Malwarebytes ThreatDown
7.8/10
MSP Compared score
- Starting price
- $69/endpoint/yr
- Reviews
- 4.6/5 (~900 G2 reviews)
- Free trial
- Free trial
- Deployment
- Cloud
- Best for
- SMBs/MSPs wanting simple, effective EDR with optional MDR
Best Endpoint Security & EDR Software · 2026
Malwarebytes ThreatDown vs 
Microsoft Defender for Business Malwarebytes ThreatDown vs Microsoft Defender for Business: on our data-weighted scoring, Malwarebytes ThreatDown edges ahead (7.8 vs 7.8/10). Malwarebytes ThreatDown starts at $69/endpoint/yr and is best for SMBs/MSPs wanting simple, effective EDR with optional MDR; Microsoft Defender for Business starts at $3/user/mo and is best for SMBs already on Microsoft 365 wanting bundled EDR. Choose Malwarebytes ThreatDown 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.
Affiliate disclosure: Some links may be affiliate or partner links. If you sign up through one, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. This never changes our scores or rankings. Learn more.
Microsoft Defender for Business
7.8/10
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
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 | Malwarebytes ThreatDown | Microsoft Defender for Business |
|---|---|---|
| Editorial | 7.8 | 7.8 |
| User reviews | 9.2 | 8.8 |
| Adoption | 7.8 | 6.6 |
| Affordability | 2.1 | 7.6 |
| Feature breadth | 5.0 | 5.0 |
| Ease of trial | 6.0 | 6.0 |
Malwarebytes ThreatDown vs Microsoft Defender for Business: head-to-head
| Malwarebytes ThreatDown | Microsoft Defender for Business | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $69/endpoint/yr | $3/user/mo |
| Pricing model | per endpoint | per user |
| Free trial / tier | Free trial | Free trial |
| Best for | SMBs/MSPs wanting simple, effective EDR with optional MDR | SMBs already on Microsoft 365 wanting bundled EDR |
| Deployment | Cloud | Cloud |
| G2 rating | 4.6/5 (900) | 4.4/5 (300) |
| Capterra rating | — | — |
| Our score | 7.8 | 7.8 |
Choose Malwarebytes ThreatDown if…
You need smbs/msps wanting simple, effective edr with optional mdr.
✓ Pros
- Easy to deploy and use
- Great remediation heritage
- Transparent entry price
✕ Cons
- Advanced features need higher tiers
- Reporting basic
- Newer to EDR
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
In Depth
Pricing
| Aspect | Microsoft Defender for Business | Malwarebytes ThreatDown |
|---|---|---|
| Model | Per-user/month | Per-endpoint/year |
| Entry Cost | $3/user/mo ($36/yr) | $69/endpoint/yr |
| Billing | Annual commitment | Annual commitment |
| Best Value | M365 Business Premium subscribers | Standalone or MSP deployments |
| Hidden Costs | Can increase with tuning needs; licensing nuances | Advanced tiers (EDR/MDR) require upgrades |
Verdict: Defender wins on raw cost for M365 customers. ThreatDown’s per-endpoint model suits organizations with mixed device counts, but advanced EDR features require moving up tier levels.
Features & Deployment
Both deploy cloud-native, but serve different priorities:
Microsoft Defender for Business emphasizes ecosystem integration:
- EDR, next-gen AV, threat/vulnerability management, auto-investigation
- Seamless M365 integration (best-in-class for tenants already bought-in)
- Per-user licensing covers multiple devices
Malwarebytes ThreatDown prioritizes simplicity and remediation:
- Strong remediation engine with ransomware rollback
- Optional managed detection & response (MDR) add-on
- Simple console; DNS filtering available
- Newer to EDR but solid core capabilities
Key Tradeoff: Defender offers deeper platform integration; ThreatDown offers operational simplicity and transparent entry point.
Ratings & Trust
| Platform | Score | Reviews | Takeaway |
|---|---|---|---|
| G2: Defender | 4.4/5 | 300 | Solid, but smaller reviewer base |
| G2: ThreatDown | 4.6/5 | 900 | Slightly higher; 3× more feedback |
ThreatDown’s larger review count signals broader adoption and validates ease-of-use claims.
Verdict
Choose Defender for Business if:
- You’re already committed to Microsoft 365
- You want unified platform administration
- Budget is tight and you value per-user pricing
Choose Malwarebytes ThreatDown if:
- You need straightforward EDR without ecosystem lock-in
- Ransomware remediation and simplicity matter more than integration
- You’re an MSP or manage heterogeneous environments
Overall: Both score 7.8. Defender edges for integrated shops; ThreatDown wins for standalone deployments valuing transparency and ease. Neither is a clear loser—it’s an ecosystem vs. simplicity trade.
Frequently asked questions
- Malwarebytes ThreatDown vs Microsoft Defender for Business: which is better?
- Malwarebytes ThreatDown vs Microsoft Defender for Business: on our data-weighted scoring, Malwarebytes ThreatDown edges ahead (7.8 vs 7.8/10). Malwarebytes ThreatDown starts at $69/endpoint/yr and is best for SMBs/MSPs wanting simple, effective EDR with optional MDR; Microsoft Defender for Business starts at $3/user/mo and is best for SMBs already on Microsoft 365 wanting bundled EDR.
- Is Malwarebytes ThreatDown cheaper than Microsoft Defender for Business?
- Malwarebytes ThreatDown starts at $69/endpoint/yr and Microsoft Defender for Business starts at $3/user/mo (see the pricing rows for models and limits).
Data as of September 17, 2026. Sources: threatdown.com, microsoft.com. Figures are pulled from public vendor and security data and refreshed automatically.