Critical Start vs CrowdStrike: MDR Comparison 2026
Critical Start (MDR provider) and CrowdStrike (EDR vendor) take different approaches to managed detection and response. Critical Start works with your existing tools, while CrowdStrike requires its own security platform. Critical Start targets Mid-market and Enterprise organizations; CrowdStrike focuses on Mid-market and Enterprise. Critical Start includes 5 attack surfaces in base pricing (Endpoint, Cloud, SaaS, Identity, Network), compared to 4 for CrowdStrike (Endpoint, Cloud, SaaS, Network).
Key Differences at a Glance
Winner by Category
Critical Start vs CrowdStrike: Which Should You Choose?
Choose Critical Start if:
- •Mid-market to large enterprises wanting technology-agnostic MDR that works with their existing security stack
- •Organizations suffering from alert fatigue wanting TBR's deterministic auto-resolution to reduce noise
- •Companies needing OT/ICS monitoring alongside IT MDR (Claroty, Dragos, Nozomi integrations)
- •You need Identity coverage included in base pricing
Choose CrowdStrike if:
- •Enterprise organizations (200+ endpoints) wanting MITRE-validated detection speed
- •Teams comfortable with a single-vendor platform approach
- •Organizations that want fully autonomous remediation without approval workflows
- •Breach warranty matters to you (CrowdStrike offers one, Critical Start does not)
Bottom line: CrowdStrike is the choice if you want a single-vendor stack with deep integration. Critical Start is better if you have existing tools and want flexibility.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main difference between Critical Start and CrowdStrike?
Critical Start is a MDR provider that is technology-agnostic (works with your existing tools). CrowdStrike is an EDR vendor that is platform-native (requires their own security stack). SLA commitments differ: Critical Start offers ≤15 minutes, CrowdStrike offers Not disclosed. Critical Start covers 5 attack surfaces in base pricing vs. 4 for CrowdStrike.
How do Critical Start and CrowdStrike differ in response capabilities?
Critical Start supports 6 autonomous actions (endpoint isolation, process termination, network containment, account disable, file quarantine, custom playbooks) and approval is configurable. CrowdStrike supports 6 autonomous actions (endpoint isolation, process termination, network containment, account disable, file quarantine, custom playbooks) and acts without approval. Incident response is not included with Critical Start and included with CrowdStrike.
How does Critical Start pricing compare to CrowdStrike?
Critical Start pricing: Custom-quoted pricing. CrowdStrike pricing: $15-25/endpoint/month (estimates vary by deployment size) (200-seat minimum). Watch for with Critical Start: No public pricing at all — requires sales call for any ballpark; OT/ICS monitoring and vulnerability management are separate purchases on top of base MDR. Watch for with CrowdStrike: Minimum 200-500 endpoints required — eliminates most SMBs; Requires CrowdStrike Falcon platform — cannot use with competing EDR.
Should I choose Critical Start or CrowdStrike?
Choose Critical Start if: mid-market to large enterprises wanting technology-agnostic MDR that works with their existing security stack. Choose CrowdStrike if: enterprise organizations (200+ endpoints) wanting MITRE-validated detection speed. Critical Start is not ideal for sMBs or budget-conscious organizations — enterprise-focused pricing not publicly disclosed. CrowdStrike is not ideal for sMBs with fewer than 200 endpoints (minimum requirement).