Cybersecurity · head to head
Endor Labs vs Microsoft Defender
Endor Labs
Cybersecurity
Security and AI agent governance for code and supply chain
- 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 Endor Labs has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Endor Labs pricing requires contacting sales, no transparent rates; 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 Endor Labs and Microsoft Defender actually diverge.
| Attribute | Endor Labs | Microsoft Defender |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free | $12/month |
| Pricing model | Seat-based per contributing developer with volume discounts | subscription |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Platforms | Web, CLI, IDE | Web |
| Founded | 2021 | Unknown |
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 Endor Labs
- AI coding agent governance
- SAST scanning
- Secrets detection
- Reachability analysis
- Open source dependency scanning
- Package firewall
- MCP server integration
Only in Microsoft Defender
Nothing recorded that Endor Labs does not also cover.
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Endor Labs
- Securing AI coding agent outputs before deploymentnot Microsoft Defender
- Reducing SAST false positives with reachability analysisnot Microsoft Defender
- Managing open source supply chain risknot Microsoft Defender
- Enforcing security policies in CI/CD pipelinesnot Microsoft Defender
Microsoft Defender
- Endpoint security and threat protectionnot Endor Labs
- Identity and access securitynot Endor Labs
- Email threat protectionnot Endor Labs
- SaaS application security monitoringnot Endor Labs
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Endor Labs
- Pricing requires contacting sales, no transparent rates
- Developer tier lacks UI and historical scan data
- Free tier limited to local scanning only
- Seat-based model may become expensive for large teams
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
Endor Labs
Free- DeveloperFree
- Local scanning
- Read-only vulnerability data
- No UI, policies, or scan history
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 Endor Labs if
- You need ai coding agent governance.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, CLI, IDE.
- You also want sast scanning.
Choose Microsoft Defender if
Nothing in the data separates Microsoft Defender from Endor Labs on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.
Questions people ask
- Is Endor Labs or Microsoft Defender better?
- Neither clearly leads. Endor Labs 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, Endor Labs or Microsoft Defender?
- Endor Labs has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Endor Labs and $12/month for Microsoft Defender.
- Does Endor Labs or Microsoft Defender run on more platforms?
- Endor Labs runs on Web, CLI, IDE. Microsoft Defender runs on Web.
- Can I use Endor Labs for free?
- Yes. Endor Labs has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Microsoft Defender starts at $12/month.
- What is Endor Labs best used for?
- Endor Labs is most often used for securing ai coding agent outputs before deployment, reducing sast false positives with reachability analysis, managing open source supply chain risk, enforcing security policies in ci/cd pipelines. Of those, securing ai coding agent outputs before deployment and reducing sast false positives with reachability analysis are not what Microsoft Defender is typically brought in for.
- What can Endor Labs do that Microsoft Defender cannot?
- Endor Labs covers AI coding agent governance, SAST scanning, Secrets detection, Reachability analysis.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Endor Labs: What is the difference between Endor Labs Developer and paid tiers?
Developer tier is free and provides local scanning via MCP server with read-only vulnerability access and no UI. Paid tiers (Core and Pro) add team features like policy enforcement, enterprise integrations, reporting, and scan history.
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.
SourceEndor Labs: How does Endor Labs define seats for pricing?
Seats are calculated per contributing developer (those with commits in monitored repositories within the last 90 days). Volume discounts apply as team size grows.
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.
SourceEndor Labs: Does Endor Labs support on-premises deployment?
The platform is cloud-based SaaS by default. Enterprise customers should contact sales to discuss custom deployment options.
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.
SourceRelated pages
More on Microsoft Defender
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