Cybersecurity · head to head
CrowdStrike Falcon vs Microsoft Defender
CrowdStrike Falcon
Cybersecurity
Stop breaches with AI-native cybersecurity
- 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 CrowdStrike Falcon has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: CrowdStrike Falcon falcon Go device limit: capped at 100 devices maximum, forcing mid-market/enterprise customers to upgrade despite lower cost; Microsoft Defender defender Suite requires existing Microsoft 365 E3 or equivalent base licensing
- Prices and features above were last checked on 2 September 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which CrowdStrike Falcon and Microsoft Defender actually diverge.
| Attribute | CrowdStrike Falcon | Microsoft Defender |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free | $12/month |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Web |
| Founded | 2011 | Unknown |
Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), 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 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
- Endpoint detection and response for enterprise cybersecuritynot Microsoft Defender
- Malware prevention and threat huntingnot Microsoft Defender
- Managed detection and response (MDR) servicesnot Microsoft Defender
Microsoft Defender
- Endpoint security and threat protectionnot CrowdStrike Falcon
- Identity and access securitynot CrowdStrike Falcon
- Email threat protectionnot CrowdStrike Falcon
- SaaS application security monitoringnot CrowdStrike Falcon
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
CrowdStrike Falcon
- Falcon Go device limit: capped at 100 devices maximum, forcing mid-market/enterprise customers to upgrade despite lower cost
- EDR locked behind Enterprise tier: endpoint detection and response available only at $19.99/device/month tier; not available in Pro
- Managed service pricing opaque: Falcon Complete Next-Gen MDR requires contacting sales; no pricing range for 24/7 MDR services published
- Annual discount modest: 17-24% savings on annual vs. monthly create minimal incentive to prepay
Microsoft Defender
- Defender Suite requires existing Microsoft 365 E3 or equivalent base licensing
- Some Defender products use pay-as-you-go pricing with variable costs
- Prices vary based on Microsoft agreements, requiring sales contact for custom quotes
Pricing, plan by plan
CrowdStrike Falcon
Free- Falcon Go$undefined/mo
- Falcon Pro$undefined/mo
- Falcon Enterprise$undefined/mo
- Falcon Complete Next-Gen MDR$undefined/mo
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 CrowdStrike Falcon if
- You need next-gen antivirus.
- You want to start without paying.
- 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 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, CrowdStrike Falcon or Microsoft Defender?
- CrowdStrike Falcon has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for CrowdStrike Falcon and $12/month for Microsoft Defender.
- Does CrowdStrike Falcon or Microsoft Defender run on more platforms?
- CrowdStrike Falcon runs on Windows, macOS, Linux. Microsoft Defender runs on Web.
- Can I use CrowdStrike Falcon for free?
- Yes. CrowdStrike Falcon has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Microsoft Defender starts at $12/month.
- What is CrowdStrike Falcon best used for?
- CrowdStrike Falcon is most often used for endpoint detection and response for enterprise cybersecurity, malware prevention and threat hunting, managed detection and response (mdr) services. Of those, endpoint detection and response for enterprise cybersecurity and malware prevention and threat hunting 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.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
CrowdStrike Falcon: How much does CrowdStrike Falcon cost per device?
Falcon Go costs $7.99/device/month ($59.99/year), Falcon Pro costs $14.99/device/month ($99.99/year), and Falcon Enterprise costs $19.99/device/month ($184.99/year).
SourceMicrosoft 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.
SourceCrowdStrike Falcon: What is the device limit for Falcon Go?
Falcon Go is limited to a maximum of 100 devices. Organizations with more than 100 devices must upgrade to Pro or Enterprise tiers.
SourceMicrosoft 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.
SourceCrowdStrike Falcon: What is the difference between Falcon Pro and Enterprise?
Falcon Pro ($14.99/device/month) includes firewall management and advanced device control. Falcon Enterprise ($19.99/device/month) adds endpoint detection and response (EDR), threat hunting services, and expert threat intelligence.
SourceMicrosoft 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.
SourceCrowdStrike Falcon: How much does the managed detection and response service cost?
Falcon Complete Next-Gen MDR pricing is custom. It provides 24/7 expert-led detection and response with AI acceleration and continuous investigations by expert threat teams. Contact CrowdStrike sales for a quote.
SourceRelated pages
More on CrowdStrike Falcon
More on Microsoft Defender
Other head to heads
- CrowdStrike Falcon vs SentinelOne Singularity
- CrowdStrike Falcon vs Tanium
- CrowdStrike Falcon vs Bitdefender Total Security
- CrowdStrike Falcon vs 1Password
- CrowdStrike Falcon vs Norton 360
- CrowdStrike Falcon vs LastPass
- CrowdStrike Falcon vs Tenable
- CrowdStrike Falcon vs Cybereason Defense Platform
- CrowdStrike Falcon vs Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
- CrowdStrike Falcon vs VMware Carbon Black
- CrowdStrike Falcon vs IBM QRadar
- CrowdStrike Falcon vs Surfshark
- CrowdStrike Falcon vs Teleport
- CrowdStrike Falcon vs Transmit Security
- CrowdStrike Falcon vs TrustArc
- CrowdStrike Falcon vs SentinelOne
- CrowdStrike Falcon vs Tenable Nessus
- CrowdStrike Falcon vs McAfee Total Protection
- CrowdStrike Falcon vs Proofpoint
- CrowdStrike Falcon vs Avast One
- CrowdStrike Falcon vs ESET NOD32 Antivirus
- CrowdStrike Falcon vs Fortinet FortiGate
- CrowdStrike Falcon vs Wireshark
- CrowdStrike Falcon vs WorkOS
- CrowdStrike Falcon vs Zscaler Internet Access
- CrowdStrike Falcon vs Milestone XProtect
- CrowdStrike Falcon vs Osano
- CrowdStrike Falcon vs Bitdefender VPN
- Microsoft Defender vs SentinelOne Singularity
- Microsoft Defender vs Tanium
- Microsoft Defender vs Bitdefender Total Security
- Microsoft Defender vs 1Password
- Microsoft Defender vs Norton 360
- Microsoft Defender vs LastPass
- Microsoft Defender vs Tenable
- Microsoft Defender vs Cybereason Defense Platform
- Microsoft Defender vs Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
- Microsoft Defender vs VMware Carbon Black
- Microsoft Defender vs IBM QRadar
- Microsoft Defender vs Surfshark
- Microsoft Defender vs Teleport
- Microsoft Defender vs Transmit Security
- Microsoft Defender vs TrustArc
- Microsoft Defender vs SentinelOne
- Microsoft Defender vs Tenable Nessus
- Microsoft Defender vs McAfee Total Protection
- Microsoft Defender vs Proofpoint
- Microsoft Defender vs Avast One
- Microsoft Defender vs ESET NOD32 Antivirus
- Microsoft Defender vs Fortinet FortiGate
- Microsoft Defender vs Wireshark
- Microsoft Defender vs WorkOS
- Microsoft Defender vs Zscaler Internet Access
- Microsoft Defender vs Milestone XProtect
- Microsoft Defender vs Osano
- Microsoft Defender vs Bitdefender VPN