Critical Start vs ThreatDown: MDR Comparison 2026
Critical Start and ThreatDown are both categorized as MDR providers, but differ in execution. Critical Start works with your existing tools and targets Mid-market and Enterprise organizations. ThreatDown requires its own security platform and focuses on SMB and Mid-market. Critical Start includes 5 attack surfaces in base pricing (Endpoint, Cloud, SaaS, Identity, Network), compared to 1 for ThreatDown (Endpoint).
Key Differences at a Glance
Winner by Category
Critical Start vs ThreatDown: 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 SaaS and Identity and Network coverage included in base pricing
Choose ThreatDown if:
- •SMBs and IT-constrained mid-market organizations wanting affordable MDR with published pricing ($99/endpoint/year)
- •MSPs wanting channel-first MDR with multi-tenant OneView console and RMM integrations
- •Organizations needing fast deployment — agent installs in minutes, MDR activates immediately
- •You want direct Slack integration with your SOC
Bottom line: ThreatDown 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 ThreatDown?
Critical Start is a MDR provider that is technology-agnostic (works with your existing tools). ThreatDown is a MDR provider that is platform-native (requires their own security stack). SLA commitments differ: Critical Start offers ≤15 minutes, ThreatDown offers Not disclosed. Critical Start covers 5 attack surfaces in base pricing vs. 1 for ThreatDown.
How do Critical Start and ThreatDown 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. ThreatDown supports 3 autonomous actions (endpoint isolation, process termination, file quarantine) and approval is configurable.
How does Critical Start pricing compare to ThreatDown?
Critical Start pricing: Custom-quoted pricing. ThreatDown pricing: MDR included at $99/endpoint/year (Elite) or $119/endpoint/year (Ultimate). Server endpoints: $129-179/year. Mobile: $10/device. (5-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 ThreatDown: Endpoint-only coverage — no cloud workload, SaaS, identity, or network monitoring; Platform-native lock-in — cannot BYO CrowdStrike, SentinelOne, or Defender.
Should I choose Critical Start or ThreatDown?
Choose Critical Start if: mid-market to large enterprises wanting technology-agnostic MDR that works with their existing security stack. Choose ThreatDown if: sMBs and IT-constrained mid-market organizations wanting affordable MDR with published pricing ($99/endpoint/year). Critical Start is not ideal for sMBs or budget-conscious organizations — enterprise-focused pricing not publicly disclosed. ThreatDown is not ideal for enterprise organizations needing multi-surface coverage (cloud, SaaS, identity, network, OT).