Malwarebytes Premium
Premium is the licensed tier of the same Windows application. Everything it adds happens before an infection lands, which is the opposite of what the free scanner does.
The four real-time layers
| Layer | What it stops |
|---|---|
| Web protection | Connections to malicious, phishing and scam domains |
| Malware protection | Malicious files as they are written or launched |
| Ransomware protection | Processes that begin encrypting files in bulk |
| Exploit protection | Memory attacks against browsers, readers and Office apps |
Scheduling and maintenance
Premium adds scheduled scans and automatic database updates, so protection does not depend on someone remembering. A weekly threat scan at a time the PC is on is usually enough alongside the resident layers.
Who benefits most
- Households where several people, including children, use one PC
- Remote workers handling client documents and credentials
- Anyone who installs software from many different sources
- Small businesses without managed IT
If the PC is used by one cautious person for a narrow set of sites, Windows Security plus periodic free scans may be sufficient.
Pricing, deals and renewals
Licences are sold as annual subscriptions covering a set number of devices, with multi-year and multi-device options and periodic seasonal discounts. Prices change, so we do not publish figures that would go stale — check the vendor's pricing page, and read our notes on pricing, deals and renewals before auto-renewal kicks in.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Malwarebytes Free and Premium?
Free scans and removes on demand. Premium adds always-on web, malware, ransomware and exploit protection plus scheduled scans.
Is there a free Premium version?
No permanent one. New installations include a short Premium trial, after which the software reverts to the free scanner unless a licence is activated.
Does Premium slow down a Windows PC?
On modern hardware the impact is modest. If you also run another real-time suite, disable the duplicate shields rather than running both.
Malware-Bytes.net is an independent information resource about malware protection for Windows. We are not Malwarebytes, and this site is not the official Malwarebytes website or support channel. Malwarebytes is a trademark of Malwarebytes Inc.