Cybersecurity · head to head
Microsoft Defender vs Private Internet Access
Microsoft Defender
Cybersecurity
Always-on protection for you and your family's data and devices
- From
- $12/month
- Rated
- -
P
Private Internet Access
Cybersecurity
Long-standing VPN service with a large server network and flexible multi-year plans
- From
- $11.99/month
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Microsoft Defender defender Suite requires existing Microsoft 365 E3 or equivalent base licensing; Private Internet Access monthly plan is priced noticeably higher than the discounted multi-year commitments, penalizing short-term users.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 29 August 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Microsoft Defender and Private Internet Access actually diverge.
| Attribute | Microsoft Defender | Private Internet Access |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $12/month | $11.99/month |
| Platforms | Web | windows, mac, linux, ios, android |
Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), free tier (No), 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
Nothing recorded that Private Internet Access does not also cover.
Only in Private Internet Access
- Split tunneling
- Kill switch
- Ad and tracker blocking
- Dedicated IP add-on
- Bundled antivirus add-on
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Microsoft Defender
- Endpoint security and threat protectionnot Private Internet Access
- Identity and access securitynot Private Internet Access
- Email threat protectionnot Private Internet Access
- SaaS application security monitoringnot Private Internet Access
Private Internet Access
- Encrypting traffic on public Wi-Fi with a kill switchnot Microsoft Defender
- Blocking ads and trackers network-wide via MACEnot Microsoft Defender
- Maintaining a consistent connection identity with a dedicated IP add-onnot Microsoft Defender
- Committing to a long-term plan for a lower effective monthly ratenot 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
Private Internet Access
- Monthly plan is priced noticeably higher than the discounted multi-year commitments, penalizing short-term users.
- Dedicated IP and antivirus are paid add-ons rather than included features.
- Headquartered in a jurisdiction whose privacy reputation some competitors market against, despite audited no-logs claims.
- App interface is less streamlined than some higher-priced premium VPN competitors.
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
Private Internet Access
$11.99/month- Monthly$11.99/month
- Billed month to month
- Full server network access
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- 1-Year$3.1/month
- Billed annually at $37.19
- Full server network access
- 2-Year$2.19/month
- Lowest advertised rate, billed every 2 years
- Full server network access
Which should you pick?
Choose Microsoft Defender if
Nothing in the data separates Microsoft Defender from Private Internet Access on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.
Choose Private Internet Access if
- You need split tunneling.
- You work on windows, mac, linux, ios, android.
- You also want kill switch.
Questions people ask
- Is Microsoft Defender or Private Internet Access better?
- Neither clearly leads. Microsoft Defender starts at $12/month and Private Internet Access at $11.99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Microsoft Defender or Private Internet Access?
- Microsoft Defender starts at $12/month and Private Internet Access at $11.99/month.
- Does Microsoft Defender or Private Internet Access run on more platforms?
- Microsoft Defender runs on Web. Private Internet Access runs on windows, mac, linux, ios, android.
- 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 Private Internet Access is typically brought in for.
- What can Microsoft Defender do that Private Internet Access cannot?
- Private Internet Access covers Split tunneling, Kill switch, Ad and tracker blocking, Dedicated IP add-on.
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
More on Private Internet Access
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- Private Internet Access vs CrowdStrike Falcon
- Private Internet Access vs Avast One
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- Private Internet Access vs Cybereason Defense Platform
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- Private Internet Access vs VMware Carbon Black
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- Private Internet Access vs Milestone XProtect
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- Private Internet Access vs Bitdefender VPN
- Private Internet Access vs Mullvad VPN
- Private Internet Access vs Windscribe
- Private Internet Access vs IVPN
- Private Internet Access vs TunnelBear
- Private Internet Access vs CyberGhost VPN
- Private Internet Access vs NordVPN
- Private Internet Access vs ProtonVPN
- Private Internet Access vs Enpass
- Private Internet Access vs Surfshark
- Private Internet Access vs BigID
- Private Internet Access vs Infisical
- Private Internet Access vs JumpCloud
- Private Internet Access vs NICE Actimize
- Private Internet Access vs Semgrep
- Private Internet Access vs Spot AI
- Private Internet Access vs ExpressVPN