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Microsoft Defender Threat Intelligence vs VirusTotal comparison

Microsoft and VirusTotal are both solutions in the Threat Intelligence Platforms category. Microsoft is ranked #4 with an average rating of 8.4, while VirusTotal is ranked #3 with an average rating of 8.9. Microsoft holds a 2.7% 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 32 Microsoft Defender Threat Intelligence reviews
  • 1,488 Views
  • 893 Comparison Views
93% willing to recommend
VirusTotal
Read 11 VirusTotal reviews
  • 5,520 Views
  • 1,711 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: July 2025).
Buyer's Guide
Microsoft Defender Threat Intelligence vs. VirusTotal
July 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
4th
Average Rating
8.4
Reviews Sentiment
7.4
Number of Reviews
32
Ranking in other categories
Advanced Threat Protection (ATP) (10th), Microsoft Security Suite (15th)
VirusTotal
Ranking in Threat Intelligence Platforms
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 September 2025, in the Threat Intelligence Platforms category, the mindshare of Microsoft Defender Threat Intelligence is 2.7%, up from 1.9% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of VirusTotal is 3.9%, down from 4.5% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Threat Intelligence Platforms Market Share Distribution
ProductMarket Share (%)
VirusTotal3.9%
Microsoft Defender Threat Intelligence2.7%
Other93.4%
Threat Intelligence Platforms
 

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.
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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

"They have a very transparent roadmap for the product."
"The product's anti-spam and malware-scanning features are useful. We scan email attachments, documents, and malicious codes."
"The solution is well integrated with other Microsoft security products."
"The product provides efficient email security for sending links and file attachments."
"The tool is managed from the cloud, because of which the maintenance is very low."
"The product is stable."
"The product’s most valuable feature is the ability to provide threat detection and protection simultaneously."
"The product's initial setup phase was straightforward."
More Microsoft Defender Threat Intelligence pros
"It provides detailed insights into possible malicious behavior, dropped files, and TCP connections."
"The initial setup is easy."
"With VirusTotal, I can check for any hash, malware, file, domain, IP URL, or malicious URL, and Kaspersky stays clean."
"VirusTotal provides 95% to 98% accurate information."
"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 is quite simple for anyone if they just want to check some suspicious URLs."
"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 product is easy to use with coding, such as Python or Java, via its API."
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 price of the solution is an area of concern where improvements are required. In general, the solution's price needs to be reduced."
"It would be beneficial to enhance the pricing structure and make it more affordable."
"The price point is something they can improve slightly for those who don't have an M 365 E5."
"I would like to see more AI features and capabilities."
"The stability of the product is an area of concern where improvements are required."
"Non-Microsoft products may not integrate as smoothly."
"I would like to see more integration with other solutions. For example, integration well with Microsoft but not with other solutions."
More Microsoft Defender Threat Intelligence cons
"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."
"VirusTotal has predefined reports, but there is a lot of manual effort involved."
"VirusTotal has different versions, and sometimes the parameters of the API are not very clear."
"The platform could improve in the areas of endpoints and networks."
"There should be room for improvement, particularly in the API side of things."
"I would like to see an improved user interface and some automation."
"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

"Considering Microsoft is constantly changing licensing, I would give it a seven out of ten. It can be difficult to get your head around it, especially for small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)."
"The pricing of the solution is good."
"I rate the product's price a six or seven on a scale of one to ten, where one is expensive, and ten is cheap."
"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 solution is relatively expensive; however, our status as a gold partner provides us with several complimentary licenses, which offsets the cost."
"Microsoft's pricing structure involves annual fees."
More Microsoft Defender Threat Intelligence pricing and cost advice
"The pricing is very economical."
"The pricing is reasonable."
"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
14%
Educational Organization
10%
Manufacturing Company
9%
Computer Software Company
18%
Financial Services Firm
8%
Government
7%
University
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 20% 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
Cisco Threat Grid vs Microsoft Defender Threat Intelligence Logo
Cisco Threat Grid vs Microsoft Defender Threat Intelligence
Compared 11% of the time
Anomali vs Microsoft Defender Threat Intelligence Logo
Anomali vs Microsoft Defender Threat Intelligence
Compared 11% of the time
ZeroFOX vs Microsoft Defender Threat Intelligence Logo
ZeroFOX vs Microsoft Defender Threat Intelligence
Compared 9% 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
Cuckoo Sandbox vs VirusTotal Logo
Cuckoo Sandbox vs VirusTotal
Compared 9% of the time
Hatching Triage vs VirusTotal Logo
Hatching Triage vs VirusTotal
Compared 3% of the time
More VirusTotal Competitors
 

Product Reports

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