How to Cancel Malwarebytes (2026)
Quick answer
Malwarebytes subscriptions renew automatically. To stop future charges, sign in to your Malwarebytes account, open your payment page, and click 'Turn auto-renewal off' โ your protection stays active until the end of the term you already paid for. Turning off auto-renewal does not refund a charge you already made. Malwarebytes offers a 60-day money-back guarantee, so if you want your money back, cancel auto-renewal and then submit a support ticket to request a refund within 60 days of the purchase or renewal.
How to cancel Malwarebytes, step by step
Online (Malwarebytes account)
- 1Sign in to your Malwarebytes accountGo to my.malwarebytes.com and sign in with the email used for your subscription. Open the auto-renewal / payment page for your plan.
- 2Click 'Turn auto-renewal off'In the pop-up, select 'Turn auto-renewal off'. This stops the subscription from renewing and prevents the next charge.
- 3Select a reason and sendYou'll be prompted to choose a reason for canceling. Pick a reason and click Send to confirm.
- 4Check for the confirmation emailYou'll receive a confirmation email once auto-renewal is off. Your protection remains active and valid until its expiration date.
Support ticket (required for refunds)
- 1Cancel auto-renewal firstTurning off auto-renewal only stops future charges โ it does not refund a charge you've already paid. Cancel auto-renewal in your account, then request a refund separately.
- 2Submit a refund request to Malwarebytes SupportOpen a support ticket at support.malwarebytes.com/hc/en-us/requests/new and set the issue type to 'Request refund'. Include your order reference (found on your order confirmation email) and request the refund under the 60-day money-back guarantee.
App store (Android / iOS purchases)
- 1Cancel through the store you bought fromIf you subscribed on an Android or iOS device, you must cancel through Google Play (Play Store > Subscriptions) or the Apple App Store (Settings > your name > Subscriptions). Those stores handle billing and refunds, not Malwarebytes.
โฐ Deadline
Turn off auto-renewal any time before your renewal date to avoid the next charge. For a refund, request it within 60 days of the purchase or auto-renewal charge.
๐ต Fees
No cancellation fee. You simply stop being charged at the next renewal.
โฉ๏ธ Refunds
Malwarebytes offers a 60-day money-back guarantee on its subscriptions โ you can get a refund if it has been fewer than 60 days since you purchased or auto-renewed. To get the refund, sign in, cancel your auto-renewal, then submit a ticket to Malwarebytes customer support requesting a refund. If you purchased through Google Play or the Apple App Store, the refund is handled by that store under its own policy.
Retention traps to expect
- Turning off auto-renewal only stops the next charge โ it does not refund a charge you already paid, and that refund is a separate support ticket people routinely miss.
- Before it confirms, you're prompted to pick a cancellation reason, and Android/iOS purchases can't be cancelled here at all โ you have to go back to Google Play or the App Store.
The bottom line on cancelling Malwarebytes
Malwarebytes splits the job in two, and that trips people up: clicking 'Turn auto-renewal off' in your account only stops the next charge โ it does not put money back for a charge you already paid. For that you need the 60-day money-back guarantee, which requires a separate support ticket.
The smart move is to do both, in order: cancel auto-renewal first, then open a refund ticket at Malwarebytes Support within 60 days of the purchase or renewal. If you bought on Android or iOS, cancel and request refunds through Google Play or the App Store instead.
Ways to cancel Malwarebytes at a glance
| Method | Available? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Online (Malwarebytes account) | โ Yes | 4 steps |
| Support ticket (required for refunds) | โ Yes | 2 steps |
| App store (Android / iOS purchases) | โ Yes | 1 step |
Cancelling Malwarebytes vs McAfee vs Norton 360
How the cancellation experience stacks up against similar services.
| Malwarebytes | McAfee | Norton 360 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cancel online? | โ Yes | โ Yes | โ Yes |
| Ease of cancelling | 4 / 5 | 3 / 5 | 4 / 5 |
| Refund fairness | 4 / 5 | 4 / 5 | 4 / 5 |
| No dark patterns | 4 / 5 | 2 / 5 | 3 / 5 |
Malwarebytes cancellation โ FAQ
๏ผ โ Does turning off auto-renewal cancel my protection right away?
No. Your Malwarebytes subscription stays active and valid until its expiration date. After that it simply won't renew or charge you again.
๏ผ โ How do I actually get my money back, not just stop renewals?
Turning off auto-renewal only prevents future charges. To get a refund for a charge you already paid, cancel auto-renewal and then submit a support ticket within the 60-day money-back guarantee window.
๏ผ โ I subscribed on my phone โ where do I cancel?
Cancel through the store you bought from: Google Play (Play Store > Subscriptions) for Android, or the App Store (Settings > your name > Subscriptions) for iOS. Those stores bill and refund you, not Malwarebytes.
What to use instead of Malwarebytes
Cancelling usually means you still need the thing. These are the alternatives worth looking at โ with the honest downside of each.
Malwarebytes Free
FreeBest for: People who only ever opened Malwarebytes to run a manual scan when something felt wrong
- Keeps the on-demand scan-and-remove engine most people actually used, at no cost and with no renewal date to watch.
- No real-time protection, no web or ransomware shields โ it cleans up after an infection rather than preventing one.
Microsoft Defender (built into Windows)
Free โ already included in WindowsBest for: Windows users who want always-on protection without paying anything
- Real-time protection at no cost, and it pairs cleanly with occasional Malwarebytes Free scans.
- Windows only, and no phone, Mac, or identity-monitoring coverage.
Bitdefender Antivirus Plus
From about $30/year (first-year intro pricing)Best for: Anyone who wants stronger always-on prevention for a similar annual price
- Higher independent-lab detection scores for prevention, plus web filtering Malwarebytes' cheaper tiers don't match.
- The renewal price rises steeply after year one, and the refund window is 30 days versus Malwarebytes' 60.
Norton 360
From about $50/year (first-year intro pricing)Best for: People who left because they wanted VPN, cloud backup, and ID monitoring in one bill
- Bundles VPN, password manager, and cloud backup, so it can replace two or three separate subscriptions.
- Aggressive renewal pricing and a far more friction-filled cancellation than Malwarebytes' one-toggle process.
Some links are affiliate links โ we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It never changes which alternatives we list or what we say about them.
Full Malwarebytes alternatives guide โ
Sources & official policy links
This guide is independently written and not affiliated with Malwarebytes. Cancellation terms can change at any time โ always confirm the current policy on the official website before cancelling.