# The Orion Network vs Microsoft Defender

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: The Orion Network at none against Microsoft Defender's 3. Microsoft Defender's advantage is update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 15 months) and chart position (#161 vs unranked). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Microsoft Defender sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month. The Orion Network asks for nothing beyond the download.

The Orion Network ships an update every 15 months, Microsoft Defender every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 26, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | The Orion Network | Microsoft Defender |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[4.7 (22K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/microsoft-defender-security/id1526737990/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **22K** |
| Positive reviews | — | 33.8% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 15 months | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | — | Subscription |
| Best chart rank | — | **#161** |
| Size | 143 MB | 162 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | **17.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Evraz Inc, NA](https://appshunter.io/developer/1518668758) | [Microsoft Corporation](https://appshunter.io/developer/298856275) |

## What reviewers say

### The Orion Network

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-orion-network/id1518668759)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Microsoft Defender

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/microsoft-defender-security/id1526737990)

**Currently charting:** #161 Top Grossing · Business (US App Store)

This app offers comprehensive online security for individuals and families, providing antivirus scanning, threat monitoring, and identity protection. It helps safeguard personal information by scanning the dark web and offers credit monitoring and identity theft restoration services.

**Highlights:** Antivirus scanning, Threat monitoring, Dark web scanning for identity threats, Credit monitoring, Identity theft restoration, Anti-phishing protection, Multidevice alerts

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Microsoft 365 Personal | $6.99 | per month |
| Microsoft 365 Personal | $9.99 | per month |
| Microsoft 365 Family | $12.99 | per month |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast
- 🔒 Security
- 👍 Ease of use

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Connectivity issues
- 🔋 High battery drain
- 🔍 Excessive data usage
- 🤖 Compatibility problems
- ⚠️ Disruptive to other apps

**Reported bugs**

- Login issues
- Unexpected app crashes
- Inconsistent behavior after updates

**Requested features**

- Dark mode support
- Customizable VPN settings
- Better integration with other apps


## Frequently asked questions

### Is The Orion Network free?

The Orion Network is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Microsoft Defender free?

Microsoft Defender is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Do The Orion Network or Microsoft Defender have ads?

Neither The Orion Network nor Microsoft Defender shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, The Orion Network or Microsoft Defender?

The Orion Network ships an update every 15 months, and Microsoft Defender every 2 weeks. Most recently, The Orion Network was updated on October 24, 2026 and Microsoft Defender on October 26, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*