Critical Start vs Huntress: MDR Comparison 2026
Critical Start (MDR provider) and Huntress (MSP-channel) take different approaches to managed detection and response. Critical Start works with your existing tools, while Huntress requires its own security platform. Critical Start targets Mid-market and Enterprise organizations; Huntress focuses on SMB and Mid-market. Critical Start includes 5 attack surfaces in base pricing (Endpoint, Cloud, SaaS, Identity, Network), compared to 3 for Huntress (Endpoint, SaaS, Identity).
Key Differences at a Glance
Winner by Category
Critical Start vs Huntress: 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 Cloud and Network coverage included in base pricing
Choose Huntress if:
- •MSPs wanting a channel-first MDR partner with multi-tenant management and volume pricing
- •SMBs needing affordable, enterprise-grade MDR with minimal overhead (deploys in 30 minutes)
- •Microsoft 365-heavy environments needing integrated identity threat detection (ITDR with 3-min MTTR)
Bottom line: Huntress 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 Huntress?
Critical Start is a MDR provider that is technology-agnostic (works with your existing tools). Huntress is a MSP-channel that is platform-native (requires their own security stack). SLA commitments differ: Critical Start offers ≤15 minutes, Huntress offers Not disclosed. Critical Start covers 5 attack surfaces in base pricing vs. 3 for Huntress.
How do Critical Start and Huntress 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. Huntress supports 4 autonomous actions (endpoint isolation, process termination, account disable, file quarantine) and approval is configurable.
How does Critical Start pricing compare to Huntress?
Critical Start pricing: Custom-quoted pricing. Huntress pricing: Estimated ~$2.50-$3.50/endpoint/month for EDR (community-reported). Not officially published. Volume discounts decrease price. (50-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 Huntress: 50-endpoint minimum for standard plan; under 50 requires sales engagement; Each product (EDR, ITDR, SIEM, SAT) priced separately — full stack costs add up.
Should I choose Critical Start or Huntress?
Choose Critical Start if: mid-market to large enterprises wanting technology-agnostic MDR that works with their existing security stack. Choose Huntress if: mSPs wanting a channel-first MDR partner with multi-tenant management and volume pricing. Critical Start is not ideal for sMBs or budget-conscious organizations — enterprise-focused pricing not publicly disclosed. Huntress is not ideal for enterprise organizations needing deep SIEM integration with existing Splunk/Sentinel/Chronicle.