Can I open-source Malwarebytes?
KINDA · partial or early alternativesKinda. Vaultwarden and Passbolt cover the core of Malwarebytes, but they're early or partial — expect gaps like audited cryptography and incident response and global network or redundant storage infrastructure.
Malwarebytes: Security subscriptions buy professional operations, audits, response capacity, redundancy, and accountability when something goes wrong.
xaudited cryptography and incident response
xglobal network or redundant storage infrastructure
xidentity, credit, or broker-removal operations
xrecovery guarantees and regulated trust
These projects already replace it, free.
VVaultwardenLightweight Bitwarden-compatible password server — the official apps work with your own backend.open source↗KKeycloakBattle-tested identity and access management server with SSO, OIDC/SAML, federation, and admin consoleopen source↗PPassboltTeam password manager built for collaboration with granular sharing and audit logs.open source↗What each one is, in full: Vaultwarden · Keycloak · Passbolt
no votes, no pay-to-list · just what's real
Malwarebytes pricing
| plan | monthly | annual (per mo) | what you get |
|---|---|---|---|
| standard, individual | — | $5 | 3 devices; antivirus, anti-malware, malicious-site and scam protection |
| plus, individual | — | $6.67 | 3 devices; Standard plus high-speed VPN |
| ultimate, individual | — | $11.67 | 1 adult and 3 devices; security suite plus identity-protection features |
| standard, family | custom | — | Family device coverage; exact device count and USD total were not exposed reliably in the crawl |
| plus, family | custom | — | Family device coverage plus VPN; exact USD total was not exposed reliably |
| ultimate, family | custom | — | Family security and identity coverage; exact adult/device limits and USD total were not exposed reliably |
free tierno ongoing subscription free tier; free on-demand scanners, cleaners and browser tools are separate
billingannual billing; advertised purchase prices may be introductory; 60-day money-back guarantee
hidden costsDevice count changes the price, current-customer renewal offers differ from new-customer pricing, identity/data-removal features are region dependent, and introductory purchase prices can renew at a higher list rate
verified 2026-08-14 · source ↗
Can I open-source Malwarebytes?
Kinda. Vaultwarden covers the core of Malwarebytes, but there are real gaps: audited cryptography and incident response, global network or redundant storage infrastructure. Read the honest list above before committing.
How much does Malwarebytes cost?
Malwarebytes costs about $5/month (Standard, checked 2026-07-31), which is $60 per year.
What do I lose by replacing Malwarebytes?
Honestly: audited cryptography and incident response; global network or redundant storage infrastructure; identity, credit, or broker-removal operations; recovery guarantees and regulated trust. If any of those are load-bearing for you, keep paying.
Is there an open-source alternative to Malwarebytes?
Yes: Vaultwarden (Lightweight Bitwarden-compatible password server — the official apps work with your own backend.) Keycloak (Battle-tested identity and access management server with SSO, OIDC/SAML, federation, and admin console) Passbolt (Team password manager built for collaboration with granular sharing and audit logs.)