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 
ThreatLocker Microsoft Defender for Business vs ThreatLocker: on our data-weighted scoring, ThreatLocker edges ahead (8.2 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; ThreatLocker starts at Custom quote and is best for MSPs wanting Zero Trust allowlisting and ringfencing. Choose ThreatLocker 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.
ThreatLocker
8.2/10
MSP Compared score
- Starting price
- Custom quote
- Reviews
- 4.8/5 (~250 G2 reviews)
- Free trial
- 30 days
- Deployment
- Cloud
- Best for
- MSPs wanting Zero Trust allowlisting and ringfencing
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 | ThreatLocker |
|---|---|---|
| Editorial | 7.8 | 8.2 |
| User reviews | 8.8 | 9.6 |
| Adoption | 6.6 | 6.4 |
| Affordability | 7.6 | 5.0 |
| Feature breadth | 5.0 | 5.0 |
| Ease of trial | 6.0 | 6.0 |
Microsoft Defender for Business vs ThreatLocker: head-to-head
| Microsoft Defender for Business | ThreatLocker | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $3/user/mo | Custom quote |
| Pricing model | per user | quote |
| Free trial / tier | Free trial | 30 days |
| Best for | SMBs already on Microsoft 365 wanting bundled EDR | MSPs wanting Zero Trust allowlisting and ringfencing |
| Deployment | Cloud | Cloud |
| G2 rating | 4.4/5 (300) | 4.8/5 (250) |
| Capterra rating | — | — |
| Our score | 7.8 | 8.2 |
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 ThreatLocker if…
You need msps wanting zero trust allowlisting and ringfencing.
✓ Pros
- Powerful Zero Trust controls
- Excellent support
- Strong MSP fit
✕ Cons
- Allowlisting requires ongoing tuning
- Quote pricing
- Different model than AV/EDR
In depth
In Depth
Pricing
| Aspect | ThreatLocker | Microsoft Defender for Business |
|---|---|---|
| Model | Custom quote | $3/user/month (annual billing) |
| Free Trial | 30 days | Yes |
| Free Tier | No | No |
| Best Case | MSP volume licensing | M365 Business Premium included |
ThreatLocker uses opaque quote-based pricing, making it hard to compare until you talk to sales. Microsoft Defender for Business is straightforward at $3/user/month—a bargain if you’re already paying for Microsoft 365, but the per-user model assumes you’re licensing multiple devices per person.
Features & Deployment
Both deploy cloud-native, but solve different problems:
ThreatLocker focuses on Zero Trust allowlisting:
- Application allowlisting (whitelist-only execution)
- Ringfencing (isolate suspicious apps)
- Storage control (block USB, network shares)
- Elevation control (prevent privilege escalation)
- 24/7 managed support (“Cyber Hero”)
Microsoft Defender for Business is traditional EDR for SMBs:
- Next-gen antivirus + behavioral detection
- Threat & vulnerability management
- Automated investigation & response
- Deep M365 integration (alerts in Defender portal, Teams notifications)
- Per-user licensing covers multiple devices
Deployment difference matters: ThreatLocker requires active tuning to whitelist legitimate apps—ongoing work. Defender for Business works out-of-box with less maintenance but relies on signature + behavioral detection rather than allowlisting.
Ratings & Verdict
| Metric | ThreatLocker | Defender for Business |
|---|---|---|
| G2 Score | 4.8/5 (250 reviews) | 4.4/5 (300 reviews) |
| Our Score | 8.2/10 | 7.8/10 |
ThreatLocker wins on user sentiment (4.8 vs 4.4) and our overall score. Reviewers praise its Zero Trust model and support quality.
Defender for Business wins on simplicity and value-per-dollar for Microsoft-centric shops.
Verdict
Choose ThreatLocker if:
- You’re an MSP managing multiple clients and want to sell Zero Trust controls
- You need ringfencing and storage lockdown (regulatory/sensitive environments)
- Your team can handle allowlist tuning
Choose Defender for Business if:
- You’re a small business with Microsoft 365 licenses already in place
- You want plug-and-play EDR without operational overhead
- Budget is tight and you’re not on premises
They’re fundamentally different: ThreatLocker is allowlisting-first, Defender is detection-first. ThreatLocker suits MSPs and security-first orgs; Defender suits cost-conscious SMBs.
Frequently asked questions
- Microsoft Defender for Business vs ThreatLocker: which is better?
- Microsoft Defender for Business vs ThreatLocker: on our data-weighted scoring, ThreatLocker edges ahead (8.2 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; ThreatLocker starts at Custom quote and is best for MSPs wanting Zero Trust allowlisting and ringfencing.
- Is Microsoft Defender for Business cheaper than ThreatLocker?
- Microsoft Defender for Business starts at $3/user/mo and ThreatLocker starts at Custom quote (see the pricing rows for models and limits).
Data as of September 17, 2026. Sources: microsoft.com, threatlocker.com. Figures are pulled from public vendor and security data and refreshed automatically.