eSentire vs Expel: MDR Comparison 2026
eSentire and Expel are both categorized as Pure-play MDRs, but differ in execution. eSentire works with your existing tools and targets SMB, Mid-market, and Enterprise organizations. Expel works with your existing tools and focuses on Mid-market and Enterprise.
Key Differences at a Glance
Winner by Category
eSentire vs Expel: Which Should You Choose?
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
- •Threat hunting included in base pricing (it's an add-on with Expel)
Choose Expel if:
- •Mid-market and enterprise organizations with existing security tool investments wanting to maximize ROI
- •Tech-forward security teams that value transparency and want to see every SOC action
- •Multi-cloud and hybrid environments needing broad integration coverage
- •You want direct Slack integration with your SOC
Bottom line: Both providers target similar markets. Compare their specific response actions, communication channels, and pricing structure to find the better fit for your environment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main difference between eSentire and Expel?
eSentire is a Pure-play MDR that is technology-agnostic (works with your existing tools). Expel is a Pure-play MDR that is technology-agnostic (works with your existing tools). SLA commitments differ: eSentire offers ≤15 minutes, Expel offers Not disclosed.
How do eSentire and Expel differ in response capabilities?
eSentire supports 6 autonomous actions (endpoint isolation, process termination, network containment, account disable, file quarantine, 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. Incident response is included with eSentire and not included with Expel.
How does eSentire pricing compare to Expel?
eSentire pricing: Custom-quoted pricing. Expel pricing: Starting at $11,640/year; custom quotes based on environment. Watch for with eSentire: Tier differences significant — Essentials may lack key response capabilities; BYOL pricing differs from bundled Atlas Agent pricing. Watch for with Expel: Threat hunting is NOT included in base MDR -- it is an add-on service; Price increases announced for 2025.
Should I choose eSentire or Expel?
Choose eSentire if: mid-market and enterprise organizations needing active remediation, not just alerts. Choose Expel if: mid-market and enterprise organizations with existing security tool investments wanting to maximize ROI. eSentire is not ideal for budget-constrained SMBs seeking the lowest-cost MDR option. Expel is not ideal for organizations wanting a single-vendor platform-native MDR (Expel requires existing security tools).