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Microsoft Defender Threat Intelligence vs VirusTotal comparison

Microsoft and VirusTotal are both solutions in the Threat Intelligence Platforms (TIP) category. Microsoft is ranked #4 with an average rating of 8.3, while VirusTotal is ranked #3 with an average rating of 8.9. Microsoft holds a 2.8% mindshare in TIPT, compared to VirusTotal’s 3.9% mindshare. Additionally, 93% of Microsoft users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 100% of VirusTotal users who would recommend it.
Microsoft Defender Threat I...
Read 31 Microsoft Defender Threat Intelligence reviews
  • 1,487 Views
  • 907 Comparison Views
93% willing to recommend
VirusTotal
Read 11 VirusTotal reviews
  • 5,217 Views
  • 1,617 Comparison Views
100% willing to recommend
 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Aug 11, 2024

VirusTotal and Microsoft Defender Threat Intelligence are widely used solutions for cyber threat analysis. Microsoft Defender Threat Intelligence is often considered superior due to its comprehensive features that justify the price.

What features are offered by VirusTotal in comparison to Microsoft Defender Threat Intelligence?

VirusTotal users highlight its ease of use, comprehensive malware detection capabilities, and affordability. Microsoft Defender Threat Intelligence is praised for its advanced threat intelligence, integration with other Microsoft products, and automated threat response features. Users find Microsoft Defender's features more robust and beneficial for larger enterprises.

What areas of improvement can be found in VirusTotal in comparison to Microsoft Defender Threat Intelligence?

Users of VirusTotal suggest improvements in processing speed, reporting capabilities, and operational performance. Microsoft Defender Threat Intelligence users point out a need for better integration with non-Microsoft systems, more detailed documentation, and enhanced third-party support.

How is the ease of deployment and customer service of VirusTotal in comparison to Microsoft Defender Threat Intelligence?

VirusTotal is appreciated for its straightforward deployment process, yet customer support is limited. Microsoft Defender Threat Intelligence offers a comprehensive deployment process with extensive customer service support. Users find Microsoft Defender's deployment model smoother and complemented by better customer service availability.

What setup costs and ROI can be seen with VirusTotal in comparison to Microsoft Defender Threat Intelligence?

VirusTotal is noted for its affordability and straightforward pricing model, resulting in good ROI for smaller organizations. Microsoft Defender Threat Intelligence, while more expensive, is considered to offer better ROI for larger enterprises due to its extensive features and enterprise-grade threat intelligence capabilities.

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To learn more, read our detailed Microsoft Defender Threat Intelligence vs. VirusTotal Report (Updated: September 2025).
Buyer's Guide
Microsoft Defender Threat Intelligence vs. VirusTotal
September 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

Microsoft Defender Threat I...
Ranking in Threat Intelligence Platforms (TIP)
4th
Average Rating
8.4
Reviews Sentiment
7.4
Number of Reviews
31
Ranking in other categories
Advanced Threat Protection (ATP) (10th), Microsoft Security Suite (16th)
VirusTotal
Ranking in Threat Intelligence Platforms (TIP)
3rd
Average Rating
8.8
Reviews Sentiment
7.3
Number of Reviews
11
Ranking in other categories
Anti-Malware Tools (3rd)
 

Mindshare comparison

As of October 2025, in the Threat Intelligence Platforms (TIP) category, the mindshare of Microsoft Defender Threat Intelligence is 2.8%, up from 2.1% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of VirusTotal is 3.9%, down from 4.3% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Threat Intelligence Platforms (TIP) Market Share Distribution
ProductMarket Share (%)
VirusTotal3.9%
Microsoft Defender Threat Intelligence2.8%
Other93.3%
Threat Intelligence Platforms (TIP)
 

Featured Reviews

TapabrataSamanta - PeerSpot reviewer
A cost-effective solution for monitoring and security but lacks supports for non-Microsoft products
There are weaknesses, and Microsoft is working on addressing them. Over the past three to four years, the ATP and other components have improved significantly, and the integration has also advanced. We are using third-party services. While we have Microsoft Threat Intelligence, which leverages Microsoft's facilities, we also utilize additional third-party threat intelligence. As of today, we don't completely rely on Microsoft for certain regions. This is an area where Microsoft needs to improve. Consequently, we use Anomali, a third-party threat intelligence provider. We integrate our product's intelligence with Anomali, from which we obtain threat insights. Microsoft products offer significant advantages, especially in the realm of threat intelligence. It works very well with Microsoft products. However, you might need additional services if you have non-Microsoft products in your environment. For instance, if you use Apple or Linux, Microsoft's solutions alone might not be sufficient. If they can work more effectively, especially with zero-day attack speed and other sophisticated threats, it will help us provide our customers with timely newsletters about new attacks.
Read full review
Chinmay Banerjee - PeerSpot reviewer
Helps businesses collect threat data while keeping privacy in mind and apable of detecting, blocking, and removing viruses and malware
There are two gray areas I still need to explore. I have worked with VirusTotal because it easily integrates with over seventy antivirus scanners and blacklisting services. In addition to those there is much scope to improve and add other services or integrations. The areas for improvement are that VirusTotal is not using much AI or generative AI models, while other competitors are starting to build them. For example, VirusTotal's work is based on the setup done by their engineers. If you want to do scanning or protection activities for a specific site, app, or device, that is the area VirusTotal is currently focused on. But other competitors are building AI models that can do things like left-side scanning and provide auto-generated reports. VirusTotal has predefined reports, but there is a lot of manual effort involved. Secondly, the API is very limited if I want to integrate VirusTotal with other applications. They need to build more connectors and provide support for Webhook connectors for the API. If you can't build your own connector, it's always good to have provisions for Webhook setup connectors across platforms. Thirdly, Kaspersky, a competitor of VirusTotal, is using a methodology called "gatekeeper." A gatekeeper is a security system that protects the inside of a building from outside threats. This is the model Kaspersky is currently using. You have your website set up, but the entire army of VirusTotal or Kaspersky is standing guard, protecting you from the first gate itself. Right now, VirusTotal detects threats from your domain, but it is always better to verify inside the domain and protect it from the first level when people or malware are entering. This first level of protection is lacking in VirusTotal right now. The security bridge and protection gate are missing.
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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

"It just runs in the background. I don't have to worry about, making sure it's Intelligence. So, you know, this kind of makes it very easy, have to worry about installing. It is easy to use."
"They have a very transparent roadmap for the product."
"The product's initial setup phase was straightforward."
"Microsoft Defender Threat Intelligence helps to make sure that our systems are intact and not vulnerable."
"The user interface is pretty user-friendly."
"The product's anti-spam and malware-scanning features are useful. We scan email attachments, documents, and malicious codes."
"The product is stable."
"The product is useful when the end user downloads malware files."
More Microsoft Defender Threat Intelligence pros
"It can scan the dark web and find if an email ID has been compromised. This is another area that we have not explored yet."
"The feature I like the most is the ability to see the MD5 or SHA-256 signature of the file, and also the composition of the file according to its segments."
"It provides detailed insights into possible malicious behavior, dropped files, and TCP connections."
"It is quite simple for anyone if they just want to check some suspicious URLs."
"The product is easy to use with coding, such as Python or Java, via its API."
"The initial setup is easy."
"It gives detailed information about suspicious IPs, which is one of its most valuable features."
"The most valuable feature is the worldwide malware information database."
More VirusTotal pros
 

Cons

"Microsoft Defender Threat Intelligence is evolving and needs to fix and enhance numerous issues like stability and licensing. The continuous rebranding and licensing changes are confusing."
"The solution could be more stable and precise because, at times, the threats detected are not legitimate."
"The price point is something they can improve slightly for those who don't have an M 365 E5."
"From the telemetry data standpoint, I would prefer Defender data to be more open in future updates."
"The tool's onboarding of users that use on-premise or hybrid environments needs to be improved."
"The software is expensive."
"One area that can be improved is reducing false positives."
"A stable licensing model is absent"
More Microsoft Defender Threat Intelligence cons
"The platform could improve in the areas of endpoints and networks."
"There is room for improvement, particularly in making some of the most useful features more accessible in the non-paid version."
"VirusTotal has predefined reports, but there is a lot of manual effort involved."
"VirusTotal needs better advertisement and promotion, especially in the Middle East, since it is not yet widely recognized or popular in that region."
"There should be room for improvement, particularly in the API side of things."
"VirusTotal is hard to understand because you need to know Google Docs to create queries, and it doesn't have documentation for that."
"I would like to see improved correlation with other threat intelligence sources, not just reliant on its own database, to enhance the database of threat intelligence that VirusTotal offers."
"They can improve the telemetry. Whenever we handle a sample, they cannot provide any information about a victim."
More VirusTotal cons
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The pricing of the solution is good."
"I use the product's default version, which is a free one and not the licensed version."
"It is an expensive product."
"It's reasonably priced, though there's room for further improvement."
"They offer two license plans: Microsoft Defender for endpoints and Microsoft Defender for businesses."
"The product’s pricing is worth it."
"The product is a part of my Microsoft 365 subscription, so there is no additional cost. It is cost-effective."
"The solution can be licensed, but most users would already have it in their Office 365 license."
More Microsoft Defender Threat Intelligence pricing and cost advice
"The pricing is reasonable."
"The pricing is very economical."
"We are using VirusTotal with free licenses, managing the license limits across three or four accounts, thus incurring no costs."
"VirusTotal is an expensive solution."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Financial Services Firm
16%
Computer Software Company
13%
Educational Organization
10%
Manufacturing Company
9%
Computer Software Company
18%
Financial Services Firm
9%
University
7%
Comms Service Provider
7%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business15
Midsize Enterprise2
Large Enterprise15
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business4
Midsize Enterprise2
Large Enterprise5
 

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Microsoft Defender Threat Intelligence?
It just runs in the background. I don't have to worry about, making sure it's Intelligence. So, you know, this kind of makes it very easy, have to worry about installing. It is easy to use.
See all answers
What needs improvement with Microsoft Defender Threat Intelligence?
From the telemetry data standpoint, I would prefer Defender data to be more open in future updates.
See all answers
What is your primary use case for Microsoft Defender Threat Intelligence?
We have tried Microsoft Defender Threat Intelligence. I have expertise with Microsoft Defender products. I am not familiar with Microsoft Defender for IoT because we did not use that in our environ...
See all answers
What do you like most about VirusTotal?
With VirusTotal, I can check for any hash, malware, file, domain, IP URL, or malicious URL, and Kaspersky stays clean.
See all answers
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for VirusTotal?
I do not know about the pricing or licensing as our organization services VirusTotal for our clients.
See all answers
What needs improvement with VirusTotal?
I would like to see improvements in the score consistency and accuracy. VirusTotal should add more details like those from competitors such as URL Void or Symantec URL Checker, which show the categ...
See all answers
 

Comparisons

Recorded Future vs Microsoft Defender Threat Intelligence Logo
Recorded Future vs Microsoft Defender Threat Intelligence
Compared 18% of the time
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint vs Microsoft Defender Threat Intelligence Logo
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint vs Microsoft Defender Threat Intelligence
Compared 12% of the time
Anomali vs Microsoft Defender Threat Intelligence Logo
Anomali vs Microsoft Defender Threat Intelligence
Compared 11% of the time
Cisco Threat Grid vs Microsoft Defender Threat Intelligence Logo
Cisco Threat Grid vs Microsoft Defender Threat Intelligence
Compared 10% of the time
CrowdStrike Falcon vs Microsoft Defender Threat Intelligence Logo
CrowdStrike Falcon vs Microsoft Defender Threat Intelligence
Compared 10% of the time
More Microsoft Defender Threat Intelligence Competitors
MetaDefender vs VirusTotal Logo
MetaDefender vs VirusTotal
Compared 14% of the time
ANY.RUN vs VirusTotal Logo
ANY.RUN vs VirusTotal
Compared 11% of the time
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint vs VirusTotal Logo
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint vs VirusTotal
Compared 10% of the time
Recorded Future vs VirusTotal Logo
Recorded Future vs VirusTotal
Compared 8% of the time
Joe Sandbox Detect vs VirusTotal Logo
Joe Sandbox Detect vs VirusTotal
Compared 3% of the time
More VirusTotal Competitors
 

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide
Microsoft Defender Threat Intelligence
September 2025
Microsoft Defender Threat Intelligence reportDownload Microsoft Defender Threat Intelligence product report
Buyer's Guide
Anti-Malware Tools
January 2025
VirusTotal reportDownload VirusTotal product report
 

Overview

Microsoft Defender Threat Intelligence is a comprehensive security solution that provides organizations with real-time insights into the latest cyber threats. Leveraging advanced machine learning and artificial intelligence capabilities, it offers proactive threat detection and response, enabling businesses to stay one step ahead of attackers. With Microsoft Defender Threat Intelligence, organizations gain access to a vast array of threat intelligence data, including indicators of compromise (IOCs), security incidents, and emerging threats. This data is collected from a wide range of sources, such as Microsoft's global sensor network, industry partners, and security researchers, ensuring comprehensive coverage and accuracy. The solution's advanced analytics and machine learning algorithms analyze this threat intelligence data in real-time, identifying patterns, trends, and anomalies that may indicate a potential security breach. By continuously monitoring the network and endpoints, Microsoft Defender Threat Intelligence can quickly detect and respond to threats, minimizing the impact of attacks and reducing the time to remediation. 

Microsoft

VirusTotal provides a comprehensive digital security platform by leveraging a vast malware database. It integrates numerous antivirus scanners for robust malware and virus detection, offering valuable insights for threat intelligence and security analysis.

VirusTotal is widely used for malware analysis and cybersecurity investigations, relying on its extensive capabilities in file and IP analysis. It integrates seamlessly with various antivirus engines, ensuring detailed threat intelligence. The platform excels at performing automated reputation checks, gleaning insights from a robust community, and delivering comprehensive information on suspicious activities. With an API system, it facilitates deeper analysis and integration into existing security workflows.

What are the standout features of VirusTotal?
  • Vast Malware Database: A comprehensive repository for malware intelligence.
  • Integration with Antivirus Scanners: Collaborates with multiple scanners for enhanced detection.
  • File and IP Analysis: Detailed insights into files and IP addresses.
  • Automated Reputation Checks: Efficiently verifies file and domain safety.
  • Community Insights: Gathers valuable data from an active community.
What benefits and ROI should be considered?
  • Threat Intelligence: Informs strategic security decisions with detailed malware data.
  • Enhanced Detection: Supports comprehensive threat identification and response.
  • Contextual Analysis: Provides extensive details for thorough investigation of threats.

In sectors like retail, FinTech, and GRC, VirusTotal is integrated into cybersecurity workflows to enhance incident response capabilities. It is invaluable for analyzing phishing websites, inspecting URLs, identifying compromised information, and generating alerts for specific threats. APIs enable deeper examination of suspicious activity, supporting comprehensive cybersecurity operations.

VirusTotal
Buyer's Guide
Microsoft Defender Threat Intelligence vs. VirusTotal
September 2025
Free Report: Microsoft Defender Threat Intelligence vs. VirusTotal
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