Software · head to head
McAfee Total Protection vs Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
McAfee Total Protection
Software
Award-winning antivirus trusted by millions
- From
- $29.99/year
- Rated
- -
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
Software
Enterprise endpoint security built into Microsoft 365
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: McAfee Total Protection significant renewal price increase after first year (from $29.99 to $84.99/year); Microsoft Defender for Endpoint pricing not published on public websites; quote required from Microsoft sales
- They diverge on capability: McAfee Total Protection covers Real-time antivirus, Microsoft Defender for Endpoint covers Threat & vulnerability management.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which McAfee Total Protection and Microsoft Defender for Endpoint actually diverge.
| Attribute | McAfee Total Protection | Microsoft Defender for Endpoint |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $29.99/year | On request |
| Pricing model | Unknown | quote |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android | Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android |
| Founded | 1987 | 1975 |
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 McAfee Total Protection
- Real-time antivirus
- Firewall
- Safe browsing
- Password manager
- Secure VPN
- Identity monitoring
- Protection Score
- Parental controls
Only in Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
- Threat & vulnerability management
- Attack surface reduction
- Next-gen protection
- EDR
- Auto investigation
- Microsoft Threat Experts
- Threat analytics
- Secure score
Both cover
- Cloud deployment
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
McAfee Total Protection
- Antivirusnot Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
- Internet Securitynot Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
- Identity Protectionnot Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
- Enterprise endpoint security across Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS via Plans 1 or 2not McAfee Total Protection
- Small and medium-sized businesses using Microsoft Defender for Business as alternativenot McAfee Total Protection
- Organisations using Microsoft 365 E5 which includes Defender for Endpoint Plan 2not McAfee Total Protection
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
McAfee Total Protection
- Significant renewal price increase after first year (from $29.99 to $84.99/year)
- Customer support responsiveness issues reported as reason for switching
- Renewal billing can be aggressive with auto-renewal defaults
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
- Pricing not published on public websites; quote required from Microsoft sales
- Defender for Endpoint Plan 1 and Plan 2 do not include server licenses; additional licensing required for server protection
- Specific feature differences between Plan 1 and Plan 2 require consulting Microsoft documentation
Pricing, plan by plan
McAfee Total Protection
$29.99/year- Basic$29.99/year
- Antivirus
- Firewall
- 1 device
- Plus$39.99/year
- Antivirus
- Firewall
- 5 devices
- Premium$49.99/year
- Antivirus
- Firewall
- VPN
- Advanced$74.99/year
- Antivirus
- Firewall
- VPN
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
On requestNo published plan breakdown. See the Microsoft Defender for Endpoint review.
Which should you pick?
Choose McAfee Total Protection if
- You need real-time antivirus.
- You work on Windows, macOS, iOS, Android.
- You also want firewall.
Choose Microsoft Defender for Endpoint if
- You need threat & vulnerability management.
- You work on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android.
- You also want attack surface reduction.
Questions people ask
- Is McAfee Total Protection or Microsoft Defender for Endpoint better?
- Neither clearly leads. McAfee Total Protection starts at $29.99/year and Microsoft Defender for Endpoint at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, McAfee Total Protection or Microsoft Defender for Endpoint?
- McAfee Total Protection starts at $29.99/year and Microsoft Defender for Endpoint at On request.
- Does McAfee Total Protection or Microsoft Defender for Endpoint run on more platforms?
- McAfee Total Protection runs on Windows, macOS, iOS, Android. Microsoft Defender for Endpoint runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android.
- What is McAfee Total Protection best used for?
- McAfee Total Protection is most often used for antivirus, internet security, identity protection. Of those, antivirus and internet security are not what Microsoft Defender for Endpoint is typically brought in for.
- What can McAfee Total Protection do that Microsoft Defender for Endpoint cannot?
- McAfee Total Protection covers Real-time antivirus, Firewall, Safe browsing, Password manager. Microsoft Defender for Endpoint covers Threat & vulnerability management, Attack surface reduction, Next-gen protection, EDR. Both handle Cloud deployment.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
McAfee Total Protection: How much does McAfee Total Protection cost?
McAfee Total Protection introductory pricing ranges from $29.99/year (Basic) to $74.99/year (Advanced), but renewal costs jump to $84.99/year after the first year.
SourceMcAfee Total Protection: What is the trial period for McAfee Total Protection?
McAfee offers a 60-day money-back guarantee, allowing you to try the service risk-free for two months.
SourceMcAfee Total Protection: How many devices can I protect with one McAfee Total Protection subscription?
Device coverage varies by plan: Basic covers 1 device, while other plans protect 5 to unlimited devices depending on the tier selected.
SourceMcAfee Total Protection: Does McAfee Total Protection include VPN?
VPN is included in higher-tier McAfee plans if you opt for auto-renewal.
SourceRelated pages
More on McAfee Total Protection
More on Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
Keep looking
Other head to heads
- McAfee Total Protection vs 1Password
- McAfee Total Protection vs Bitdefender Total Security
- McAfee Total Protection vs Norton 360
- McAfee Total Protection vs LastPass
- McAfee Total Protection vs Bitwarden
- McAfee Total Protection vs Kaspersky Total Security
- McAfee Total Protection vs Avast One
- McAfee Total Protection vs CrowdStrike Falcon
- McAfee Total Protection vs CyberGhost VPN
- McAfee Total Protection vs ESET NOD32 Antivirus
- McAfee Total Protection vs ExpressVPN
- McAfee Total Protection vs Malwarebytes
- McAfee Total Protection vs NordVPN
- McAfee Total Protection vs ProtonVPN
- McAfee Total Protection vs Snyk
- McAfee Total Protection vs Trend Micro Vision One
- McAfee Total Protection vs Acunetix
- Microsoft Defender for Endpoint vs 1Password
- Microsoft Defender for Endpoint vs Bitdefender Total Security
- Microsoft Defender for Endpoint vs Norton 360
- Microsoft Defender for Endpoint vs LastPass
- Microsoft Defender for Endpoint vs Bitwarden
- Microsoft Defender for Endpoint vs Kaspersky Total Security
- Microsoft Defender for Endpoint vs Avast One
- Microsoft Defender for Endpoint vs CrowdStrike Falcon
- Microsoft Defender for Endpoint vs CyberGhost VPN
- Microsoft Defender for Endpoint vs ESET NOD32 Antivirus
- Microsoft Defender for Endpoint vs ExpressVPN
- Microsoft Defender for Endpoint vs Malwarebytes
- Microsoft Defender for Endpoint vs NordVPN
- Microsoft Defender for Endpoint vs ProtonVPN
- Microsoft Defender for Endpoint vs Snyk
- Microsoft Defender for Endpoint vs Trend Micro Vision One
- Microsoft Defender for Endpoint vs Acunetix