Is Microsoft Defender or Zscaler Internet Access better?

Neither clearly leads. Microsoft Defender starts at $12/month and Zscaler Internet Access at $100/year, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.

Which is cheaper, Microsoft Defender or Zscaler Internet Access?

Microsoft Defender starts at $12/month and Zscaler Internet Access at $100/year.

Does Microsoft Defender or Zscaler Internet Access run on more platforms?

Microsoft Defender runs on Web. Zscaler Internet Access runs on Web, Desktop, Mobile.

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 Zscaler Internet Access is typically brought in for.

What can Microsoft Defender do that Zscaler Internet Access cannot?

Zscaler Internet Access covers Secure web gateway, Cloud firewall, URL filtering, Advanced threat protection.

Cybersecurity · head to head

Microsoft Defender vs Zscaler Internet Access

Microsoft Defender

Cybersecurity

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

From: $12/month
Rated: -

Full review Website

Zscaler Internet Access

Cybersecurity

Secure cloud-native internet and SaaS access

From: $100/year
Rated: -

Full review Website

The short version

Each has a real cost: Microsoft Defender defender Suite requires existing Microsoft 365 E3 or equivalent base licensing; Zscaler Internet Access the pricing page names two base tiers, Essentials Platform and Zscaler Platform, plus modular add ons including three Digital Experience Monitoring tiers, but publishes no dollar figures anywhere and routes buyers to a demo request for cost
Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Microsoft Defender and Zscaler Internet Access actually diverge.

Attributes where Microsoft Defender and Zscaler Internet Access differ
Attribute	Microsoft Defender	Zscaler Internet Access
Starting price	$12/month	$100/year
Platforms	Web	Web, Desktop, Mobile
Founded	Unknown	2007

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 Zscaler Internet Access does not also cover.

Only in Zscaler Internet Access

Secure web gateway
Cloud firewall
URL filtering
Advanced threat protection
Data loss prevention
Cloud sandbox
Browser isolation
CASB

What people use each for

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

Microsoft Defender

Endpoint security and threat protectionnot Zscaler Internet Access
Identity and access securitynot Zscaler Internet Access
Email threat protectionnot Zscaler Internet Access
SaaS application security monitoringnot Zscaler Internet Access

Zscaler Internet Access

Cloud Securitynot Microsoft Defender
Zero Trustnot Microsoft Defender
Web Securitynot 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

Zscaler Internet Access

The pricing page names two base tiers, Essentials Platform and Zscaler Platform, plus modular add ons including three Digital Experience Monitoring tiers, but publishes no dollar figures anywhere and routes buyers to a demo request for cost

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

Zscaler Internet Access

$100/year

ZIA Business$100/year
- Web security
- URL filtering
- Cloud firewall
ZIA Transformation$200/year
- All Business features
- Advanced threat protection
- Cloud sandbox
ZIA Unlimited$350/year
- All Transformation features
- Cloud browser isolation
- CASB

Which should you pick?

Choose Microsoft Defender if

Nothing in the data separates Microsoft Defender from Zscaler Internet Access on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.

Microsoft Defender review

Choose Zscaler Internet Access if

You need secure web gateway.
You work on Web, Desktop, Mobile.
You also want cloud firewall.

Zscaler Internet Access review

Questions people ask

Is Microsoft Defender or Zscaler Internet Access better?: Neither clearly leads. Microsoft Defender starts at $12/month and Zscaler Internet Access at $100/year, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Microsoft Defender or Zscaler Internet Access?: Microsoft Defender starts at $12/month and Zscaler Internet Access at $100/year.
Does Microsoft Defender or Zscaler Internet Access run on more platforms?: Microsoft Defender runs on Web. Zscaler Internet Access runs on Web, Desktop, Mobile.
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 Zscaler Internet Access is typically brought in for.
What can Microsoft Defender do that Zscaler Internet Access cannot?: Zscaler Internet Access covers Secure web gateway, Cloud firewall, URL filtering, Advanced threat protection.

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

Zscaler Internet Access: How many pricing tiers does Zscaler Internet Access offer?

Zscaler Internet Access offers two main platform bundles: the Essentials Platform (entry-level) and the Zscaler Platform (comprehensive). Specific pricing is not published online.

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

Zscaler Internet Access: Are there optional add-on modules available?

Yes. Zscaler offers extensive optional capabilities in five categories including Inline Cyberthreat Protection, Private Access enhancements, Data Security, Security Operations, and Zero Trust Branch.

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

Zscaler Internet Access: How is Zscaler Zero Trust Branch priced?

Zero Trust Branch is sized by encrypted throughput (200 Mbps to 10 Gbps) or endpoint count (200 to 5,000 endpoints), with pricing varying by configuration.

Source

Zscaler Internet Access: How do I get Zscaler pricing?

Zscaler does not publish pricing online. You must request a demo or contact their sales team to receive a pricing quote.

Source

Microsoft Defender vs Zscaler Internet Access

Microsoft Defender

Zscaler Internet Access

The short version

Where they differ

What each one covers

Only in Microsoft Defender

Only in Zscaler Internet Access

What people use each for

Microsoft Defender

Zscaler Internet Access

Where each one falls short

Microsoft Defender

Zscaler Internet Access

Pricing, plan by plan

Microsoft Defender

Zscaler Internet Access

Which should you pick?

Choose Microsoft Defender if

Choose Zscaler Internet Access if

Questions people ask

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Related pages

More on Microsoft Defender

More on Zscaler Internet Access

Keep looking

Other head to heads