Cybersecurity · head to head
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint vs Refact

Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
Cybersecurity
Enterprise endpoint security built into Microsoft 365
- From
- On request
- Free plan
- No

Refact
Developer Tools
Autonomous AI coding agent for development tasks
- From
- Free
- Free plan
- Yes
The short version
- Only Refact 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; Refact requires configuration for optimal performance
- They diverge on capability: Microsoft Defender for Endpoint covers Threat & vulnerability management, Refact covers Autonomous agent workflows.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Microsoft Defender for Endpoint and Refact actually diverge.
| Attribute | Microsoft Defender for Endpoint | Refact |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | On request | Free |
| Pricing model | quote | Freemium with paid tiers |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android | VS Code, Web |
| Category | Cybersecurity | Developer Tools |
| Founded | 1975 | 2023 |
Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).
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 Refact
- Autonomous agent workflows
- IDE chat
- Real-time code completions
- GitHub integration
- Database integration
- On-premise deployment
- Multi-LLM support
- 25+ language support
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 Refact
- Small and medium-sized businesses using Microsoft Defender for Business as alternativenot Refact
- Organisations using Microsoft 365 E5 which includes Defender for Endpoint Plan 2not Refact
Refact
- Autonomous code generation for development tasksnot Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
- End-to-end bug fixes and refactoringnot Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
- Multi-language software development accelerationnot Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
- Enterprise development with data privacy requirementsnot 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
Refact
- Requires configuration for optimal performance
- On-premise deployment adds operational complexity
- Free tier limited by daily agent request quota
- Coin system adds complexity to cost calculation
Pricing, plan by plan
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
On requestNo published plan breakdown. See the Microsoft Defender for Endpoint review.
Refact
Free- FreeFree
- Limited daily agent usage
- Unlimited completions
- 2,000 coins for agent and chat
- Pro$10/month
- 40 daily agent requests
- 64k context window
- 10,000 coins monthly
- Enterprise$undefined/custom
- On-premise deployment
- Custom coin allocation
- Fine-tuning support
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 Refact if
- You need autonomous agent workflows.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on VS Code, Web.
- You also want ide chat.
Questions people ask
- Is Microsoft Defender for Endpoint or Refact better?
- Neither clearly leads. Microsoft Defender for Endpoint starts at On request and Refact 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 Refact?
- Refact has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Microsoft Defender for Endpoint and Free for Refact.
- Does Microsoft Defender for Endpoint or Refact run on more platforms?
- Microsoft Defender for Endpoint runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android. Refact runs on VS Code, Web.
- Can I use Refact for free?
- Yes. Refact 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 Refact is typically brought in for.
- What can Microsoft Defender for Endpoint do that Refact cannot?
- Microsoft Defender for Endpoint covers Threat & vulnerability management, Attack surface reduction, Next-gen protection, EDR. Refact covers Autonomous agent workflows, IDE chat, Real-time code completions, GitHub integration.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint: How is Microsoft Defender for Endpoint priced?
Defender for Endpoint is bundled into Microsoft 365 enterprise subscriptions. Plan 1 is included in Microsoft 365 E3, and Plan 2 is included in Microsoft 365 E5. Individual pricing is not published separately.
SourceRefact: How many programming languages does Refact support?
Refact supports 25+ programming languages including Python, JavaScript, Go, Rust, Java, C++, and many others.
SourceMicrosoft Defender for Endpoint: Does Microsoft Defender for Endpoint offer a trial?
Yes. A free trial is available for prospective customers to test the product before committing to a subscription.
SourceRefact: Can I deploy Refact on-premises?
Yes. Refact offers on-premise deployment options for organizations requiring complete data control and privacy.
SourceMicrosoft Defender for Endpoint: What is the difference between Plan 1 and Plan 2?
Plan 1 (in E3) includes unified security tools, device controls, network protection, firewall, web/URL controls, APIs, SIEM connectors, and app controls. Plan 2 (in E5) adds endpoint detection and response, deception techniques, automatic attack disruption, exposure management, and threat intelligence.
SourceRefact: What LLMs does Refact support?
Refact works with multiple LLMs including Claude, GPT-4, and open-source models, giving you flexibility in model selection.
SourceRelated pages
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- Refact vs CodeSandbox
- Refact vs GNU Emacs
- Refact vs Moonrepo
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- Refact vs Spacelift
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