Software · head to head
CrowdStrike Falcon vs Microsoft Defender
CrowdStrike Falcon
Software
Stop breaches with AI-native cybersecurity
- From
- $7.99/month
- Rated
- -
M
Microsoft Defender
Software
Always-on protection for you and your family's data and devices
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: CrowdStrike Falcon falcon Go tier limited to maximum of 100 devices; Microsoft Defender the overview page names Business, Business Premium and Enterprise tiers but publishes no per-seat figure on the page itself, routing every plan to a separate pricing page instead
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which CrowdStrike Falcon and Microsoft Defender actually diverge.
| Attribute | CrowdStrike Falcon | Microsoft Defender |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $7.99/month | On request |
| Pricing model | subscription | quote |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Web |
| Founded | 2011 | Unknown |
Identical on both: free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
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 CrowdStrike Falcon
- Next-gen antivirus
- Endpoint detection and response
- Threat intelligence
- IT hygiene
- USB device control
- Firewall management
- Threat graph
- Real-time response
Only in Microsoft Defender
Nothing recorded that CrowdStrike Falcon does not also cover.
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
CrowdStrike Falcon
- Small endpoint deployments via Falcon Go with per-device pricingnot Microsoft Defender
- Mid-market organisations via Falcon Pro or Enterprise with advanced threat detectionnot Microsoft Defender
- Organisations requiring custom managed detection and response via Falcon Completenot Microsoft Defender
Microsoft Defender
No use cases recorded yet. See the Microsoft Defender review.
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
CrowdStrike Falcon
- Falcon Go tier limited to maximum of 100 devices
- Falcon Complete Next-Gen MDR requires custom quote; pricing not published
- Higher tiers (Enterprise and above) feature gatekeeping for threat hunting and identity protection
Microsoft Defender
- The overview page names Business, Business Premium and Enterprise tiers but publishes no per-seat figure on the page itself, routing every plan to a separate pricing page instead
- Full family and business protection requires a Microsoft 365 Family, Personal or Premium subscription rather than being included with the free built-in Windows version
Pricing, plan by plan
CrowdStrike Falcon
$7.99/monthNo published plan breakdown. See the CrowdStrike Falcon review.
Microsoft Defender
On requestNo published plan breakdown. See the Microsoft Defender review.
Which should you pick?
Choose CrowdStrike Falcon if
- You need next-gen antivirus.
- You work on Windows, macOS, Linux.
- You also want endpoint detection and response.
Choose Microsoft Defender if
Nothing in the data separates Microsoft Defender from CrowdStrike Falcon on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.
Questions people ask
- Is CrowdStrike Falcon or Microsoft Defender better?
- Neither clearly leads. CrowdStrike Falcon starts at $7.99/month and Microsoft Defender at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, CrowdStrike Falcon or Microsoft Defender?
- CrowdStrike Falcon starts at $7.99/month and Microsoft Defender at On request.
- Does CrowdStrike Falcon or Microsoft Defender run on more platforms?
- CrowdStrike Falcon runs on Windows, macOS, Linux. Microsoft Defender runs on Web.
- What is CrowdStrike Falcon best used for?
- CrowdStrike Falcon is most often used for small endpoint deployments via falcon go with per-device pricing, mid-market organisations via falcon pro or enterprise with advanced threat detection, organisations requiring custom managed detection and response via falcon complete. Of those, small endpoint deployments via falcon go with per-device pricing and mid-market organisations via falcon pro or enterprise with advanced threat detection are not what Microsoft Defender is typically brought in for.
- What can CrowdStrike Falcon do that Microsoft Defender cannot?
- CrowdStrike Falcon covers Next-gen antivirus, Endpoint detection and response, Threat intelligence, IT hygiene.
Related pages
More on CrowdStrike Falcon
More on Microsoft Defender
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