Startups handling customer data need endpoint protection from day one: SOC 2 auditors will ask about it. Microsoft Defender (included in M365 Business Premium) is the path of least resistance. If you're not on Microsoft, Bitdefender GravityZone or Malwarebytes ThreatDown deploy in under an hour per device.
Use this page alongside the full Endpoint Protection Software category hub for deeper evaluation criteria, or browse the software directory to search across all tools. For methodology context, read how we review software and how rankings work. Our IT calculators can help build a business case before vendor conversations begin.
5 best for startups highlighted below, plus 10 more in this category.
Every tool on this page, with the price each vendor actually publishes, its deployment model and its own authored best-fit line. The chips filter these rows and state how many each one holds.
| Tool | Published price | Deployment | Free trial | Best for | Main tradeoff | Vendor link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CrowdStrike Falcon | $7.99 per device per month, or $59.99 per device per year, on Falcon Go | Cloud | No | Mid-to-large enterprises that need best-in-class threat detection, threat intelligence, and a cloud-native architecture that eliminates on-premises security infrastructure | Premium pricing ($8.99-$15.99+/endpoint/month at list) makes it the most expensive mainstream option | Get Pricing Details |
 ESET Protect | $54.90 per device per year for ESET PROTECT Core from a 5-device minimum, verified October 16, 2026 | Cloud / On-prem | Yes | Organizations with older hardware fleets, performance-sensitive environments, or those that need effective endpoint protection with minimal system resource consumption | Cloud console is less polished than competitors | Get Pricing Details |
 Malwarebytes ThreatDown | quote only | Cloud | Yes | Small businesses and lean IT teams that need effective endpoint protection without the complexity of enterprise platforms, deploy in minutes, manage with minimal training | EDR capabilities are basic compared to CrowdStrike, SentinelOne, and even Bitdefender | Visit Website |
 Symantec Endpoint Security | quote only | Cloud | No | Large enterprises with existing Symantec contracts and Broadcom relationships that need to maintain protection continuity, especially those with on-premises Symantec Endpoint Protection… | Broadcom dramatically reduced support quality, eliminated the partner ecosystem, and slowed product development | Get Pricing Details |
 Trend Micro Apex One | quote only | Cloud / On-prem | No | Enterprises that need on-premises endpoint management console for compliance or air-gapped environments, with the option to migrate to cloud at their own pace | User interface and management experience feel dated compared to CrowdStrike, SentinelOne, and even Bitdefender | Get Pricing Details |
| BigFix | quote only | Cloud / On-prem | No | Large heterogeneous estates with continuous compliance obligations and staff to own the platform | Not stated | Get Pricing Details |
 Bitdefender GravityZone | quote only | Cloud / On-prem | Yes | Mid-market organizations (100-5,000 endpoints) that need enterprise-grade detection without enterprise-grade pricing, especially those with mixed Windows/Linux environments | EDR and XDR capabilities are less mature than CrowdStrike and SentinelOne | Get Pricing Details |
 CylancePROTECT | quote only | Cloud | No | Organizations with existing BlackBerry/Cylance contracts that need to maintain current protection while planning migration, or those wanting lightweight AI-prevention-only coverage | Innovation has stalled under BlackBerry ownership | Get Pricing Details |
 Ivanti Neurons | quote only | Cloud / On-prem | No | Enterprises consolidating endpoint, service and asset management with on-premises or hybrid deployment as a hard requirement | Not stated | Get Pricing Details |
 ManageEngine Endpoint Central | $795 per year for 50 endpoints on Professional, verified October 16, 2026 | Cloud / On-prem | Yes | Not stated | Not stated | Get Pricing Details |
 Microsoft Defender for Endpoint | quote only | Cloud | No | Microsoft-centric enterprises with M365 E5/E5 Security licensing that want endpoint protection included in their existing Microsoft investment without additional per-endpoint costs | Detection depth and response automation lag behind CrowdStrike and SentinelOne in independent testing | Get Pricing Details |
 SentinelOne Singularity | quote only | Cloud | No | Enterprises that want AI-autonomous endpoint protection with automated threat remediation and rollback, especially those evaluating alternatives to CrowdStrike after the 2024 outage | Pricing is close to CrowdStrike ($6-$12+/endpoint/month) | Get Pricing Details |
 Sophos Intercept X | quote only | Cloud | Yes | Mid-market organizations without a dedicated security operations center that need strong endpoint protection with optional 24/7 managed detection and response | Endpoint-only capabilities (without MDR) are competitive but not best-in-class | Get Pricing Details |
 Trellix Endpoint Security | quote only | Cloud / On-prem | No | Large enterprises with existing McAfee or FireEye investments that need to maintain protection continuity while Trellix completes its platform consolidation | Platform is in active consolidation, product naming, licensing, and feature availability are confusing | Get Pricing Details |
 VMware Carbon Black Cloud | quote only | Cloud | No | Enterprises with heavy VMware virtualization infrastructure that want integrated endpoint and workload protection with native vSphere and NSX integration | Broadcoms acquisition created pricing uncertainty and partner ecosystem disruption | Get Pricing Details |
Showing 15 of 15. Published price means the vendor states a figure on its own pricing page; quote only means it states none. Best for is each tool's own authored best-fit line, and reads "Not stated" where no such line exists rather than repeating the deployment column.
Custom quote · Cloud
CrowdStrike Falcon is the market leader in cloud-native endpoint protection, strongest threat intelligence and detection rates, but premium pricing and the July 2024 outage incident are legitimate evaluation factors.
Custom quote · Cloud / On-prem · Free trial
ESET PROTECT is a lightweight endpoint protection platform with the lowest system impact in the category, ideal for organizations with older hardware or performance-sensitive environments.
Per-endpoint · Cloud · Free trial
Malwarebytes ThreatDown (rebranded business product) is the simplest endpoint protection to deploy and manage. Ideal for IT generalists who need effective protection without security expertise.
Custom quote · Cloud
Symantec Endpoint Security (Broadcom) maintains strong detection capabilities but Broadcoms acquisition gutted support, partner relationships, and product velocity, evaluate with caution.
Custom quote · Cloud / On-prem
Trend Micro Apex One is a mature endpoint protection platform with hybrid deployment flexibility, one of the few options offering genuine on-premises and cloud parity, but the UX lags behind cloud-native competitors.
These tools are part of the endpoint protection software category but may not match the for startups filter above. Worth reviewing if the primary options don't fit.
Custom quote · Cloud / On-prem
BigFix is positioned here as a endpoint management software option for teams comparing rollout fit, operating model, pricing structure, and how much administrative effort the product is likely to create after implementation.
Custom quote · Cloud / On-prem · Free trial
Bitdefender GravityZone offers the best detection-to-price ratio in endpoint protection, consistently strong independent test results at 40-60% less than CrowdStrike, making it the top value pick for mid-market.
Custom quote · Cloud
CylancePROTECT (now BlackBerry) was a pioneer in AI-based prevention but has lost momentum, the platform hasnt kept pace with CrowdStrike and SentinelOne, and BlackBerrys security business future is uncertain.
Custom quote · Cloud / On-prem
Ivanti Neurons is positioned here as a endpoint management software option for teams comparing rollout fit, operating model, pricing structure, and how much administrative effort the product is likely to create after implementation.
Custom quote · Cloud / On-prem · Free trial
ManageEngine Endpoint Central is positioned here as a endpoint management software option for teams comparing rollout fit, operating model, pricing structure, and how much administrative effort the product is likely to create after implementation.
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
Custom quote · Cloud
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint is the most cost-effective enterprise endpoint protection for Microsoft-heavy environments, included in M365 E5, but detection depth and cross-platform coverage lag behind CrowdStrike and SentinelOne.
Custom quote · Cloud
SentinelOne Singularity is the strongest autonomous endpoint protection platform, AI-driven detection and response with automated remediation, and the most credible CrowdStrike alternative for enterprises.
Custom quote · Cloud · Free trial
Sophos Intercept X pairs strong endpoint protection with managed detection and response (MDR) that small and mid-market security teams can actually use, strongest for organizations that lack a dedicated SOC.
Custom quote · Cloud / On-prem
Trellix Endpoint Security (formerly McAfee Enterprise + FireEye) is a legacy endpoint platform undergoing platform consolidation, strongest for existing McAfee/FireEye customers, but new buyers have better options.
Custom quote · Cloud
VMware Carbon Black Cloud is positioned for VMware-centric enterprises, deep vSphere integration for workload protection, but Broadcoms acquisition has created pricing uncertainty and roadmap questions.
Immediately if handling customer data. SOC 2 (which most B2B SaaS startups pursue by Series A) requires endpoint protection on all devices accessing production systems. Deploy Defender or Bitdefender before your first compliance audit.
Yes. Defender for Business (included in M365 Business Premium at $22/user/month) satisfies SOC 2 endpoint protection requirements. It provides EPP, basic EDR, and compliance reporting. No need for CrowdStrike until your threat model justifies it.
Defender if you're on M365 (already included). CrowdStrike if you need vendor-neutral, best-in-class detection for a high-value target (fintech, crypto, defense). The $9-16/endpoint/month premium is justified only when your threat level is elevated.
Return to the Endpoint Protection Software category hub for the full evaluation framework, including buying criteria, pricing context, and deployment guidance across every tool in this space. You can also explore free tools and open source options within this category. Once the shortlist narrows to two or three finalists, open a head-to-head comparison to see exactly where the remaining candidates differ on pricing, workflow depth, and deployment fit.
