Best Applocker Alternatives ranked by AI · updated Aug 2026

AppLocker is a Windows application-control feature that lets IT administrators define which executables, scripts, installers, and packaged apps users may run. It is designed for organizations managing Windows endpoints and supports rules based on publishers, paths, file hashes, and users or groups.

Developer: Microsoft Price: Included with supported Windows editions 🎯 learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/security/application-security/application-control/app-control-for-business/applocker

💻 Windows Endpoint Security application control allowlisting

Top 6 Applocker alternatives

Windows Defender Application Control

Microsoft

💡 Pick it for stronger Windows code-integrity enforcement and deeper integration with Microsoft's security stack.

Windows Defender Application Control is Microsoft's policy-based application and code-integrity control for Windows devices. It is aimed at security teams that need...

Pros

Provides stronger code-integrity enforcement than AppLocker
Supports signed-code and managed-installer policies
Integrates with Microsoft security and device-management tooling

Cons

More complex to design, test, and troubleshoot than AppLocker
Policy deployment can require Intune, Configuration Manager, or custom tooling
Primarily focused on modern Windows environments

Included with supported Windows editions

Alternatives to Windows Defender A... → Visit site

ThreatLocker

💡 Choose it for cloud-managed allowlisting with ringfencing and granular control over application behavior.

ThreatLocker is a cloud-managed endpoint security platform with application allowlisting, ringfencing, storage control, and elevation management. It is built for managed service...

Pros

Adds application ringfencing beyond basic executable allowlisting
Centralized cloud console supports distributed endpoints
Provides temporary elevation and storage-control features

Cons

Higher cost than Windows-native controls
Requires deployment and maintenance of an endpoint agent
Policy tuning can generate operational overhead

Quote-based

Alternatives to ThreatLocker → Visit site

Airlock Digital

💡 Pick it for enterprise-grade allowlisting with approval workflows and strong operational visibility.

Airlock Digital is an enterprise application-control platform for allowlisting software on Windows endpoints and servers. It provides centralized policy management, certificate-based trust,...

Pros

Offers centralized policy management and approval workflows
Supports certificate, publisher, hash, and path-based controls
Designed for high-assurance enterprise and government environments

Cons

Commercial licensing costs more than AppLocker
Requires an agent and a separate management platform
Implementation is more involved than native Group Policy rules

Quote-based

Alternatives to Airlock Digital → Visit site

Ivanti Application Control

Ivanti

💡 Choose it when application control must also enforce least privilege and controlled elevation.

Ivanti Application Control controls application execution and user privileges on managed Windows endpoints. It is aimed at enterprises that need application allowlisting,...

Pros

Combines application control with least-privilege elevation
Supports publisher, path, hash, and contextual policy rules
Useful for removing local administrator rights while preserving productivity

Cons

Broader platform complexity than AppLocker
Requires commercial licensing and endpoint deployment
Management experience can be heavier than cloud-native alternatives

Quote-based

Alternatives to Ivanti Application... → Visit site

Application Control Plus

ManageEngine

💡 Pick it for a more approachable console that combines software restriction with privilege management.

Application Control Plus is a centralized Windows application-control and privilege-management product for restricting software execution and user elevation. It targets IT teams...

Pros

Combines application restriction with privilege management
Provides a centralized web console for Windows endpoints
Supports application discovery, approvals, and policy reporting

Cons

Less advanced behavioral controls than ThreatLocker
Primarily focused on Windows endpoint environments
Large deployments may require careful agent and policy planning

Free edition available; paid plans are quote-based

Alternatives to Application Contro... → Visit site

AppGuard

💡 Choose it if you want application containment and malware resistance with less manual allowlist maintenance.

AppGuard is endpoint security software that uses policy-based application containment and execution control to limit what untrusted programs can do. It is...