Is Malwarebytes Good For Macs? Answered & Explained!

Security is a big point of worry for users of many different devices, including Mac computers, but some of you may be asking, “Is Malwarebytes good for Mac?”

Table of Contents

• Does Malwarebytes work on Mac?
• What Is Malwarebytes?
• What Is The Difference Between The Free And Premium Versions Of Malwarebytes?
• Does Apple Recommend Using Antivirus Software On Mac?
• Are There Better Options Besides Malwarebytes?
• Key Takeaways

Does Malwarebytes work on Mac?

In short, Malwarebytes is a safe and effective tool that can prevent your Mac from being infected by malware and viruses. That being said, if you plan on using anything besides the free version, your money may be better spent on different antivirus software.

As a long time Mac user, I have never had many issues with viruses and malware on my computers. After all, one of the core features Apple likes to market about its computers is security. 

Still, accidents do happen and in the past, when I’ve contacted customer service because of a suspected virus, they have frequently told me to download and run the free version of Malwarebytes. So, should you use Malwarebytes on your Mac, and are there better options available?

What Is Malwarebytes?

Malwarebytes for Mac is a software application that can remove malware and adware from your computer.  It does this by scanning your computer for malicious software and then deleting these unwanted files on the spot. 

This is convenient because exploitative malware can be a particular nuisance on any computer, so being able to remove it and not worry about your computer being slowed down or your data being compromised is a huge benefit.

What Is The Difference Between The Free And Premium Versions Of Malwarebytes?

Malwarebytes for macOS offers two different versions, one being the free version and the other a paid subscription service that offers additional security features to the user. 

The free version of Malwarebytes is the one that most people have experience with. It’s a great reactive tool that you can use to scan your computer for malware like adware, spyware, and rogue security software. 

If it finds any of these malicious files during its scan, Malwarebytes immediately deletes them from your computer, potentially improving the performance of your computer and allowing you to rest easy knowing that your data is safe.

The paid version of Malwarebytes, of course, includes the basic scan and removal function of the free version, but it also comes with some additional security features like scheduled scans and real-time verification. 

This allows Malwarebytes to scan webpages and files before you access them to confirm that there isn’t any malware installed, preventing malware from being injected into your computer in the first place.

Does Apple Recommend Using Antivirus Software On Mac?

Apple doesn’t officially recommend for or against the use of antivirus software. Still, whether or not you want to use one is up to you. 

However, it is worth noting that Mac computers are, on average, much more secure than most PCs. In fact, many users are of the opinion that using antivirus software on Mac is completely unnecessary. 

However, in the past this may have been true, malware attacks on Mac computers have become more common in recent years, and these will only continue to rise as Apple products continue to become more popular.

Still, Apple prides itself on the security of its devices with security being one of the biggest pillars Apple leans on in its marketing.

And Apple does do a lot to ensure that your Mac is safe. Passkeys and security updates are just a few of the methods Apple uses to keep your Mac secure, but they’ve also added security features that are built directly into iOS.

XProtect and Gatekeeper are two of the most important built-in security features. XProtect is apples very own antivirus software that can detect and remove malicious software, while Gatekeeper blocks software that hasn’t been approved by Apple from being downloaded in the first place.

Sandboxing is another strategy that Apple uses to keep Macs safe. Basically, every Apple approved software is sandboxed, isolating the app from all sensitive systems and data that the app has no business accessing. 

While this doesn’t protect you from taking new malware, it does prevent what it can do once injected.

These three layers of protection offer a severe safety boost over your average PC, so even though cases of malware on Macs have been increasing over the past few years, your Mac is most likely safe without additional antivirus protection.

Are There Better Options Besides Malwarebytes?

That being said, you can never be too safe when it comes to your Mac and the sensitive personal data contained on it so If you do want the ability to scan and remove malware from your Mac every once in a while, the free version of Malwarebytes works great.

However, if you truly want an extra layer of protection that can further prevent malware from being installed on your Mac in the first place, you may be better off keeping the free version of Malwarebytes and using a different paid antivirus software.

While the paid version of Malwarebytes is a solid software, for the price you might as well go for some of the better antivirus software available for Mac, of which there are plenty of options.

Norton360 Deluxe and McAffee Total Protection are some of the most popular antivirus software available for both Mac and PC. Both of these are great options to consider, especially, if you already have subscriptions with Norton or McAffee that can be used on multiple devices.

Intego Mac Internet Security X9 and Clairo Antivirus 1.5 for Mac are also great antivirus packages built specifically for Mac that are consistently ranked as some of the best antivirus options for Mac users. Both of these offerings include tons of options and features that Malwarebytes simply can’t compete with.

Ultimately, the choice of whether or not you want to pay for additional antivirus protection for your Mac is up to you. 

But if you do choose to buy additional antivirus software, no matter which one you choose, you can rest assured that your Mac will be safe from malicious software slowing it down or getting at your personal information.

Key Takeaways

• Both free and paid versions of Malwarebytes work well on Mac.
• Malwarebytes is an antimalware software that can scan and remove malware from your Mac
• Mac computers are generally more secure than PCs and Apple does a lot to ensure the security of your devices and data.
• If you do plan to buy additional antivirus software for your Mac, you’re better off with Intego Mac Internet Security, Clairo Antivirus 1.5 for Mac, McAffee Total Protection, or Norton 360 Deluxe