Cybersecurity · head to head
Microsoft Defender vs Signicat
Microsoft Defender
Cybersecurity
Always-on protection for you and your family's data and devices
- From
- $12/month
- Rated
- -
Signicat
Cybersecurity
European digital identity hub connecting national eID schemes
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Microsoft Defender defender Suite requires existing Microsoft 365 E3 or equivalent base licensing; Signicat national eID scheme fees are passed through on top of Signicat's own charge, so a single-country business almost always pays less by integrating with the scheme directly.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Microsoft Defender and Signicat actually diverge.
| Attribute | Microsoft Defender | Signicat |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $12/month | On request |
| Pricing model | subscription | quote |
| Platforms | Web | Web, iOS, Android |
Identical on both: 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 Signicat does not also cover.
Only in Signicat
- eID scheme brokering
- Qualified electronic signatures
- Document verification
- AML screening
- Authentication
- Digital onboarding flows
- eIDAS compliance
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Microsoft Defender
- Endpoint security and threat protectionnot Signicat
- Identity and access securitynot Signicat
- Email threat protectionnot Signicat
- SaaS application security monitoringnot Signicat
Signicat
- A lender expanding from Norway into Sweden, Denmark and the Netherlands without four separate eID integrationsnot Microsoft Defender
- An insurer needing eIDAS qualified signatures on policy documents that will hold up in a European courtnot Microsoft Defender
- A bank that wants customers to onboard with their existing national bank ID rather than photographing a passportnot Microsoft Defender
- A public sector body needing cross-border recognition of notified eID schemes under eIDASnot 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
Signicat
- National eID scheme fees are passed through on top of Signicat's own charge, so a single-country business almost always pays less by integrating with the scheme directly.
- Value is concentrated in Northern and Western Europe, and coverage in Southern and Eastern Europe is thinner, so a pan-European rollout still hits gaps requiring document fallback.
- Pricing is per transaction and quoted, and because scheme rates vary by country the cost per onboarded customer differs materially between markets in ways that complicate unit economics.
- Each eID scheme connection typically carries its own setup fee and approval process, so adding a country is a project with a lead time rather than a configuration change.
- Availability is tied to the national schemes, meaning an outage at BankID or MitID stops your onboarding entirely and there is no vendor-side mitigation for it.
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$2/month
- Vulnerability scanning and management
- One-month free trial available
- Annual commitment required
Signicat
On request- Signicat Platform$undefined/year
- Priced per transaction with national scheme fees passed through
- Signature and verification products licensed separately
- Setup fee per eID scheme connected
Which should you pick?
Choose Microsoft Defender if
Nothing in the data separates Microsoft Defender from Signicat on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.
Choose Signicat if
- You need eid scheme brokering.
- You work on Web, iOS, Android.
- You also want qualified electronic signatures.
Questions people ask
- Is Microsoft Defender or Signicat better?
- Neither clearly leads. Microsoft Defender starts at $12/month and Signicat at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Microsoft Defender or Signicat?
- Microsoft Defender starts at $12/month and Signicat at On request.
- Does Microsoft Defender or Signicat run on more platforms?
- Microsoft Defender runs on Web. Signicat 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 Signicat is typically brought in for.
- What can Microsoft Defender do that Signicat cannot?
- Signicat covers eID scheme brokering, Qualified electronic signatures, Document verification, AML screening.
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.
SourceSignicat: Is this an alternative to a document verification vendor?
Only where national eID exists. In markets with a mature bank ID scheme it is better; elsewhere you fall back to document checks, which Signicat also provides.
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.
SourceSignicat: Do we still pay the eID schemes?
Yes. Scheme fees are passed through in addition to Signicat charges. Ask for the split when comparing to a direct integration.
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.
SourceSignicat: Are signatures legally qualified?
Signicat supports eIDAS qualified electronic signatures, which carry the highest legal standing in the EU, as well as advanced signatures.
Related pages
More on Microsoft Defender
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