Cybersecurity · head to head
Microsoft Defender vs Ring Neighbors
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 Ring Neighbors 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; Ring Neighbors neighbors by Ring is a free app only available in the US, per the vendor's own page (Internet Archive capture, 1 January 2023)
- Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Microsoft Defender and Ring Neighbors actually diverge.
| Attribute | Microsoft Defender | Ring Neighbors |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $12/month | Free |
| Pricing model | subscription | freemium |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Platforms | Web | Web, Ios, Android |
| Category | Cybersecurity | Government |
| Founded | Unknown | 2013 |
Identical on both: 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 Ring Neighbors does not also cover.
Only in Ring Neighbors
- Video Request Portal
- Community Alerts
- Geographic Requests
- Case Management
- Resident Opt-in
- Ring Devices
- CAD Systems
- Social Media
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Microsoft Defender
- Endpoint security and threat protectionnot Ring Neighbors
- Identity and access securitynot Ring Neighbors
- Email threat protectionnot Ring Neighbors
- SaaS application security monitoringnot Ring Neighbors
Ring Neighbors
- 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
Ring Neighbors
- Neighbors by Ring is a free app only available in the US, per the vendor's own page (Internet Archive capture, 1 January 2023)
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
Ring Neighbors
Free- Public Safety PortalFree
- Video Requests
- Community Alerts
- Case Management
Which should you pick?
Choose Microsoft Defender if
Nothing in the data separates Microsoft Defender from Ring Neighbors on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.
Choose Ring Neighbors if
- You need video request portal.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android.
- You also want community alerts.
Questions people ask
- Is Microsoft Defender or Ring Neighbors better?
- Neither clearly leads. Microsoft Defender starts at $12/month and Ring Neighbors at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Microsoft Defender or Ring Neighbors?
- Ring Neighbors has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $12/month for Microsoft Defender and Free for Ring Neighbors.
- Does Microsoft Defender or Ring Neighbors run on more platforms?
- Microsoft Defender runs on Web. Ring Neighbors runs on Web, Ios, Android.
- Can I use Ring Neighbors for free?
- Yes. Ring Neighbors 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 Ring Neighbors is typically brought in for.
- What can Microsoft Defender do that Ring Neighbors cannot?
- Ring Neighbors covers Video Request Portal, Community Alerts, Geographic Requests, Case Management.
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 Ring Neighbors
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 CentralSquare
- Microsoft Defender vs Axon Records
- Microsoft Defender vs IAPro
- Microsoft Defender vs Mark43
- Microsoft Defender vs SafeCity
- Microsoft Defender vs Citizen
- Microsoft Defender vs ShotSpotter
- Microsoft Defender vs Tyler Brazos
- Microsoft Defender vs NEXGEN Asset Management
- Microsoft Defender vs NextRequest
- Microsoft Defender vs Trimble Unity Maintain
- Microsoft Defender vs VUEWorks
- Microsoft Defender vs American Legal Publishing
- Microsoft Defender vs ArchiveSocial
- Ring Neighbors vs Bitdefender Total Security
- Ring Neighbors vs Norton 360
- Ring Neighbors vs 1Password
- Ring Neighbors vs LastPass
- Ring Neighbors vs McAfee Total Protection
- Ring Neighbors vs Proofpoint
- Ring Neighbors vs CrowdStrike Falcon
- Ring Neighbors vs Avast One
- Ring Neighbors vs ESET NOD32 Antivirus
- Ring Neighbors vs Cybereason Defense Platform
- Ring Neighbors vs Fortinet FortiGate
- Ring Neighbors vs VMware Carbon Black
- Ring Neighbors vs Wireshark
- Ring Neighbors vs WorkOS
- Ring Neighbors vs Zscaler Internet Access
- Ring Neighbors vs Milestone XProtect
- Ring Neighbors vs Osano
- Ring Neighbors vs Bitdefender VPN
- Ring Neighbors vs Accela
- Ring Neighbors vs CivicPlus
- Ring Neighbors vs Granicus
- Ring Neighbors vs DocuWare
- Ring Neighbors vs CentralSquare
- Ring Neighbors vs Axon Records
- Ring Neighbors vs IAPro
- Ring Neighbors vs Mark43
- Ring Neighbors vs SafeCity
- Ring Neighbors vs Citizen
- Ring Neighbors vs ShotSpotter
- Ring Neighbors vs Tyler Brazos
- Ring Neighbors vs NEXGEN Asset Management
- Ring Neighbors vs NextRequest
- Ring Neighbors vs Trimble Unity Maintain
- Ring Neighbors vs VUEWorks
- Ring Neighbors vs American Legal Publishing
- Ring Neighbors vs ArchiveSocial