CrowdStrike vs Mandiant: MDR Comparison 2026
CrowdStrike (EDR vendor) and Mandiant (Services firm) take different approaches to managed detection and response. CrowdStrike requires its own security platform, while Mandiant works with your existing tools. CrowdStrike targets Mid-market and Enterprise organizations; Mandiant focuses on Mid-market and Enterprise. CrowdStrike includes 4 attack surfaces in base pricing (Endpoint, Cloud, SaaS, Network), compared to 5 for Mandiant (Endpoint, Cloud, SaaS, Identity, Network).
Key Differences at a Glance
Winner by Category
CrowdStrike vs Mandiant: 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, Mandiant does not)
Choose Mandiant if:
- •Enterprise organizations wanting elite threat intelligence integrated directly into MDR operations
- •Google Cloud Platform customers wanting native SecOps integration
- •Organizations facing nation-state or advanced persistent threats where Mandiant's frontline IR experience is critical
- •You need Identity coverage included in base pricing
Bottom line: CrowdStrike is the choice if you want a single-vendor stack with deep integration. Mandiant is better if you have existing tools and want flexibility.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main difference between CrowdStrike and Mandiant?
CrowdStrike is an EDR vendor that is platform-native (requires their own security stack). Mandiant is a Services firm that is technology-agnostic (works with your existing tools). CrowdStrike covers 4 attack surfaces in base pricing vs. 5 for Mandiant.
How do CrowdStrike and Mandiant 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. Mandiant supports 2 autonomous actions (endpoint isolation, custom playbooks) and approval is configurable. Incident response is included with CrowdStrike and not included with Mandiant.
How does CrowdStrike pricing compare to Mandiant?
CrowdStrike pricing: $15-25/endpoint/month (estimates vary by deployment size) (200-seat minimum). Mandiant pricing: Estimated ~$83,000/year (third-party estimate from Vendr, not officially published).. Watch for with CrowdStrike: Minimum 200-500 endpoints required — eliminates most SMBs; Requires CrowdStrike Falcon platform — cannot use with competing EDR. Watch for with Mandiant: ~$83K+/year estimated — premium enterprise pricing; IR retainer is separate — must be purchased independently for full incident response.
Should I choose CrowdStrike or Mandiant?
Choose CrowdStrike if: enterprise organizations (200+ endpoints) wanting MITRE-validated detection speed. Choose Mandiant if: enterprise organizations wanting elite threat intelligence integrated directly into MDR operations. CrowdStrike is not ideal for sMBs with fewer than 200 endpoints (minimum requirement). Mandiant is not ideal for sMBs or budget-constrained organizations — ~$83K+/year estimated pricing.