Cybersecurity · head to head
Microsoft Defender vs Microsoft Intune
Microsoft Defender
Cybersecurity
Always-on protection for you and your family's data and devices
- From
- $12/month
- Rated
- -
Microsoft Intune
Cybersecurity
Manage and protect cloud-connected endpoints across device platforms, apps and operating systems
- From
- $8/month
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Microsoft Defender defender Suite requires existing Microsoft 365 E3 or equivalent base licensing; Microsoft Intune individual add-ons at $2-5/user/month can become expensive when deploying multiple modules
- Prices and features above were last checked on 29 August 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Microsoft Defender and Microsoft Intune actually diverge.
| Attribute | Microsoft Defender | Microsoft Intune |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $12/month | $8/month |
Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), free tier (No), platforms (Web), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Cybersecurity).
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Microsoft Defender
- Endpoint security and threat protectionnot Microsoft Intune
- Identity and access securitynot Microsoft Intune
- Email threat protectionnot Microsoft Intune
- SaaS application security monitoringnot Microsoft Intune
Microsoft Intune
- Mobile device and endpoint managementnot Microsoft Defender
- Enterprise device compliancenot Microsoft Defender
- Privilege access managementnot Microsoft Defender
- Remote device supportnot Microsoft Defender
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Microsoft Defender
- Defender Suite requires existing Microsoft 365 E3 or equivalent base licensing
- Some Defender products use pay-as-you-go pricing with variable costs
- Prices vary based on Microsoft agreements, requiring sales contact for custom quotes
Microsoft Intune
- Individual add-ons at $2-5/user/month can become expensive when deploying multiple modules
- Full Intune Suite at $10/user/month becomes better value when deploying two or more modules
Pricing, plan by plan
Microsoft Defender
$12/month- Microsoft Defender Suite$12/month
- Endpoint protection
- Identity threat detection
- Email security
- Microsoft 365 E5 with Defender$60/month
- Includes Defender Suite
- Microsoft Teams included
- Comprehensive security and compliance
- Microsoft Defender Vulnerability Management Add-on$2/month
- Vulnerability scanning and management
- One-month free trial available
- Annual commitment required
Microsoft Intune
$8/month- Microsoft Intune Plan 1$8/month
- Device management
- Mobile device management
- Basic compliance policies
- Intune Suite (Full)$10/month
- Endpoint Privilege Management
- Enterprise Application Management
- Advanced Analytics
- Intune Suite Add-on: Remote Help$2/month
- Remote device support
- Intune Suite Add-on: Endpoint Privilege Management$2/month
- Privilege access control
Which should you pick?
Choose Microsoft Defender if
Nothing in the data separates Microsoft Defender from Microsoft Intune on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.
Choose Microsoft Intune if
Nothing in the data separates Microsoft Intune from Microsoft Defender on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.
Questions people ask
- Is Microsoft Defender or Microsoft Intune better?
- Neither clearly leads. Microsoft Defender starts at $12/month and Microsoft Intune at $8/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Microsoft Defender or Microsoft Intune?
- Microsoft Defender starts at $12/month and Microsoft Intune at $8/month.
- Does Microsoft Defender or Microsoft Intune run on more platforms?
- Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
- What is Microsoft Defender best used for?
- Microsoft Defender is most often used for endpoint security and threat protection, identity and access security, email threat protection, saas application security monitoring. Of those, endpoint security and threat protection and identity and access security are not what Microsoft Intune is typically brought in for.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Microsoft Defender: How much does Microsoft Defender Suite cost?
Microsoft Defender Suite costs $12/user/month (paid yearly), but requires existing Microsoft 365 E3 or equivalent base licensing. It includes endpoint protection, identity threat detection, email security, and SaaS application monitoring.
SourceMicrosoft Intune: How much does Microsoft Intune cost?
Microsoft Intune Plan 1 costs $8/user/month for basic device management. The full Intune Suite costs $10/user/month including endpoint privilege management, enterprise application management, advanced analytics, remote help, Intune Plan 2, and Microsoft Cloud PKI.
SourceMicrosoft Defender: What add-ons are available for Microsoft Defender?
Microsoft Defender Vulnerability Management Add-on costs $2/user/month with annual commitment and includes a one-month free trial. Additional pay-as-you-go products include External Attack Surface Management, Cloud Security Posture Management, and Sentinel.
SourceMicrosoft Intune: What add-ons are available for Microsoft Intune?
Individual Intune Suite add-ons range from $2-5/user/month and include Endpoint Privilege Management, Enterprise Application Management, Advanced Analytics, Remote Help, Intune Plan 2, and Microsoft Cloud PKI. Microsoft recommends the full Intune Suite at $10/user/month when deploying two or more modules for better value.
SourceMicrosoft Defender: Is Defender included in Microsoft 365 E5?
Yes, Microsoft Defender Suite is included in Microsoft 365 E5 at $60/user/month (paid yearly with Teams). Prices may vary based on Microsoft agreements, requiring contact with Sales for customized quotes.
SourceMicrosoft Intune: Is Intune included in Microsoft 365 E5?
Starting in CY26 Q3, Intune Suite capabilities are included with Microsoft 365 E5 and E7 subscriptions, with select capabilities also in Microsoft 365 E3. These bundled versions do not have separate additional pricing.
SourceRelated pages
More on Microsoft Defender
More on Microsoft Intune
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