Cybersecurity · head to head
BeyondTrust vs Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
BeyondTrust
Cybersecurity
Privileged access management, endpoint privilege management and secure remote access
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
Cybersecurity
Enterprise endpoint security built into Microsoft 365
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: BeyondTrust the product lines came from separate origins and still have separate consoles, so buying the suite does not deliver the single pane of glass the bundle implies.; Microsoft Defender for Endpoint pricing not published on public websites; quote required from Microsoft sales
- They diverge on capability: BeyondTrust covers Password Safe, Microsoft Defender for Endpoint covers Threat & vulnerability management.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which BeyondTrust and Microsoft Defender for Endpoint actually diverge.
| Attribute | BeyondTrust | Microsoft Defender for Endpoint |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux, Web | Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android |
| Founded | Unknown | 1975 |
Identical on both: starting price (On request), pricing model (quote), free tier (No), 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 BeyondTrust
- Password Safe
- Endpoint Privilege Management
- Privileged Remote Access
- Remote Support
- Discovery
- Session recording
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.
BeyondTrust
- An organisation removing local administrator rights across thousands of Windows endpoints without swamping the service desknot Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
- A utility required to record every privileged session on operational systems for regulatory auditnot Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
- A firm giving external maintenance vendors access to specific servers without handing over credentialsnot Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
- A helpdesk consolidating remote support and privileged access onto one audited path rather than an unmanaged remote toolnot Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
- Enterprise endpoint security across Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS via Plans 1 or 2not BeyondTrust
- Small and medium-sized businesses using Microsoft Defender for Business as alternativenot BeyondTrust
- Organisations using Microsoft 365 E5 which includes Defender for Endpoint Plan 2not BeyondTrust
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
BeyondTrust
- The product lines came from separate origins and still have separate consoles, so buying the suite does not deliver the single pane of glass the bundle implies.
- Licensing metrics differ between products, per managed account, per endpoint, per concurrent session, which makes multi-product quotes hard to compare with competitors and hard to forecast as you grow.
- Self-hosted deployments carry real infrastructure and upgrade burden, and organisations without a dedicated PAM administrator find the system drifts out of maintenance.
- Endpoint privilege management requires sustained rule authoring as applications change, so the first-year saving in helpdesk tickets erodes if nobody owns the policy afterwards.
- Discovery finds far more privileged accounts than most organisations expect, which is valuable but converts a licence purchase into a longer remediation programme before the control is real.
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
BeyondTrust
On request- BeyondTrust Platform$undefined/year
- Password Safe priced by managed asset or account
- Endpoint Privilege Management priced per endpoint
- Remote access products priced per concurrent licence or endpoint
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
On requestNo published plan breakdown. See the Microsoft Defender for Endpoint review.
Which should you pick?
Choose BeyondTrust if
- You need password safe.
- You work on Windows, macOS, Linux, Web.
- You also want endpoint privilege management.
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 BeyondTrust or Microsoft Defender for Endpoint better?
- Neither clearly leads. BeyondTrust starts at On request 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, BeyondTrust or Microsoft Defender for Endpoint?
- BeyondTrust starts at On request and Microsoft Defender for Endpoint at On request.
- Does BeyondTrust or Microsoft Defender for Endpoint run on more platforms?
- BeyondTrust runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, Web. Microsoft Defender for Endpoint runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android.
- What is BeyondTrust best used for?
- BeyondTrust is most often used for an organisation removing local administrator rights across thousands of windows endpoints without swamping the service desk, a utility required to record every privileged session on operational systems for regulatory audit, a firm giving external maintenance vendors access to specific servers without handing over credentials, a helpdesk consolidating remote support and privileged access onto one audited path rather than an unmanaged remote tool. Of those, an organisation removing local administrator rights across thousands of windows endpoints without swamping the service desk and a utility required to record every privileged session on operational systems for regulatory audit are not what Microsoft Defender for Endpoint is typically brought in for.
- What can BeyondTrust do that Microsoft Defender for Endpoint cannot?
- BeyondTrust covers Password Safe, Endpoint Privilege Management, Privileged Remote Access, Remote Support. Microsoft Defender for Endpoint covers Threat & vulnerability management, Attack surface reduction, Next-gen protection, EDR.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
BeyondTrust: Is endpoint privilege management sold separately from the vault?
Yes. They are distinct products with distinct licensing metrics, and many customers buy only one.
Microsoft 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.
SourceBeyondTrust: Can it record vendor sessions?
Yes, with credential injection so the third party never learns the password, and full video and keystroke recording for audit.
Microsoft 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.
SourceBeyondTrust: Is there a FedRAMP option?
BeyondTrust offers FedRAMP-authorised deployments for United States government buyers, which is often the deciding factor in that sector.
Microsoft 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 BeyondTrust
More on Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
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