CrowdStrike vs eSentire: MDR Comparison 2026
CrowdStrike (EDR vendor) and eSentire (Pure-play MDR) take different approaches to managed detection and response. CrowdStrike requires its own security platform, while eSentire works with your existing tools. CrowdStrike targets Mid-market and Enterprise organizations; eSentire focuses on SMB, Mid-market, and Enterprise. CrowdStrike includes 4 attack surfaces in base pricing (Endpoint, Cloud, SaaS, Network), compared to 5 for eSentire (Endpoint, Cloud, SaaS, Identity, Network).
Key Differences at a Glance
Winner by Category
CrowdStrike vs eSentire: Which Should You Choose?
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, eSentire does not)
Choose eSentire if:
- •Mid-market and enterprise organizations needing active remediation, not just alerts
- •Critical infrastructure sectors
- •Organizations with complex multi-vendor security stacks requiring 300+ integrations
- •You need Identity coverage included in base pricing
Bottom line: CrowdStrike is the choice if you want a single-vendor stack with deep integration. eSentire is better if you have existing tools and want flexibility.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main difference between CrowdStrike and eSentire?
CrowdStrike is an EDR vendor that is platform-native (requires their own security stack). eSentire is a Pure-play MDR that is technology-agnostic (works with your existing tools). SLA commitments differ: CrowdStrike offers Not disclosed, eSentire offers ≤15 minutes. CrowdStrike covers 4 attack surfaces in base pricing vs. 5 for eSentire.
How do CrowdStrike and eSentire differ in response capabilities?
CrowdStrike supports 6 autonomous actions (endpoint isolation, process termination, network containment, account disable, file quarantine, custom playbooks) and acts without approval. eSentire supports 6 autonomous actions (endpoint isolation, process termination, network containment, account disable, file quarantine, custom playbooks) and approval is configurable.
How does CrowdStrike pricing compare to eSentire?
CrowdStrike pricing: $15-25/endpoint/month (estimates vary by deployment size) (200-seat minimum). eSentire pricing: Custom-quoted pricing. Watch for with CrowdStrike: Minimum 200-500 endpoints required — eliminates most SMBs; Requires CrowdStrike Falcon platform — cannot use with competing EDR. Watch for with eSentire: Tier differences significant — Essentials may lack key response capabilities; BYOL pricing differs from bundled Atlas Agent pricing.
Should I choose CrowdStrike or eSentire?
Choose CrowdStrike if: enterprise organizations (200+ endpoints) wanting MITRE-validated detection speed. Choose eSentire if: mid-market and enterprise organizations needing active remediation, not just alerts. CrowdStrike is not ideal for sMBs with fewer than 200 endpoints (minimum requirement). eSentire is not ideal for budget-constrained SMBs seeking the lowest-cost MDR option.