CrowdStrike Falcon vs Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
Side-by-side from the Top 11 ranking of CrowdStrike Falcon vs Microsoft Defender for Endpoint: 11 Best Endpoint Protection Software 2026. Last verified July 4, 2026.
The short answer
CrowdStrike Falcon ranks higher on Top 11 (#1 vs #2) for IT and security leaders. One lightweight agent, leading detection and managed hunting.
At a glance
| CrowdStrike Falcon | Microsoft Defender for Endpoint | |
|---|---|---|
| Top 11 rank | #1 / CrowdStrike Falcon vs Microsoft Defender for Endpoint: 11 Best Endpoint Protection Software 2026 | #2 / CrowdStrike Falcon vs Microsoft Defender for Endpoint: 11 Best Endpoint Protection Software 2026 |
| Score (out of 9.4) | 9.3 | 9.1 |
| Best for | Best overall for EDR and threat hunting | Best native option for Microsoft estates |
| Pricing | $$$ (roughly $60 to $185 per endpoint per year by tier) | $ ($3/endpoint/mo Plan 1, or bundled in Microsoft 365 E5) |
| HQ | Austin, USA | Redmond, USA |
| Founded | 2011 | 2019 |
CrowdStrike Falcon
One lightweight agent, leading detection and managed hunting.
www.crowdstrike.com/platform/Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
Enterprise EDR built into Windows and E5.
www.microsoft.com/en-us/security/business/endpoint-security/microsoft-defender-endpointMethodology and scoring weights live at /methodology. No vendor pays for placement — see about.