Blumira vs Expel: MDR Comparison 2026
Blumira (MDR provider) and Expel (Pure-play MDR) take different approaches to managed detection and response. Blumira requires its own security platform, while Expel works with your existing tools. Blumira targets SMB and Mid-market organizations; Expel focuses on Mid-market and Enterprise.
Key Differences at a Glance
Winner by Category
Blumira vs Expel: Which Should You Choose?
Choose Blumira if:
- •SMBs (50-1,000 employees) without dedicated security teams who need SIEM without a SOC
- •IT admins who want actionable security without being security specialists
- •MSPs looking for an affordable, multi-tenant SIEM/XDR to resell with month-to-month billing
- •Threat hunting included in base pricing (it's an add-on with Expel)
Choose Expel if:
- •Mid-market and enterprise organizations with existing security tool investments wanting to maximize ROI
- •Tech-forward security teams that value transparency and want to see every SOC action
- •Multi-cloud and hybrid environments needing broad integration coverage
- •You want direct Slack integration with your SOC
Bottom line: Blumira is the choice if you want a single-vendor stack with deep integration. Expel is better if you have existing tools and want flexibility.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main difference between Blumira and Expel?
Blumira is a MDR provider that is platform-native (requires their own security stack). Expel is a Pure-play MDR that is technology-agnostic (works with your existing tools).
How do Blumira and Expel differ in response capabilities?
Blumira supports 4 autonomous actions (endpoint isolation, network containment, account disable, custom playbooks) and approval is configurable. Expel supports 6 autonomous actions (endpoint isolation, process termination, network containment, account disable, file quarantine, custom playbooks) and approval is configurable.
How does Blumira pricing compare to Expel?
Blumira pricing: Free: $0 (3 cloud integrations, 14-day retention). Detect: $12/employee/month. Respond: $16/employee/month. Automate: $21/employee/month. All paid editions: 1-year retention, unlimited ingestion. Additional agents: $3/agent/month.. Expel pricing: Starting at $11,640/year; custom quotes based on environment. Watch for with Blumira: Free tier limited to 3 cloud integrations and 14-day retention; 24/7 SecOps only on Respond and Automate editions (Detect has business-hours support only). Watch for with Expel: Threat hunting is NOT included in base MDR -- it is an add-on service; Price increases announced for 2025.
Should I choose Blumira or Expel?
Choose Blumira if: sMBs (50-1,000 employees) without dedicated security teams who need SIEM without a SOC. Choose Expel if: mid-market and enterprise organizations with existing security tool investments wanting to maximize ROI. Blumira is not ideal for large enterprises needing a fully managed SOC with human-led 24/7 response. Expel is not ideal for organizations wanting a single-vendor platform-native MDR (Expel requires existing security tools).