Arctic Wolf vs Bitdefender MDR: MDR Comparison 2026
Arctic Wolf (Pure-play MDR) and Bitdefender MDR (EDR vendor) take different approaches to managed detection and response. Arctic Wolf works with your existing tools, while Bitdefender MDR requires its own security platform. Arctic Wolf targets Mid-market and Enterprise organizations; Bitdefender MDR focuses on SMB, Mid-market, and Enterprise.
Key Differences at a Glance
Winner by Category
Arctic Wolf vs Bitdefender MDR: Which Should You Choose?
Choose Arctic Wolf if:
- •Mid-market organizations (50-1000 employees) without a dedicated SOC
- •IT generalists overwhelmed by managing multiple security point solutions
- •Organizations wanting a technology-agnostic MDR that works with existing tools
- •Breach warranty matters to you (Arctic Wolf offers one, Bitdefender MDR does not)
Choose Bitdefender MDR if:
- •Mid-market organizations (50-200+ endpoints) wanting single-vendor MDR + EPP/EDR/XDR
- •Organizations already using or willing to adopt GravityZone
- •MSPs looking for affordable, multi-tenant MDR with consumption billing
Bottom line: Bitdefender MDR is the choice if you want a single-vendor stack with deep integration. Arctic Wolf is better if you have existing tools and want flexibility.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main difference between Arctic Wolf and Bitdefender MDR?
Arctic Wolf is a Pure-play MDR that is technology-agnostic (works with your existing tools). Bitdefender MDR is an EDR vendor that is platform-native (requires their own security stack). SLA commitments differ: Arctic Wolf offers ≤1 hour, Bitdefender MDR offers ≤30 minutes.
How do Arctic Wolf and Bitdefender MDR differ in response capabilities?
Arctic Wolf supports 6 autonomous actions (endpoint isolation, process termination, network containment, account disable, file quarantine, custom playbooks) and approval is configurable. Bitdefender MDR supports 6 autonomous actions (endpoint isolation, process termination, network containment, account disable, file quarantine, custom playbooks) and approval is configurable. Incident response is not included with Arctic Wolf and included with Bitdefender MDR.
How does Arctic Wolf pricing compare to Bitdefender MDR?
Arctic Wolf pricing: Starting ~$20/user/month; MDR Basic ~$44,000/year for up to 100 users. Enterprise pricing is custom.. Bitdefender MDR pricing: MDR Core ~$6.99/endpoint/month, MDR Advanced ~$10.49/endpoint/month, MDR Enterprise ~$14.99/endpoint/month. MDR Foundations and MDR PLUS pricing not publicly disclosed.. Watch for with Arctic Wolf: Incident response and remediation is guided, not performed on your behalf — may need separate IR retainer; Normalized data and active threat feed not directly accessible to customers — security operates as a 'black box' for some. Watch for with Bitdefender MDR: Requires GravityZone agent — cannot use third-party EDR for core MDR detection; XDR sensor licenses (network, identity, cloud, email) are additional cost.
Should I choose Arctic Wolf or Bitdefender MDR?
Choose Arctic Wolf if: mid-market organizations (50-1000 employees) without a dedicated SOC. Choose Bitdefender MDR if: mid-market organizations (50-200+ endpoints) wanting single-vendor MDR + EPP/EDR/XDR. Arctic Wolf is not ideal for large enterprises requiring deep data access and custom detection engineering. Bitdefender MDR is not ideal for organizations with an existing non-Bitdefender EDR they want to keep (requires GravityZone agent).