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
Best Endpoint Security & EDR Software · 2026
Microsoft Defender for Business vs 
Sophos Intercept X Microsoft Defender for Business vs Sophos Intercept X: on our data-weighted scoring, Sophos Intercept X edges ahead (8.0 vs 7.8/10). Microsoft Defender for Business starts at $3/user/mo and is best for SMBs already on Microsoft 365 wanting bundled EDR; Sophos Intercept X starts at Custom quote and is best for SMBs/MSPs wanting strong EDR plus optional MDR from one vendor. Choose Sophos Intercept X 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.
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Sophos Intercept X
8.0/10
MSP Compared score
- Starting price
- Custom quote
- Reviews
- 4.6/5 (~350 G2 reviews)
- Free trial
- 30 days
- Deployment
- Cloud
- Best for
- SMBs/MSPs wanting strong EDR plus optional MDR from one vendor
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 | Microsoft Defender for Business | Sophos Intercept X |
|---|---|---|
| Editorial | 7.8 | 8.0 |
| User reviews | 8.8 | 9.2 |
| Adoption | 6.6 | 6.7 |
| Affordability | 7.6 | 5.0 |
| Feature breadth | 5.0 | 5.0 |
| Ease of trial | 6.0 | 6.0 |
Microsoft Defender for Business vs Sophos Intercept X: head-to-head
| Microsoft Defender for Business | Sophos Intercept X | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $3/user/mo | Custom quote |
| Pricing model | per user | per user |
| Free trial / tier | Free trial | 30 days |
| Best for | SMBs already on Microsoft 365 wanting bundled EDR | SMBs/MSPs wanting strong EDR plus optional MDR from one vendor |
| Deployment | Cloud | Cloud |
| G2 rating | 4.4/5 (300) | 4.6/5 (350) |
| Capterra rating | — | — |
| Our score | 7.8 | 8.0 |
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
Choose Sophos Intercept X if…
You need smbs/msps wanting strong edr plus optional mdr from one vendor.
✓ Pros
- Strong anti-ransomware
- Central console
- Easy MDR upgrade path
✕ Cons
- Quote pricing
- Best value within Sophos stack
- Tiering complexity
In depth
Pricing: Sophos Intercept X vs Microsoft Defender for Business
Sophos Intercept X bills on a per user model from Custom quote (30 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
Sophos Intercept X ships 5 headline capabilities (Deep-learning AV, EDR/XDR, Anti-ransomware (CryptoGuard), Sophos Central management) and deploys Cloud. Microsoft Defender for Business ships 5 (EDR for SMB, Next-gen AV, Threat & vulnerability mgmt, Auto-investigation), deploying Cloud.
Ratings & verdict
Sophos Intercept X holds 4.6/5 (~350 G2 reviews); Microsoft Defender for Business holds 4.4/5 (~300 G2 reviews). On our data-weighted score, Sophos Intercept X edges ahead (8.0 vs 7.8/10). Pick Microsoft Defender for Business instead when smbs already on microsoft 365 wanting bundled edr. See Sophos Intercept X alternatives or Microsoft Defender for Business alternatives.
Frequently asked questions
- Microsoft Defender for Business vs Sophos Intercept X: which is better?
- Microsoft Defender for Business vs Sophos Intercept X: on our data-weighted scoring, Sophos Intercept X edges ahead (8.0 vs 7.8/10). Microsoft Defender for Business starts at $3/user/mo and is best for SMBs already on Microsoft 365 wanting bundled EDR; Sophos Intercept X starts at Custom quote and is best for SMBs/MSPs wanting strong EDR plus optional MDR from one vendor.
- Is Microsoft Defender for Business cheaper than Sophos Intercept X?
- Microsoft Defender for Business starts at $3/user/mo and Sophos Intercept X starts at Custom quote (see the pricing rows for models and limits).
Data as of November 1, 2026. Sources: microsoft.com, sophos.com. Figures are pulled from public vendor and security data and refreshed automatically.