Can I run Avast and Microsoft Defender for Business at the same time?

Technically yes if one is set to passive mode, but in practice it's messy — performance hits, conflicting alerts, confused staff. Pick one.

Does Microsoft 365 Business Basic include Defender for Business?

No. Defender for Business is included only in Microsoft 365 Business Premium. On Business Basic, Standard or Apps for Business you'd need to buy Defender standalone at £2.42/user/month, or use Avast instead.

Which is cheaper — Avast or Defender for Business?

Avast Essential is slightly cheaper than standalone Defender (£25 vs £29 per user per year). If you already have Microsoft 365 Business Premium, Defender is included free — which makes it the cheaper option in that scenario.

Avast Business Security vs Microsoft Defender for Business (2026 UK)

Last updated: April 2026

We sell both. We have no axe to grind either way. So here's the honest answer to which one is right for your business — and when it makes sense to have neither because something else you already own covers you.

Short version: if you're on Microsoft 365 Business Premium, you already have Defender for Business — don't also buy Avast. If you're on Business Standard or Basic (or Google Workspace), Avast is usually the better buy than adding Defender as a standalone.

Here's why.

The products

Microsoft Defender for Business — £2.42 per user per month (ex VAT) as a standalone, or included for free if you have Microsoft 365 Business Premium. Endpoint protection with EDR (endpoint detection and response), threat analytics, automatic remediation and web content filtering. Cloud-managed from Microsoft 365 Security admin centre.

Avast Business Security — three tiers:

Essential: ~£24.99/user/year (at 20+ seats)
Premium: ~£29.99/user/year
Ultimate: ~£34.99/user/year

Cloud-managed antivirus plus, at Premium and Ultimate, VPN, Patch Management, USB/webcam protection and system cleanup. Managed from the Avast Business Hub.

Head-to-head

	Defender for Business	Avast Essential	Avast Premium
Antivirus / anti-malware	✅	✅	✅
EDR (detection + response)	✅ Full	Basic	Basic
Managed firewall	Depends on Windows settings	✅	✅
Web/URL filtering	✅	✅	✅
VPN	❌	❌	✅
Patch management	❌ (needs Intune)	❌	✅
USB / webcam control	Via Intune	❌	✅
Mac support	Yes	Yes	Yes
Price per user (annual)	£29 standalone / £0 with Premium	~£25	~£30

When Defender wins

You already have Microsoft 365 Business Premium. Defender is included — using anything else is paying twice. Turn Defender on, configure it, move on.
You run a pure-Windows environment and want everything in one Microsoft admin console. If you already live in Microsoft 365 Admin, adding a second portal (Avast Business Hub) is extra cognitive load for no win.
You have an in-house IT person or MSP who knows Microsoft security stacks. Defender's threat hunting and EDR are genuinely enterprise-grade — but they're only useful if someone looks at the reports.

When Avast wins

You're on Microsoft 365 Business Standard or Basic (or on Google Workspace). Standalone Defender is £2.42/user/month = £29/user/year. Avast Essential is ~£25. Avast Premium is ~£30 and includes VPN and patch management you don't get from Defender.
Your environment is mixed (some Windows, some Mac, some phones) and you want one console covering everything, managed by you or us without a Microsoft 365 dependency.
You want patch management for third-party apps (Chrome, Zoom, Adobe etc.) without paying for Intune separately. Avast Premium does this; Defender doesn't.
You don't have Microsoft 365 at all. In that case Defender isn't really an option — it needs a Microsoft tenant. Avast is plug-and-play.

What Avast does better

Mixed-device simplicity. One console, Windows/Mac/Android/iOS, no Microsoft licensing to worry about.
Patch management in Premium. This is genuinely useful — most breaches exploit unpatched Chrome, Zoom, Adobe Reader. Avast Premium handles the lot.
VPN included in Premium. Not world-class, but serviceable for blocking dodgy Wi-Fi at coffee shops.
Onboarding. Avast Business Hub is a lot simpler than Microsoft 365 Security admin if you're not already a Microsoft power user.

What Defender does better

Raw threat detection. Microsoft's threat intelligence (from billions of endpoints) is in a different league. EDR is enterprise-grade.
Integration with the rest of Microsoft 365. Email protection, Teams messages, SharePoint files — all share the same security signals.
Automatic investigation and response. When something suspicious happens, Defender investigates and remediates automatically. Avast will flag and quarantine; Defender will go further.
Audit trail for compliance. For regulated sectors, Defender's reporting is easier to evidence to the ICO / SRA / FCA.

When you need neither

Microsoft 365 Business Premium — you already have Defender for Business included. Turn it on.
You have an existing MSP handling endpoint protection — let them keep doing it rather than switching mid-contract.
You're Mac-only and small (under 5 people) — macOS built-in protections plus sensible habits (no admin passwords, no pirated software) are often enough. Not true for bigger teams or regulated firms.

Our honest recommendations

Small team, no regulated data, already on Microsoft 365 Standard: Avast Essential. £25/user/year is cheap peace of mind.

10+ users, mixed devices, want simple management: Avast Premium. The VPN and patch management earn the extra £5/user/year.

Regulated sector, professional services, or handling client data: Microsoft 365 Business Premium + Defender (included). The compliance story alone justifies the £17.75/user/month over Standard + Avast.

Already on Business Premium: Defender is built in — don't double-buy Avast on top.

What about the free versions?

Avast has a free antivirus product. Microsoft Defender is included in Windows. Neither is appropriate for a business.

Free Avast has no central management — you can't see what's happening across staff laptops
Windows Defender (consumer) is not the same as Defender for Business — no central admin, no EDR, no reporting

If you're running free antivirus across a business, you're relying on hope. Fine for personal use, not for any business that matters.

FAQs

Can I run Avast and Defender at the same time?

Technically yes if configured as "passive mode" — in practice it's a mess. Performance hits, conflicting alerts, staff confusion. Pick one.

Does Microsoft 365 Business Basic include Defender?

No. Defender for Business is included only in Microsoft 365 Business Premium (not Basic, Standard, or Apps for business). You can buy it standalone for £2.42/user/month if you're on a lower tier.

Which is better for Macs?

Both work on Mac. Avast's Mac client is more mature and feature-complete than Defender's. If you're a Mac-heavy shop, Avast is the simpler choice.

Do I need antivirus on Macs?

Yes if you're a business. macOS's built-in protections (Gatekeeper, XProtect) help but don't replace central management, reporting, and EDR. Insurers and auditors expect proper endpoint protection on every device, Mac included.

Can you manage this for us?

Yes — we install, configure, and manage both Avast and Defender for Business customers. Usually included free when bundled with CTN VoIP; otherwise at modest monthly cost. Ask us for a quote.