Bitdefender MDR vs Sophos: MDR Comparison 2026
Bitdefender MDR (EDR vendor) and Sophos (Services firm) take different approaches to managed detection and response. Bitdefender MDR requires its own security platform, while Sophos works with your existing tools. Bitdefender MDR targets SMB, Mid-market, and Enterprise organizations; Sophos focuses on SMB, Mid-market, and Enterprise.
Key Differences at a Glance
Winner by Category
Bitdefender MDR vs Sophos: Which Should You Choose?
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
Choose Sophos if:
- •SMBs and mid-market organizations seeking an all-in-one MDR with inclusive IR
- •Organizations with diverse, multi-vendor security stacks needing broad integration support
- •Companies wanting straightforward pricing with predictable costs
- •Breach warranty matters to you (Sophos offers one, Bitdefender MDR does not)
Bottom line: Bitdefender MDR is the choice if you want a single-vendor stack with deep integration. Sophos is better if you have existing tools and want flexibility.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main difference between Bitdefender MDR and Sophos?
Bitdefender MDR is an EDR vendor that is platform-native (requires their own security stack). Sophos is a Services firm that is technology-agnostic (works with your existing tools). SLA commitments differ: Bitdefender MDR offers ≤30 minutes, Sophos offers ≤15 minutes.
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.
How does Bitdefender MDR pricing compare to Sophos?
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.. Sophos pricing: Custom quote required; tiered pricing bands (10-24, 25-49, 50-99, etc.) (10-seat minimum). 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. Watch for with Sophos: MDR Essentials does NOT include breach warranty or full incident response — those require MDR Complete; Linux server protection requires separate Sophos Workload Protection subscription.
Should I choose Bitdefender MDR or Sophos?
Choose Bitdefender MDR if: mid-market organizations (50-200+ endpoints) wanting single-vendor MDR + EPP/EDR/XDR. Choose Sophos if: sMBs and mid-market organizations seeking an all-in-one MDR with inclusive IR. Bitdefender MDR is not ideal for organizations with an existing non-Bitdefender EDR they want to keep (requires GravityZone agent). Sophos is not ideal for large enterprises needing deep, custom detection engineering.