Brandwave

How popular isMicrosoft Defender?

In September 2026, people searched for Microsoft Defender by name about 181,000 times worldwide, a 26.1% decrease from the previous year. These searches made up 6.5% of all global endpoint security software searches, placing Microsoft Defender sixth out of eight brands. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about endpoint security software, Microsoft Defender appeared in all answers and was the second most recommended of the eight.

Search and AI answers in September 2026

Microsoft Defender is the sixth most searched of 8 competitors and the second most recommended in AI answers.

  1. MalwarebytesShare of searches 37.1%Mentioned in 0 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations –
  2. BitdefenderShare of searches 23.6%Mentioned in 2 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 5th
  3. CrowdStrikeShare of searches 11.7%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 1st
  4. ESETShare of searches 9.5%Mentioned in 2 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 6th
  5. Microsoft DefenderShare of searches 6.5%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 2nd

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Top endpoint security software in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Microsoft Defender appeared in all five answers. Microsoft Defender is the second most recommended of the eight.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. CrowdStrike1st
  2. Microsoft Defender2nd
  3. SentinelOne3rd
  4. Sophos4th
  5. Bitdefender5th
  6. ESET6th
  7. Malwarebytes–
  8. Trellix–

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • CrowdStrike5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Microsoft Defender5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • SentinelOne5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Sophos4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Bitdefender2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • ESET2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Malwarebytes0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Trellix0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about endpoint security software

5 answers

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 20, 2026.

Which endpoint security software compete with Microsoft Defender?

Microsoft Defender against endpoint security software worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for Malwarebytes, Bitdefender, CrowdStrike, ESET, Sophos, Microsoft Defender, SentinelOne. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthMalwarebytesBitdefenderCrowdStrikeESETSophosMicrosoft DefenderSentinelOneTrellix
Oct 202529.8%23.2%11.4%13.1%8.5%8.6%4%1.4%
Nov 202536.1%22.7%9.4%12.9%7.1%7%3.3%1.4%
Dec 202533.6%25.3%8.7%12%7.5%7.9%3.7%1.3%
Jan 202636.5%22.3%9.4%12.8%7%7.6%3.3%1.1%
Feb 202634.6%21.2%10.8%12.3%8%8%3.7%1.3%
Mar 202636.4%22.3%11.3%10.8%7%6.9%3.9%1.4%
Apr 202639.1%20%10%11.3%7.3%7.3%3.5%1.5%
May 202635.8%20.8%11%10.4%7.8%8%3.8%2.4%
Jun 202636.7%21.3%11.2%10.6%8.2%6.8%3.9%1.4%
Jul 202635.8%23.2%10.9%10.4%8%6.6%3.8%1.3%
Aug 202635.9%21.8%11.2%10.7%7.8%7.5%3.9%1.4%
Sep 202637.1%23.6%11.7%9.5%7.1%6.5%3.4%1.2%

  1. 1.Malwarebytes

    37.1%

    Held 1st. 1M estimated branded searches, +18.8% vs prior month. Share +1.2 points.

  2. 2.Bitdefender

    23.6%

    Held 2nd. 660K estimated branded searches, +24.7% vs prior month. Share +1.9 points.

  3. 3.CrowdStrike

    11.7%

    Held 3rd. 327K estimated branded searches, +20.4% vs prior month. Share +0.5 points.

  4. 4.ESET

    9.5%

    Held 4th. 264K estimated branded searches, +1.7% vs prior month. Share -1.2 points.

  5. 5.Sophos

    7.1%

    Held 5th. 199K estimated branded searches, +4.7% vs prior month. Share -0.7 points.

  6. 6.Microsoft Defender

    6.5%

    Held 6th. 181K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -1 points.

  7. 7.SentinelOne

    3.4%

    Held 7th. 93.6K estimated branded searches, -0.15% vs prior month. Share -0.5 points.

  8. 8.Trellix

    1.2%

    Held 8th. 33.1K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -0.2 points.

Compare popularity between Microsoft Defender and its closest rivals

Every comparison with Microsoft Defender

12 comparisons

How has branded search demand for Microsoft Defender changed worldwide over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for Microsoft Defender worldwide fell from 245K to 181K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Microsoft Defender’s share of searches among endpoint security software worldwide decreased from 8.6% to 6.5%.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Microsoft Defender fell from 5th to 6th among endpoint security software worldwide.

How did search popularity change for endpoint security software worldwide in September 2026?

6 changes

  1. In September 2026, Bitdefender gained share of searches among endpoint security software worldwide, from 21.8% to 23.6%.

  2. In September 2026, Malwarebytes gained share of searches among endpoint security software worldwide, from 35.9% to 37.1%.

  3. In September 2026, CrowdStrike gained share of searches among endpoint security software worldwide, from 11.2% to 11.7%.

  4. In September 2026, ESET lost share of searches among endpoint security software worldwide, from 10.7% to 9.5%.

  5. In September 2026, Microsoft Defender lost share of searches among endpoint security software worldwide, from 7.5% to 6.5%.

  6. In September 2026, Sophos lost share of searches among endpoint security software worldwide, from 7.8% to 7.1%.

How are Microsoft Defender’s branded searches counted?

2 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Microsoft Defender’s name. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brand is growing, holding steady, or fading.

  • microsoft defender
  • windows defender

Do you work for Microsoft Defender? To request corrections or removal please contact us via our support page and we will be happy to assist.

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Where does Microsoft Defender compete?

Microsoft Defender is ranked in three competitor sets. Each share is worked out among that set's brands, so it differs from set to set.
Competitor setRankShare of searchesRanking
Endpoint security software6th of 86.5%Shown above
Antivirus software4th of 77.5%Show ranking
Endpoint detection platforms2nd of 733.6%Show ranking
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