is primarily used by the operator, Malwarebytes Privacy VPN, to optimize services and product offerings. However, it may be provided to Google Analytics or shared in events like the sale of the company to external service providers, or with government authorities in response to a legal request to release data.

    Malwarebytes Privacy VPN has not been audited by an independent company. There are no Transparency Reports or Warrant Canary statements issued in connection with the VPN.

    To enhance the protection of user data and product quality, Malwarebytes Privacy VPN is part of the Bug Bounty Program, where developers can receive financial rewards for exposing flaws in the application or security.

    Malwarebytes Inc. operates entirely on its own servers, guaranteeing a higher level of security. Some other VPN providers use third-party servers, increasing the risk of data leaks.

    In the Malwarebytes Privacy VPN app, you can disable the sending of telemetry data to optimize the service.

14. Malwarebytes Privacy VPN Support: Chat, e-mail…

    A large database of troubleshooting tips for common problems, including hands-on videos, is available at Malwarebytes Privacy VPN‘s website. Also, there is a user forum with hundreds of threads where answers to common questions can be found.

    Technical support is also available via a chatbot, which is sub-par in terms of quality. Users attempting to check in are often directed to links in the knowledge base, and reconnecting to a live human can be difficult. While support is available 24/7, it was not very helpful for our test queries. We were mostly redirected to technical experts who responded via email within 24 hours.

15. Malwarebytes Privacy VPN FAQ

    Is Malwarebytes Privacy VPN or NordVPN Better?

    You can compare VPN applications based on several parameters.

    For example, Malwarebytes Privacy VPN is not an outright bad VPN, but it can only compete with NordVPN in transfer speed. In other aspects, it lags far behind, having had problems unblocking streaming platforms and, according to the privacy policy, may share data with third parties. In the Malwarebytes Privacy VPN test, it received a score of 5.8/10.

    NordVPN is one of the best VPNs on the market, earning a grade of 9.4/10 in our test. Users are provided with 5,813 servers in 59 countries and an excellent level of security. NordVPN can unlock all streaming platforms, and the service has been audited to confirm the security and anonymity of user data.

    Is Malwarebytes Privacy VPN Secure?

    Malwarebytes Privacy VPN can reliably hide the user’s real address and DNS. The phone app also protects users against unwanted phone calls and text messages, or you can download a security browser extension from the same manufacturer. A positive aspect is the company’s own network of servers, which reduces the risk of data leakage via a third party. Malwarebytes Privacy VPN uses the proven and reliable WireGuard protocol and 256-bit encryption for security.

    On the other hand, it’s important to know how the VPN provider handles user data. Malwarebytes Privacy VPN has some reservations in this regard. Although it does not track users’ online activity, it does collect a relatively large amount of personal data when users visit a site or sign up for a subscription, which it may share with third parties. A security audit by an independent third party would help to increase trust.

    Is Malwarebytes Privacy VPN Free?

    Malwarebytes Privacy VPN is a paid service; the price of the most affordable subscription option is $4.17 per month. The order is covered by a money-back guarantee within 60 days. For a period of 7 days, you can try Malwarebytes Privacy VPN for free.

    A premium package option is also available that includes Malwarebytes antivirus along with the VPN.