Darktrace vs Expel
Buyer brief
Updated 2026-04-09
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.
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.
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.
At a glance
| FIELD |  |  |
|---|---|---|
| Best fit | Critical infrastructure and industrial environments needing OT/ICS security with protocol-agnostic detection | Mid-market and enterprise organizations with existing security tools wanting vendor-agnostic MDR |
| Price | Custom quote | TrustRadius: from $11,640/yr |
| Response authority | 3/6 actions · Configurable | 6/6 actions · Configurable |
| Stack | Requires own platform | Works with existing stack |
| Data access | Full query access | Full query access |
| Warranty | None listed | None listed |
- Best fit
- Critical infrastructure and industrial environments needing OT/ICS security with protocol-agnostic detection
- Price
- Custom quote
- Response authority
- 3/6 actions · Configurable
- Stack
- Requires own platform
- Data access
- Full query access
- Warranty
- None listed
- Best fit
- Mid-market and enterprise organizations with existing security tools wanting vendor-agnostic MDR
- Price
- TrustRadius: from $11,640/yr
- Response authority
- 6/6 actions · Configurable
- Stack
- Works with existing stack
- Data access
- Full query access
- Warranty
- None listed
Detailed comparison
| FIELD | DarktracePLATFORM | ExpelTECH-AGNOSTIC |
|---|---|---|
| Fit | ||
| Target size | Mid-market, Enterprise | Mid-market, Enterprise |
| Sentiment | Mixed | Very Positive |
| Your stack | ||
| Approach | Requires their platform | Works with your tools |
| EDR integrations | CrowdStrike, Microsoft Defender, SentinelOne | Carbon BlackPalo Alto CortexElasticCybereason CrowdStrike, Microsoft Defender, SentinelOne |
| SIEM integrations | Splunk, Microsoft Sentinel | Palo Alto Cortex XSIAMGoogle ChronicleExabeamSecuronixSumo LogicIBM QRadar Splunk, Microsoft Sentinel |
| Coverage | EPEndpoint: Optional add-onCloudCloud: Optional add-onIDIdentity: LimitedSaaSSaaS: Optional add-onNetNetwork: CoveredOTOT/IoT: Optional add-on | EPEndpoint: CoveredCloudCloud: CoveredIDIdentity: CoveredSaaSSaaS: CoveredNetNetwork: CoveredOTOT/IoT: Not covered |
| Response | ||
| Response type | Active Remediation | Active Remediation |
| Approval policy | Configurable | Configurable |
| Response actions | IsolateContainCustom playbooks | IsolateKill processContainDisable accountsQuarantineCustom playbooks |
| IR included | Separate | Separate |
| Cost | ||
| Price range | Not published. Reviewers report pricing in the upper market segment. | Starting at $11,640/year. Custom quotes based on environment size and coverage areas. |
| Minimum seats | None | None |
| Breach warranty | – | – |
| More details | ||
| Requires own agent | Yes | No |
| Endpoints | + Optional | ✓ Included |
| Cloud workloads | + Optional | ✓ Included |
| Identity | ~ Limited | ✓ Included |
| SaaS apps | + Optional | ✓ Included |
| Network | ✓ Included | ✓ Included |
| OT/ICS | + Optional | Not offered |
| Threat hunting | ✓ Included | Extra cost |
| Response SLA | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| 24/7 coverage | ✓ | ✓ |
| Pricing model | Custom quote. Pricing based on number of devices monitored and service tier selected. | Custom pricing by coverage type: cloud infrastructure (by resources), on-prem (by endpoints), SaaS (by user accounts), phishing (by email count). Three tiers: Starter, Select, Premium. |
| Hidden cost warnings | 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. No free trial available to test before purchase. Steep learning curve may require professional services or extended onboarding | Threat hunting is NOT included in base MDR, it is a separate add-on. Incident response is NOT included and must be obtained separately. Premium tier required for direct Slack/Teams SOC communication. Pricing scales significantly based on number of integrations and coverage areas |
| Data portability | Limited | Full |
| Contract terms | Annual | Annual, Multi-year |
| Channels | EmailPortalTeamsSlackPhone | SlackTeamsEmailPortal |
| Data access | Full query access | Full query access |
| Dedicated analyst | – | – |
| SOC regions | North AmericaEuropeAsia-Pacific | North America |
| Onboarding | Not published | Hours to days via API integrations. 7-minute initial tool connection demonstrated. |
| Industry focus | Financial ServicesHealthcareManufacturingEnergyGovernmentCritical Infrastructure | Financial ServicesHealthcareTechnologyEducationEnergy |
| MTTD | Not published | Not separately published |
| MTTR | Not published | 14 minutes for critical/high incidents with auto-remediation. 22 minutes average alert-to-fix for critical alerts. |
| Community view | Gartner Peer Insights Customers' Choice 2025 for NDR (4.8/5, 242 reviews). Practitioners praise Self-Learning AI for detecting novel threats and Antigena response speed. Consistent complaints about high false positive rates, expensive pricing, and steep learning curve. MDR service launched June 2024, so limited community feedback on the managed service specifically. | Forrester Wave MDR Leader Q1 2025 (5/5 in 15 of 21 criteria). Gartner Peer Insights 4.6/5 (142 reviews). G2 4.8/5. PeerSpot 9.0/10. Widely praised for transparency, integration breadth, and speed. Primary criticism: threat hunting and incident response are add-ons, not included. |
| Compliance | SOC 2 Type IIISO 27001GDPRCSA STAR Level 1 | SOC 2 Type IIISO 27001:2013ISO 27701:2019GDPR |
| Certifications | SOC 2 Type IIISO 27001CSA STAR Level 1Gartner Peer Insights Customers' Choice 2025 (NDR) | SOC 2 Type II (annual audit May 1 to April 30)ISO 27001:2013ISO 27701:2019 (processor) |
| Founded | 2013 | 2016 |
| Data retention | Not published. Varies by module. | Per-contract basis with automated secure disposal per retention policy |
| API available | ✓ | ✓ |
| Website | Visit → | Visit → |
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 (custom playbooks, endpoint isolation, network containment) and approval is configurable. Expel supports 6 autonomous actions (account disable, custom playbooks, endpoint isolation, file quarantine, network containment, process termination) 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: Starting at $11,640/year. Custom quotes based on environment size and coverage areas.. 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 is NOT included in base MDR, it is a separate add-on; Incident response is NOT included and must be obtained separately.
Should I choose Darktrace or Expel?
Choose Darktrace if: mid-market and enterprise organizations wanting AI-powered threat detection with autonomous response across diverse attack surfaces. Choose Expel if: mid-market and enterprise organizations with existing security tools wanting vendor-agnostic MDR. Darktrace is not ideal for sMBs or budget-conscious buyers. Premium pricing, no trial, and no published pricing transparency.. Expel is not ideal for organizations wanting platform-native MDR from a single vendor (Expel requires existing security tools).
Daylight Security
AI-native MDR for buyers comparing active remediation across endpoint, cloud, identity, and SaaS. Daylight works with existing EDR/SIEM stacks and uses ChatOps-native collaboration, so it can be a useful third reference point in this comparison.