Proofpoint vs Microsoft Defender for Office 365

Side-by-side from the Top 11 ranking of Top 11 Email Security Software. Last verified July 4, 2026.

The short answer

Proofpoint ranks higher on Top 11 (#2 vs #4) for IT and security leaders. Full gateway plus DLP and encryption for regulated firms.

At a glance

ProofpointMicrosoft Defender for Office 365
Top 11 rank#2 / Top 11 Email Security Software#4 / Top 11 Email Security Software
Score (out of 9.4)98.8
Best forBest for regulated enterprise gatewaysBest native option for Microsoft 365
Pricing$$$ (custom, per-user enterprise pricing)$ ($2/user/mo Plan 1, $5/user/mo Plan 2, or bundled in E5)
HQSunnyvale, USARedmond, USA
Founded20022015

Proofpoint

Full gateway plus DLP and encryption for regulated firms.

www.proofpoint.com

See full entry in Top 11 Email Security Software

Methodology and scoring weights live at /methodology. No vendor pays for placement — see about.