Government · head to head
Clariti vs Microsoft Defender
Clariti
Government
Permitting, licensing and land management for local government, built natively on Salesforce
- From
- On request
- Free plan
- No
Microsoft Defender
Cybersecurity
Always-on protection for you and your family's data and devices
- From
- $12/month
- Free plan
- No
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Clariti salesforce platform licences sit underneath the subscription and are not always visible in the initial quote, so the fully loaded cost can be materially higher than the comparison against Accela or Tyler suggests.; Microsoft Defender defender Suite requires existing Microsoft 365 E3 or equivalent base licensing
- Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Clariti and Microsoft Defender actually diverge.
| Attribute | Clariti | Microsoft Defender |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | On request | $12/month |
| Pricing model | quote | subscription |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android | Web |
| Category | Government | Cybersecurity |
Identical on both: free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated).
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 Clariti
- Permitting workflows
- Business licensing
- Inspections
- Code enforcement
- Public portal
- Salesforce platform tooling
Only in Microsoft Defender
Nothing recorded that Clariti does not also cover.
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Clariti
- A city already standardised on Salesforce that wants permitting inside the same platformnot Microsoft Defender
- An agency replacing a legacy permitting system whose vendor was acquired and whose roadmap stallednot Microsoft Defender
- A county needing configurable workflows across permits, licensing and code enforcementnot Microsoft Defender
- An IT department that wants to configure and report on its own permitting workflows without vendor ticketsnot Microsoft Defender
Microsoft Defender
- Endpoint security and threat protectionnot Clariti
- Identity and access securitynot Clariti
- Email threat protectionnot Clariti
- SaaS application security monitoringnot Clariti
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Clariti
- Salesforce platform licences sit underneath the subscription and are not always visible in the initial quote, so the fully loaded cost can be materially higher than the comparison against Accela or Tyler suggests.
- Building on Salesforce means the agency inherits Salesforce release cycles and pricing changes, neither of which Clariti controls.
- It has far less accumulated edge case handling than the incumbents, so unusual fee schedules, historic district rules or state mandated reporting can become configuration projects.
- Professional services dominate the first year cost, as with every permitting implementation, and agencies that budget only for licence are the ones whose projects stall.
- The install base is smaller than Accela or Tyler, so there are fewer peer agencies to call for reference and fewer trained implementation consultants in the market.
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
Clariti
On request- Clariti$undefined/year
- Quoted by agency size and module scope
- Salesforce platform licences are a separate cost underneath the subscription
- Implementation and configuration services typically exceed first year licence cost
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 Clariti if
- You need permitting workflows.
- You work on Web, iOS, Android.
- You also want business licensing.
Choose Microsoft Defender if
Nothing in the data separates Microsoft Defender from Clariti on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.
Questions people ask
- Is Clariti or Microsoft Defender better?
- Neither clearly leads. Clariti starts at On request and Microsoft Defender at $12/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Clariti or Microsoft Defender?
- Clariti starts at On request and Microsoft Defender at $12/month.
- Does Clariti or Microsoft Defender run on more platforms?
- Clariti runs on Web, iOS, Android. Microsoft Defender runs on Web.
- What is Clariti best used for?
- Clariti is most often used for a city already standardised on salesforce that wants permitting inside the same platform, an agency replacing a legacy permitting system whose vendor was acquired and whose roadmap stalled, a county needing configurable workflows across permits, licensing and code enforcement, an it department that wants to configure and report on its own permitting workflows without vendor tickets. Of those, a city already standardised on salesforce that wants permitting inside the same platform and an agency replacing a legacy permitting system whose vendor was acquired and whose roadmap stalled are not what Microsoft Defender is typically brought in for.
- What can Clariti do that Microsoft Defender cannot?
- Clariti covers Permitting workflows, Business licensing, Inspections, Code enforcement.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Clariti: Do we need Salesforce licences as well?
Yes. Clariti runs on the Salesforce platform, and those licences are a separate line item. Insist on a fully loaded quote.
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.
SourceClariti: How does it compare with Accela?
Accela has far deeper accumulated handling of edge cases. Clariti offers a more modern and configurable platform, at the price of Salesforce underneath.
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.
SourceClariti: Can we see what other agencies paid?
Yes. Permitting contracts are public records and award notices routinely list implementation and annual subscription values.
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.
SourceClariti: Is it suitable for a small town?
Usually not. The platform cost and implementation effort suit mid sized and larger agencies.
Related pages
More on Microsoft Defender
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