⚡ Quick Verdict:
- Preisgestaltung: McAfee includes its VPN from $39.99/yr. Malwarebytes needs the $79.98/yr Plus bundle for VPN access.
- Ideal für: McAfee suits families who want antivirus and identity tools. Malwarebytes suits people who want real privacy.
- Hauptunterschied: McAfee Safe Connect logs your IP address and the sites you visit. Malwarebytes keeps an audited no-logs policy.
- Our pick: Malwarebytes for most users. A VPN that logs your browsing defeats its own purpose.
The cheaper VPN in this matchup is not the safer one.
McAfee VPN comes free inside antivirus plans that start at $39.99 a year.
Malwarebytes VPN costs more to unlock.
But one of them logs your browsing history, and one does not.
That single difference shapes this whole comparison.
Überblick
This McAfee VPN vs Malwarebytes VPN comparison covers privacy, speed, security features, and price.
We also show who each virtual private network suits best.
Unser Schriftsteller spent time with Malwarebytes Privacy VPN directly.
Observations on McAfee Safe Connect VPN come from documentation and published reviews.
By the end, you’ll know which VPN service fits your online security needs.
Was ist McAfee VPN?
McAfee VPN is the virtual private network built into McAfee’s security plans.
Many people still call it McAfee Safe Connect, its older app name.
It wraps your VPN connection and online activity in AES-256 encryption.
It also turns on by itself when you join unsecured public Wi-Fi.
That shields banking details from man-in-the-middle attacks at cafés and airports.
The VPN sits next to antivirus software and identity protection in one app.
McAfee VPN
Antivirus, identity tools, and a basic VPN in one plan. It works best for occasional use on public Wi-Fi.
McAfee VPN-Preise
McAfee bundles the VPN into every plan below. You don’t pay extra for it.
| Planen | Preis | Am besten geeignet für |
|---|---|---|
| Essentiell | 39,99 €/Jahr | Solo users who want antivirus plus a VPN |
| Fortgeschrittene Person | 89,99 $/Jahr | One person who wants identity monitoring |
| Erweiterte Familie | 119,99 $/Jahr | Households protecting several people |
Pricing verified September 2026.
Kostenlose Testversion: Trial offers change often. Check McAfee’s checkout page for current terms.
Geld-zurück-Garantie: McAfee gives you 30 days to cancel and get a refund.
📌 Notiz: Unlimited VPN bandwidth is usually tied to automatic renewal. Turn auto-renew off, and Daten limits may kick in. The pricing layout itself is simple and easy to follow.
⚠️ Price check: Some review sites list a $7.99 monthly VPN plan. Others show $19.99 for the first year ($1.66/month), then $47.99 on renewal. Confirm current prices at checkout.
Wichtigste Vorteile von McAfee VPN
Here’s what McAfee VPN does well:
- Auto-Protect on Public Wi-Fi: The VPN switches on when you join an open hotspot. Your mobile carrier data is safer, so this targets the risky networks.
- Rundum-Sicherheit: Antivirus, a password manager, and identity tools share one app. One bill covers them all.
- AES-256-Verschlüsselung: Your traffic gets a strong, widely used cipher. Snoopers on shared Wi-Fi see only scrambled data.
- Katapult-Hydra-Protokoll: McAfee uses Catapult Hydra, a protocol built for performance. Hotspot Shield uses the same protocol family.
- Five Geräte: One plan covers five simultaneous connections. That’s enough for a phone, tablet, and laptop.
- Harder to Throttle: Encrypted traffic hides bandwidth-heavy activity from your ISP. That makes throttling harder.
- DNS-Leak-Schutz: Your DNS lookups stay inside the tunnel. Sites can’t see your real provider’s requests.
What Our Team Noticed
Note: We haven’t had extensive hands-on time with McAfee VPN yet. The details above come from McAfee’s documentation and published reviews. Our full McAfee VPN review goes deeper.
McAfee VPN: Vor- und Nachteile
✅ Vorteile
- Auto-connects on unsecured public Wi-Fi
- Inklusive Virenschutz und Identitätsschutz
- Lowest entry price here at $39.99/yr
- User friendly app that suits beginners
❌ Nachteile
- Logs your IP address and the websites you visit
- Kill switch on Windows only, not iOS or Android
- No macOS or Linux VPN app
- Weak for streaming, torrenting, and gaming
Was ist Malwarebytes VPN?
Malwarebytes Privacy VPN comes from the company behind a well-known anti malware solution.
So how does Malwarebytes Privacy VPN work?
It runs on the WireGuard protocol for fast, modern connections.
Your data travels through 470+ worldwide servers in 45+ countries.
Each tunnel uses AES-256 encryption and a private DNS server that doesn’t track you.
Older reviews called it a basic version of Mullvad VPN, whose network it once used.
Today it runs on AzireVPN infrastructure, which Malwarebytes bought in 2024.
Das VPN-Unternehmen hat seinen Sitz in Santa Clara, Kalifornien.
🏆 Winner: Malwarebytes VPN
An audited no-logs VPN with a kill switch and MultiHop. Pair it with Malwarebytes antivirus for full device cover.
Malwarebytes VPN-Preise
Malwarebytes sells its VPN inside security bundles. Here’s the 2026 lineup.
| Planen | Preis | Am besten geeignet für |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | 59,99 $/Jahr | Antivirus only on 3 devices (no VPN) |
| Plus | 79,98 $/Jahr | Antivirus plus VPN on 3 devices |
| Gesamt | 89,99 $/Jahr | Device security, VPN, and identity protection |
Pricing verified September 2026.
Kostenlose Testversion: Malwarebytes offers a 7-day free trial of Privacy VPN.
Geld-zurück-Garantie: You get a 60-day money back guarantee. That’s double McAfee’s window.
📌 Notiz: Malwarebytes has a free version of its malware scanner, but no free VPN. You can pay by PayPal or card. Kryptowährungen isn’t accepted, and discounts on the VPN are rare.
⚠️ Price check: Some review sites list standalone VPN plans: $39.99/yr for one device, $49.99 for three, and $59.99 for five. VAT can add up to 20% in some countries. Confirm at checkout.
Wichtigste Vorteile von Malwarebytes VPN
Here’s what makes Malwarebytes VPN worth a look:
- Protokollierungsfreie Richtlinie: It stores no DNS requests, IP addresses, or bandwidth usage. An April 2026 audit by X41 D-Sec backed this up.
- WireGuard-Geschwindigkeit: WireGuard is lighter than older protocols. Connections start fast and stay stable.
- Not-Aus-Schalter: If the tunnel drops, all traffic stops. Your real IP address stays hidden.
- Verbindungsregeln: This is Malwarebytes’ take on split tunneling. You pick certain apps or IP addresses that skip the VPN.
- MultiHop: Your traffic passes through two servers in different countries. It’s a double hop, not the same server twice.
- Automatische Verbindung: The app can auto launch when your operating system starts. Protection begins before you open a browser.
What Our Team Noticed
Our writer signed up for Malwarebytes Privacy VPN and spent several days exploring the apps. Here’s what stood out (our full Malwarebytes Privacy VPN review has more):
Malwarebytes VPN: Vor- und Nachteile
✅ Vorteile
- No-logs policy verified by a 2026 third-party audit
- Kill switch, MultiHop, and Connection Rules included
- Apps for Windows, macOS, Androidund iOS
- 7-day free trial plus a 60-day refund window
❌ Nachteile
- The $59.99/yr Standard plan doesn’t include the VPN
- Struggles with Hulu, Disney+, and BBC iPlayer
- Speeds can drop 62% on distant servers
- No router, Linux, or gaming console apps
Funktionsvergleich
Both tools come from antivirus brands. But they treat privacy very differently.
We’ll walk through 10 areas to show where each VPN wins and loses.
| Besonderheit | McAfee VPN | Malwarebytes VPN |
|---|---|---|
| Cheapest Plan With VPN | 39,99 €/Jahr | 79,98 $/Jahr |
| Protokoll | Katapult Hydra | WireGuard |
| Protokollierungsverbot | ❌ Logs IP and sites | ✅ Audited in 2026 |
| Not-Aus-Schalter | ⚠️ Nur für Windows | ✅ |
| Split-Tunneling | ⚠️ Nur für Android | ✅ Connection Rules |
| Multi Hop | ❌ | ✅ |
| macOS App | ❌ | ✅ |
| Gleichzeitige Verbindungen | 5 | Bis zu 5 |
| Geld-zurück-Garantie | 30 Tage | 60 Tage |
| Am besten geeignet für | Antivirus bundle buyers | Privacy-minded users |
1. VPN-Protokoll & Verschlüsselung
McAfee VPN: McAfee runs Catapult Hydra, a protocol designed for performance. Traffic gets AES-256 encryption and DNS leak protection. It works well enough for protecting a laptop on Hotel W-lan.
Malwarebytes VPN: Malwarebytes relies on WireGuard alone. It’s fast and modern, but there’s no backup protocol if a network blocks it. Encryption is also AES-256.
💡 Profi-Tipp: Like many VPNs, both apps encrypt data with AES-256. The real gap shows up in what each company logs.
2. Privacy & Logging Policy
McAfee VPN: McAfee Safe Connect logs personally identifiable data, including IP addresses and sites you visit. That’s geo location information tied to you. McAfee keeps it indefinitely and holds it 30 days after account deletion.
The privacy policy is shared with all McAfee products and barely mentions the VPN. It doesn’t say clearly whether VPN data reaches partners or third party advertisers. McAfee also states it will hand data to legal or government authorities on request.
Malwarebytes VPN: Malwarebytes stores no DNS requests, IP addresses, or bandwidth usage. It may keep anonymized data, like a public key used to set up connections. Older reviews slammed the lack of third party audits, but that changed in April 2026.
German firm X41 D-Sec reviewed its apps and servers. Auditors found no evidence of user activity logging. So is Malwarebytes Privacy VPN safe? For everyday privacy, yes.
⚠️ Warnung: Both VPN companies are based in the U.S., a Five Eyes member. Most VPN companies promise no logs. McAfee claims to protect your privacy, yet its own policy shows it keeps a trail worth requesting.
3. Kill Switch, Split Tunneling & Multi Hop
McAfee VPN: The kill switch only works on Windows devices. Split tunneling is Android-only, so Android users get it and iOS users don’t. There’s no multi hop option either.
Malwarebytes VPN: A kill switch blocks all traffic if the tunnel drops. Connection Rules let certain apps bypass the VPN. MultiHop sends traffic through two countries for extra cover.
⚠️ Warnung: If the VPN fails on a phone with no kill switch, your real IP leaks. That’s a big deal on public Wi-Fi.
4. Servers & Speed
McAfee VPN: Server counts vary by source. Most list about 2,000 servers. Server locations span anywhere from 23 to 47 countries. One speed test hit 97Mbps on a nearby server. International downloads never fell below 75Mbps.
The catch is latency. Published tests show a 600 percent latency jump on Windows. That makes gaming and video calls painful.
Malwarebytes VPN: Malwarebytes servers number 470+ in 45+ countries. That’s smaller than other VPNs in its price range. Speed tests show drops of 34% on nearby servers and 62% on distant ones.
Ping also climbs during Spiele. Neither company clearly says which locations run on virtual servers, so check the server list before you connect.
💡 Profi-Tipp: Neither is the fastest VPN for gamers. For browsing, email, and banking, both are quick enough.
5. Streaming, Torrenting & Gaming
McAfee VPN: McAfee isn’t effective with Netflix or Hulu. It blocks P2P traffic, so you can’t download torrents with it. High latency also rules it out for gaming.
Malwarebytes VPN: There are no dedicated streaming servers. Hulu, Disney+, and BBC iPlayer often fail to load. It also isn’t reliable for getting around censorship in places like China.
⚠️ Warnung: Both miss important features for streaming services, like smart DNS. If you watch on a TV, look at a dedicated premium VPN instead.
6. Device Support & Simultaneous Connections
McAfee VPN: McAfee’s VPN runs on Windows, iOS, and Android. Its macOS app doesn’t include the VPN, and Linux isn’t supported. Each plan covers five simultaneous connections.
Malwarebytes VPN: The desktop app covers Windows and macOS, and there’s an iOS app plus Android. Routers, Linux, Fire TV Stick, and gaming consoles aren’t supported. Bundles cover three devices, and standalone plans go up to five.
7. Antivirus & Extra Security Tools
McAfee VPN: McAfee pairs the VPN with advanced antivirus, a password manager, and a Scam Detektor. A Protection Score shows how secure your setup is. Everything lives in one Windows app or phone app.
Malwarebytes VPN: Malwarebytes is an antivirus company first. Premium Security adds real-time malware scanning, and Browser Guard blocks trackers and scams. Does Malwarebytes protect against malware and snooping at once? The Plus bundle does both.
8. Identity Protection
McAfee VPN: Advanced plans add identity monitoring, credit monitoring, and a security freeze. Identity theft coverage and restoration help if the worst happens. Personal Data Cleanup asks data brokers to delete your info.
Malwarebytes VPN: The Total plan adds identity theft protection and dark web monitoring. A Personal Data Remover scans data broker sites. It’s lighter than McAfee’s lineup across Malwarebytes products, but it covers the basics.
9. Kundensupport
McAfee VPN: You can contact McAfee by phone or through live chat support. The help center covers setup for each device. Answers about the VPN itself can be thin, since it’s a small part of a big suite.
Malwarebytes VPN: Malwarebytes offers live chat and a support ticket system. Reviews describe replies as quick and solid. If you hit issues downloading the app, a ticket is the fastest fix.
10. Preisgestaltung & Kosten
Let’s compare the plans side by side. Both bill on an annual plan.
| Tarifstufe | McAfee VPN | Malwarebytes VPN |
|---|---|---|
| Eintrag | Essential: $39.99/yr (VPN included) | Standard: $59.99/yr (no VPN) |
| Mitte | Fortgeschrittene Einzelperson: 89,99 $/Jahr | Plus: $79.98/yr (VPN included) |
| Spitze | Familienmitgliedschaft (Advanced): 119,99 $/Jahr | Total: $89.99/yr |
| Kostenlose Testversion | Worum geht es bei MeetGeek? | 7 Tage |
| Refund Window | 30 Tage | 60 Tage |
McAfee VPN: McAfee is the cheaper way in. The Essential plan gets you antivirus plus the VPN. Just expect renewal prices to rise after year one.
Malwarebytes VPN: The Plus bundle is the cheapest plan with the VPN. Plus and Total get all the same features on the VPN side. You’re paying extra for privacy you can actually verify.
Verschiedene Szenarien
| Falls Sie Folgendes benötigen: | Wählen | Warum |
|---|---|---|
| Lowest price with a VPN | McAfee | $39.99/yr includes the VPN |
| Strict online privacy | Malwarebytes | Protokollierungsfreie Richtlinie |
| A Mac-friendly VPN | Malwarebytes | McAfee has no macOS VPN |
| Credit and identity alerts | McAfee | Credit monitoring and security freeze |
| Occasional use on café Wi-Fi | McAfee | Automatische Verbindung in offenen Netzwerken |
| Longest risk-free window | Malwarebytes | 7-day trial plus 60-day refund |
| Anfängerfreundlich | Binden | Both apps are one-tap simple |
💰 Ihr Budget
McAfee’s Essential plan is the cheapest way to get a VPN here. Malwarebytes asks you to step up to the Plus bundle for VPN access.
🔌 Ihre Geräte
Mac owners should pick Malwarebytes, since McAfee’s VPN skips macOS. Neither works on a router, Android TV, or Apple TV.
🔒 Ihre Datenschutzbedürfnisse
Can you trust McAfee Safe Connect with your online activities? For a quick coffee-shop session, yes, but it logs too much for daily online privacy.
🎓 Dein Erfahrungslevel
Both apps are user friendly, and settings are easily accessible. McAfee gives you the bare minimum, while Malwarebytes adds auto connect and a few extra controls.
🆓 Kostenlose Testversionen und Demos
Malwarebytes gives you a 7-day trial period plus 60 days to ask for a refund. Both still beat many free VPNs, which often limit data or sell it.
🛟 Supportoptionen
Both offer live chat for VPN users. Malwarebytes also takes support tickets, and reviews praise its response speed.
Umstellungsleitfaden
Nutzen Sie bereits einen dieser VPN-Dienste? Hier erfahren Sie, was Sie beim Wechsel erwartet.
🔄 Switching from McAfee VPN to Malwarebytes VPN?
✅ Was Sie davon haben:
- An audited no-logs policy instead of IP and site logging
- Kill switch, MultiHop, and Connection Rules
- A working macOS VPN app
❌ Was Sie verlieren werden:
- Credit monitoring and a security freeze
- A lower entry price for VPN access
- A larger server count
📋 So wechseln Sie:
- Turn off McAfee auto-renew and note your end date.
- Create a Malwarebytes account and start the free trial.
- Install the desktop and mobile apps, then turn on the kill switch.
🔄 Switching from Malwarebytes VPN to McAfee VPN?
✅ Was Sie davon haben:
- VPN access from the cheaper Essential plan
- Auto-activation on unsecured public Wi-Fi
- Identity theft coverage and restoration help
❌ Was Sie verlieren werden:
- A no-logs VPN you can verify
- VPN protection on your Mac
- MultiHop and a kill switch on more platforms
📋 So wechseln Sie:
- Cancel Malwarebytes inside the 60-day window if you’re new.
- Buy a McAfee plan and install the app on each device.
- Open Secure VPN and switch on auto-connect for public networks.
What Our Review Didn’t Cover
This comparison focused on individual users and families. We didn’t run our own speed tests or check streaming on every server. Geschäft plans and use in censored countries weren’t covered. Neither VPN blocks cookies, and, like most VPNs, neither hides you while you’re logged into personal accounts. Prices and features reflect September 2026 and may change.
Endgültiges Urteil
| Kategorie | Gewinner |
|---|---|
| 💰 Preisgestaltung | McAfee VPN |
| 🔒 Datenschutz & Protokollierung | Malwarebytes VPN |
| 🛡️ Sicherheitsmerkmale | Malwarebytes VPN |
| 🌐 Servernetzwerk | McAfee VPN |
| ⚡ Geschwindigkeit | Binden |
| 📺 Streaming | Binden |
| 📱 Geräteunterstützung | Malwarebytes VPN |
| 🪪 Identity Tools | McAfee VPN |
| 🆓 Trial & Refund | Malwarebytes VPN |
| 🏆 Gesamtsieger | Malwarebytes VPN |
🏆 WINNER: MALWAREBYTES VPN
Malwarebytes wins 4 of 9 categories. McAfee takes 3, and 2 end in a tie.
Ideal für: private browsing, Mac users, and anyone who wants a verified no-logs VPN
💡 How we broke the tie: Both tools carry the same 3.5 rating. McAfee is cheaper to start. We still picked Malwarebytes because a VPN’s first job is privacy, and McAfee logs what you do.
McAfee VPN and Malwarebytes VPN both come from antivirus brands. That’s where the similarity ends.
McAfee is a security suite with a VPN attached. It’s great value if you want antivirus, identity monitoring, and Wi-Fi protection in one bill.
Malwarebytes is the better VPN. Its audited no-logs policy, kill switch, and macOS app make it safer for daily use.
Pick McAfee if you mainly want antivirus and only need a VPN now and then. Pick Malwarebytes if privacy is the reason you’re using a VPN at all.
Weitere McAfee VPN-Vergleiche
So schneidet McAfee VPN im Vergleich zu anderen Anbietern ab:
McAfee VPN vs NordVPN
McAfee VPN punktet in folgenden Bereichen: built-in antivirus scanning, credit alerts, and auto-activation on open Wi-Fi.
NordVPN punktet in folgenden Bereichen: audited no-logs privacy, a far bigger network, reliable streaming, and a kill switch everywhere.
McAfee VPN vs ExpressVPN
McAfee VPN punktet in folgenden Bereichen: a cheaper full security suite, a bundled password manager, and identity theft coverage.
ExpressVPN punktet in folgenden Kategorien: no activity logs, broad streaming access, and apps for macOS, Linux, and routers.
McAfee VPN punktet in folgenden Bereichen: full antivirus, a security freeze, and one bill for every tool.
SurfsharkVPN gewinnt in folgenden Kategorien: unlimited devices, a no-logs policy, multi-country routing, and streaming support.
McAfee VPN vs. Private Internet Access
McAfee VPN punktet in folgenden Bereichen: a simpler app, bundled malware protection, and identity monitoring.
Privater Internetzugang Siege bei: open-source apps, unlimited connections, and P2P support for torrents.
Weitere Vergleiche von Malwarebytes VPN
So schneidet Malwarebytes VPN im Vergleich zu anderen Anbietern ab:
Malwarebytes VPN ist in folgenden Punkten überlegen: a longer refund window, a real malware scanner, and fewer settings to learn.
NordVPN punktet in folgenden Bereichen: more servers, streaming access, a longer audit history, and more devices per plan.
Malwarebytes VPN vs. ProtonVPN
Malwarebytes VPN ist in folgenden Punkten überlegen: an antivirus bundle, Browser Guard, and a plain-English app.
ProtonVPN Siege bei: a free plan, Swiss jurisdiction, open-source apps, and more protocol choices.
Malwarebytes VPN vs. ExpressVPN
Malwarebytes VPN ist in folgenden Punkten überlegen: a lower bundle price, built-in antivirus, and a 60-day refund.
ExpressVPN punktet in folgenden Kategorien: streaming reliability, router support, and a fallback protocol when WireGuard is blocked.
Malwarebytes VPN vs CyberGhost
Malwarebytes VPN ist in folgenden Punkten überlegen: antivirus integration, MultiHop routing, and a freshly audited network.
CyberGhost gewinnt in: streaming-labeled servers, more countries, and support for smart TVs.
Häufig gestellte Fragen
Ist McAfee VPN sicher?
It’s safe for encrypting public Wi-Fi traffic with AES-256. But it logs your IP address and the sites you visit, so it isn’t truly private.
Speichert Malwarebytes VPN Daten?
It keeps no activity logs. It skips DNS requests, IP addresses, and bandwidth usage. An April 2026 audit by X41 D-Sec found no evidence of user logging.
Kostet McAfee VPN extra?
No. The VPN comes inside every McAfee plan, starting with Essential at $39.99/yr. Unlimited bandwidth usually requires auto-renewal to stay active.
Blockiert Netflix McAfee VPN?
Often, yes. The VPN isn’t effective with Netflix or Hulu, and it has no smart DNS feature. A dedicated streaming VPN works far better.
Ist Malwarebytes Privacy VPN gut?
It’s a solid pick for privacy and simple everyday use. Streaming, gaming, and device support are weak spots, so match it to your needs first.
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