Cybersecurity · head to head
Microsoft Defender vs Sumsub
Microsoft Defender
Cybersecurity
Always-on protection for you and your family's data and devices
- From
- $12/month
- Rated
- -
Sumsub
Cybersecurity
Identity verification and AML screening priced per verification
- From
- $1.35/verification
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Microsoft Defender defender Suite requires existing Microsoft 365 E3 or equivalent base licensing; Sumsub the published per-verification rate is undercut by a monthly minimum of 149 or 299 dollars, so low volume businesses pay a much higher effective rate than the headline suggests.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Microsoft Defender and Sumsub actually diverge.
| Attribute | Microsoft Defender | Sumsub |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $12/month | $1.35/verification |
| Pricing model | subscription | Per verification |
| 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 Sumsub does not also cover.
Only in Sumsub
- Document verification
- AML screening
- KYB verification
- No-code flow builder
- Transaction monitoring
- Travel Rule
- Fraud and duplicate detection
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Microsoft Defender
- Endpoint security and threat protectionnot Sumsub
- Identity and access securitynot Sumsub
- Email threat protectionnot Sumsub
- SaaS application security monitoringnot Sumsub
Sumsub
- A crypto exchange needing KYC plus Travel Rule handling under one contractnot Microsoft Defender
- A gambling operator entering several European markets and needing document coverage without a separate vendor per countrynot Microsoft Defender
- A fintech that wants a published price it can model in a business case before speaking to a salespersonnot Microsoft Defender
- A marketplace verifying both individual sellers and the companies behind them without buying two productsnot 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
Sumsub
- The published per-verification rate is undercut by a monthly minimum of 149 or 299 dollars, so low volume businesses pay a much higher effective rate than the headline suggests.
- You are billed per verification attempt in most configurations, meaning applicant drop-off and resubmissions cost money without producing a customer.
- Pass rates and document support vary noticeably by country, and a market that works well in Europe can produce materially worse rejection rates in parts of Africa and South East Asia.
- The AML screening tier bundles list coverage that large institutions would normally buy separately and tune, giving less control over match thresholds than a dedicated screening vendor.
- The company originated in Russia before restructuring to a UK entity, and some financial institutions still raise that history in vendor risk review, which can slow or block procurement at conservative banks.
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
Sumsub
$1.35/verification- Basic$1.35/verification
- 149 USD minimum monthly spend
- Document verification and liveness
- No-code flow builder
- Compliance$1.85/verification
- 299 USD minimum monthly spend
- Everything in Basic
- AML sanctions and PEP screening
- Enterprise$undefined/year
- Negotiated volume rate
- Custom jurisdictions and languages
- Dedicated support
Which should you pick?
Choose Microsoft Defender if
Nothing in the data separates Microsoft Defender from Sumsub on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.
Choose Sumsub if
- You need document verification.
- You work on Web, iOS, Android.
- You also want aml screening.
Questions people ask
- Is Microsoft Defender or Sumsub better?
- Neither clearly leads. Microsoft Defender starts at $12/month and Sumsub at $1.35/verification, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Microsoft Defender or Sumsub?
- Microsoft Defender starts at $12/month and Sumsub at $1.35/verification.
- Does Microsoft Defender or Sumsub run on more platforms?
- Microsoft Defender runs on Web. Sumsub 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 Sumsub is typically brought in for.
- What can Microsoft Defender do that Sumsub cannot?
- Sumsub covers Document verification, AML screening, KYB verification, No-code flow builder.
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.
SourceSumsub: What does a verification actually cost?
1.35 USD on Basic and 1.85 USD on Compliance, but with 149 and 299 USD monthly minimums respectively. Below roughly 110 or 160 checks a month you are paying the minimum, not the rate.
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.
SourceSumsub: Do failed verifications get charged?
Attempts are generally billable, so a poor onboarding funnel raises your bill. Confirm the exact resubmission policy in your contract.
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.
SourceSumsub: Does it cover business verification?
Yes, KYB with company registry lookups and beneficial owner resolution is part of the platform rather than a separate product.
Related pages
More on Microsoft Defender
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