Cybersecurity · head to head
Microsoft Defender vs MuckRock
Microsoft Defender
Cybersecurity
Always-on protection for you and your family's data and devices
- From
- $12/month
- Free plan
- No
The short version
- Only MuckRock has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Microsoft Defender defender Suite requires existing Microsoft 365 E3 or equivalent base licensing; MuckRock muckRock's core platform, Squarelet identity service, and DocumentCloud are licensed AGPL-3.0, which requires anyone running a modified version as a network service to release their source code
- Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Microsoft Defender and MuckRock actually diverge.
| Attribute | Microsoft Defender | MuckRock |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $12/month | Free |
| Pricing model | subscription | freemium |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Category | Cybersecurity | Government |
| Founded | Unknown | 2010 |
Identical on both: platforms (Web), 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
Nothing recorded that MuckRock does not also cover.
Only in MuckRock
- FOIA Filing
- Request Tracking
- Document Archive
- Collaboration
- Agency Directory
- DocumentCloud
- News Organizations
- Research Tools
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Microsoft Defender
- Endpoint security and threat protectionnot MuckRock
- Identity and access securitynot MuckRock
- Email threat protectionnot MuckRock
- SaaS application security monitoringnot MuckRock
MuckRock
- Citizen Servicesnot Microsoft Defender
- Records Managementnot Microsoft Defender
- Public Safetynot Microsoft Defender
- Civic Engagementnot 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
MuckRock
- MuckRock's core platform, Squarelet identity service, and DocumentCloud are licensed AGPL-3.0, which requires anyone running a modified version as a network service to release their source code
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
MuckRock
Free- BasicFree
- FOIA Filing
- Request Tracking
- Document Archive
Which should you pick?
Choose Microsoft Defender if
Nothing in the data separates Microsoft Defender from MuckRock on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.
Choose MuckRock if
- You need foia filing.
- You want to start without paying.
- You also want request tracking.
Questions people ask
- Is Microsoft Defender or MuckRock better?
- Neither clearly leads. Microsoft Defender starts at $12/month and MuckRock at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Microsoft Defender or MuckRock?
- MuckRock has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $12/month for Microsoft Defender and Free for MuckRock.
- Does Microsoft Defender or MuckRock run on more platforms?
- Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
- Can I use MuckRock for free?
- Yes. MuckRock has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Microsoft Defender starts at $12/month.
- 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 MuckRock is typically brought in for.
- What can Microsoft Defender do that MuckRock cannot?
- MuckRock covers FOIA Filing, Request Tracking, Document Archive, Collaboration.
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 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 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.
SourceRelated pages
More on Microsoft Defender
Other head to heads
- Microsoft Defender vs Bitdefender Total Security
- Microsoft Defender vs Norton 360
- Microsoft Defender vs 1Password
- Microsoft Defender vs LastPass
- Microsoft Defender vs McAfee Total Protection
- Microsoft Defender vs Proofpoint
- Microsoft Defender vs CrowdStrike Falcon
- Microsoft Defender vs Avast One
- Microsoft Defender vs ESET NOD32 Antivirus
- Microsoft Defender vs Cybereason Defense Platform
- Microsoft Defender vs Fortinet FortiGate
- Microsoft Defender vs VMware Carbon Black
- Microsoft Defender vs Wireshark
- Microsoft Defender vs WorkOS
- Microsoft Defender vs Zscaler Internet Access
- Microsoft Defender vs Milestone XProtect
- Microsoft Defender vs Osano
- Microsoft Defender vs Bitdefender VPN
- Microsoft Defender vs Accela
- Microsoft Defender vs CivicPlus
- Microsoft Defender vs Granicus
- Microsoft Defender vs DocuWare
- Microsoft Defender vs NextRequest
- Microsoft Defender vs OpenGov
- Microsoft Defender vs Socrata
- Microsoft Defender vs ClearGov
- Microsoft Defender vs iCompass
- Microsoft Defender vs Laserfiche
- Microsoft Defender vs NEXGEN Asset Management
- Microsoft Defender vs Trimble Unity Maintain
- Microsoft Defender vs VUEWorks
- Microsoft Defender vs American Legal Publishing
- Microsoft Defender vs ArchiveSocial
- Microsoft Defender vs GovQA
- Microsoft Defender vs Legistar
- MuckRock vs Bitdefender Total Security
- MuckRock vs Norton 360
- MuckRock vs 1Password
- MuckRock vs LastPass
- MuckRock vs McAfee Total Protection
- MuckRock vs Proofpoint
- MuckRock vs CrowdStrike Falcon
- MuckRock vs Avast One
- MuckRock vs ESET NOD32 Antivirus
- MuckRock vs Cybereason Defense Platform
- MuckRock vs Fortinet FortiGate
- MuckRock vs VMware Carbon Black
- MuckRock vs Wireshark
- MuckRock vs WorkOS
- MuckRock vs Zscaler Internet Access
- MuckRock vs Milestone XProtect
- MuckRock vs Osano
- MuckRock vs Bitdefender VPN
- MuckRock vs Accela
- MuckRock vs CivicPlus
- MuckRock vs Granicus
- MuckRock vs DocuWare
- MuckRock vs NextRequest
- MuckRock vs OpenGov
- MuckRock vs Socrata
- MuckRock vs ClearGov
- MuckRock vs iCompass
- MuckRock vs Laserfiche
- MuckRock vs NEXGEN Asset Management
- MuckRock vs Trimble Unity Maintain
- MuckRock vs VUEWorks
- MuckRock vs American Legal Publishing
- MuckRock vs ArchiveSocial
- MuckRock vs GovQA
- MuckRock vs Legistar