Security & Cybersecurity · head to head
ExpressVPN vs Microsoft Defender
ExpressVPN
Security & Cybersecurity
High-speed, secure, and anonymous VPN service
- From
- $6.67/month
- Rated
- -
M
Microsoft Defender
Security & Cybersecurity
Always-on protection for you and your family's data and devices
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: ExpressVPN the App Store listing (seller Expressco Services, LLC) states subscriptions renew automatically unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the billing period, and that any unused portion of a free trial is forfeited on purchase; 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 ExpressVPN and Microsoft Defender actually diverge.
| Attribute | ExpressVPN | Microsoft Defender |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $6.67/month | On request |
| Pricing model | subscription | quote |
| Platforms | Web, Desktop, Mobile, Api | Web |
| Founded | 2009 | Unknown |
Identical on both: free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Security & 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 ExpressVPN
- Lightway protocol
- TrustedServer technology
- Network Lock kill switch
- Split tunneling
- No activity logs
- Private DNS
- Speed test
- MediaStreamer
Only in Microsoft Defender
Nothing recorded that ExpressVPN does not also cover.
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
ExpressVPN
- Vpnnot Microsoft Defender
- Privacynot Microsoft Defender
- Streamingnot 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.
ExpressVPN
- The App Store listing (seller Expressco Services, LLC) states subscriptions renew automatically unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the billing period, and that any unused portion of a free trial is forfeited on purchase
- The same listing caps a single ExpressVPN subscription at 14 simultaneous device connections
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
ExpressVPN
$6.67/month- 1 Month$12.95/month
- 8 devices
- 94 countries
- Unlimited bandwidth
- 12 Months$6.67/month
- All features
- 3 months free
- Best value
- 6 Months$9.99/month
- All features
- 30-day guarantee
Microsoft Defender
On requestNo published plan breakdown. See the Microsoft Defender review.
Which should you pick?
Choose ExpressVPN if
- You need lightway protocol.
- You work on Web, Desktop, Mobile, Api.
- You also want trustedserver technology.
Choose Microsoft Defender if
Nothing in the data separates Microsoft Defender from ExpressVPN on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.
Questions people ask
- Is ExpressVPN or Microsoft Defender better?
- Neither clearly leads. ExpressVPN starts at $6.67/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, ExpressVPN or Microsoft Defender?
- ExpressVPN starts at $6.67/month and Microsoft Defender at On request.
- Does ExpressVPN or Microsoft Defender run on more platforms?
- ExpressVPN runs on Web, Desktop, Mobile, Api. Microsoft Defender runs on Web.
- What is ExpressVPN best used for?
- ExpressVPN is most often used for vpn, privacy, streaming. Of those, vpn and privacy are not what Microsoft Defender is typically brought in for.
- What can ExpressVPN do that Microsoft Defender cannot?
- ExpressVPN covers Lightway protocol, TrustedServer technology, Network Lock kill switch, Split tunneling.
Related pages
More on Microsoft Defender
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