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Microsoft Defender Vulnerability Management costs $2 to $3 per user/month as of March 2026, with 3 plans available including a free tier. Plans: Standalone at $3/user/month, Add-on (for Defender for Endpoint P2) at $2/user/month, and Included (via Microsoft 365 E5 / Defender for Cloud) (free). Pricing depends on your chosen tier, contract length, and negotiated discounts.

Use the interactive pricing calculator to estimate your exact cost based on team size and requirements.

  • Free tier: Yes

Microsoft Defender Vulnerability Management offers 3 pricing tiers: Standalone, Add-on (for Defender for Endpoint P2), Included (via Microsoft 365 E5 / Defender for Cloud). A free plan is available. Paid plans include Standalone at $3/per user/month, Add-on (for Defender for Endpoint P2) at $2/per user/month. The Add-on (for Defender for Endpoint P2) plan is organizations using microsoft defender for endpoint p2 seeking to enhance vulnerability management with seamless edr integration.

Compared to other vulnerability management software, Microsoft Defender Vulnerability Management is positioned at the budget-friendly price point.

  • 11 documented hidden costs beyond list price

How much does Microsoft Defender Vulnerability Management cost?

Microsoft Defender Vulnerability Management offers a free plan with 2 paid tiers from $2 to $3/user/month. Plans include Standalone at $3/user/month, Add-on (for Defender for Endpoint P2) at $2/user/month, Included (via Microsoft 365 E5 / Defender for Cloud) (free).

Microsoft Defender Vulnerability Management Pricing Overview

Microsoft Defender Vulnerability Management has 3 pricing plans, including a free tier. Paid plans range from $2 to $3/user/month. The Standalone plan costs $3/user/month, best for organizations new to microsoft defender or using defender for endpoint p1 or microsoft 365 e3 seeking comprehensive vulnerability management. The Add-on (for Defender for Endpoint P2) plan costs $2/user/month, best for organizations using microsoft defender for endpoint p2 seeking to enhance vulnerability management with seamless edr integration. The Included (via Microsoft 365 E5 / Defender for Cloud) plan is free and is best for organizations already licensed for microsoft 365 e5 or defender for cloud seeking to leverage included vulnerability management capabilities.

There are at least 11 documented hidden costs beyond Microsoft Defender Vulnerability Management's list price, including implementation, training, and add-on fees.

This pricing was last verified in February 4, 2026 from 1 independent sources.

Microsoft Defender Vulnerability Management is a built-in, agentless vulnerability assessment solution integrated across the Microsoft Defender security platform. The service provides continuous asset discovery, software inventory, vulnerability detection, and risk-based prioritization without requiring additional agents or infrastructure. Defender Vulnerability Management leverages Microsoft's extensive threat intelligence and security graph to identify vulnerabilities across Windows, Linux, macOS, iOS, Android devices, as well as cloud workloads, containers, and network devices. With seamless integration into Microsoft 365, Azure, and Intune, the platform enables organizations to discover, prioritize, and remediate vulnerabilities through unified security operations and automated workflows. Organizations benefit from simplified deployment, reduced tool sprawl, and comprehensive coverage across Microsoft and third-party applications.

All Microsoft Defender Vulnerability Management Plans & Pricing

Plan Monthly Annual Best For
Standalone users: Per-user licensing modeldevices: Covers all devices per licensed user $3 /per user/month $3 /per user/year Organizations new to Microsoft Defender or using Defender for Endpoint P1 or Microsoft 365 E3 seeking comprehensive vulnerability management
Add-on (for Defender for Endpoint P2) users: Per-user add-on to Defender for Endpoint P2devices: Covers all devices per licensed user $2 /per user/month $2 /per user/year Organizations using Microsoft Defender for Endpoint P2 seeking to enhance vulnerability management with seamless EDR integration
Included (via Microsoft 365 E5 / Defender for Cloud) users: Based on existing Microsoft 365 or Azure licensingdevices: Coverage depends on underlying license Free Free Organizations already licensed for Microsoft 365 E5 or Defender for Cloud seeking to leverage included vulnerability management capabilities
View all features by plan

Standalone

  • Agentless vulnerability scanning
  • Software inventory and discovery
  • Vulnerability detection and assessment
  • Risk-based prioritization
  • Threat and vulnerability management dashboard
  • Security recommendations and remediation tracking
  • Integration with Microsoft Intune for patch deployment
  • Compliance assessment and reporting
  • Coverage for Windows, Linux, macOS, mobile devices
  • Cloud workload vulnerability scanning (Azure, AWS, GCP)
  • Container vulnerability assessment
  • Microsoft threat intelligence integration
  • API access for automation
  • 90-day free trial available

Add-on (for Defender for Endpoint P2)

  • Everything in Standalone
  • Enhanced integration with Defender for Endpoint P2
  • Automated investigation and response
  • Attack surface reduction rules
  • Advanced threat hunting
  • Endpoint detection and response (EDR) correlation
  • Cross-product security insights
  • Unified security operations in Microsoft 365 Defender
  • Integration with Microsoft Sentinel (SIEM)
  • Custom detection rules
  • Priority support for P2 customers

Included (via Microsoft 365 E5 / Defender for Cloud)

  • Defender Vulnerability Management capabilities included in:
  • Microsoft 365 E5 Security license
  • Microsoft Defender for Endpoint P2 (basic capabilities)
  • Microsoft Defender for Cloud (agentless for servers, containers)
  • No additional agent installation required
  • Native integration with existing Microsoft security tools
  • Unified security portal experience
  • Leverages existing licensing investment

How Microsoft Defender Vulnerability Management Pricing Compares

Software Starting Price Top Price
Microsoft Defender Vulnerability Management $2/user/month $3/user/month
CrowdStrike Falcon Spotlight $7.5/user/month $11.17/user/month
Qualys VMDR $50/user/month $1000/user/month
Rapid7 InsightVM $1.62/user/month $26.25/user/month
Tenable Vulnerability Management $290/user/month $1667/user/month

11 Microsoft Defender Vulnerability Management Hidden Costs Beyond the List Price

Beyond the listed price, Microsoft Defender Vulnerability Management has at least 11 documented hidden costs that can significantly increase total cost of ownership.

Watch for 11 hidden costs
  • Base Microsoft Defender for Endpoint licensing if not already deployed (P1: ~$5/user/month, P2: ~$10/user/month)
  • Microsoft 365 E5 Security license includes full capabilities but costs $12/user/month
  • Azure Defender for Cloud required for server and container vulnerability scanning (separate pricing)
  • Professional services for deployment and configuration in large environments
  • Integration development for non-Microsoft SIEM or ITSM systems
  • Training programs for security teams on Microsoft security platform
  • Advanced features may require higher-tier Microsoft licensing (E5 vs E3)
  • Multi-cloud vulnerability scanning may require additional Azure Arc deployment
  • Custom automation and workflow development
  • Note: 2022 pricing ($2-3/user/month) may have changed - contact Microsoft for current pricing
  • Premium support packages available but typically sold at enterprise level
Tip

Ask your Microsoft Defender Vulnerability Management sales rep about these costs upfront. Getting them in writing before signing can save you from surprise charges later.

Full hidden costs breakdown →

Microsoft Defender Vulnerability Management Pricing FAQ

01 How much does Microsoft Defender Vulnerability Management cost?

Pricing varies by plan. Check the official pricing page for current rates.

02 Does Microsoft Defender Vulnerability Management have a free tier?

Check the pricing section above for free tier availability.

03 What are the main features of Microsoft Defender Vulnerability Management?

Key features include the items listed in the pricing tiers above.

04 Is Microsoft Defender Vulnerability Management worth the price?

Value depends on your specific needs and use case. Compare features across plans.

Is this pricing incorrect? — we verify and update within 24 hours.