Is Microsoft Defender or ShotSpotter better?

Neither clearly leads. Microsoft Defender starts at $12/month and ShotSpotter at $5000/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.

Which is cheaper, Microsoft Defender or ShotSpotter?

Microsoft Defender starts at $12/month and ShotSpotter at $5000/month.

Does Microsoft Defender or ShotSpotter run on more platforms?

Microsoft Defender runs on Web. ShotSpotter runs on Web, 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 ShotSpotter is typically brought in for.

What can Microsoft Defender do that ShotSpotter cannot?

ShotSpotter covers Gunshot Detection, Location Triangulation, Real-time Alerts, Forensic Analysis.

Cybersecurity · head to head

Microsoft Defender vs ShotSpotter

Microsoft Defender

Cybersecurity

Always-on protection for you and your family's data and devices

From: $12/month
Free plan: No

Full review Website

ShotSpotter

Government

Gunshot Detection Technology

From: $5000/month
Free plan: No

Full review Website

The short version

Each has a real cost: Microsoft Defender defender Suite requires existing Microsoft 365 E3 or equivalent base licensing; ShotSpotter shotSpotter now trades as SoundThinking and shotspotter.com redirects to soundthinking.com
Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Microsoft Defender and ShotSpotter actually diverge.

Attributes where Microsoft Defender and ShotSpotter differ
Attribute	Microsoft Defender	ShotSpotter
Starting price	$12/month	$5000/month
Platforms	Web	Web, Ios, Android
Category	Cybersecurity	Government
Founded	Unknown	1996

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), free tier (No), 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 ShotSpotter does not also cover.

Only in ShotSpotter

Gunshot Detection
Location Triangulation
Real-time Alerts
Forensic Analysis
Historical Data
CAD Systems
911 Centers
Camera Systems

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Microsoft Defender

Endpoint security and threat protectionnot ShotSpotter
Identity and access securitynot ShotSpotter
Email threat protectionnot ShotSpotter
SaaS application security monitoringnot ShotSpotter

ShotSpotter

Gunshot detection and location alerting for police departmentsnot Microsoft Defender
Directing patrol response to outdoor firearm dischargesnot Microsoft Defender
Building incident data for law enforcement analysisnot 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

ShotSpotter

ShotSpotter now trades as SoundThinking and shotspotter.com redirects to soundthinking.com
No pricing is published; the site routes to contact and demo requests with no published rate, minimum or cost driver
The service depends on an acoustic sensor array installed across a defined coverage area rather than being software alone

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

ShotSpotter

$5000/month

Detection Service$5000/month
- Gunshot Detection
- Real-time Alerts
- Forensic Reports

Which should you pick?

Choose Microsoft Defender if

Nothing in the data separates Microsoft Defender from ShotSpotter on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.

Microsoft Defender review

Choose ShotSpotter if

You need gunshot detection.
You work on Web, Ios, Android.
You also want location triangulation.

ShotSpotter review

Questions people ask

Is Microsoft Defender or ShotSpotter better?: Neither clearly leads. Microsoft Defender starts at $12/month and ShotSpotter at $5000/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Microsoft Defender or ShotSpotter?: Microsoft Defender starts at $12/month and ShotSpotter at $5000/month.
Does Microsoft Defender or ShotSpotter run on more platforms?: Microsoft Defender runs on Web. ShotSpotter runs on Web, 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 ShotSpotter is typically brought in for.
What can Microsoft Defender do that ShotSpotter cannot?: ShotSpotter covers Gunshot Detection, Location Triangulation, Real-time Alerts, Forensic Analysis.

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.

Source

ShotSpotter: Does SoundThinking publish ShotSpotter pricing?

No. SoundThinking does not disclose ShotSpotter pricing on their website. Interested municipalities and organizations must request a consultation, contact the sales team, or book a demo.

Source

Microsoft 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.

Source

ShotSpotter: How do I get a ShotSpotter quote?

SoundThinking directs prospects to book a demo, contact them directly, or request a consultation through their website. No self-serve pricing, calculator, or trial is available.

Source

Microsoft 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.

Source

ShotSpotter: Who is ShotSpotter for?

ShotSpotter is a gunshot detection system designed for law enforcement and municipalities to improve public safety response.

Source

Microsoft Defender vs ShotSpotter

Microsoft Defender

ShotSpotter

The short version

Where they differ

What each one covers

Only in Microsoft Defender

Only in ShotSpotter

What people use each for

Microsoft Defender

ShotSpotter

Where each one falls short

Microsoft Defender

ShotSpotter

Pricing, plan by plan

Microsoft Defender

ShotSpotter

Which should you pick?

Choose Microsoft Defender if

Choose ShotSpotter if

Questions people ask

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Related pages

More on Microsoft Defender

More on ShotSpotter

Keep looking

Other head to heads