Cybersecurity · head to head
Microsoft Defender vs WorkOS
Microsoft Defender
Cybersecurity
Always-on protection for you and your family's data and devices
- From
- $12/month
- Rated
- -
WorkOS
Cybersecurity
Developer platform for enterprise-ready authentication and identity.
- From
- $125/one-time per connection
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Microsoft Defender defender Suite requires existing Microsoft 365 E3 or equivalent base licensing; WorkOS authKit free tier limited to 1 million monthly active users; additional millions cost $2,500/month
- Prices and features above were last checked on 29 August 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Microsoft Defender and WorkOS actually diverge.
| Attribute | Microsoft Defender | WorkOS |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $12/month | $125/one-time per connection |
| Pricing model | subscription | usage-based |
| Platforms | Web | Web, API |
Identical on both: free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Cybersecurity).
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Microsoft Defender
- Endpoint security and threat protectionnot WorkOS
- Identity and access securitynot WorkOS
- Email threat protectionnot WorkOS
- SaaS application security monitoringnot WorkOS
WorkOS
- SaaS applications needing rapid enterprise SSO deploymentnot Microsoft Defender
- Companies selling to mid-market and enterprise customersnot Microsoft Defender
- Applications requiring SCIM directory sync with corporate identity systemsnot Microsoft Defender
- Product teams needing audit logs for compliance (SOC 2, ISO 27001)not Microsoft Defender
- Platforms with multiple identity provider requirementsnot 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
WorkOS
- AuthKit free tier limited to 1 million monthly active users; additional millions cost $2,500/month
- Per-connection pricing for SSO and Directory Sync ($125–$50 each) scales poorly for enterprises with many identity providers
- Audit logs require separate subscription at $125/month per SIEM connection or $99/month per 1 million events
- Radar fraud protection billed separately at $100/month per 50,000 additional checks beyond 1,000 free checks
- Custom domain feature requires $99/month subscription
- Requires annual commitment for SLA and support guarantees; pay-as-you-go tier lacks uptime guarantee
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
WorkOS
$125/one-time per connection- Pay as You Go$undefined/variable
- Per-connection pricing from $125 to $50 with volume discounts
- Up to 60% discount at scale
- Quick deployment
- Annual Credits$undefined/variable
- Custom pricing with volume discounts
- 99.99% uptime SLA
- Guided migration
Which should you pick?
Choose Microsoft Defender if
Nothing in the data separates Microsoft Defender from WorkOS on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.
Questions people ask
- Is Microsoft Defender or WorkOS better?
- Neither clearly leads. Microsoft Defender starts at $12/month and WorkOS at $125/one-time per connection, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Microsoft Defender or WorkOS?
- Microsoft Defender starts at $12/month and WorkOS at $125/one-time per connection.
- Does Microsoft Defender or WorkOS run on more platforms?
- Microsoft Defender runs on Web. WorkOS 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 WorkOS is typically brought in for.
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.
SourceWorkOS: How quickly can I implement WorkOS SSO?
Developers can implement single sign-on in minutes instead of months. Multiple customers report setting up SSO in less than a week, with WorkOS handling the complexity of SAML and OIDC protocols.
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.
SourceWorkOS: What SDKs does WorkOS provide?
WorkOS offers SDKs for Node.js, Python, Ruby, Go, PHP, Java, and .NET.
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.
SourceWorkOS: Does WorkOS support SCIM provisioning?
Yes. WorkOS supports SCIM provisioning integration with systems like Okta and Entra ID for automated user management.
SourceRelated pages
More on Microsoft Defender
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