Choose Darktrace or Expel
Choose Darktrace if
- Critical infrastructure and industrial environments needing OT/ICS security with protocol-agnostic detection
- Security teams comfortable with autonomous response technology and willing to invest tuning time for optimal detection
- Threat hunting included in base pricing (it's an add-on with Expel)
Choose Expel if
- Mid-market and enterprise organizations with existing security tools wanting vendor-agnostic MDR
- Security teams that value transparency and want to see every SOC action in real time
- Multi-cloud environments needing broad integration coverage including Oracle Cloud
- You need Endpoint and Cloud and SaaS and Identity coverage included in base pricing
What’s actually different
Buyer brief
Updated 2026-04-09
Fit. Expel connects to 160+ tools via API without deploying a proprietary agent. Darktrace requires its own platform, including network sensors, endpoint agents and optional cloud and email modules that are each priced separately. If you already have a security stack you're satisfied with, Expel layers on top. Darktrace replaces parts of it.
Response. Expel's Workbench provides a full audit trail of every SOC analyst action with configurable auto-remediation across all six core response actions. Darktrace's Antigena contains threats through network-level actions in seconds but doesn't support process termination, account disable or file quarantine through the MDR service.
Cost and scope. Expel publishes 14-minute MTTR for critical incidents with auto-remediation enabled. Darktrace publishes no detection or response time metrics. Darktrace has not participated in MITRE evaluations, and reviewers consistently flag high false positive rates requiring significant tuning effort. Darktrace's MDR launched in June 2024 with limited independent feedback. Expel is a Forrester Wave MDR Leader (Q1 2025) with a G2 rating of 4.8/5. Neither includes incident response or a breach warranty, and Expel also charges separately for threat hunting.
FAQ
What is the main difference between Darktrace and Expel?
Darktrace is a Platform vendor that is platform-native (requires their own security stack). Expel is a Pure-play MDR that is technology-agnostic (works with your existing tools). Darktrace covers 1 attack surfaces in base pricing vs. 5 for Expel.
How do Darktrace and Expel differ in response capabilities?
Darktrace supports 3 autonomous actions (endpoint isolation, network containment, custom playbooks) and approval is configurable. Expel supports 6 autonomous actions (endpoint isolation, process termination, network containment, account disable, file quarantine, custom playbooks) and approval is configurable.
How does Darktrace pricing compare to Expel?
Darktrace pricing: Not published. Reviewers report pricing in the upper market segment. Expel pricing: About $11,640/yr entry (third-party listings) up to six figures at mid-market and enterprise scope. AWS Marketplace publishes $88,800/yr for 500 cloud resources on a 12-month term. Watch for with Darktrace: Full coverage (endpoint, cloud, email, OT) requires multiple separate modules that increase total cost significantly; High false positive rates require internal analyst time for tuning despite the MDR service. Watch for with Expel: Threat hunting, phishing response, and vulnerability prioritization are separate add-ons; base tiers include remediation recommendations and endpoint auto-remediation, with multi-surface auto-remediation starting at Select; Onboarding and professional services can be billed separately (third-party estimate $10,000-$50,000+).