Cybersecurity · head to head
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint vs SentinelOne
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
Cybersecurity
Enterprise endpoint security built into Microsoft 365
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
SentinelOne
Cybersecurity
Autonomous endpoint protection and response
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Microsoft Defender for Endpoint pricing not published on public websites; quote required from Microsoft sales; SentinelOne enterprise pricing requires contacting sales
- They diverge on capability: Microsoft Defender for Endpoint covers Threat & vulnerability management, SentinelOne covers AI-powered detection.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Microsoft Defender for Endpoint and SentinelOne actually diverge.
| Attribute | Microsoft Defender for Endpoint | SentinelOne |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | quote | subscription |
| Founded | 1975 | 2013 |
Identical on both: starting price (On request), free tier (No), platforms (Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android), user rating (Not yet rated), category (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 SentinelOne
- AI-powered detection
- Autonomous response
- Behavioral threat intelligence
- Root cause analysis
- Threat hunting automation
- Ransomware protection
- Container security
- Mobile endpoint protection
Both cover
- ServiceNow
- ISO 27001
- HIPAA
- GDPR
- 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 SentinelOne
- Small and medium-sized businesses using Microsoft Defender for Business as alternativenot SentinelOne
- Organisations using Microsoft 365 E5 which includes Defender for Endpoint Plan 2not SentinelOne
SentinelOne
- Endpoint detection and responsenot Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
- AI-powered threat huntingnot Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
- Cloud workload securitynot 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
SentinelOne
- Enterprise pricing requires contacting sales
- Prices shown for 5-100 workstations may differ for larger deployments
- Purchases must be made through authorized third-party partners
Pricing, plan by plan
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
On requestNo published plan breakdown. See the Microsoft Defender for Endpoint review.
SentinelOne
On request- Singularity Complete$179.99/year
- Per endpoint pricing
- AI-driven endpoint and cloud workload protection
- Real-time threat detection and response
- Singularity Commercial$229.99/year
- Per endpoint pricing
- All Complete features plus Identity Detection and Response
- 90-day data retention
- Singularity Enterprise$null/custom
- Per endpoint pricing
- All Commercial features plus Agentic AI SOC Analyst
- Full Visibility and Forensics
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 SentinelOne if
- You need ai-powered detection.
- You work on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android.
- You also want autonomous response.
Questions people ask
- Is Microsoft Defender for Endpoint or SentinelOne better?
- Neither clearly leads. Microsoft Defender for Endpoint starts at On request and SentinelOne at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Microsoft Defender for Endpoint or SentinelOne?
- Microsoft Defender for Endpoint starts at On request and SentinelOne at On request.
- Does Microsoft Defender for Endpoint or SentinelOne run on more platforms?
- Microsoft Defender for Endpoint runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android. SentinelOne runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android.
- 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 SentinelOne is typically brought in for.
- What can Microsoft Defender for Endpoint do that SentinelOne cannot?
- Microsoft Defender for Endpoint covers Threat & vulnerability management, Attack surface reduction, Next-gen protection, EDR. SentinelOne covers AI-powered detection, Autonomous response, Behavioral threat intelligence, Root cause analysis. Both handle ServiceNow, ISO 27001, HIPAA, GDPR.
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.
SourceSentinelOne: What is SentinelOne Singularity Complete pricing?
Singularity Complete costs $179.99 per endpoint per year and includes AI-driven endpoint and cloud workload protection, real-time threat detection and response, 14-day data retention, and AI Security Assistant. Pricing shown for 5-100 workstations.
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.
SourceSentinelOne: What features distinguish SentinelOne Commercial from Complete?
Singularity Commercial costs $229.99 per endpoint per year (versus $179.99 for Complete) and adds Identity Detection and Response, 90-day data retention (compared to 14-day), and Managed Threat Hunting services.
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.
SourceSentinelOne: How does partner pricing affect SentinelOne costs?
All SentinelOne purchases are made through authorized third-party partners, and partner pricing may differ from published rates. Customers should verify pricing with their authorized reseller.
SourceSentinelOne: What does SentinelOne Enterprise include?
Singularity Enterprise (custom pricing, contact sales) adds Agentic AI SOC Analyst and Full Visibility and Forensics capabilities to all Commercial features, plus expert-led onboarding and training.
SourceRelated pages
More on Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
More on SentinelOne
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