Certo AntiSpy vs Malwarebytes AdwCleaner
Certo AntiSpy
certosoftware.comMalwarebytes AdwCleaner
malwarebytes.comSide by side
| Figure | Certo AntiSpy | Malwarebytes AdwCleaner |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $3.33/mo | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | — |
| iOS | Yes | — |
| Android | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 17 | 1 |
| Spec score · Malware removal tools | 9.4 (#2) | 7.6 (#17) |
| Spec score · Malware Removal Software | 9.3 (#2) | 7.5 (#14) |
| Headquarters | The company lists Unit 1, Vickers House, Basingstoke, Hampshire, United Kingdom as its address. | Santa Clara, California, USA |
| Purpose | Certo AntiSpy is an Android security app that scans for spyware, stalkerware, viruses and trojans. | AdwCleaner detects and removes adware, potentially unwanted programs (PUPs), and browser hijackers. |
Plans
Certo AntiSpy
- AntiSpyFree
- AntiSpy Premium (Android)£3.99 a month
- AntiSpy Premium Plus (Android)£6.99 a month
- AntiSpy Premium (Android, monthly)$7.99 a month
- Premium (iPhone)$8.99 a month
- Premium (iPhone, monthly)$8.99 a month
- AntiSpy Premium Plus (Android, monthly)$10.99 a month
- Premium Plus (iPhone)$12.99 a month
- Premium Plus (iPhone, monthly)$12.99 a month
- AntiSpy Premium (Android)£19.99 a year
In their own words
Certo AntiSpy
Certo AntiSpy is an Android security app that scans for spyware, stalkerware, viruses, trojans, and other suspicious activity. Checks include keyloggers, rooting, device administrator privileges, and apps using accessibility features to monitor activity. Most detected threats can be removed with one tap; cases needing manual action come with instructions. Intruder features can alert users to access attempts, trigger an alarm, or secretly take a photo. A privacy audit identifies apps using sensitive permissions, including camera, microphone, and location, so users can revoke access. Breach Check searches the dark web for accounts or passwords that may have appeared in data breaches. Premium Plus includes Certo Secure VPN, which the product page says encrypts browsing connections, including on public Wi-Fi. Certo says scan analysis happens locally, files and app data are not uploaded to its servers, and removal requires user approval. The Android app runs on phones and tablets with Android 7.0 or later and does not require a computer to scan. The free AntiSpy plan costs nothing and includes spyware detection, threat removal, and a privacy audit. Paid monthly plans are $4.99 a month for Premium and $8.99 a month for Premium Plus; Premium yearly is $27.99 a year.
Malwarebytes AdwCleaner
Malwarebytes AdwCleaner is a free Windows utility for detecting and removing adware, potentially unwanted programs and browser hijackers. It can also find unwanted software preinstalled on Windows computers. After scanning, you choose detections to quarantine and disable, then restart to finish cleanup; results also let you delete or restore items. The command-line interface can scan and list detections, scan and quarantine them, or uninstall AdwCleaner. Malwarebytes positions it for home users and technicians and distinguishes its focus from Malwarebytes Free, which also removes viruses, trojans, botnets and ransomware. Supported systems are Windows 11, Windows 10 and Windows 8.1; Windows XP, Vista, 7 and 8 are unsupported. Minimum requirements list an 800 MHz SSE2 CPU, 512 MB RAM and 10 MB free disk space. With a firewall, outbound port 443 access is required to three listed Malwarebytes or AdwCleaner service addresses. Suspected false positives can be submitted from scan results for specialist review. The Free plan is free.