Microsoft Defender for Business Alternatives (2026)

Microsoft
Microsoft Defender for Business
4.4 (300) · G2 7.8/10
From $3/user/mo
Visit website →
Starting price
$3/user/mo
Free trial
Free trial
Deployment
Cloud
Best for
SMBs already on Microsoft 365 wanting bundled EDR

Our verdict

The top alternatives to Microsoft Defender for Business are SentinelOne Singularity, CrowdStrike Falcon, ThreatLocker. SentinelOne Singularity is the closest like-for-like option (4.7/5 (~2k G2 reviews), from $69.99/endpoint/yr). People typically switch from Microsoft Defender for Business over pricing model, complexity, or a missing capability — the table compares each alternative on exactly those axes.

  1. 1SentinelOne Singularity

    ★ Editor's Choice 8.4 4.7 (2000)

    Best for Teams wanting autonomous AI-driven EDR/XDR.

    • Autonomous AI detection
    • Storyline attack visualization
    • EDR/XDR
    • Ranger network discovery
    Free trial Free version
    Visit SentinelOne Singularity → From $69.99/endpoint/yr Microsoft Defender for Business vs SentinelOne Singularity →

  2. 2CrowdStrike Falcon

    8.3 4.7 (290)

    Best for Organizations wanting best-in-class cloud-native EDR + threat intel.

    • Cloud-native NGAV
    • EDR/XDR
    • Threat intelligence
    • Threat graph
    Free trial Free version
    Visit CrowdStrike Falcon → From $59.99/device/yr Microsoft Defender for Business vs CrowdStrike Falcon →

  3. 3ThreatLocker

    8.2 4.8 (250)

    Best for MSPs wanting Zero Trust allowlisting and ringfencing.

    • Application allowlisting
    • Ringfencing
    • Storage control
    • Elevation control
    Free trial Free version
    Visit ThreatLocker → From Custom quote Microsoft Defender for Business vs ThreatLocker →

  4. 4Bitdefender GravityZone

    8.1 4.6 (400)

    Best for SMBs and MSPs wanting strong protection at a fair price.

    • Top-rated AV engine
    • EDR/XDR options
    • Risk analytics
    • Patch + full-disk encryption add-ons
    Free trial Free version
    Visit Bitdefender GravityZone → From Custom quote Microsoft Defender for Business vs Bitdefender GravityZone →

  5. 5Sophos Intercept X

    8.0 4.6 (350)

    Best for SMBs/MSPs wanting strong EDR plus optional MDR from one vendor.

    • Deep-learning AV
    • EDR/XDR
    • Anti-ransomware (CryptoGuard)
    • Sophos Central management
    Free trial Free version
    Visit Sophos Intercept X → From Custom quote Microsoft Defender for Business vs Sophos Intercept X →

  6. 6ESET PROTECT

    7.9 4.6 (800)

    Best for Teams wanting lightweight, reliable endpoint protection.

    • Lightweight AV
    • EDR (Inspect)
    • Full-disk encryption
    • Cloud console
    Free trial Free version
    Visit ESET PROTECT → From Custom quote Microsoft Defender for Business vs ESET PROTECT →

  7. 7Malwarebytes ThreatDown

    7.8 4.6 (900)

    Best for SMBs/MSPs wanting simple, effective EDR with optional MDR.

    • Strong remediation engine
    • EDR + ransomware rollback
    • Simple console
    • Optional MDR
    Free trial Free version
    Visit Malwarebytes ThreatDown → From $69/endpoint/yr Microsoft Defender for Business vs Malwarebytes ThreatDown →

Affiliate links — vendors may pay us a commission. Ranking is data-driven and never pay-to-play. How we rank →

More alternatives detail

Teams usually move off Microsoft Defender for Business for one of three reasons: pricing model, complexity, or a missing capability. The closest like-for-like options on the data we track are SentinelOne Singularity, CrowdStrike Falcon, Bitdefender GravityZone.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best alternative to Microsoft Defender for Business?
SentinelOne Singularity is the top-rated alternative in our data-weighted ranking (from $69.99/endpoint/yr).
Why do people switch from Microsoft Defender for Business?
Usually pricing model, complexity, or a missing capability. The table compares each alternative on exactly those axes.
Data as of June 1, 2026. Sources: microsoft.com. Figures are pulled from public vendor and security data and refreshed automatically.