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Best Windows Defender Application Control Alternatives ranked by AI · updated Aug 2026

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 stronger enforcement than AppLocker, including rules for drivers, scripts, applications, and managed installers.

Developer: Microsoft Price: Included with supported Windows editions 🎯 learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/security/application-security/application-control/windows-defender-application-control
💻 Windows Endpoint Security application control allowlisting

Top 6 Windows Defender Application Control alternatives

1

Applocker

Microsoft

AppLocker is a Windows application-control feature that lets IT administrators define which executables, scripts, installers, and packaged apps users may run. It...

Pros

  • Built into supported Windows Enterprise, Education, and Server editions
  • Uses publisher, path, hash, and user or group-based rules
  • Integrates with Windows Group Policy and event logging

Cons

  • Less sophisticated cloud management than dedicated application-control platforms
  • Rule maintenance can become labor-intensive in large environments
  • Limited cross-platform support compared with commercial competitors

Included with supported Windows editions

Alternatives to Applocker → Visit site
3 VoodooShield CyberLock logo

VoodooShield CyberLock

VoodooSoft

CyberLock is a Windows application-control tool that blocks untrusted executables and scripts from running. It is aimed at home users and small...

Pros

  • Blocks unknown executables before they run
  • Lightweight compared with many managed endpoint platforms
  • Can protect against ransomware variants that evade signatures

Cons

  • Windows-focused with no comparable macOS or Linux client
  • Manual trust decisions can interrupt software installation and updates
  • Fewer reporting and policy-management features than ThreatLocker or Airlock Digital

Free

Alternatives to VoodooShield Cyber... → Visit site
4

ThreatLocker

ThreatLocker

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
5

Airlock Digital

Airlock Digital

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
6

Ivanti Application Control

Ivanti

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

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