--- title: "Microsoft Defender for Office 365 Software Pricing, Alternatives & More 2026 | Capterra" description: "With the help of Capterra, learn about Microsoft Defender for Office 365 Software - reviews, pricing plans, popular comparisons to other Email Security products and more." source_url: "https://www.capterra.com/p/219685/Microsoft-Defender-for-Office-365/" page_type: "product" language: "en" --- # Microsoft Defender for Office 365 Software Review 2026: Features, Integrations, Pros & Cons Last updated on September 16, 2026 Provider data verified by our Software Research team, and reviews moderated by our Reviews Verification team. [Description](#description)[Use cases](#use-cases)[Alternatives](#alternatives)[FAQs](#faqs)[Users](#users)[Features](#features)[Pricing](#pricing)[Support](#support)[Reviews](#reviews) Microsoft Defender for Office 365 ## What is Microsoft Defender for Office 365? Microsoft Defender for Office 365 protects all of Office 365 against advanced threats like business email compromise and credential phishing, and automatically investigates and remediates attacks. With Defender for O365 you get Integrated threat protection for all of Office 365 that gives you: -Native protection for Office 365 -Industry leading AI and automation -A comprehensive approach ## What is Microsoft Defender for Office 365 used for? [Email Security](https://www.capterra.com/email-security-software/)[Anti-spam](https://www.capterra.com/anti-spam-software/) Top alternative Featured Overall rating Based on 241 user reviews Reviews sentiment Positive 94% Neutral 3% Negative 2% Contact vendor for pricing Free trial not available Free version not included Capterra Shortlist charts the highest-rated and most popular products... Our "Best of" badge program showcases products with the highest ratings... Our "Best of" badge program showcases products with the highest ratings... Do you work for Microsoft Defender for Office 365?[Manage this product listing](https://www.g2.com/products/microsoft-microsoft-defender-for-office-365/claim_requests/new?auto=true) ## Compare with a popular alternative Capterra selects software alternatives based on relevant features, verified user reviews and user interactions. Placement may be influenced by client status. ### Microsoft Defender for Office 365 4.6 (241) VS. [4.9 (338)](https://www.capterra.com/p/233248/Hoxhunt/reviews/) Starting Price Contact vendor Starting Price Contact vendor Free Trial Free Version Pricing Options Free Trial Free Version Ease Of Use 4.5 (241) Ease Of Use 4.9 (338) Value For Money 4.5 (192) Value For Money 4.8 (150) Customer Service 4.3 (192) Customer Service 4.8 (181) ## Microsoft Defender for Office 365 alternatives [4.9 (50)](https://www.capterra.com/p/206740/Libraesva-Email-Security/reviews/) Starting price $5.00 Per User, Per Month Pricing Options Free Trial Free Version User Rating 100% of reviewers rated it above 4 stars [SpamTitan](https://www.capterra.com/p/168436/SpamTitan/) [4.6 (563)](https://www.capterra.com/p/168436/SpamTitan/reviews/) Starting price $1.26 Per User, Per Month Pricing Options Free Trial Free Version User Rating 93% of reviewers rated it above 4 stars [Learn More](https://www.capterra.com/p/168436/SpamTitan/) Highest Rated [Suped](https://www.capterra.com/p/10039796/Suped/) [5.0 (21)](https://www.capterra.com/p/10039796/Suped/#reviews) Starting price $19.00 Per User, Per Month Pricing Options Free Trial Free Version User Rating 100% of reviewers rated it above 4 stars [Learn More](https://www.capterra.com/p/10039796/Suped/) [Trustifi](https://www.capterra.com/p/218859/Trustifi/) [5.0 (20)](https://www.capterra.com/p/218859/Trustifi/#reviews) Starting price $6.00 Per User, Per Month Pricing Options Free Trial Free Version User Rating 100% of reviewers rated it above 4 stars [Learn More](https://www.capterra.com/p/218859/Trustifi/) [View all alternatives](https://www.capterra.com/p/219685/Microsoft-Defender-for-Office-365/alternatives/) ## FAQs about Microsoft Defender for Office 365 Overview ### What problems does Microsoft Defender for Office 365 solve? Microsoft Defender for Office 365 solves the daily risk of phishing emails, malicious links, infected attachments, spam overload, and account compromise inside Outlook and Microsoft 365. IT administrators, security teams, small businesses, and remote workers use it to automate threat detection, quarantine suspicious messages, and gain visibility into email-borne attacks without extra tools. Answer based on 140 reviews Overview ### Which roles and teams benefit most from Microsoft Defender for Office 365? Microsoft Defender for Office 365 is most used by IT administrators, cybersecurity teams, and business leaders who need stronger email and collaboration security. Managers, owners, and executives rely on it to reduce phishing risk and protect operations, while freelancers, educators, and administrative staff use it to secure daily communication and file sharing. Answer based on 241 reviews Overview ### What company size and industries is Microsoft Defender for Office 365 built for? Microsoft Defender for Office 365 is built mainly for small businesses at 72% of reviewers, with Computer Software the top industry at 10%. It serves SecOps, security engineering, IT, and Microsoft 365 admin teams, and also appears in Education Management at 6% and Accounting at 5%, primarily for email security. Answer based on 241 reviews Features and Usability ### What are the key features of Microsoft Defender for Office 365? Microsoft Defender for Office 365 includes core email security features like anti-spam, phishing protection, spam quarantine, and email filtering, plus email attachment protection and antivirus scanning for malware. Differentiating capabilities include Safe Links, Safe Attachments, real-time alerts, reporting and analytics, and policy management tied to Microsoft Outlook and Microsoft 365. Answer based on 71 reviews Integrations ### Which third-party tools and platforms does Microsoft Defender for Office 365 integrate with? Microsoft Defender for Office 365 integrates with Norton AntiVirus and Bitdefender GravityZone in reviewer-reported environments. The available data points to these security tools specifically, with mentions centered on organizations comparing or running Microsoft Defender for Office 365 alongside other endpoint protection and antivirus platforms. Answer based on 24 reviews Getting Started and Support ### What training and onboarding options does Microsoft Defender for Office 365 offer? Microsoft Defender for Office 365 provides live online sessions, webinars, documentation, and videos for training and onboarding. Live online sessions and webinars support guided instruction, while documentation offers written reference material and videos provide self-paced learning for users setting up and learning the product. Answer based on 6 reviews Security ### How well does it protect against viruses and malware? Microsoft Defender for Office 365 provides solid built-in protection against viruses, malware, phishing links, and risky attachments across email and Microsoft apps. Many business users like automatic scanning and quarantine features, though some teams find detection less complete than dedicated antivirus tools and want stronger protection for higher-risk environments. Answer based on 71 reviews Security ### How good is it for email security? Microsoft Defender for Office 365 adds a dependable layer of email security by filtering spam, blocking phishing attempts, and scanning links and attachments inside Microsoft 365. Small businesses and administrators value the visibility and integration, though some users mention false positives, setup complexity, and limited support for non-Outlook email workflows. Answer based on 43 reviews Security ### How does Microsoft Defender for Office 365 handle data security and access control? Microsoft Defender for Office 365 uses layered email and account protection, including anti-phishing, anti-spam, anti-malware, Safe Links, Safe Attachments, alerts, quarantine, attack simulation, and visibility into security events. It also helps monitor suspicious behavior. Some reviewers note complex setup, confusing portal management, false positives, and occasional spam getting through. Answer based on 59 reviews ## Who uses Microsoft Defender for Office 365? Based on Capterra reviews from the past 4 years ## Features AI summary Based on 1,078 Email Security reviews Capterra data shows that buyers of Email Security rank the following features as their top priorities: - **Threat Response** (**49%** of reviewers rated this feature as critical) - **Email Attachment Protection** (**58%**) - **Threat Protection** (**51%**) Microsoft Defender for Office 365 supports all three features that reviewers rate most highly: **Threat Response**, **Email Attachment Protection**, and **Threat Protection**. Together, these capabilities help businesses detect suspicious activity, block harmful attachments before they reach inboxes, and respond to threats more quickly, allowing teams to reduce email-based risk and maintain a safer communication environment. Threat Response 4.3 (63) 74.60% of 63 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important Identifying, analyzing, and mitigating security issues and taking appropriate action to protect systems and data from potential harm Email Attachment Protection 4.5 (77) 89.61% of 77 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important Provides protection against malicious attachments. Threat Protection 4.5 (56) 82.14% of 56 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important Protect incoming and outgoing communications against malware, spam, display spoofing, and other threats Spam Blocker 4.4 (132) 73.48% of 132 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important Spam blocking helps you keep your inbox clean by filtering out unwanted or harmful emails. Some reviewers find it reliably reduces spam volume, protects against malicious messages, and saves time by automatically sorting junk from important communications. Phishing Protection 4.4 (103) 70.87% of 103 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important Phishing protection safeguards your information by warning about suspicious links and blocking spoofing attempts. Some users say setup requires effort, but most appreciate the reliable alerts, integration with DKIM/SPF/DMARC, and confidence it brings to email security. Spam Quarantine 4.4 (101) 60.40% of 101 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important With spam quarantine, you can review and recover emails or files flagged as suspicious, preventing accidental loss of important items. Reviewers appreciate the control to release quarantined content and note it effectively isolates threats while keeping your device safe. Microsoft Defender for Office 365 21 features ### All Features - Access Controls/Permissions: Define levels of authorization for access to specific files or systems - Alerts/Escalation: System alerts about the need to escalate an issue or request - Allow/Block List: This capability gives you control to allow or block emails, senders, or programs. Users think it’s easy to manage, helps filter unwanted content, and lets you quickly adjust permissions, making email management safer and more flexible. - Anti Spam: Techniques to prevent and filter unwanted or unsolicited email spam from reaching a user's inbox - Data Loss Prevention: Safeguard confidential data and meet compliance regulations - Email Attachment Protection: Provides protection against malicious attachments. - Email Filtering: Use filters to process, organize and categorize emails to identify spam, malware and other unwanted messages - Email Routing: Route emails to multiple servers - Filtering: Find & retrieve relevant data or documents - Greylisting: A request to the original server for a message to be resent - Phishing Protection: Phishing protection safeguards your information by warning about suspicious links and blocking spoofing attempts. Some users say setup requires effort, but most appreciate the reliable alerts, integration with DKIM/SPF/DMARC, and confidence it brings to email security. - Policy Management: Create, manage, and track policies and procedures within an organization - Real-Time Monitoring: Active monitoring of systems, applications, or networks - Reporting/Analytics: View and track pertinent metrics to find patterns and gain insights from data - Spam Blocker: Spam blocking helps you keep your inbox clean by filtering out unwanted or harmful emails. Some reviewers find it reliably reduces spam volume, protects against malicious messages, and saves time by automatically sorting junk from important communications. - Spam Detection: Spam detection helps you avoid malicious or unwanted emails by accurately identifying threats. Reviewers indicate it keeps inboxes clean, provides real-time alerts, and allows adjustments to filtering, though some say detection could be even more precise. - Spam Quarantine: With spam quarantine, you can review and recover emails or files flagged as suspicious, preventing accidental loss of important items. Reviewers appreciate the control to release quarantined content and note it effectively isolates threats while keeping your device safe. - SURLB/URIBL Filtering: Rejecting phishing emails that include suspicious URLs or links to websites that have been previously flagged. - Threat Protection: Protect incoming and outgoing communications against malware, spam, display spoofing, and other threats - Threat Response: Identifying, analyzing, and mitigating security issues and taking appropriate action to protect systems and data from potential harm - Whitelisting/Blacklisting: Control system access and/or deliverability for applications and email addresses --- Features 4.5 (241) 4.5 Based on 241 reviews ## Pricing Value for money 4.5 (192) Value for money 4.5 (192) 4.5 Based on 192 reviews ## Support, customer service and training options Customer Service 4.3 (192) Support - Email/Help Desk - FAQs/Forum - Knowledge Base - Phone Support - 24/7 (Live rep) - Chat Training - In Person - Live Online - Webinars - Documentation - Videos Deployment - Web - Android - iPhone/iPad Typical users - Freelancers - Small businesses - Mid size businesses - Enterprises Customer Service 4.3 (192) 4.3 Based on 192 reviews ## User reviews Overall rating 4.6 Based on 241 reviews Filter by rating 5(156) 4(71) 3(8) 2(5) 1(1) Mentioned topic Sorted by most recent JD Josh D. IT Support Engineer Information Technology and Services ### "Strong Email Security with Excellent Microsoft 365 Integration" 4.0 Overall Rating 4.0 4.0 Ease of Use 4.0 4.0 Features 4.0 4.0 Customer Service 4.0 4.0 Likelihood to Recommend 8/10 July 26, 2026 Our overall experience with Microsoft Defender for Office 365 has been very positive. It has significantly improved email security by reducing spam, phishing attempts, and malicious attachments reaching users. The integration with Microsoft 365 makes deployment and management straightforward, while the wide range of security features provides strong protection against modern threats. The platform offers good value for money, particularly for organisations already using Microsoft 365, as it enhances security without introducing another separate management platform. Customer support has generally been satisfactory when required, although many issues can often be resolved using Microsoft's extensive documentation and built-in reporting tools. While there is a learning curve and occasional false positives to manage, the overall level of protection, automation, and visibility makes it an excellent email security solution that we would recommend to organisations of all sizes. Pros Microsoft Defender for Office 365 provides excellent protection against phishing, spam, malware, and other email-based threats. As it is tightly integrated with Microsoft 365, deployment and management are straightforward, and it works seamlessly alongside the wider Microsoft security ecosystem. One of the biggest advantages is the visibility it provides into threats, allowing administrators to investigate emails, review detections, and take action quickly. Features such as Safe Links, Safe Attachments, anti-phishing policies, and automated remediation help reduce risk while requiring minimal ongoing administration. The platform also integrates well with other Microsoft security products, making it a strong choice for organisations already invested in Microsoft 365. From a value for money perspective, it delivers significant security benefits without requiring additional third-party email security platforms in many environments. Cons The learning curve can be steep, particularly when navigating the various security portals, policies, reports, and alerting options. New administrators may find it takes time to understand where settings and investigations are located. There can also be occasional false positives or legitimate emails being quarantined, requiring review and adjustment of policies. Some reporting and troubleshooting workflows could be more intuitive, especially when tracking why a specific email was blocked or filtered. Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. MC Michelle C. CEO Civic & Social Organization ### "Strong Protection, But Needs Clearer User Guidance" 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 5.0 5.0 Features 5.0 5.0 Customer Service 4.0 4.0 Likelihood to Recommend 9/10 June 23, 2026 My overall experience with Microsoft Defender for Office 365 is that it is a valuable tool, but it needs to be more user-friendly and accessible. Email security is extremely important, especially when people are handling sensitive information, public benefits, medical records, school issues, and advocacy work. However, security tools should not only protect users, they should also help users understand what is happening in clear language. Defender has useful features, but the setup, alerts, and reports could be improved so that everyday users can feel confident, informed, and protected. Pros What I liked most about Microsoft Defender for Office 365 is that it adds an important layer of protection for email, links, attachments, and potential spam or phishing attempts. For people who rely heavily on email for advocacy, school, benefits, medical care, and family communication, security matters. I appreciate that it is meant to help catch threats before they cause harm and that it works within Microsoft 365 instead of requiring a completely separate system. Cons What I liked least is that it is not always easy to understand from a regular user’s perspective. Some of the reports, alerts, and security language can feel too technical, especially for people who are not IT professionals. I would like clearer explanations, better plain-language guidance, and easier ways to understand what actually happened, what was blocked, and what action the user needs to take next. The learning curve can be frustrating. Review source Incentivized review: software users are invited to submit an honest review and offered a nominal incentive for their time and effort. All incentivized reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. BL Brooke L. Student Education Management ### "Microsoft Defender is the best defender" 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 5.0 5.0 Features 5.0 5.0 Customer Service 5.0 5.0 Likelihood to Recommend 10/10 June 21, 2026 Microsoft Defender has kept my Microsoft 365 programs from being attacked by malicious or suspicious spam. Pros There is little to no learning curve. The setup, email and scan is very easily accessible. It helps to block out spam mail and malicious spam. Customer support is fast and efficient. Due to the high protection of the software, it is value for money. Cons I have yet to experience any bugs or issues with the software. I still utilize this software today and have for 2 years. Switched from [ZERO Virus Security](https://www.capterra.com/p/10014897/ZERO-Virus-Security/) Because I was told by a former co-worker that Microsoft Defender is better value for money. Review source Incentivized review: software users are invited to submit an honest review and offered a nominal incentive for their time and effort. All incentivized reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. Swetha C. Technical Program Mananger Automotive ### "Strong Email Security and Phishing Protection for Microsoft 365" 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 5.0 5.0 Features 5.0 5.0 Customer Service 4.0 4.0 Likelihood to Recommend 9/10 May 31, 2026 Overall, Microsoft Defender for Office 365 has been a reliable email security solution. It significantly reduces spam, phishing attempts, and malicious email threats while providing administrators with useful visibility into security events. The platform integrates well with the Microsoft ecosystem and helps strengthen an organization's overall security posture. While there is some complexity during setup and management, the protection and security benefits make it a valuable solution for businesses of all sizes. Pros Microsoft Defender for Office 365 provides strong protection against phishing attacks, malware, and suspicious email activity. The threat detection capabilities are effective, and the integration with Microsoft 365 makes it easy to manage security policies across the organization. Features such as Safe Links and Safe Attachments add an extra layer of protection without significantly impacting user productivity. Cons The initial setup and policy configuration can be complex for organizations without dedicated security expertise. Some advanced security features require a learning curve to fully understand, and investigating alerts can sometimes generate more notifications than necessary. Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. AN Anonymous User Marketing Specialist Environmental Services ### "Great for Microsoft Integration" 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 5.0 5.0 Features 5.0 5.0 Customer Service 5.0 5.0 Likelihood to Recommend 10/10 April 30, 2026 Pros I like that Microsoft has built-in security and antivirus software that connects across all of the Microsoft applications. Easy to set up and integrate across laptops, computers, and phones. Cons Staying on top of making sure everything is up to date. Because Microsoft runs across phones, computers, and laptops, for a non-tech person, it can be intimidating to make sure I'm always protected on all devices. Review source Incentivized review: software users are invited to submit an honest review and offered a nominal incentive for their time and effort. All incentivized reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. Michelle F. Owner Consumer Services ### "A+ for Microsoft, Great Value" 4.0 Overall Rating 4.0 4.0 Ease of Use 5.0 5.0 Features 5.0 5.0 Customer Service 4.0 4.0 Likelihood to Recommend 8/10 April 19, 2026 Easy to use, value for the money and user friendly to implement into business! Would highly recommend. Pros Value for the money, easy to learn and work with. Easy to implement into computer. File storage is very easy. Cons Glitches sometimes as Microsoft products do. Usually get nothing loading when opening the app on desktop. Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. JB Jennifer B. Marketing and sales Consumer Services ### "Great and user friendly " 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 5.0 5.0 Features 5.0 5.0 Customer Service 5.0 5.0 Likelihood to Recommend 9/10 March 23, 2026 Pros Great to use. User friendly no huge learning curve setup is easy if you need customer support they’re always there ready and willing. Cons Nothing I really don’t like about it. It’s just so simple to use easy to access easy to trouble shoot Review source Incentivized review: software users are invited to submit an honest review and offered a nominal incentive for their time and effort. All incentivized reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. NY Natalie Y. Office Assistant Accounting ### "Microsoft 365 helps our business" 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 4.0 4.0 Features 4.0 4.0 Customer Service 4.0 4.0 Likelihood to Recommend 3/10 March 8, 2026 Overall, it’s a great program our small business uses it for multiple emails and it has detected many severe threats.overall for the amount of money we spend each year it is very worth it! Pros The thing I like most is it filters all the spam emails very well. It detects threats right away and I like that it keeps it separate from the focused email. The set up is very easy and self explanatory. Cons The one thing I don’t like the most is file syncing. While syncing files a very slow performance with file version conflicting. Review source Incentivized review: software users are invited to submit an honest review and offered a nominal incentive for their time and effort. All incentivized reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. MW Mekailah W. Ceo Entertainment ### "What I think is important." 4.0 Overall Rating 4.0 4.0 Ease of Use 4.0 4.0 Features 4.0 4.0 Customer Service 4.0 4.0 Likelihood to Recommend 8/10 January 24, 2026 It’s often praised for giving organizations confidence that inboxes are protected with real-time scanning and advanced threat intelligence. Pros It gives security teams confidence that sophisticated threats — like malicious links and dangerous attachments — are caught early. Cons Some advanced phishing or spoofing protections aren’t perfect and may miss high-level impersonation attacks without additional layers or tuning. Review source Incentivized review: software users are invited to submit an honest review and offered a nominal incentive for their time and effort. All incentivized reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. AO Alvin O. Cyber Security Specialist Information Technology and Services ### "Anti-phishing controls for active inboxes." 4.0 Overall Rating 4.0 4.0 Ease of Use 4.0 4.0 Features 4.0 4.0 Customer Service 0.0 0.0 Likelihood to Recommend 8/10 August 27, 2025 Phishing and malware protection were enhanced, auto-quarantine reduced malicious emails, and safe download warnings safeguarded our team files. Pros Real-time spam and threat protection of secure team messages, with guidance for configuring attachments and storage of files. Cons Steep learning curve when configuring advanced rules or email routing, and support documentation isn't always compatible with our usage scenario. Review source Incentivized review: software users are invited to submit an honest review and offered a nominal incentive for their time and effort. All incentivized reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. 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