Critical Start vs Todyl: MDR Comparison 2026
Critical Start and Todyl are both categorized as MDR providers, but differ in execution. Critical Start works with your existing tools and targets Mid-market and Enterprise organizations. Todyl requires its own security platform and focuses on SMB and Mid-market.
Key Differences at a Glance
Winner by Category
Critical Start vs Todyl: 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 Todyl if:
- •MSPs wanting to consolidate EDR, SASE, SIEM, MDR, and GRC into one platform with multi-tenant management
- •SMBs with lean security teams wanting a dedicated security contact (DRAM) at an accessible price point
- •Greenfield deployments with no existing EDR/SIEM/SASE investments to preserve
- •You want direct Slack integration with your SOC
Bottom line: Todyl 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 Todyl?
Critical Start is a MDR provider that is technology-agnostic (works with your existing tools). Todyl is a MDR provider that is platform-native (requires their own security stack). SLA commitments differ: Critical Start offers ≤15 minutes, Todyl offers Not disclosed.
How do Critical Start and Todyl 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. Todyl supports 6 autonomous actions (endpoint isolation, process termination, network containment, account disable, file quarantine, custom playbooks) and approval is configurable.
How does Critical Start pricing compare to Todyl?
Critical Start pricing: Custom-quoted pricing. Todyl pricing: Starting at $250/month (platform base). Per-tier and per-module pricing not published.. 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 Todyl: Platform-native lock-in -- must adopt full Todyl stack, cannot BYO EDR/SIEM/SASE; $250/month starting price is the base -- unclear what modules are included at that tier.
Should I choose Critical Start or Todyl?
Choose Critical Start if: mid-market to large enterprises wanting technology-agnostic MDR that works with their existing security stack. Choose Todyl if: mSPs wanting to consolidate EDR, SASE, SIEM, MDR, and GRC into one platform with multi-tenant management. Critical Start is not ideal for sMBs or budget-conscious organizations — enterprise-focused pricing not publicly disclosed. Todyl is not ideal for organizations with existing EDR/SIEM/SASE investments -- requires full Todyl stack adoption.