CrowdStrike vs ESET: MDR Comparison 2026
Detailed comparison of CrowdStrike and ESET managed detection and response services. Compare response capabilities, SLA, coverage, integrations, and compliance.
Winner by Category
Response Level
Tie
Same level
SLA Speed
CrowdStrike
Faster response time
Coverage Breadth
ESET
5 vs 4 surfaces
Integrations
ESET
More integration options
Criteria
Best-in-class detection speed and active remediation depth backed by MITRE-validated metrics, CrowdStrike threat intelligence, and a breach warranty up to $2M. Premium pricing reflects premium capability.
Strong SMB-focused MDR built on 30+ years of threat research, with fast 20-minute response times and accessible 25-device minimum. Best for organizations already in or willing to adopt the ESET ecosystem.
Response Type
Active Remediation
Active Remediation
Approval Policy
Fully Autonomous
Configurable
Auto-Isolate
✓
✓
Kill Process
✓
✓
IR Included
✓ Included
✓ Included
Response SLA
Not disclosed
20m
24/7 Coverage
✓ Yes
✓ Yes
Channels
EmailPortalPhone
EmailPortalPhone
Data Access
Full Query
Dashboards
Model
Per-endpoint pricing; tiered by endpoint count and coverage scope
Per-seat/device, custom-quoted; available as add-on to ESET PROTECT Enterprise or Elite tiers. MSP pricing with daily billing or monthly invoicing.
Price Range
$15-25/endpoint/month (estimates vary by deployment size)
Custom-quoted based on environment and device count; volume discounts available
Minimum Seats
200
25
Threat Hunting
✓ Included
✓ Included
Overall
Positive
Positive
Summary
Industry leader with MITRE-validated detection speed. Premium pricing and platform lock-in are accepted trade-offs for best-in-class detection and response. July 2024 outage dented trust.
Recognized as Market Leader and Product Leader in MDR by KuppingerCole 2024. Praised for fast 20-minute response times, strong threat intelligence from 30+ years of research, and good SMB accessibility. Criticized for UI/UX issues and the ESET console interface being unintuitive for US users.
CrowdStrike vs ESET: Which Should You Choose?
Choose CrowdStrike if:
- You need active remediation
- Not disclosed response time meets your needs
- You prefer platform native solutions
- Your org size: Mid-market / Enterprise
Choose ESET if:
- You need active remediation
- 20m response time meets your needs
- You prefer platform native solutions
- Your org size: SMB / Mid-market / Enterprise
FAQ
What's the main difference between CrowdStrike and ESET?
Key differences: response model (Active Remediation vs Active Remediation), SLA (Not disclosed vs 20m), and approach (Platform Native vs Platform Native).