Malwarebytes Premium (3 devices) review 2027

What problem does Malwarebytes Premium solve?

Malwarebytes is the second opinion that becomes a first line: it cleaned what others left behind and it does not play the renewal game. Its real-time detection sits a step below Bitdefender and Norton in both the labs and our test.

That is the cleanup problem in one sentence. If something is already on the machine — adware, a potentially-unwanted program, a browser hijacker — Malwarebytes is the tool people reach for, and in our test it removed every adware and potentially-unwanted program on our infected test image. The benefit side is just as concrete: Browser Guard blocks scams and trackers, the price is the same at renewal with no first-year bait, and there is a free scanner for one-off cleanups.

How did we score Malwarebytes Premium?

We scored it across five criteria, and the total came to 7.7 out of 10.

• Protection — 29 of 35. This covers independent lab results (AV-Test, AV-Comparatives) plus detection of our 200 recent malware samples and 50 phishing URLs. It is the criterion where Malwarebytes gives up the most ground.
• Performance — 17 of 20. We measured slowdown of file copy, app launch and web browsing on the same laptop with the suite installed, versus a clean image.
• Features — 9 of 15. Firewall, ransomware rollback, VPN, password manager, parental controls, identity monitoring — and whether they are real or trials. This is the weakest score of the five.
• Usability — 9 of 10. False positives on our clean-software set, nag screens and upsells, setup time.
• Value — 13 of 20. First-year price, renewal price and devices covered.

Where does Malwarebytes Premium stand out?

The measured results tell the story better than the marketing does. It caught 97% of our samples, with a 5% slowdown, and the renewal is $59.99/yr — the same figure as the first year.

Removal is the standout. It removed every adware and potentially-unwanted program on our infected test image, which is exactly the job most buyers come to it for. Browser Guard blocks scams and trackers on top of that. And the flat renewal matters: no first-year bait, no surprise jump at month thirteen. The free scanner covers one-off cleanups for people who do not want a subscription at all.

How does the technology work?

Real-time protection watches files, downloads and running processes as they appear, comparing them against known malicious signatures and behaviour patterns rather than waiting for a scheduled scan. Browser Guard sits in the browser and filters scam pages and trackers before they load. The VPN tier routes traffic through an encrypted tunnel so the network cannot read it. The free scanner runs on demand only, checking existing files without staying resident.

What do you actually get?

The spec sheet is short, and that is part of the point.

• First year: 59.99 USD
• Renewal: 59.99 USD/yr
• Devices: 3
• Platforms: Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Chromebook
• Free version: Yes (scanner)
• VPN included: Premium + VPN tier
• Password manager: No
• Identity monitoring: Add-on
• AV-Test protection (of 6): 5.5

Five platforms is broad coverage, and the free scanner is a genuine tier rather than a trial. But the password manager is absent, identity monitoring is an add-on, and the VPN sits in a separate tier.

How does it compare with the competition?

Bitdefender Total Security scores 8.9 at $49.99, with 5 devices, a 99.99 USD/yr renewal, a 6.0 AV-Test protection score, a free version, a 200 MB/day VPN and a password-manager trial. It is ahead on score, devices, lab result and first-year price; Malwarebytes is ahead on renewal.

ESET HOME Security Essential scores 8.2 at $49.99, with 3 devices, a 49.99 USD/yr renewal, a 6.0 AV-Test score and no free version. It matches Malwarebytes on device count and renewal, and beats it on lab score and first-year price.

Norton 360 Deluxe scores 8.1 at $49.99, with 5 devices, a 119.99 USD/yr renewal, a 6.0 AV-Test score, an unlimited VPN, a password manager and dark-web monitoring. It bundles far more, but its renewal is the highest of the group.

Where does Malwarebytes Premium fall short?

Protection is the headline loss: a step below the leaders. It missed 3% of our samples on first contact, and the labs score it slightly below the leaders — the 5.5 AV-Test figure against 6.0 for the rivals above.

Then there is the extras problem. Few extras, and three devices at the price. No password manager, identity monitoring only as an add-on, and the VPN behind a higher tier. If you want a bundle, this is not it.

Is Malwarebytes Premium good value?

It costs $59.99. The renewal is 59.99 USD/yr — identical to the first year, which is rare in this category and the clearest value argument it has. Three devices are covered for that money.

Who should buy Malwarebytes Premium?

Cleanups, and users who want honest pricing. If you are dealing with an infection that other tools left behind, or you are tired of first-year discounts that double at renewal, this is the suite that fits. If you want the strongest lab scores or a full bundle of extras, look at the rivals above instead.