Cybersecurity · head to head
Akeyless vs Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
Cybersecurity
Enterprise endpoint security built into Microsoft 365
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Akeyless has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Akeyless pricing is usage-based and complex, requires sales consultation; Microsoft Defender for Endpoint pricing not published on public websites; quote required from Microsoft sales
- They diverge on capability: Akeyless covers Secrets management, Microsoft Defender for Endpoint covers Threat & vulnerability management.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Akeyless and Microsoft Defender for Endpoint actually diverge.
| Attribute | Akeyless | Microsoft Defender for Endpoint |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free | On request |
| Pricing model | Usage-based pricing units that vary by product module | quote |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Platforms | Cloud, Hybrid, On-Premises | Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android |
| Founded | Unknown | 1975 |
Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Cybersecurity).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in Akeyless
- Secrets management
- Machine identity
- AI agent identity
- Certificate management
- Privileged access management
- Multi-vault governance
- Encryption and KMS
- Password manager
Only in Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
- Threat & vulnerability management
- Attack surface reduction
- Next-gen protection
- EDR
- Auto investigation
- Microsoft Threat Experts
- Threat analytics
- Secure score
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Akeyless
- Securing AI agents with dedicated identity trackingnot Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
- Managing machine-to-machine credentials at scalenot Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
- Automating PKI and certificate lifecyclenot Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
- Implementing just-in-time privileged accessnot Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
- Enterprise endpoint security across Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS via Plans 1 or 2not Akeyless
- Small and medium-sized businesses using Microsoft Defender for Business as alternativenot Akeyless
- Organisations using Microsoft 365 E5 which includes Defender for Endpoint Plan 2not Akeyless
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Akeyless
- Pricing is usage-based and complex, requires sales consultation
- Free tier is very limited with restricted access
- No transparent pricing published for enterprise features
- Pricing model varies significantly by product module
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
- Pricing not published on public websites; quote required from Microsoft sales
- Defender for Endpoint Plan 1 and Plan 2 do not include server licenses; additional licensing required for server protection
- Specific feature differences between Plan 1 and Plan 2 require consulting Microsoft documentation
Pricing, plan by plan
Akeyless
Free- FreeFree
- Limited feature access
- Restricted usage quotas
- Enterprise$undefined/custom
- Custom pricing based on usage
- Unlimited resource quotas
- Full feature access
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
On requestNo published plan breakdown. See the Microsoft Defender for Endpoint review.
Which should you pick?
Choose Akeyless if
- You need secrets management.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Cloud, Hybrid, On-Premises.
- You also want machine identity.
Choose Microsoft Defender for Endpoint if
- You need threat & vulnerability management.
- You work on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android.
- You also want attack surface reduction.
Questions people ask
- Is Akeyless or Microsoft Defender for Endpoint better?
- Neither clearly leads. Akeyless starts at Free and Microsoft Defender for Endpoint at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Akeyless or Microsoft Defender for Endpoint?
- Akeyless has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Akeyless and On request for Microsoft Defender for Endpoint.
- Does Akeyless or Microsoft Defender for Endpoint run on more platforms?
- Akeyless runs on Cloud, Hybrid, On-Premises. Microsoft Defender for Endpoint runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android.
- Can I use Akeyless for free?
- Yes. Akeyless has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Microsoft Defender for Endpoint starts at On request.
- What is Akeyless best used for?
- Akeyless is most often used for securing ai agents with dedicated identity tracking, managing machine-to-machine credentials at scale, automating pki and certificate lifecycle, implementing just-in-time privileged access. Of those, securing ai agents with dedicated identity tracking and managing machine-to-machine credentials at scale are not what Microsoft Defender for Endpoint is typically brought in for.
- What can Akeyless do that Microsoft Defender for Endpoint cannot?
- Akeyless covers Secrets management, Machine identity, AI agent identity, Certificate management. Microsoft Defender for Endpoint covers Threat & vulnerability management, Attack surface reduction, Next-gen protection, EDR.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Akeyless: What pricing model does Akeyless use?
Akeyless uses usage-based pricing units that vary by product. For example, Secrets Management is priced by clients, Certificate Management by managed certificates, Encryption by transactions, and PAM by users. Contact sales for a custom quote.
SourceMicrosoft Defender for Endpoint: How is Microsoft Defender for Endpoint priced?
Defender for Endpoint is bundled into Microsoft 365 enterprise subscriptions. Plan 1 is included in Microsoft 365 E3, and Plan 2 is included in Microsoft 365 E5. Individual pricing is not published separately.
SourceAkeyless: Does Akeyless support hybrid deployment?
Yes, Akeyless offers Pure SaaS cloud-managed deployment and Hybrid SaaS with on-premise gateways and zero-knowledge encryption for sensitive environments.
SourceMicrosoft Defender for Endpoint: Does Microsoft Defender for Endpoint offer a trial?
Yes. A free trial is available for prospective customers to test the product before committing to a subscription.
SourceAkeyless: How does Akeyless handle AI agent identities?
Akeyless provides dedicated AI agent identity tracking with runtime access control, allowing organizations to manage AI agent access separately from human and machine identities.
SourceMicrosoft Defender for Endpoint: What is the difference between Plan 1 and Plan 2?
Plan 1 (in E3) includes unified security tools, device controls, network protection, firewall, web/URL controls, APIs, SIEM connectors, and app controls. Plan 2 (in E5) adds endpoint detection and response, deception techniques, automatic attack disruption, exposure management, and threat intelligence.
SourceRelated pages
More on Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
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