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Cybersecurity · head to head

Microsoft Defender vs Splunk Enterprise Security

Microsoft Defender logo

Microsoft Defender

Cybersecurity

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

From
$12/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Splunk Enterprise Security logo

Splunk Enterprise Security

Cybersecurity

The platform for operational intelligence

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Microsoft Defender defender Suite requires existing Microsoft 365 E3 or equivalent base licensing; Splunk Enterprise Security splunk Enterprise Security is licensed separately from the Splunk platform, so a SIEM deployment needs both
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Microsoft Defender and Splunk Enterprise Security actually diverge.

Attributes where Microsoft Defender and Splunk Enterprise Security differ
AttributeMicrosoft DefenderSplunk Enterprise Security
Starting price$12/monthOn request
PlatformsWebWeb, Api
FoundedUnknown2003

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 Splunk Enterprise Security does not also cover.

Only in Splunk Enterprise Security

  • Security monitoring
  • Incident review
  • Risk-based alerting
  • Threat intelligence
  • Investigation workbench
  • MITRE ATT&CK mapping
  • Automated response
  • Compliance reporting

What people use each for

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

Microsoft Defender

  • Endpoint security and threat protectionnot Splunk Enterprise Security
  • Identity and access securitynot Splunk Enterprise Security
  • Email threat protectionnot Splunk Enterprise Security
  • SaaS application security monitoringnot Splunk Enterprise Security

Splunk Enterprise Security

  • Running a security operations centre on Splunk indexed log datanot Microsoft Defender
  • Correlation searches, risk based alerting and incident investigationnot Microsoft Defender
  • Compliance reporting from pooled security telemetrynot 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

Splunk Enterprise Security

  • Splunk Enterprise Security is licensed separately from the Splunk platform, so a SIEM deployment needs both
  • Splunk publishes no rate for Enterprise Security and directs buyers to contact a pricing expert
  • UEBA, SOAR and automated threat analysis require the Premier edition rather than Essentials
  • The platform underneath can be billed by ingest volume, workload or activity, so the total cost depends on a pricing model chosen at contract time rather than a list price

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

Splunk Enterprise Security

On request
  • Workload PricingFree
    • Pay per compute
    • Flexible scaling
    • All features
  • Ingest PricingFree
    • Pay per GB ingested
    • Predictable costs
    • All features
  • Entity PricingFree
    • Pay per monitored entity
    • Security focused
    • All features

Which should you pick?

Choose Microsoft Defender if

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

Microsoft Defender review

Choose Splunk Enterprise Security if

  • You need security monitoring.
  • You work on Web, Api.
  • You also want incident review.
Splunk Enterprise Security review

Questions people ask

Is Microsoft Defender or Splunk Enterprise Security better?
Neither clearly leads. Microsoft Defender starts at $12/month and Splunk Enterprise Security at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Microsoft Defender or Splunk Enterprise Security?
Microsoft Defender starts at $12/month and Splunk Enterprise Security at On request.
Does Microsoft Defender or Splunk Enterprise Security run on more platforms?
Microsoft Defender runs on Web. Splunk Enterprise Security runs on Web, Api.
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 Splunk Enterprise Security is typically brought in for.
What can Microsoft Defender do that Splunk Enterprise Security cannot?
Splunk Enterprise Security covers Security monitoring, Incident review, Risk-based alerting, Threat intelligence.

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
Splunk Enterprise Security: How much does Splunk Enterprise Security cost?

Splunk Enterprise Security pricing is not published. The product is available in Essentials Edition with threat detection, investigation, and response capabilities, and Premier Edition with UEBA, SOAR, and Automated Threat Analysis. Customers must contact Splunk sales for pricing quotes on either edition.

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
Splunk Enterprise Security: What editions of Splunk Enterprise Security are available?

Splunk Enterprise Security offers Essentials Edition with threat detection, investigation, and response capabilities, and Premier Edition which adds UEBA (User and Entity Behavior Analytics), SOAR (Security Orchestration, Automation and Response), and Automated Threat Analysis.

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
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