Critical Start vs Rapid7: MDR Comparison 2026
Critical Start (MDR provider) and Rapid7 (EDR vendor) take different approaches to managed detection and response. Critical Start works with your existing tools, while Rapid7 requires its own security platform. Critical Start targets Mid-market and Enterprise organizations; Rapid7 focuses on SMB, Mid-market, and Enterprise.
Key Differences at a Glance
Winner by Category
Critical Start vs Rapid7: 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)
Choose Rapid7 if:
- •Mid-market to enterprise organizations wanting full data transparency alongside MDR
- •Security teams that want to retain query access to their own data
- •Organizations needing active remediation without a fully outsourced model
- •Breach warranty matters to you (Rapid7 offers one, Critical Start does not)
- •You want direct Slack integration with your SOC
Bottom line: Rapid7 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 Rapid7?
Critical Start is a MDR provider that is technology-agnostic (works with your existing tools). Rapid7 is an EDR vendor that is platform-native (requires their own security stack). SLA commitments differ: Critical Start offers ≤15 minutes, Rapid7 offers Not disclosed.
How do Critical Start and Rapid7 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. Rapid7 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 Critical Start and included with Rapid7.
How does Critical Start pricing compare to Rapid7?
Critical Start pricing: Custom-quoted pricing. Rapid7 pricing: Starting ~$17/asset/month; $30,000-$150,000+/year for enterprise deployments. 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 Rapid7: Requires Rapid7 Insight Agent on at least 80% of supported assets; Enterprise tier significantly more expensive than Essentials.
Should I choose Critical Start or Rapid7?
Choose Critical Start if: mid-market to large enterprises wanting technology-agnostic MDR that works with their existing security stack. Choose Rapid7 if: mid-market to enterprise organizations wanting full data transparency alongside MDR. Critical Start is not ideal for sMBs or budget-conscious organizations — enterprise-focused pricing not publicly disclosed. Rapid7 is not ideal for small organizations with fewer than 100 assets seeking budget MDR.