Microsoft Defender Review (2026): Is it the right choice?

Full Review

Microsoft Defender offers essential security features for 2026 but lacks additional tools like a free VPN and password manager, which are included in the paid Microsoft 365 plans. For a more feature-rich free antivirus, Avira Free Security is a better alternative, offering extras like a performance optimizer and secure browser. Norton, though not free, is the top premium choice, with a 60-day money-back guarantee and enhanced tools like a password manager and system optimization features.

Anti-Malware

Microsoft Defender’s anti-malware engine combines a large, continuously updated threat database with machine learning and heuristic analysis to detect both common and emerging threats such as trojans, worms, cryptojackers, and rootkits. The scanner offers four main modes: quick, full, custom, and offline scans. Each is designed for specific levels of threat detection, from fast system checks to deep rootkit removal.

During testing, the quick scan took approximately five minutes, detecting all hidden malware samples within critical directories. This performance was solid, though not as fast as Bitdefender’s sub-minute scan. The full scan required over an hour and missed a few samples that competitors like Norton identified in less time.

The custom scan provides flexibility by allowing users to scan selected files or folders through right-click functionality. However, the interface is somewhat cumbersome, displaying results in a separate window rather than through a notification. The offline scan adds a valuable layer of protection by running before the operating system boots, effectively detecting deeply embedded malware. Overall, Microsoft Defender delivers strong foundational malware protection, but premium competitors achieve faster and more complete detection with more streamlined interfaces.

Anti-Phishing

Microsoft Defender’s anti-phishing protection is primarily delivered through its App & Browser Control module, leveraging Microsoft’s cloud-based reputation database. This system assigns trust scores to millions of apps and websites, blocking those with poor reputations. During testing, it effectively blocked most phishing and malicious download attempts but fell slightly behind leaders such as McAfee and TotalAV in detection accuracy.

Reputation-based filtering is complemented by Smart App Control, which evaluates software signatures and developer histories to prevent unknown or suspicious applications from executing. This whitelist-based system provides a strong barrier against deceptive or fraudulent software but tends to generate a high number of false positives. Moreover, the inability to manually add safe programs to the whitelist limits flexibility for advanced users.

Despite these drawbacks, Microsoft Defender provides a dependable level of phishing protection for everyday users. The layered system of reputation analysis and real-time blocking is effective for mainstream threats, though it lacks the fine-tuned precision and usability enhancements offered by dedicated phishing prevention suites.

Firewall

Microsoft Defender’s secure firewall provides continuous monitoring of inbound and outbound traffic, offering detailed visibility into network activity. The system enables users to define rules, authenticate connections between devices, and inspect protocols and port usage through its advanced settings panel. This depth of control makes it appealing to technical users who appreciate granular configuration options.

However, the firewall’s interface is unintuitive and scattered across multiple menus. Simple actions such as toggling the firewall or adjusting notifications require navigating different panels. While functional, the layout slows down routine management compared to the streamlined control found in Norton or Intego’s firewalls.

Despite its usability limitations, the Microsoft Defender firewall performs reliably in blocking unauthorized access and provides comprehensive connection detail for those willing to explore its advanced options. Still, its protection and ease of configuration do not match the sophistication or convenience of premium alternatives.

VPN

The Microsoft Defender VPN, available through Microsoft 365 Personal and Family plans, extends protection beyond local devices by encrypting network traffic across Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS. It provides a stable and secure connection, effectively safeguarding user data on both private and public networks. The VPN also includes automatic alerts when connecting to unsecured Wi-Fi networks, reinforcing user awareness of network safety.

In testing, Defender VPN delivered consistent performance with minimal speed reduction during browsing and streaming. However, its 50 GB monthly data cap is restrictive compared to competitors like Norton, which offer unlimited data. Once this limit is reached, connections are throttled rather than terminated, maintaining continuous albeit slower protection.

Currently, Defender VPN’s availability is limited to users in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Germany. While it performs reliably for moderate use, heavy streamers or those requiring global coverage will find its limitations noticeable. Overall, it’s a functional but basic VPN solution within Microsoft’s security ecosystem.

Other Security Features

Microsoft Defender includes a suite of additional tools that collectively strengthen system security but vary in usefulness. Account Protection links Windows and Microsoft accounts, providing two-factor authentication through Windows Hello, including facial recognition, fingerprint scanning, PIN codes, and U2F keys. Dynamic Lock adds convenience by automatically locking the PC when the paired smartphone moves out of range. These features enhance security but add little beyond standard login protections.

App & Browser Control further extends protection through exploit prevention, guarding against software vulnerabilities. While effective in blocking most simulated exploit attacks, it doesn’t perform as strongly as Norton 360 in advanced scenarios. The Smart App Control feature adds a powerful whitelist mechanism but can frustrate users with excessive false positives and permanent disablement once turned off.

Device Security leverages features like core isolation and secure boot to prevent malware from infiltrating critical system processes. Core isolation works efficiently without noticeable performance impact, although customization options are limited. Device Performance & Health provides diagnostic insights but lacks optimization tools, making it more of a monitoring feature than a performance enhancer.

Microsoft Defender’s ransomware protection, via Controlled Folder Access, successfully prevents unauthorized applications from encrypting files. However, frequent false positives and the need to manually whitelist legitimate software can reduce its practicality. Family Options offer parental control tools like screen-time management, location tracking, and content filtering, though setup complexity and browser restrictions limit their effectiveness.

Finally, Microsoft 365 users in the U.S. benefit from identity theft monitoring and up to $1 million in recovery coverage. This service scans the dark web for compromised personal information and assists in account recovery and legal remediation. While less comprehensive than Norton or Bitdefender’s identity protection, it still provides a valuable layer of digital assurance for mainstream users.

Test score comparison

We conduct in-house anti-malware tests and review the results from AV-Test, a German lab renowned for its objective evaluations. Below is the average of the last 10 AV-Test results for Windows. Their scoring criteria are:

• Protection (1-6): Effectiveness in blocking malware.
• Performance (1-6): Impact on system speed.
• Usability (1-6): Frequency of errors like false alarms.

We calculate a final score using this formula:

Final Score = 60% Protection + 20% Performance + 20% Usability.

While these results influence our choice of the best antivirus for Windows 11, other factors like privacy and identity protection also play a key role. For a similar analysis for Android or macOS, visit our other comparisons:

• The best antivirus for Android.
• The best antivirus for Mac.

Note: Brands not listed in the table either do not participate in AV-Test trials or are tested too infrequently, such as Surfshark Antivirus.

Source: AV-Test (Last updated: November 2025).

Price comparison

We’ve compared the prices of the top antivirus products for Windows. To make it a fair comparison, we looked at what it would cost us, to protect a  single Windows PC with the most essential features:

• Anti-malware
• Anti-phishing (web protection)
• Firewall
• Password manager
• Unlimited VPN (no data limit)

A few notes:

• Some brands are missing features, lowering their value for money.
• Prices are second-year prices in the USA, without first-year discounts.
• Prices are rounded up for readability (e.g., $99.99 becomes $100).

Brands have different prices outside the USA. See those on their website.

User reviews

We’ve compared the user reviews of all antivirus brands. We’ve used the scores and review count of TrustPilot, a leading user review platform. 

We consider scores above 4.0 very good. Lower scores indicate that the brand might have a poor product or customer service. McAfee’s scores, for instance, are worrying.

Source: TrustPilot. Last Update: November 2025.