Choose Bitdefender MDR or Sophos
Choose Bitdefender MDR if
- Organizations already on GravityZone wanting to add managed detection without changing their endpoint stack
- MSPs looking for affordable, multi-tenant MDR with consumption billing and RMM integrations
- Mid-market teams (50-500 endpoints) wanting single-vendor EPP + EDR + MDR from one provider
Choose Sophos if
- Existing Sophos endpoint or firewall customers adding managed services on their existing platform
- SMBs and mid-market with diverse security stacks needing broad integration support (350+ tools)
- Organizations wanting all-in MDR pricing with full IR and $1M breach warranty (MDR Complete)
- You need Cloud and SaaS and Identity and Network coverage included in base pricing
What’s actually different
Buyer brief
Updated 2026-06-02
Fit. Bitdefender is the cleaner fit for GravityZone customers and buyers prioritizing low-noise detection evidence. Sophos is the cleaner fit for teams wanting a broader MDR package with a larger public customer footprint.
Response. Bitdefender has stronger managed-services test evidence and a tighter notification SLA. Sophos MDR Complete bundles more response value, including IR, SLA and warranty, but buyers must avoid comparing Complete claims against Essentials quotes.
Cost and scope. Neither is truly bring-your-own-EDR. Bitdefender can be attractive for MSP consumption billing, while Sophos is usually easier to defend when bundled response and community validation matter. Confirm the exact tier before using either vendor's headline claims.
FAQ
What is the main difference between Bitdefender MDR and Sophos?
Bitdefender MDR is a Platform vendor that is platform-native (requires their own security stack). Sophos is a Platform vendor that is platform-native (requires their own security stack). SLA commitments differ: Bitdefender MDR offers ≤30 minutes, Sophos offers ≤1 hour. Bitdefender MDR covers 1 attack surfaces in base pricing vs. 5 for Sophos.
How do Bitdefender MDR and Sophos differ in response capabilities?
Bitdefender MDR supports 6 autonomous actions (endpoint isolation, process termination, network containment, account disable, file quarantine, custom playbooks) and approval is configurable. Sophos 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 Bitdefender MDR and included with Sophos.
How does Bitdefender MDR pricing compare to Sophos?
Bitdefender MDR pricing: Not published. Bitdefender simplified to two tiers (MDR and MDR PLUS) in 2024. MSPs get consumption-based billing. Sophos pricing: No Sophos.com list price. Distributor prices (EnterpriseAV, 2026): MDR Essentials $74.65-$144.24 per user/year (list) and Complete $135.20-$227.66 per user/year (EnterpriseAV 'Our Price' street; list runs about 5% higher, e.g. $239.64 at the 1-9 band), decreasing with volume; server coverage priced separately (Essentials $115.82-$258.24, Complete $175.20-$390.72 per server/year, list). Third-party estimates put street pricing near $80-200 per user/year. 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 and can significantly increase total spend. Watch for with Sophos: MDR Essentials does not include full incident response or the breach warranty; those require MDR Complete; Breach warranty has a $1,000 per-device sub-cap, a 60-day waiting period, a $5,000 minimum out-of-pocket to file, and excludes virtual desktops and state-sponsored attacks.