Microsoft Defender for Business Alternatives (2026)
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- 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
SentinelOne Singularity
★ Editor's ChoiceVisit SentinelOne Singularity → From $69.99/endpoint/yr Microsoft Defender for Business vs SentinelOne Singularity →Best for Teams wanting autonomous AI-driven EDR/XDR.
- Autonomous AI detection
- Storyline attack visualization
- EDR/XDR
Free trial Free version - 2
CrowdStrike Falcon
Visit CrowdStrike Falcon → From $59.99/device/yr Microsoft Defender for Business vs CrowdStrike Falcon →Best for Organizations wanting best-in-class cloud-native EDR + threat intel.
- Cloud-native NGAV
- EDR/XDR
- Threat intelligence
Free trial Free version -
Best for MSPs wanting Zero Trust allowlisting and ringfencing.
- Application allowlisting
- Ringfencing
- Storage control
Free trial Free version - 4
Bitdefender GravityZone
Best for SMBs and MSPs wanting strong protection at a fair price.
- Top-rated AV engine
- EDR/XDR options
- Risk analytics
Free trial Free version - 5
Sophos Intercept X
Best for SMBs/MSPs wanting strong EDR plus optional MDR from one vendor.
- Deep-learning AV
- EDR/XDR
- Anti-ransomware (CryptoGuard)
Free trial Free version -
Best for Teams wanting lightweight, reliable endpoint protection.
- Lightweight AV
- EDR (Inspect)
- Full-disk encryption
Free trial Free version - 7
Malwarebytes ThreatDown
Best for SMBs/MSPs wanting simple, effective EDR with optional MDR.
- Strong remediation engine
- EDR + ransomware rollback
- Simple console
Free trial Free version
More alternatives detail
Best Alternatives to Microsoft Defender for Business
Why Teams Switch
- Ecosystem lock-in: Defender works best if you’re all-in on Microsoft 365; standalone it feels incomplete.
- EDR depth: Defender’s auto-investigation is solid but lacks the autonomous AI and threat hunting muscle of pure-play EDR vendors.
- Per-user licensing: Only makes sense if you own M365; otherwise per-endpoint pricing becomes cheaper fast.
- Tuning overhead: Requires significant configuration to reduce false positives; competitors ship smarter out-of-box.
Top Alternatives
| Vendor | Best For | Entry Price | Key Advantage | Our Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SentinelOne Singularity | Autonomous AI-driven EDR/XDR | $69.99/endpoint/yr (Core) | Autonomous detection + rollback remediation | 8.4 |
| CrowdStrike Falcon | Cloud-native EDR + threat intel | $59.99/device/yr (Go) | Elite detection + threat graph | 8.3 |
| Bitdefender GravityZone | SMBs/MSPs seeking fair pricing | ~$77/yr (3 devices) | Top AV scores + affordable | 8.1 |
| Sophos Intercept X | EDR + optional MDR | Quote | Strong ransomware defense + MDR path | 8.0 |
| ESET PROTECT | Lightweight, reliable | Quote | Very light agent + flexible deployment | 7.9 |
| Malwarebytes ThreatDown | Simple EDR with MDR option | $69/endpoint/yr | Easy remediation + transparent pricing | 7.8 |
| Webroot | MSPs wanting ultra-light agent | Quote | Tiny footprint + MSP-friendly | 7.6 |
Key Trade-offs
If you want pure autonomous detection:
SentinelOne Singularity Complete ($179.99/yr) rivals CrowdStrike but edges ahead on storyline visualization and rollback. Budget the Complete tier; Core is EPP only.
If you want industry-leading threat intel:
CrowdStrike Falcon Enterprise ($184.99/yr) includes threat graph and intelligence modules. Lightweight agent, but modules add cost quickly.
If you’re price-sensitive:
Bitdefender GravityZone or Malwarebytes ThreatDown—both ~$69–77/yr entry, solid detection, and easier to forecast than module-based pricing.
If you’re already a Sophos shop:
Intercept X bundles EDR + MDR option and strong ransomware features. Best value within the Sophos stack.
If you need minimal footprint:
ESET PROTECT or Webroot. Both ship lightweight agents; tradeoff is lighter EDR depth and quote-only pricing.
Bottom Line
Switch from Defender for Business if:
- You need true autonomous EDR (SentinelOne, CrowdStrike)
- You’re not paying for M365 anyway (per-endpoint rivals undercut Defender)
- You want stronger ransomware + rollback (SentinelOne, Sophos, Malwarebytes)
- You need MSP billing flexibility (Bitdefender, Sophos, Webroot)
Stay with Defender if you’re M365 Premium and want tight integration with Teams, Intune, and Exchange. Otherwise, the alternatives offer better detection, simpler pricing, and more autonomy.
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.