ESET vs Field Effect: MDR Comparison 2026
ESET (EDR vendor) and Field Effect (MDR provider) take different approaches to managed detection and response. ESET requires its own security platform, while Field Effect requires its own security platform. ESET targets SMB, Mid-market, and Enterprise organizations; Field Effect focuses on SMB and Mid-market.
Key Differences at a Glance
Winner by Category
ESET vs Field Effect: Which Should You Choose?
Choose ESET if:
- •SMBs with 25-500 devices needing enterprise-grade MDR
- •Organizations already using ESET endpoint protection
- •Companies needing multi-platform support (Windows, macOS, Linux, Android)
Choose Field Effect if:
- •SMBs and MSPs wanting affordable, easy-to-deploy MDR with published per-user pricing
- •Canadian organizations needing domestic data hosting and PIPEDA compliance
- •Healthcare, government, and defense contractors needing HIPAA/CMMC/NIST compliance support
Bottom line: ESET (EDR vendor) and Field Effect (MDR provider) serve different buyer profiles. Your decision depends on whether you prioritize ESET's strong smb-focused mdr built on 30+ years of threat research, with fast 20-minute response times ... or Field Effect's mitre-validated detection (11-min mttd, detected every measured step) with vendor-claimed 99.9% n....
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main difference between ESET and Field Effect?
ESET is an EDR vendor that is platform-native (requires their own security stack). Field Effect is a MDR provider that is platform-native (requires their own security stack). SLA commitments differ: ESET offers ≤15 minutes, Field Effect offers Not disclosed.
How do ESET and Field Effect differ in response capabilities?
ESET supports 6 autonomous actions (endpoint isolation, process termination, network containment, account disable, file quarantine, custom playbooks) and approval is configurable. Field Effect supports 5 autonomous actions (endpoint isolation, process termination, network containment, account disable, file quarantine) and approval is configurable. Incident response is included with ESET and not included with Field Effect.
How does ESET pricing compare to Field Effect?
ESET pricing: Custom-quoted based on environment and device count; volume discounts available (25-seat minimum). Field Effect pricing: MDR Core: $99/user/month (ideal for <=25 users). MDR Complete: custom pricing (larger organizations, compliance requirements).. Watch for with ESET: Requires ESET PROTECT Enterprise or Elite subscription as base; MDR Ultimate is a significant step up in price from standard MDR. Watch for with Field Effect: MDR Core excludes network monitoring, DNS firewall, and dark web monitoring — significant feature gap vs Complete; $99/user adds up quickly — 50 users = $4,950/month.
Should I choose ESET or Field Effect?
Choose ESET if: sMBs with 25-500 devices needing enterprise-grade MDR. Choose Field Effect if: sMBs and MSPs wanting affordable, easy-to-deploy MDR with published per-user pricing. ESET is not ideal for enterprises requiring vendor-agnostic SIEM/EDR integration. Field Effect is not ideal for organizations with existing CrowdStrike/SentinelOne/Defender deployments — requires proprietary Field Effect agent.