Cybersecurity · head to head
Authelia vs Microsoft Defender
Authelia
Cybersecurity
Open-source authentication and two-factor portal for reverse proxies
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
Microsoft Defender
Cybersecurity
Always-on protection for you and your family's data and devices
- From
- $12/month
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Authelia has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Authelia depends on a reverse proxy: it is not a standalone identity provider; Microsoft Defender defender Suite requires existing Microsoft 365 E3 or equivalent base licensing
- Prices and features above were last checked on 29 August 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Authelia and Microsoft Defender actually diverge.
| Attribute | Authelia | Microsoft Defender |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free | $12/month |
| Pricing model | Open source, no licence fee | subscription |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Platforms | Docker, Kubernetes, Linux, Self-hosted | Web |
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 Authelia
- Reverse proxy integration
- Two-factor authentication
- Access control rules
- Lightweight backends
Only in Microsoft Defender
Nothing recorded that Authelia does not also cover.
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Authelia
- Putting a login and 2FA in front of self-hosted services that have nonenot Microsoft Defender
- Adding SSO across a small set of internal tools without a full identity platformnot Microsoft Defender
- Home and small-team infrastructure behind a single reverse proxynot Microsoft Defender
Microsoft Defender
- Endpoint security and threat protectionnot Authelia
- Identity and access securitynot Authelia
- Email threat protectionnot Authelia
- SaaS application security monitoringnot Authelia
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Authelia
- Depends on a reverse proxy: it is not a standalone identity provider
- Configuration is YAML-first with no administrative interface, so changes mean editing files
- Not a full IAM: user management, provisioning and federation are limited compared with Keycloak
- Scales poorly as an organisation-wide identity solution, which is not its target
Microsoft Defender
- Defender Suite requires existing Microsoft 365 E3 or equivalent base licensing
- Some Defender products use pay-as-you-go pricing with variable costs
- Prices vary based on Microsoft agreements, requiring sales contact for custom quotes
Pricing, plan by plan
Authelia
Free- AutheliaFree
- Full functionality
- No usage limits
- Community support
Microsoft Defender
$12/month- Microsoft Defender Suite$12/month
- Endpoint protection
- Identity threat detection
- Email security
- Microsoft 365 E5 with Defender$60/month
- Includes Defender Suite
- Microsoft Teams included
- Comprehensive security and compliance
- Microsoft Defender Vulnerability Management Add-on$2/month
- Vulnerability scanning and management
- One-month free trial available
- Annual commitment required
Which should you pick?
Choose Authelia if
- You need reverse proxy integration.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Docker, Kubernetes, Linux, Self-hosted.
- You also want two-factor authentication.
Choose Microsoft Defender if
Nothing in the data separates Microsoft Defender from Authelia on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.
Questions people ask
- Is Authelia or Microsoft Defender better?
- Neither clearly leads. Authelia starts at Free and Microsoft Defender at $12/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Authelia or Microsoft Defender?
- Authelia has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Authelia and $12/month for Microsoft Defender.
- Does Authelia or Microsoft Defender run on more platforms?
- Authelia runs on Docker, Kubernetes, Linux, Self-hosted. Microsoft Defender runs on Web.
- Can I use Authelia for free?
- Yes. Authelia has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Microsoft Defender starts at $12/month.
- What is Authelia best used for?
- Authelia is most often used for putting a login and 2fa in front of self-hosted services that have none, adding sso across a small set of internal tools without a full identity platform, home and small-team infrastructure behind a single reverse proxy. Of those, putting a login and 2fa in front of self-hosted services that have none and adding sso across a small set of internal tools without a full identity platform are not what Microsoft Defender is typically brought in for.
- What can Authelia do that Microsoft Defender cannot?
- Authelia covers Reverse proxy integration, Two-factor authentication, Access control rules, Lightweight backends.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Authelia: Is Authelia free?
Yes, open source with no licence fee.
Microsoft Defender: How much does Microsoft Defender Suite cost?
Microsoft Defender Suite costs $12/user/month (paid yearly), but requires existing Microsoft 365 E3 or equivalent base licensing. It includes endpoint protection, identity threat detection, email security, and SaaS application monitoring.
SourceAuthelia: Does Authelia need a reverse proxy?
Yes. It integrates through forward authentication with Nginx, Traefik, Caddy or HAProxy rather than sitting in front of traffic itself.
Microsoft Defender: What add-ons are available for Microsoft Defender?
Microsoft Defender Vulnerability Management Add-on costs $2/user/month with annual commitment and includes a one-month free trial. Additional pay-as-you-go products include External Attack Surface Management, Cloud Security Posture Management, and Sentinel.
SourceAuthelia: Authelia or Keycloak?
Authelia is far lighter and aimed at protecting self-hosted services behind a proxy. Keycloak is a full identity and access management platform, and much more to run.
Microsoft Defender: Is Defender included in Microsoft 365 E5?
Yes, Microsoft Defender Suite is included in Microsoft 365 E5 at $60/user/month (paid yearly with Teams). Prices may vary based on Microsoft agreements, requiring contact with Sales for customized quotes.
SourceRelated pages
More on Microsoft Defender
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