Malwarebytes vs Microsoft Defender for Business comparison

Malwarebytes and Microsoft are both solutions in the Endpoint Protection Platform (EPP) category. Malwarebytes is ranked #14 with an average rating of 8.7, while Microsoft is ranked #25 with an average rating of 7.6. Malwarebytes holds a 1.8% mindshare in EPP, compared to Microsoft’s 1.9% mindshare. Additionally, 90% of Malwarebytes users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 85% of Microsoft users who would recommend it.

Malwarebytes

Read 37 Malwarebytes reviews

3,980 Views
3,462 Comparison Views

90% willing to recommend

Microsoft Defender for Busi...

Read 17 Microsoft Defender for Business reviews

3,939 Views
2,940 Comparison Views

85% willing to recommend

Malwarebytes

Microsoft Defender for Busi...

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Jan 5, 2025

Malwarebytes and Microsoft Defender for Business compete in cybersecurity threat detection and protection. Microsoft Defender seems to have the upper hand due to its seamless integration with Microsoft services and cost-effectiveness for existing Microsoft users.

Features: Malwarebytes offers comprehensive scanning, remote cloud management, and excellent exploit interception, providing robust endpoint protection and user-friendliness. Microsoft Defender provides strong integration with Microsoft tools, predictive analysis powered by AI, and effective real-time threat protection, making it ideal for businesses relying on Microsoft services.

Room for Improvement: Malwarebytes needs to improve deployment processes, reduce false positives, and enhance tool integration. It faces challenges with performance impacts and desires better AI and cloud management. Microsoft Defender needs better handling of false positives, improved URL filtering, and user interface enhancements. It could benefit from more intuitive threat detection and faster technical support.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Malwarebytes supports versatile deployment across on-premises, public, and private cloud environments but requires more responsive enterprise-level support. Microsoft Defender is flexible with public and hybrid cloud deployment and generally receives positive support feedback, though it could improve clarity in product-related communication and responsiveness.

Pricing and ROI: Malwarebytes is priced mid-range, occasionally perceived as higher than competitors, yet provides good ROI due to its high detection rate. Microsoft Defender is included in Office 365 subscriptions, making it cost-effective for Microsoft users. While its standalone cost can seem high, it provides comprehensive security features that enhance productivity and management efficiency.

To learn more, read our detailed Malwarebytes vs. Microsoft Defender for Business Report (Updated: March 2025).

Buyer's Guide

Malwarebytes vs. Microsoft Defender for Business

March 2025

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Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Categories and Ranking

Malwarebytes

Ranking in Endpoint Protection Platform (EPP)

14th

Average Rating

8.0

Reviews Sentiment

7.3

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Microsoft Defender for Busi...

Ranking in Endpoint Protection Platform (EPP)

25th

Average Rating

7.8

Reviews Sentiment

7.1

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Microsoft Security Suite (15th)

Mindshare comparison

As of April 2025, in the Endpoint Protection Platform (EPP) category, the mindshare of Malwarebytes is 1.8%, up from 1.7% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Microsoft Defender for Business is 1.9%, up from 1.2% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Endpoint Protection Platform (EPP)

Featured Reviews

Anas Anas

Solution Consultant at Creation for Smart Software Development

Effective threat predictions, simple to deploy, and light on resources

Malwarebytes's initial setup is simple. It is easy to deploy and configure the policies and the configuration. I deployed Malwarebytes for one customer and I did it in under two days. They had approximately 50 users, it took approximately an hour. The steps I took for the implementation were downloading the Malwarebytes management console from the site, installing it, then running the discovery tool, scanning my network, and checking all of the PCs on my network. It's already pre-configured, you don't need to configure anything. The only configuration that I did on the administration console was some of the exclusion from the scan. This is the only rule that I have created. I rate the initial setup of Malwarebytes a ten out of ten.

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Syed Abid

Snr. Infrastructure Architect at LogicEra

Advanced threat protection secures diverse workloads with cost-effective deployment

If I need logs and don't have local storage bundled with Defender, I need to add workspace and log analytics, which is costly for storing logs of 2 GB, 5 GB, 10 GB. A default storage of 5 GB for logs should be included with Defender. There are limitations in whitelisting folders and files, and the whitelisting feature for Defender threat protection was deprecated. A straightforward feature for this should be added.

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Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Pros

"I like the solution's ability to detect potentially unwanted programs. For some reason, it seems superior to other solutions, or at least in comparison to McAfee."

"The solution has a good management interface."

"The most valuable feature is that it stops malware, which is important."

"It comprehensively finds and removes malicious software."

"The endpoint protection and response that allows us to restore a machine back to a pre-infected state are the most valuable features."

"The product keeps our company safe."

"The behavior-based detection is very nice, and it combats zero-day threats by looking for anomalous behaviors."

"I was very satisfied with Malwarebytes in terms of its antivirus abilities."

More Malwarebytes pros

"Defender's main strength is its integration with Microsoft Sentinel, offering valuable insights."

"The security features are valuable because they come with more capabilities that other licenses do not have, including the enterprise license like E3."

"Microsoft Defender for Business is good for small and medium-sized businesses. It offers solid security flexibility and integration with tools like Microsoft Lighthouse and some other software. It takes some of the features of Defender for Endpoint EDR and provides those services for small and medium-sized business environments."

"Microsoft Defender for Business stands out due to its ease of use, particularly due to the fact that many of my customers already use Microsoft and Azure."

"I recommend Microsoft Defender for Business to startup organizations looking for a plug-and-play solution."

"The security features are valuable because they come with more capabilities that other licenses do not have, including the enterprise license like E3."

"If you're an Intune user, you can bring in certain capabilities like system-hardening policies, which further enhances the security."

"A few things are valuable. One is the alerting we see when any kind of intrusion is happening, any kind of malware is being deployed across the endpoints, or any kind of suspicious activity is going on. We have a footprint across all of North America, Canada, and Mexico, so we want to make sure that all our endpoints are protected and we are able to look for any anomalous activity."

More Microsoft Defender for Business pros

Cons

"There are no built-in backups or integrated backup options, which could be an opportunity."

"The reporting is not as flexible as you would find with other antivirus software."

"I would like to see a little more detail in the log. So, when an event occurs, I'd like to know not just when it happened and on what device, but what activity was taking place on the machine at the time so that we can drill down. If we get a false positive, we have to do a lot of research and go back and forth with our end-users to know why it was a false positive. So, having a little more detail around detections and events would probably be my most asked feature."

"The product has major problems in almost every facet of setup and use including setup, configuration, lack of functionality, lack of stability, false positives, questionable reporting, inability to protect from randsomeware and poor technical support and development."

"Strictly in terms of cyber security, the release cycle should be quarterly, at most. It shouldn't be more frequent than that because, for one thing, keeping up with tech support is difficult."

"We had a little performance problem with the solution, but that's been resolved. Since then, it's been running well."

"If they want to compete with bigger players, they should consider adding items like threat detection and website warnings."

"The product is a little bit more expensive than the other brands."

More Malwarebytes cons

"The user interface has a lot of features which can make it complex and hard to adapt to for some users."

"Additionally, the pricing policy poses a challenge, particularly in multi-year contracts, where other solutions like Trend Micro offer more affordable options."

"The biggest one is that Defender needs to be more proactive to the emerging threats. There can be tighter integration with email, especially how it integrates with our email system, which is the Microsoft Outlook suite. There should be the ability to react a lot quicker to emerging threats because sometimes, it takes a few days before some of these new threats are fully identified, and we need that to be a few hours."

"Pricing could be lowered as it is expensive and not suitable for low-budget organizations."

"If I need logs and don't have local storage bundled with Defender, I need to add workspace and log analytics, which is costly for storing logs of 2 GB, 5 GB, 10 GB."

"I am not satisfied with Microsoft's technical support. There are challenges with the knowledge and experience of the support staff, frequent redirection between departments, and slow response times."

"The areas where Microsoft Defender for Business could improve include the support, installation process, and wiki. I should be able to find solutions to issues quickly without having to delve too deep."

"We faced some issues while running some applications on Mac."

More Microsoft Defender for Business cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The price of Malwarebytes is in the middle range compared to other vendors."

"The cost may be something in the ballpark of $20-25 a year per computer."

"I would say that it's affordable. It costs much less than Sentinel One, CrowdStrike, or anything of that nature. But, at the same time, you are getting what you pay for. So I would say it's one of the best when you're comparing traditional NextGen AVs like Webroot that aren't the best in the bunch."

"It is really expensive. We've got between 30 and 40 licenses every year, and for the number of licenses that we have, we're finding that Malwarebytes on average costs between $900 and $1,000 more per year than comparable options. We're paying about $3,300 per year for these licenses. There are no additional costs beyond the standard licensing fee."

"We expect to pay $1,000 USD a month, depending on the number of users."

"Malwarebytes is a cost-effective product."

"Yearly, it is around $50 per client."

"I believe the retail price is between $40 and $50 per copy."

More Malwarebytes pricing and cost advice

"Defender for Business is included by default with an Office 365 premium subscription."

"Since we're a nonprofit, we get pretty good discounts on the tool."

"It has to get more competitive because we are starting to see some of the competitors providing better pricing, and some of it, of course, is to gain market share. The Defender product pricing is probably a little higher than the competitors."

"The tool is cheap, while some other solutions are more expensive. I remember the tool cost about five euros for a workstation or for a user on a monthly basis."

"The tool's cost has been a little high, but I do not think it was terrible."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

13%

University

12%

Government

Comms Service Provider

Computer Software Company

19%

Comms Service Provider

Retailer

Government

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Malwarebytes?

Ten times a day, improved signatures will be downloaded, so it is very up-to-date in terms of malware experience.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Malwarebytes?

I really hate the automatic rebilling without officially confirming it with me. It's an annoyance and they should at least confirm with me, like a month before they bill me.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Malwarebytes?

It takes up too much space when it's trying to run in the background.

See all answers

What do you like most about Microsoft Defender for Business?

A few things are valuable. One is the alerting we see when any kind of intrusion is happening, any kind of malware is being deployed across the endpoints, or any kind of suspicious activity is goin...

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Microsoft Defender for Business?

Microsoft Defender for Business offers the best pricing option in the market and is very cost-effective.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Microsoft Defender for Business?

The areas where Microsoft Defender for Business could improve include the support, installation process, and wiki. I should be able to find solutions to issues quickly without having to delve too d...

See all answers

Comparisons

CrowdStrike Falcon vs Malwarebytes

Compared 21% of the time

Microsoft Defender for Endpoint vs Malwarebytes

Compared 14% of the time

HP Wolf Security vs Malwarebytes

Compared 11% of the time

SentinelOne Singularity Complete vs Malwarebytes

Compared 6% of the time

Huntress Managed EDR vs Malwarebytes

Compared 6% of the time

More Malwarebytes Competitors

HP Wolf Security vs Microsoft Defender for Business

Compared 25% of the time

Trend Micro Worry-Free Services Suites vs Microsoft Defender for Business

Compared 10% of the time

Microsoft Defender for Office 365 vs Microsoft Defender for Business

Compared 10% of the time

Microsoft Defender XDR vs Microsoft Defender for Business

Compared 8% of the time

Norton Small Business vs Microsoft Defender for Business

Compared 5% of the time

More Microsoft Defender for Business Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Malwarebytes

March 2025

Download Malwarebytes product report

Buyer's Guide

Microsoft Defender for Business

March 2025

Download Microsoft Defender for Business product report

Overview

Malwarebytes is used for malware detection, endpoint protection, ransomware prevention, and behavior monitoring on Windows and Mac, serving as an EDR for detecting usage behaviors and providing comprehensive security features.

Primarily deployed for compliance scanning, real-time threat monitoring, and as a supplementary antivirus, Malwarebytes is favored for security assessments, cloud management, and endpoint protection for both personal and company use. Featuring robust scanning, ease of use, and a user-friendly interface, it effectively prevents and removes malware, detects unwanted programs, and provides real-time updates. The management interface and dashboard offer strong endpoint protection, automated updates, detailed reporting, and quick remediation, minimizing downtime. Comprehensive protection, extensive visibility, and efficient performance are highly valued.

What are the key features of Malwarebytes?

Robust Scanning and Threat Detection: Efficiently identifies and removes malware.
Ease of Use: Simple and straightforward interface for users.
User-Friendly Interface: Easy navigation and management dashboards.
Cloud Management: Manage endpoints through cloud-based solutions.
Automated Updates: Ensures protection with regular updates.
Detailed Reporting: Provides comprehensive and detailed security reports.
Quick Remediation: Minimizes downtime with fast threat removal.

What benefits or ROI should users look for in reviews?

Comprehensive Protection: Ensures security against diverse threats.
Effective Performance: Maintains system performance while protecting.
Minimized Downtime: Quick threat removal ensures business continuity.
Extensive Visibility: Detailed logs and reports for better oversight.

Industries implementing Malwarebytes benefit from enhanced endpoint protection, compliance scanning, and security assessments. It is frequently utilized in IT departments for real-time threat monitoring, automated remediation, and cloud management, providing organizations with reliable security for both personal and company endpoints.

Malwarebytes

Microsoft Defender for Business is a new endpoint security solution that was designed especially for the small and medium-sized business (up to 300 employees). With this endpoint security solution, your company's devices are better protected from ransomware, malware, phishing, and other threats.

Microsoft

Sample Customers

Knutson Construction

Information Not Available

Buyer's Guide

Malwarebytes vs. Microsoft Defender for Business

March 2025

Free Report: Malwarebytes vs. Microsoft Defender for Business

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