Cybersecurity · head to head
Microsoft Defender vs Wireshark
Microsoft Defender
Cybersecurity
Always-on protection for you and your family's data and devices
- From
- $12/month
- Rated
- -
Wireshark
Cybersecurity
The world's foremost network protocol analyzer
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Wireshark 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; Wireshark free and open source under the GNU GPL; downloadable without paying any license fee, no commercial tier
- Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Microsoft Defender and Wireshark actually diverge.
| Attribute | Microsoft Defender | Wireshark |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $12/month | Free |
| Pricing model | subscription | free |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Platforms | Web | Desktop, Cli |
| Founded | Unknown | 1998 |
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 Wireshark does not also cover.
Only in Wireshark
- Deep packet inspection
- Live capture
- Offline analysis
- 3000+ protocol support
- Rich display filters
- VoIP analysis
- Decryption support
- Scripting with Lua
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Microsoft Defender
- Endpoint security and threat protectionnot Wireshark
- Identity and access securitynot Wireshark
- Email threat protectionnot Wireshark
- SaaS application security monitoringnot Wireshark
Wireshark
- Network Securitynot Microsoft Defender
- Packet Analysisnot Microsoft Defender
- Open Sourcenot 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
Wireshark
- Free and open source under the GNU GPL; downloadable without paying any license fee, no commercial tier
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
Wireshark
Free- Free & Open SourceFree
- Full functionality
- Deep inspection
- Live capture
Which should you pick?
Choose Microsoft Defender if
Nothing in the data separates Microsoft Defender from Wireshark on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.
Choose Wireshark if
- You need deep packet inspection.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Desktop, Cli.
- You also want live capture.
Questions people ask
- Is Microsoft Defender or Wireshark better?
- Neither clearly leads. Microsoft Defender starts at $12/month and Wireshark at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Microsoft Defender or Wireshark?
- Wireshark has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $12/month for Microsoft Defender and Free for Wireshark.
- Does Microsoft Defender or Wireshark run on more platforms?
- Microsoft Defender runs on Web. Wireshark runs on Desktop, Cli.
- Can I use Wireshark for free?
- Yes. Wireshark 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 Wireshark is typically brought in for.
- What can Microsoft Defender do that Wireshark cannot?
- Wireshark covers Deep packet inspection, Live capture, Offline analysis, 3000+ protocol support.
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.
SourceWireshark: Is there a cost to download and use Wireshark?
No, Wireshark is completely free. It's distributed under the GNU General Public License version 2, making it "free software" with no demo limitations. The full version is available at no cost.
SourceMicrosoft 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.
SourceWireshark: What support options are available for Wireshark users?
Wireshark offers multiple support channels including mailing lists, an active Discord community, the Ask Wireshark Q&A platform, comprehensive documentation, a user guide, and developer resources for those needing technical assistance.
SourceMicrosoft 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.
SourceWireshark: Are there different pricing tiers or subscription levels?
Wireshark does not offer pricing tiers or subscriptions. There is one free version available to all users regardless of use case, personal, professional, or organizational.
SourceRelated pages
More on Microsoft Defender
Other head to heads
- Microsoft Defender vs Bitdefender Total Security
- Microsoft Defender vs Norton 360
- Microsoft Defender vs 1Password
- Microsoft Defender vs LastPass
- Microsoft Defender vs McAfee Total Protection
- Microsoft Defender vs Proofpoint
- Microsoft Defender vs CrowdStrike Falcon
- Microsoft Defender vs Avast One
- Microsoft Defender vs ESET NOD32 Antivirus
- Microsoft Defender vs Cybereason Defense Platform
- Microsoft Defender vs Fortinet FortiGate
- Microsoft Defender vs VMware Carbon Black
- Microsoft Defender vs WorkOS
- Microsoft Defender vs Zscaler Internet Access
- Microsoft Defender vs Milestone XProtect
- Microsoft Defender vs Osano
- Microsoft Defender vs Bitdefender VPN
- Microsoft Defender vs Bitwarden
- Microsoft Defender vs OWASP ZAP
- Microsoft Defender vs Syft
- Microsoft Defender vs Metasploit
- Microsoft Defender vs Cosign
- Microsoft Defender vs HashiCorp Vault
- Microsoft Defender vs Infisical
- Microsoft Defender vs Semgrep
- Microsoft Defender vs Fenergo
- Microsoft Defender vs Google Authenticator
- Microsoft Defender vs Hanwha Vision
- Microsoft Defender vs Idira
- Microsoft Defender vs IVPN
- Microsoft Defender vs Grype
- Wireshark vs Bitdefender Total Security
- Wireshark vs Norton 360
- Wireshark vs 1Password
- Wireshark vs LastPass
- Wireshark vs McAfee Total Protection
- Wireshark vs Proofpoint
- Wireshark vs CrowdStrike Falcon
- Wireshark vs Avast One
- Wireshark vs ESET NOD32 Antivirus
- Wireshark vs Cybereason Defense Platform
- Wireshark vs Fortinet FortiGate
- Wireshark vs VMware Carbon Black
- Wireshark vs WorkOS
- Wireshark vs Zscaler Internet Access
- Wireshark vs Milestone XProtect
- Wireshark vs Osano
- Wireshark vs Bitdefender VPN
- Wireshark vs Bitwarden
- Wireshark vs OWASP ZAP
- Wireshark vs Syft
- Wireshark vs Metasploit
- Wireshark vs Cosign
- Wireshark vs HashiCorp Vault
- Wireshark vs Infisical
- Wireshark vs Semgrep
- Wireshark vs Fenergo
- Wireshark vs Google Authenticator
- Wireshark vs Hanwha Vision
- Wireshark vs Idira
- Wireshark vs IVPN
- Wireshark vs Grype