Malwarebytes vs MacKeeper

Security software is a dime a dozen. Therefore, choosing the best virus protection for Mac shouldn’t be taken lightly. Malwarebytes and MacKeeper are two of the most popular offerings on the market. When selecting between the software, it’s essential to compare them based on key categories, such as features they offer, pricing, user experience, and performance.

The question should never be, “Do Macs get viruses?” Instead, it should be how to remove them and secure your device. In this article, we’ll review Malwarebytes and MacKeeper, which both offer antivirus protection for your Mac.

A note from our experts:

 

Have you ever tried MacKeeper’s Antivirus? It’s high time to try it out and compare it with Malwarebytes. Discover all the advantages of our tool by testing it in practice.

 

Here’s how to use MacKeeper’s Antivirus:

1. Download the MacKeeper app and install it.  
2. Select Antivirus from the sidebar and click Start Scan.
3. After the scan, remove threats, if any are detected.

Malwarebytes review

Malwarebytes is a popular cybersecurity tool known for its anti-malware software. The software was released by the Malwarebytes Corporation in January 2006 and is available on computers and mobile devices. Malwarebytes is known to detect malware infections that other platforms may miss.

1. Malwarebytes tools and features

Here are the features and tools available in Malwarebytes:

• Device Scanner
• Real-Time Protection
• Detection History
• VPN
• Identity Protection
• API
• Activity Dashboard
• Reporting and Analytics
• Activity Monitoring
• Remote Access/Control
• Alerts
• IT, Server & Network Monitoring Software
• Anomaly/Malware Detection
• Anti Spam
• Two-Factor Authentication
• Anti Virus
• Network Security Software
• Risk Management Software
• Application Security
• Reporting/Analytics
• Backup and Recovery
• Data Security
• Secure Data Storage
• Reporting & Statistics
• Endpoint Protection Software
• Threat Intelligence Platform
• Automatic Backup
• Monitoring
• Disaster Recovery Software
• Remediation Management
• Risk Assessment
• Network Provisioning
• Secure Login
• Third-Party Integrations
• Remote Monitoring & Management
• Event Analysis
• Threat Response
• IT Reporting

2. How much does Malwarebytes cost?

Malwarebytes has a free tier and two paid tiers: Standard and Plus. Its Standard tier covers one device at $44.99 annually (or $3.75/month). The Plus tier also covers one device but is slightly more costly at $59.99 annually (or $5/month). Unlike the free and Standard tiers, this is because it offers a VPN service.

3. How reliable is Malwarebytes' virus protection?

Malwarebytes offers relatively good, not perfect, malware protection. In October 2023, AV-Test scored 5.5 out of 6 for performance on Windows. AV-Test hasn’t tested Malwarebytes on MacBook devices. Additionally, it didn’t appear on AV-Test’s list of the best macOS antivirus software for home users in June 2024.

4. Malwarebytes customer support

Malwarebytes support page has an AI chatbot functionality that you can use to get assistance. In the chatbot, you can select the category you need help with. The categories include options to:

• Manage your account and billing
• Get help with a product
• Get information about data and privacy
• Receive support regarding Identity Theft Protection

If required, you can ask the bot to connect you to a live agent for further assistance.

5. How does using Malwarebytes affect the performance of the computer?

As an antivirus program, Malwarebytes constantly runs in the background of your computer to protect it against malware threats in real time. Naturally, this means it will impact your Mac’s performance. Malwarebytes is lighter on system resources compared to other antivirus software. However, you can expect it to slow down your Mac somewhat, as it consumes CPU resources, although not significantly.

6. What is Malwarebytes compatible with?

Malwarebytes is compatible with the following devices:

• MacBook
• Windows
• iOS
• Android
• Chromebook

However, some features are only available on certain devices. For instance, Malwarebytes’ AdwCleaner is only available on Windows devices.

7. Malwarebytes pros and cons

Malwarebytes certainly offers several benefits to users seeking to protect their computers against online threats. However, it also has its drawbacks. Compare its advantages and disadvantages in the table below to determine whether it could be the right solution for your antivirus protection needs.

Here are the pros and cons of using Malwarebytes antivirus:

MacKeeper review

MacKeeper is an exclusive-to-Mac utility that offers several privacy and security solutions, including an antivirus tool. In addition to fending off threats, MacKeeper helps optimize your Mac device, making it a comprehensive solution for your MacBook.

Here’s what its antivirus tool provides:

• Real-time protection
• Removes 99.7% of known threats
• Notarized by Apple
• Performs custom and background scans

1. Features of MacKeeper

MacKeeper’s robust suite of features includes:

• Antivirus
• Find & Fix
• Safe Cleanup
• ID Theft Guard
• Smart Uninstaller
• Login Items
• Private Connect VPN
• 24/7 customer support
• StopAd
• Premium Services
• Adware Cleaner
• Duplicates Finder
• Memory Cleaner
• Update Tracker

2. Pricing MacKeeper

MacKeeper’s prices differ depending on the season and your location. However, regular prices typically start at $10.95/month, and MacKeeper regularly offers seasonal discounts you can take advantage of. We recommend checking the MacKeeper website and app for accurate pricing and discount offers.

3. How well can Mackeeper protect your Mac

MacKeeper is a stand-out cybersecurity utility that offers excellent real-time antivirus protection. It detects 100% of known threats, according to the AV-Test result conducted in March 2025. Such results make it one of the best antiviruses on the market. MacKeeper’s automatic virus scans do the hard work for you—discovering and presenting known threats to you, so you can remove them with the click of a button.

After removing threats, it continuously keeps an eye out for more, ensuring no new viruses and malware stand a chance of infecting your Mac. MacKeeper’s efficiency gives you peace of mind about your Mac’s security. From setting it up to warding off threats, MacBook owners who are interested in mastering how to check your Mac for viruses will find scanning with MacKeeper quite easy.

Follow the steps below to use MacKeeper’s Antivirus software:

1. Download MacKeeper on your MacBook model, such as MacBook Pro, Air, iMac, or Mac mini.
2. Open the app, choose the Antivirus option from the MacKeeper sidebar, and click Enable in the Real-time protection box.
3. Now click the Start Scan button to prompt MacKeeper to start looking for threats and follow its instructions to remove them when the scan is done.

4. MacKeeper customer support

MacKeeper offers 24/7 in-app support through its Premium Services feature. If you encounter any issues with your MacBook, Premium Services allows you to chat with a MacKeeper tech expert within the app.

That’s right; with MacKeeper, you’ll never get stuck trying to reason with a bot that doesn’t understand your prompts. Our expert technicians are knowledgeable, friendly, and most importantly, human. They’re always ready and willing to assist you with troubleshooting any issues you experience.

Furthermore, they’re able to assist you with more than just MacKeeper-related issues, but with issues you’re encountering with other Mac software and apps too. In addition, MacKeeper offers email support, providing countless ways to get in touch and get the help you need.

5. How does using MacKeeper affect your Mac

If anything, MacKeeper supports your Mac’s optimal performance by optimizing it. Its Duplicates Finder and Memory Cleaner can help free up clutter, improving your laptop’s performance. This makes MacKeeper an ideal solution for MacBook owners looking to get more out of their cybersecurity utility, including improving their system's overall performance and speed.

6. What platforms is MacKeeper supported on?

MacKeeper is exclusively designed for macOS devices, unlike other utilities, which are supported on Android, iOS, and Windows. This ensures that its tools and solutions are tailored for your Mac, making it a better option for Mac users.

7. Advantages and disadvantages of MacKeeper

Weighing MacKeeper’s advantages and disadvantages, we can say that it shines in the security, performance, and privacy categories. It offers robust features such as an Antivirus, VPN, Duplicates Finder, and Memory Cleaner—making it a great solution for managing your system’s performance and protecting your privacy. Additionally, it offers value for money, given the number of tools it provides. However, some of its disadvantages include a lack of a firewall and parental controls, which come standard with similar software on the market.

Final comparison

The main difference between Malwarebytes and MacKeeper is the emphasis on personalized, 24/7, expert customer support provided by MacKeeper, which Malwarebytes lacks. Conversely, MacKeeper doesn’t offer a free trial, which Malwarebytes first-time users may find useful before making a financial commitment.

Nevertheless, MacKeeper may be the ideal solution for Mac owners looking for value for money. Its Antivirus tool is the go-to solution for protection against known threats, ensuring your sensitive information remains private and your Mac stays secure.

Below are the pros and cons of using Malwarebytes and MacKeeper. However, you should do your own research before committing to either option to ensure you make the right choice based on your needs.

Malwarebytes vs MacKeeper: Pros and cons