IRONSCALES vs Microsoft Defender for Office 365:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, IRONSCALES had more branded searches than Microsoft Defender for Office 365 among email security platforms worldwide. IRONSCALES had about 4,400 branded searches, while Microsoft Defender for Office 365 had 2,400. IRONSCALES made up 1.8% of all email security platform searches we track, and Microsoft Defender for Office 365 accounted for 0.97%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about email security platforms, Microsoft Defender for Office 365 appeared in four of the five answers and IRONSCALES in one. Microsoft Defender for Office 365 was mentioned before IRONSCALES in every answer that named either.
Who do people search for more?
IRONSCALES, about 83% more searches than Microsoft Defender for Office 365
Who does AI mention more?
Microsoft Defender for Office 365, mentioned in 4 of 5 answers, IRONSCALES in 1
Who does AI recommend more?
Microsoft Defender for Office 365, named ahead of IRONSCALES in 4 of 4 answers
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Top email security platforms in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Microsoft Defender for Office 365 was mentioned in four out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. IRONSCALES was mentioned in one out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. Microsoft Defender for Office 365 was listed before IRONSCALES in every answer that named either.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
Mimecast5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Proofpoint5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Barracuda4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Microsoft Defender for Office 3654 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Check Point3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Abnormal Security3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Avanan1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
IRONSCALES1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about email security platforms
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which email security platform should I use?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best email security platforms?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best email security platform for blocking email threats?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“email security platform”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“best email security”
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 20, 2026.
Is IRONSCALES or Microsoft Defender for Office 365 more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for IRONSCALES and Microsoft Defender for Office 365 by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all eight email security platforms we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.
Share of searches by month for IRONSCALES, Microsoft Defender for Office 365. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Mimecast | Proofpoint | Avanan | Barracuda | Check Point | Abnormal Security | IRONSCALES | Microsoft Defender for Office 365 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 43.2% | 23.8% | 13% | 7.3% | 5.3% | 3.2% | 2.1% | 2.1% |
| Nov 2025 | 39.9% | 26.6% | 14.6% | 6.7% | 5.5% | 2.4% | 1.9% | 2.4% |
| Dec 2025 | 42.6% | 23.3% | 15.6% | 7.1% | 5.6% | 2.1% | 2.1% | 1.7% |
| Jan 2026 | 42.2% | 23.2% | 15.5% | 7% | 6.2% | 2.5% | 1.7% | 1.7% |
| Feb 2026 | 39.5% | 26.4% | 14.4% | 6.9% | 6.4% | 2.4% | 2.4% | 1.6% |
| Mar 2026 | 40.9% | 27.5% | 12.3% | 6.8% | 6% | 2.5% | 2% | 2% |
| Apr 2026 | 38.8% | 25.9% | 14.2% | 7.8% | 6.3% | 2.3% | 2.3% | 2.3% |
| May 2026 | 39.6% | 26.5% | 14.5% | 7.9% | 5.8% | 1.9% | 1.9% | 1.9% |
| Jun 2026 | 44.2% | 24.3% | 13.3% | 7.3% | 5.9% | 1.8% | 1.8% | 1.4% |
| Jul 2026 | 41.1% | 22.5% | 15% | 9.7% | 6% | 2% | 2% | 1.6% |
| Aug 2026 | 39.9% | 26.7% | 14.6% | 7.9% | 5.8% | 1.9% | 1.9% | 1.3% |
| Sep 2026 | 44.3% | 24.4% | 13.3% | 7.5% | 5.9% | 1.8% | 1.8% | 0.97% |
How has the IRONSCALES and Microsoft Defender for Office 365 comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- The lead changed hands once in the 12 months ending September 2026: IRONSCALES took it in December 2025.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, IRONSCALES’s share of searches among email security platforms worldwide moved from 2.1% to 1.8%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 5.4K to 4.4K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Microsoft Defender for Office 365’s share of searches among email security platforms worldwide moved from 2.1% to 0.97%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 5.4K to 2.4K.
How did search popularity change for email security platforms worldwide in September 2026?
2 changes

Estimated monthly branded searches for Microsoft Defender for Office 365 worldwide fell 55.6% over 12 measured months, from 5.4K to 2.4K in September 2026.

Estimated monthly branded searches for IRONSCALES worldwide fell 18.5% over 12 measured months, from 5.4K to 4.4K in September 2026.
How are branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using IRONSCALES’s and Microsoft Defender for Office 365’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
IRONSCALES
1 branded search term
- ironscales
Microsoft Defender for Office 365
1 branded search term
- microsoft defender for office 365
Other head-to-heads among email security platforms

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