The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Malwarebytes announced a free two-year Premium Security offer for students, faculty, and staff at participating U.S. universities. It covers three devices and requires email verification. Check whether your school currently participates at malwarebytes.com/student before assuming you qualify. A separate Student Beans listing advertises 50% off, but does not specify the eligible plan or checkout price.
What is the Malwarebytes student offer?
Malwarebytes announced its Student Protection Program on January 27, 2026. Under the announced terms, eligible students, faculty, and staff at participating U.S. universities can apply for two years of Premium Security for three devices after verifying their email. The announcement says an option to extend is available after two years, but does not give extension terms or a complete current list of participating schools.
To check the official offer, start at Malwarebytes’ student page. The company announcement directs applicants there to verify their email and receive download instructions. Participation should be confirmed on the live enrollment page; the announcement does not establish availability outside the United States or provide an application deadline.
Is there also a 50% Malwarebytes student discount?
Student Beans separately lists a 50% Malwarebytes student discount and says verified students can access the Malwarebytes education store. Its listing does not identify which plan qualifies, the billing term, or the final checkout price. Treat it as a separate offer to verify during enrollment—not as a guaranteed saving, and not as the same program as Malwarebytes’ free two-year offer.
#1 Best Overall
![Malwarebytes Standard, Premium Security| Amazon Exclusive | 18 Months, 2 Devices | Windows, Mac OS, Android, Apple iOS, Chrome [Online Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41LbYnawq9L._SL160_.jpg)
- AWARD WINNING Antivirus, anti-malware, anti-spyware & more
- 24/7 REAL TIME PROTECTION against emerging malware threats, including ransomware and viruses- without slowing you down.
- PROTECTS YOUR DEVICES ON MULTIPLE PLATFORMS: Get cyber protection for your computers, smartphones, or tablets- Compatible with Windows, Mac, Android, iOS
- DOWNLOAD AND INSTALL INSTANTLY
- UNMATCHED THREAT DETECTION: We found malware on 40 percent of devices that already had a third-party antivirus installed.
The practical order is to check the official free program first, then compare the Student Beans offer only if the free program is unavailable or does not meet your needs. Confirm the exact product, term, total price, and renewal terms before paying.
What features does Malwarebytes include on each device?
Malwarebytes’ feature comparison, updated October 5, 2026, marks features differently by operating system. “Free” and “subscription-only” availability is not identical across devices, so check the row for the device you plan to protect.
Rank #2
![Malwarebytes Standard, Premium Security + VPN Software | 1 Year, 2 Device | Windows, Mac OS, Android, Apple iOS, Chrome [Online Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41jW8jXZyqL._SL160_.jpg)
- Malwarebytes Premium: Available for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android and Chromebook. 24/7 real-time protection against emerging threats
- Malwarebytes Browser Guard: Available for Chrome, Edge, Firefox and Safari. Removes annoying ads that follow you around. Blocks third-party ad trackers that collect your data. Helps protect against tech support and online scams. Blocks malicious web pages, stops in-browser cryptojackers.
- Malwarebytes Privacy: Available for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android. Next-gen, no-log VPN to protect your online digital footprint. Secure public Wi-Fi connections. One-click, intuitive UI to manage your online privacy. 500+ servers in 40+ countries.
| Platform | Features marked free | Features marked subscription-only |
|---|---|---|
| Windows | Quick Scan, Custom Scan, Scam Guard | Threat Scan, real-time protection, web protection, malware protection, ransomware protection, exploit protection |
| Mac | Quick Scan, Custom Scan, Scam Guard | Threat Scan, real-time protection, web protection, malware protection, App Block |
| Android | Scanner, Scam Guard | Real-time protection, ransomware protection, safe-browsing scanner, call protection |
| iOS and iPadOS | Scam Guard | Web protection |
| iOS | Scam Guard | Call protection |
These labels come from Malwarebytes’ platform-specific feature comparison. They describe the feature categories shown there, not a guarantee that every paid feature is available on every operating system or plan.
What should you know about renewals and cancellation?
Malwarebytes says subscriptions bought through its online store have auto-renewal enabled by default. For yearly subscriptions, it sends a reminder email 30 days before renewal stating the amount to be charged.
Rank #3
![Malwarebytes Standard, Premium Software | 5 Device 1 Year (Windows, Mac OS, Android, Apple iOS, Chrome) [software_key_card]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41u7YlqSaAL._SL160_.jpg)
- AWARD WINNING Antivirus, anti-malware, anti-spyware & more
- 24/7 REAL TIME PROTECTION against emerging malware threats, including ransomware and viruses- without slowing you down
- PROTECTS YOUR DEVICES ON MULTIPLE PLATFORMS: Get cyber protection for your computers, smartphones, or tablets- Compatible with Windows, Mac, Android, iOS devices
- DOWNLOAD AND INSTALL INSTANTLY
- UNMATCHED THREAT DETECTION: We found malware on 40 percent of devices that already had a third-party antivirus installed
- Windows or Mac subscription: Turn off auto-renewal in your Malwarebytes account.
- Android or iOS subscription: Manage cancellation through Google Play or Apple’s App Store, respectively.
A Malwarebytes renewal page displayed US$24.95 for one year, compared with US$59.99. Those figures are from a renewal page; they do not establish a student price or the standard price for a new customer. Check the amount shown for your own account and offer before accepting a paid subscription.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to decide which offer to use
| Option | What is established | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Student Protection Program | Free Premium Security for three devices for two years after email verification, for students, faculty, and staff at participating U.S. universities. | Whether your university currently participates and the live enrollment and extension terms. |
| Student Beans listing | A separate 50% student discount is advertised; verified students can access an education store. | Eligible plan, billing term, final checkout price, and renewal conditions. |
| Other Malwarebytes plans | Features vary by platform; Malwarebytes documents which listed features are free or subscription-only. | Whether the plan covers your devices and provides the features you need, plus its price and renewal terms. |
For context, Malwarebytes’ January 27, 2026 announcement attributed $540.1 million in losses among Americans ages 20 to 29 to the Internet Crime Complaint Center, without giving a time period in the cited passage. The company also reported that 49% of Gen Z and 43% of Millennials, versus 35% of Gen X and 22% of Boomers and older, said they had fallen victim to a mobile scam or malware. Malwarebytes did not provide the study’s methodology or field dates in that announcement, so these are company-reported figures, not independently verified prevalence estimates.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- NEVER WORRY about losing important files and photos again! With 25GB of secure online storage, you know your files are safe and sound.
- KEEP YOUR COMPUTER RUNNING FAST with our system optimizer. By removing unnecessary files, it works like a PC tune-up, so you can keep working smoothly.
- Our PASSWORD MANAGER by Last Pass creates, encrypts, and saves all your passwords, so you only have to remember one.
- As the #1 TRUSTED PROVIDER OF THREAT INTELLIGENCE, Webroot protection is quick and easy to download, install, and run, so you don’t have to wait around to be fully protected.
- STAY PROTECTED EVERYWHERE you go, at home, in a café, at the airport—everywhere—on ALL YOUR DEVICES with cloud-based protection against viruses and other online threats.
Rank #4
- THREAT DETECTION – Stay one step ahead. Suspicious links, risky sites, viruses, and scams, caught automatically before they reach you.
- PERSONAL INFO PROTECTION – Keep your personal info safer. Identity monitoring watches for your exposed info and tells you what to do about it.
- SECURE CONNECTIONS – Just a few easy clicks, and we'll automatically protect your info on public Wi‑Fi, every time you connect.
- GUIDED ACTION – Know what matters and what to do next. Clear alerts and simple guidance make it easy to take action.
- MORE THAN ANTIVIRUS – Scam protection, identity monitoring, VPN, web protection, and antivirus work together to protect you, all in one place.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
