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Home / Security & VPN / Antivirus Software / Microsoft Defender
8.1 Tested Aug 24, 2026 by Team RankingRight

Microsoft Defender (Built into Windows) review 2026

Already on every Windows PC, free, and now good enough that the paid suites have to justify themselves

PriceFrom $0 · checked Sep 11, 2026
Our samples caught98 %
Slowdown6 %

Is the Microsoft Defender Worth It?

Best free antivirus. Defender is the reason most careful Windows users no longer need to pay. It missed more phishing pages than Bitdefender when we used Chrome, and it does nothing for a Mac or a phone, which is where the paid suites earn their money.

Microsoft Defender Pros & Cons

Pros
  • Caught 98% of our samples and scores 6/6 in AV-Test
  • Nothing to install or renew
  • SmartScreen phishing protection in Edge
  • Ransomware-protected folders
Cons
  • Phishing protection weaker outside Edge — 41 of 50 URLs
  • No Mac protection outside the Microsoft 365 app
  • No extras: no VPN, passwords or parental tools

Microsoft Defender at a Glance

8.1 Editor Score
ProtectionIndependent lab results (AV-Test, AV-Comparatives) plus detection of our 200 recent malware samples and 50 phishing URLs.
29/35
PerformanceSlowdown of file copy, app launch and web browsing on the same laptop with the suite installed, versus a clean image.
17/20
FeaturesFirewall, ransomware rollback, VPN, password manager, parental controls, identity monitoring — and whether they are real or trials.
6/15
UsabilityFalse positives on our clean-software set, nag screens and upsells, setup time.
9/10
ValueFirst-year price, renewal price and devices covered.
20/20
Reader ratingNo reader ratings yet — not part of the score
–
Own one? Rate it:

Rubric v1: Protection 35 · Performance 20 · Features 15 · Usability 10 · Value 20. Score = Σ ÷ 10, locked Sep 11, 2026. How we rank.

Where to buy — prices checked Sep 11, 2026

Microsoft — $0

Best priceVisit Site

Microsoft Defender specifications

First year0 USD
Renewal0 USD/yr
DevicesEvery Windows PC
PlatformsWindows (cross-platform app with Microsoft 365)
Free versionYes
VPN includedNo
Password managerNo
Identity monitoringWith Microsoft 365
AV-Test protection (of 6)6.0

Why it scored 8.1

Defender is the reason most careful Windows users no longer need to pay. It missed more phishing pages than Bitdefender when we used Chrome, and it does nothing for a Mac or a phone, which is where the paid suites earn their money.

Where it loses

Features; phishing outside Edge.

Still the right pick for

Careful Windows-only users.

Changelog: Sep 11 — rank 2 → 3 · all changes

Microsoft Defender8.1 · $0
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