Security & Cybersecurity · head to head
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint vs Semgrep
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
Security & Cybersecurity
Enterprise endpoint security built into Microsoft 365
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
Semgrep
Security & Cybersecurity
Open-source static analysis tool for finding security bugs and enforcing code standards.
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Semgrep 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; Semgrep free tier caps out at 10 contributors and 10 repositories.
- They diverge on capability: Microsoft Defender for Endpoint covers Threat & vulnerability management, Semgrep covers Static code scanning.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Microsoft Defender for Endpoint and Semgrep actually diverge.
| Attribute | Microsoft Defender for Endpoint | Semgrep |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | On request | Free |
| Pricing model | quote | freemium |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android | web, api, linux, mac, windows |
| Founded | 1975 | Unknown |
Identical on both: 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 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 Semgrep
- Static code scanning
- Supply chain scanning
- Secrets detection
- Cross-file analysis
- AI-powered triage and remediation
- CI/CD integration
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 Semgrep
- Small and medium-sized businesses using Microsoft Defender for Business as alternativenot Semgrep
- Organisations using Microsoft 365 E5 which includes Defender for Endpoint Plan 2not Semgrep
Semgrep
- Scanning code for security vulnerabilities in CI/CDnot Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
- Detecting vulnerable open-source dependenciesnot Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
- Finding hardcoded secrets before code shipsnot Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
- Enforcing custom code standards with rule setsnot Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
- Prioritizing findings with AI-assisted triagenot 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
Semgrep
- Free tier caps out at 10 contributors and 10 repositories.
- Secrets scanning is priced as a separate module ($15/contributor) from Code and Supply Chain.
- Self-managed repositories and custom CI/CD require the Enterprise tier.
- AI credits are limited per tier and additional usage requires upgrading.
Pricing, plan by plan
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
On requestNo published plan breakdown. See the Microsoft Defender for Endpoint review.
Semgrep
Free- FreeFree
- Up to 10 contributors
- Code and Supply Chain scanning
- 60 AI credits total
- Teams$30/month
- Code, Supply Chain, or Secrets scanning per contributor
- Pro rules
- AI-powered triage and remediation
- Enterprise$undefined/month
- On-prem support
- Custom CI/CD
- 50 AI credits per developer/month
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 Semgrep if
- You need static code scanning.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on web, api, linux, mac, windows.
- You also want supply chain scanning.
Questions people ask
- Is Microsoft Defender for Endpoint or Semgrep better?
- Neither clearly leads. Microsoft Defender for Endpoint starts at On request and Semgrep 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 Semgrep?
- Semgrep has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Microsoft Defender for Endpoint and Free for Semgrep.
- Does Microsoft Defender for Endpoint or Semgrep run on more platforms?
- Microsoft Defender for Endpoint runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android. Semgrep runs on web, api, linux, mac, windows.
- Can I use Semgrep for free?
- Yes. Semgrep 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 Semgrep is typically brought in for.
- What can Microsoft Defender for Endpoint do that Semgrep cannot?
- Microsoft Defender for Endpoint covers Threat & vulnerability management, Attack surface reduction, Next-gen protection, EDR. Semgrep covers Static code scanning, Supply chain scanning, Secrets detection, Cross-file analysis.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Semgrep: What does Semgrep cost?
The Free edition covers up to 10 contributors; Teams starts at $30/contributor/month for Code scanning (Supply Chain also $30, Secrets $15); Enterprise is custom-priced.
SourceSemgrep: Is there a free plan, and what are its limits?
Yes, the Free edition supports up to 10 contributors and 10 repositories with Code and Supply Chain scanning plus 60 AI credits total.
SourceSemgrep: How is usage metered?
Pricing is per contributor, defined as someone who made at least one commit to a scanned private repository in the past 90 days.
SourceSemgrep: Is there special pricing for startups?
Yes, Semgrep offers special startup pricing upon request for early-stage companies.
SourceRelated pages
More on Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
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