Cybersecurity · head to head
Microsoft Defender vs Trivy
Microsoft Defender
Cybersecurity
Always-on protection for you and your family's data and devices
- From
- $12/month
- Rated
- -
Trivy
Cybersecurity
Open-source vulnerability and misconfiguration scanner
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Trivy 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; Trivy reports what public advisory databases know, so coverage varies by ecosystem and unfixed CVEs create noise
- Prices and features above were last checked on 29 August 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Microsoft Defender and Trivy actually diverge.
| Attribute | Microsoft Defender | Trivy |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $12/month | Free |
| Pricing model | subscription | Open source, no licence fee |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Platforms | Web | Linux, macOS, Windows, Docker, Kubernetes |
Identical on both: 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 Trivy does not also cover.
Only in Trivy
- Multi-target scanning
- Vulnerability detection
- Misconfiguration checks
- Secret detection
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Microsoft Defender
- Endpoint security and threat protectionnot Trivy
- Identity and access securitynot Trivy
- Email threat protectionnot Trivy
- SaaS application security monitoringnot Trivy
Trivy
- Failing a pull request when a container image introduces a known CVEnot Microsoft Defender
- Scanning Terraform and Kubernetes manifests for misconfiguration before applynot Microsoft Defender
- Catching committed secrets as part of an existing CI stepnot 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
Trivy
- Reports what public advisory databases know, so coverage varies by ecosystem and unfixed CVEs create noise
- No built-in triage or exception workflow, so suppressing accepted risk is managed in config files
- Findings are point-in-time from CI, with no continuous runtime monitoring unless you add the commercial platform
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
Trivy
Free- TrivyFree
- Full scanner
- Unlimited scans
- Community support
Which should you pick?
Choose Microsoft Defender if
Nothing in the data separates Microsoft Defender from Trivy on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.
Choose Trivy if
- You need multi-target scanning.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Linux, macOS, Windows, Docker, Kubernetes.
- You also want vulnerability detection.
Questions people ask
- Is Microsoft Defender or Trivy better?
- Neither clearly leads. Microsoft Defender starts at $12/month and Trivy at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Microsoft Defender or Trivy?
- Trivy has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $12/month for Microsoft Defender and Free for Trivy.
- Does Microsoft Defender or Trivy run on more platforms?
- Microsoft Defender runs on Web. Trivy runs on Linux, macOS, Windows, Docker, Kubernetes.
- Can I use Trivy for free?
- Yes. Trivy 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 Trivy is typically brought in for.
- What can Microsoft Defender do that Trivy cannot?
- Trivy covers Multi-target scanning, Vulnerability detection, Misconfiguration checks, Secret detection.
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.
SourceTrivy: Is Trivy free?
Yes, open source from Aqua Security with no licence fee. Aqua sells a commercial platform around it.
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.
SourceTrivy: What can Trivy scan?
Container images, filesystems, Git repositories, Kubernetes clusters and infrastructure-as-code, for vulnerabilities, misconfigurations, secrets and licences.
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.
SourceTrivy: Does Trivy need a server?
No. It is a single binary, which is a large part of why it became a default in CI.
Related pages
More on Microsoft Defender
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