Software · head to head
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint vs Nessus
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
Software
Enterprise endpoint security built into Microsoft 365
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Nessus has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Microsoft Defender for Endpoint pricing not published on public websites; quote required from Microsoft sales; Nessus nessus Professional is $4,790 for one year, with no free or low cost commercial tier
- They diverge on capability: Microsoft Defender for Endpoint covers Threat & vulnerability management, Nessus covers Vulnerability scanning.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Microsoft Defender for Endpoint and Nessus actually diverge.
| Attribute | Microsoft Defender for Endpoint | Nessus |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | On request | Free |
| Pricing model | quote | subscription |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android | Desktop, Api |
| Founded | 1975 | 2002 |
Identical on both: 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 Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
- Threat & vulnerability management
- Attack surface reduction
- Next-gen protection
- EDR
- Auto investigation
- Microsoft Threat Experts
- Threat analytics
- Secure score
Only in Nessus
- Vulnerability scanning
- Configuration auditing
- Malware detection
- Web application scanning
- Cloud scanning
- Compliance checks
- Patch auditing
- Pre-built policies
Both cover
- ServiceNow
- Cloud deployment
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
- Enterprise endpoint security across Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS via Plans 1 or 2not Nessus
- Small and medium-sized businesses using Microsoft Defender for Business as alternativenot Nessus
- Organisations using Microsoft 365 E5 which includes Defender for Endpoint Plan 2not Nessus
Nessus
- Scanning hosts and applications for known vulnerabilities and misconfigurationsnot Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
- Running compliance and configuration audits against a defined scopenot Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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
Nessus
- Nessus Professional is $4,790 for one year, with no free or low cost commercial tier
- Multi year terms are the only discount route, at $9,330.95 for two years and $13,637.54 for three
- It is a single user scanner, so team workflows mean migrating to another Tenable product
- Tenable One vulnerability management is priced separately, starting at $3,500 a year for 100 assets
Pricing, plan by plan
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
On requestNo published plan breakdown. See the Microsoft Defender for Endpoint review.
Nessus
Free- Nessus Essentials (Free)Free
- 16 IP addresses
- Vulnerability scanning
- Configuration auditing
- Nessus Professional$2990/year
- Unlimited IPs
- Compliance checks
- Live results
- Nessus Expert$5290/year
- All Pro features
- External attack surface
- Cloud infrastructure scanning
Which should you pick?
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.
Choose Nessus if
- You need vulnerability scanning.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Desktop, Api.
- You also want configuration auditing.
Questions people ask
- Is Microsoft Defender for Endpoint or Nessus better?
- Neither clearly leads. Microsoft Defender for Endpoint starts at On request and Nessus at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Microsoft Defender for Endpoint or Nessus?
- Nessus has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Microsoft Defender for Endpoint and Free for Nessus.
- Does Microsoft Defender for Endpoint or Nessus run on more platforms?
- Microsoft Defender for Endpoint runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android. Nessus runs on Desktop, Api.
- Can I use Nessus for free?
- Yes. Nessus has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Microsoft Defender for Endpoint starts at On request.
- What is Microsoft Defender for Endpoint best used for?
- Microsoft Defender for Endpoint is most often used for enterprise endpoint security across windows, macos, linux, android, and ios via plans 1 or 2, small and medium-sized businesses using microsoft defender for business as alternative, organisations using microsoft 365 e5 which includes defender for endpoint plan 2. Of those, enterprise endpoint security across windows, macos, linux, android, and ios via plans 1 or 2 and small and medium-sized businesses using microsoft defender for business as alternative are not what Nessus is typically brought in for.
- What can Microsoft Defender for Endpoint do that Nessus cannot?
- Microsoft Defender for Endpoint covers Threat & vulnerability management, Attack surface reduction, Next-gen protection, EDR. Nessus covers Vulnerability scanning, Configuration auditing, Malware detection, Web application scanning. Both handle ServiceNow, Cloud deployment.
Related pages
More on Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
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