CrowdStrike Falcon
9.0/10
MSP Compared score
- Starting price
- $59.99/device/yr
- Reviews
- 4.7/5 (~290 G2 reviews)
- Free trial
- 15 days
- Deployment
- Cloud
- Best for
- Organizations wanting best-in-class cloud-native EDR + threat intel
Best Endpoint Security & EDR Software · 2026
CrowdStrike Falcon vs 
Microsoft Defender for Business CrowdStrike Falcon vs Microsoft Defender for Business: on our data-weighted scoring, CrowdStrike Falcon edges ahead (8.3 vs 7.8/10). CrowdStrike Falcon starts at $59.99/device/yr and is best for organizations wanting best-in-class cloud-native edr + threat intel; Microsoft Defender for Business starts at $3/user/mo and is best for smbs already on microsoft 365 wanting bundled edr. Choose CrowdStrike Falcon for the stronger overall track record; consider Microsoft Defender for Business if its pricing model or fit matches your environment better. Side-by-side table below.
Microsoft Defender for Business
8.2/10
MSP Compared score
- Starting price
- $3/user/mo
- Reviews
- 4.4/5 (~300 G2 reviews)
- Free trial
- Free trial
- Deployment
- Cloud
- Best for
- SMBs already on Microsoft 365 wanting bundled EDR
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Strengths at a glance
Six criteria, each scored 0–10 on the same scale from real review data, public pricing and feature coverage. See our methodology →
| Criterion | CrowdStrike Falcon | Microsoft Defender for Business |
|---|---|---|
| Editorial | 8.3 | 7.8 |
| User reviews | 9.4 | 8.8 |
| Adoption | 6.5 | 6.6 |
| Affordability | 2.0 | 7.8 |
| Feature breadth | 5.0 | 5.0 |
| Ease of trial | 6.0 | 6.0 |
CrowdStrike Falcon vs Microsoft Defender for Business: head-to-head
| CrowdStrike Falcon | Microsoft Defender for Business | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $59.99/device/yr | $3/user/mo |
| Pricing model | per endpoint | per user |
| Free trial / tier | 15 days | Free trial |
| Best for | Organizations wanting best-in-class cloud-native EDR + threat intel | SMBs already on Microsoft 365 wanting bundled EDR |
| Deployment | Cloud | Cloud |
| G2 rating | 4.7/5 (290) | 4.4/5 (300) |
| Capterra rating | — | — |
| Our score | 8.3 | 7.8 |
Choose CrowdStrike Falcon if…
You need organizations wanting best-in-class cloud-native edr + threat intel.
Pros
- Elite detection + threat intel
- Lightweight agent
- Strong analyst tooling
Cons
- Modules add up quickly
- Premium pricing
- 2024 outage reminder of agent risk
Choose Microsoft Defender for Business if…
You need smbs already on microsoft 365 wanting bundled edr.
Pros
- Cheap if you have M365
- Solid detection
- Per-user (covers multiple devices)
Cons
- Best within Microsoft ecosystem
- Licensing nuances
- Tuning needed
In depth
Pricing: CrowdStrike Falcon vs Microsoft Defender for Business
CrowdStrike Falcon bills on a per endpoint model from $59.99/device/yr (15 days trial), while Microsoft Defender for Business uses a per user model from $3/user/mo (yes trial). Because the models differ, the cheaper option flips depending on your fleet size — model both at your seat/endpoint count.
Features & deployment
CrowdStrike Falcon ships 5 headline capabilities (Cloud-native NGAV, EDR/XDR, Threat intelligence, Threat graph) and deploys Cloud. Microsoft Defender for Business ships 5 (EDR for SMB, Next-gen AV, Threat & vulnerability mgmt, Auto-investigation), deploying Cloud.
Ratings & verdict
CrowdStrike Falcon holds 4.7/5 (~290 G2 reviews); Microsoft Defender for Business holds 4.4/5 (~300 G2 reviews). On our data-weighted score, CrowdStrike Falcon edges ahead (8.3 vs 7.8/10). Pick Microsoft Defender for Business instead when smbs already on microsoft 365 wanting bundled edr. See CrowdStrike Falcon alternatives or Microsoft Defender for Business alternatives.
Frequently asked questions
- CrowdStrike Falcon vs Microsoft Defender for Business: which is better?
- CrowdStrike Falcon vs Microsoft Defender for Business: on our data-weighted scoring, CrowdStrike Falcon edges ahead (8.3 vs 7.8/10). CrowdStrike Falcon starts at $59.99/device/yr and is best for organizations wanting best-in-class cloud-native edr + threat intel; Microsoft Defender for Business starts at $3/user/mo and is best for smbs already on microsoft 365 wanting bundled edr.
- Is CrowdStrike Falcon cheaper than Microsoft Defender for Business?
- CrowdStrike Falcon starts at $59.99/device/yr and Microsoft Defender for Business starts at $3/user/mo (see the pricing rows for models and limits).
Data as of June 16, 2026. Sources: crowdstrike.com, microsoft.com. Figures are pulled from public vendor and security data and refreshed automatically.