MetaDefender Email Security Solutions vs Microsoft Defender for Office 365 comparison

Why PeerSpot?

OPSWAT and Microsoft are both solutions in the Email Security category. OPSWAT is ranked #34, while Microsoft is ranked #2 with an average rating of 8.5. OPSWAT holds a 0.9% mindshare in Email Security, compared to Microsoft’s 5.2% mindshare. Additionally, 100% of OPSWAT users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 96% of Microsoft users who would recommend it.

MetaDefender Email Security...

Read 3 MetaDefender Email Security Solutions reviews

1,992 Views
1,633 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

Microsoft Defender for Offi...

Read 61 Microsoft Defender for Office 365 reviews

18,112 Views
12,860 Comparison Views

96% willing to recommend

MetaDefender Email Security...

Microsoft Defender for Offi...

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Dec 3, 2024

MetaDefender Email Security Solutions and Microsoft Defender for Office 365 compete in email security. Microsoft Defender has an edge due to its integration with Microsoft environments, appealing to organizations using Microsoft services, while MetaDefender attracts those focused on multi-vendor compatibility and advanced threat prevention.

Features: MetaDefender Email Security Solutions provides advanced content disarm and reconstruction, vulnerability assessment, and multi-antivirus scanning. Microsoft Defender for Office 365 offers anti-phishing, anti-spam, and automated investigation and response within a Microsoft ecosystem, benefiting Office 365 subscribers.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: MetaDefender requires integration with existing systems, supported by comprehensive deployment assistance. Microsoft Defender for Office 365 benefits from native integration with Office 365, easing management within Microsoft environments, supported by Microsoft's extensive service network.

Pricing and ROI: MetaDefender Email Security Solutions has lower initial setup costs, presenting a strong ROI through efficient security efficiencies with multi-vendor capability. Microsoft Defender for Office 365 might involve higher initial costs but offers strong ROI through integrated security features valuable for organizations invested in Microsoft infrastructure.

To learn more, read our detailed MetaDefender Email Security Solutions vs. Microsoft Defender for Office 365 Report (Updated: September 2026).

Buyer's Guide

MetaDefender Email Security Solutions vs. Microsoft Defender for Office 365

September 2026

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Helped 913,806 peers since 2012

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

MetaDefender Email Security...

Ranking in Email Security

34th

Ranking in Secure Email Gateway (SEG)

13th

Average Rating

8.4

Reviews Sentiment

6.9

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Microsoft Defender for Offi...

Ranking in Email Security

2nd

Ranking in Secure Email Gateway (SEG)

2nd

Average Rating

8.4

Reviews Sentiment

6.8

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Email Archiving (1st), Advanced Threat Protection (ATP) (3rd), Microsoft Security Suite (9th)

Mindshare comparison

As of September 2026, in the Email Security category, the mindshare of MetaDefender Email Security Solutions is 0.9%, up from 0.4% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Microsoft Defender for Office 365 is 5.2%, down from 11.1% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Email Security Mindshare Distribution
Product	Mindshare (%)
Microsoft Defender for Office 365	5.2%
MetaDefender Email Security Solutions	0.9%
Other	93.9%

Email Security

Featured Reviews

RamonMedina

Senior Information Systems Engineer at Liberty Pumps, Inc.

Helpful support, and useful dashboards

They offer a feature called SmartLink neutralization. I have tried it before. It seemed to work most of the time; however, I had a few users for whom it just wouldn't work. Whenever they click on a link, it stays on the MetaDefender page, saying that it's scanning it and never moves forward. I haven't tried it in a while since then. Since I can't turn it off on a per-user basis, I had to turn it off globally. I have certain exceptions for not doing the sanitization, and how to set those up is not intuitive. It would be useful if there were a better way of doing that. Using digital certificates is hard. It would be better if it used Windows Servers' built-in certificate management.

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Emeka Ndulu

Cloud Solutions Architect at a tech services company with 201-500 employees

Improves threat visibility and response while reducing manual tasks and training users against phishing

I appreciate the attack simulation feature whereby I get to train users and educate them on how to identify phishing emails and spam emails, as well as the anti-spam protection. It gives me visibility into my threat environment and threat landscape to ensure that I am one step ahead of any likelihood of threats within my environment. I get to detect it and respond, so the threat intelligence is very effective. Microsoft security solutions save my time. It saves money because once I protect my environment, I don't lose money. It has decreased my detection time and my time to respond.

Read full review

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"The most valuable feature of MetaDefender Email Security is the CDR. Customers purchase this solution specifically for data communication, as the other features can be obtained through other technologies that most customers already possess. Therefore, data communication serves as the foundation for the platform."

"The sanitization is very good."

"The most valuable feature is called summary reconstruction which is used to deliver encrypted files to users."

"The solution is very easy to use. All you have to do is to assign the license to the end-user and it's done. The customer will only have the feature activated, and the solution will monitor the emails to determine if they are a threat or not."

"Defender has reduced the time our security team spends on tasks by 10 to 15 percent, allowing us to focus on other areas."

"It gives me visibility into my threat environment and threat landscape to ensure that I am one step ahead of any likelihood of threats within my environment."

"The most valuable feature is protection against malicious links, fishing, and impersonation. You can train people to be aware of these threats, but they're not always careful. When they're using their phones between meetings, they click on a link, and it's game over."

"I appreciate the attack simulation feature whereby I get to train users and educate them on how to identify phishing emails and spam emails, as well as the anti-spam protection."

"It also gives the vulnerability status according to the versions you have selected. Let's say you have Google Chrome. It mentions the versions it has, and it updates. Within two hours of an update, it is reflected in the dashboard. That's really nice to have."

"The two main features that prove most beneficial for us are URL scanning and attachment scanning."

"The most valuable aspect of Microsoft Defender for Office 365 is its ability to protect us from malware."

More Microsoft Defender for Office 365 pros

Cons

"The DLP should be upgraded and has room for improvement."

"They offer a feature called SmartLink neutralization. I have tried it before. It seemed to work most of the time; however, I had a few users for whom it just wouldn't work. Whenever they click on a link, it stays on the MetaDefender page, saying that it's scanning it and never moves forward."

"Although the number of AV engines is good, it could be better."

"Microsoft security solutions work as expected. They are constantly updating the solutions to make them better. At the same time, the changes can impact a customer's environment, and we need to adjust settings. Sometimes we aren't aware of the changes, and nothing is pushed from the backend automatically."

"The custom alerts have to improve a lot."

"We are always looking for others tools to increase automation on tasks. There can be better integration with other solutions, such as PowerPoint and email."

"The pre-sales cost calculations could be more transparent."

"I think Microsoft Defender for Office 365 can be improved by creating more educational pieces about not just looking for malware."

"Configuration requires going to a lot of places rather than just accessing one tab."

"This product's effectiveness could be improved, in terms of detecting unwanted spam or even malware between the emails, compared to other products."

"The UI needs to be more user-friendly."

More Microsoft Defender for Office 365 cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"According to our customers, the price of MetaDefender is high and it continues to increase by almost 15 percent each year."

"The product is expensive."

"The pricing has become expensive."

"It's a user-base subscription."

"The solution could be better by simplifying the business model of their licensing. It was hard to figure out how to get the licensing done for the environment, initially."

"The pricing is normal. Considering its popularity, it's not overpriced."

"Defender is a little bit more expensive as compared to others. We are in the manufacturing environment. So, we don't have a high budget for all of our endpoint devices. Its cost is a major concern for us."

"The product is very expensive."

"Defender for 365 comes in various plans and licenses, along with other Microsoft security solutions. Purchasing this kind of package or security bundle gives good value for money, and that's what I recommend."

More Microsoft Defender for Office 365 pricing and cost advice

See which vendors are best for you

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913,806 professionals have used our research since 2012.

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Construction Company

14%

Outsourcing Company

11%

Healthcare Company

Pharma/Biotech Company

Computer Software Company

11%

Manufacturing Company

10%

Financial Services Firm

Comms Service Provider

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

No data available

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	24
Midsize Enterprise	11
Large Enterprise	32

Questions from the Community

Ask a question

Earn 20 points

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Microsoft Defender for Office 365?

My experience with pricing, setup, and licensing is that it's actually quite reasonable even on the licensing side as a standalone product. It's very competitive compared to what competitors are ch...

See all answers

What needs improvement with Microsoft Defender for Office 365?

I think Microsoft Defender for Office 365 can be improved by creating more educational pieces about not just looking for malware. We are seeing a lot more malware-less emails that Defender for Offi...

See all answers

What is your primary use case for Microsoft Defender for Office 365?

My main use cases for Microsoft Defender for Office 365 include email hygiene.

See all answers

Comparisons

Proofpoint Email Protection vs MetaDefender Email Security Solutions

Compared 14% of the time

Votiro Cloud vs MetaDefender Email Security Solutions

Compared 12% of the time

Trellix Collaboration Security vs MetaDefender Email Security Solutions

Compared 11% of the time

Cisco Secure Email vs MetaDefender Email Security Solutions

Compared 11% of the time

GateScanner by Sasa Software vs MetaDefender Email Security Solutions

Compared 9% of the time

More MetaDefender Email Security Solutions Competitors

Proofpoint Email Protection vs Microsoft Defender for Office 365

Compared 5% of the time

Check Point Email Security (formerly Harmony Email & Collaboration) vs Microsoft Defender for Office 365

Compared 4% of the time

Mimecast Advanced Email Security vs Microsoft Defender for Office 365

Compared 3% of the time

Cisco Secure Email vs Microsoft Defender for Office 365

Compared 3% of the time

Barracuda Email Protection vs Microsoft Defender for Office 365

Compared 3% of the time

More Microsoft Defender for Office 365 Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

MetaDefender Email Security Solutions

September 2026

MetaDefender Email Security Solutions report

Download MetaDefender Email Security Solutions product report

Buyer's Guide

Microsoft Defender for Office 365

September 2026

Microsoft Defender for Office 365 report

Download Microsoft Defender for Office 365 product report

Also Known As

OPSWAT MetaDefender Email Security, MetaDefender Email Gateway Security, MetaDefender Email Security

MS Defender for Office 365

Overview

MetaDefender Email Security Solutions offers advanced protection against emails' potential threats, ensuring business safety through preventive measures.

MetaDefender Email Security Solutions provides comprehensive protection by employing multiple anti-malware engines, content disarm and reconstruction, and other innovative technologies. It ensures emails are sanitized before reaching your inbox, protecting from potential threats. Its versatile application serves different industries with tailored security approaches.

What are the key features of MetaDefender Email Security Solutions?

Multi-AV Scanning: Utilizes multiple antivirus engines to increase detection rates.
Content Disarm and Reconstruction: Removes potential threats by reconstructing files into safe versions.
Data Sanitization: Ensures data safety by removing threat risks from files.
Deep Content Inspection: Thorough analysis of files and attachments for hidden threats.

What benefits and ROI should users look for in the reviews?

Enhanced Security: Effective in preventing threats and ensuring email safety.
Reduced Downtime: Minimizes email-related disruptions, enhancing productivity.
Compliance Support: Helps in maintaining regulatory compliance with thorough data checks.
Cost Efficiency: Protects against costly data breaches.

MetaDefender Email Security Solutions are implemented across healthcare, finance, and manufacturing sectors, providing industry-specific security measures. In healthcare, it ensures compliance with data protection regulations; in finance, it secures sensitive communications; and in manufacturing, it guards intellectual property.

OPSWAT

Microsoft Defender for Office 365 offers real-time email security, enhancing threat detection through integration within the Microsoft ecosystem. Its user-friendly interface and central management streamline operations, providing robust protection against phishing, ransomware, and malware.

Defender for Office 365 is focused on efficiently securing email communication by safeguarding against phishing, malware, and spam threats. With its strong integration with other Microsoft services, it is tailored to improve endpoint security and identity protection. Its centralized management tools simplify threat prioritization, while the automated threat response capabilities ensure swift actions against potential risks. Organizations leverage its capabilities to efficiently manage their cybersecurity efforts, particularly in remote work environments, while maintaining a secure system across Office 365 applications and Azure-hosted services.

What are the key features?

Real-time Email Protection: Continuously monitors and protects email communications.
Safe Attachments and Links: Scans attachments and links for potential threats.
Anti-Phishing Measures: Provides tools to detect and block phishing attempts.
Integration with Microsoft Services: Seamlessly connects with other Microsoft applications for enhanced security.
Automated Threat Responses: Activates immediate responses to detected threats.

What benefits should users expect from reviews?

Time Savings: Automates processes to reduce manual threat management efforts.
Improved Cybersecurity: Strengthens organizational defenses against various cyber threats.
Efficient Remote Work: Enhances protection for remote teams and virtual collaborations.
Comprehensive Coverage: Extends protection across Office 365 and Azure services.

Implementations of Defender for Office 365 vary across industries, optimizing email security for sectors such as finance, healthcare, and education. In finance, it aids in protecting sensitive financial data from phishing and fraud. Healthcare benefits from secure communications, ensuring patient data privacy. Educational institutions use it to maintain secure virtual learning environments against cyber threats.

Microsoft

Sample Customers

Information Not Available

Microsoft Defender for Office 365 is trusted by companies such as Ithaca College.

Buyer's Guide

MetaDefender Email Security Solutions vs. Microsoft Defender for Office 365

September 2026

Free Report: MetaDefender Email Security Solutions vs. Microsoft Defender for Office 365

Find out what your peers are saying about MetaDefender Email Security Solutions vs. Microsoft Defender for Office 365 and other solutions. Updated: September 2026.

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See our MetaDefender Email Security Solutions vs. Microsoft Defender for Office 365 report.

See our list of best Email Security vendors and best Secure Email Gateway (SEG) vendors.

We monitor all Email Security reviews to prevent fraudulent reviews and keep review quality high. We do not post reviews by company employees or direct competitors. We validate each review for authenticity via cross-reference with LinkedIn, and personal follow-up with the reviewer when necessary.