ESET vs Huntress: MDR Comparison 2026
ESET (EDR vendor) and Huntress (MSP-channel) take different approaches to managed detection and response. ESET requires its own security platform, while Huntress requires its own security platform. ESET targets SMB, Mid-market, and Enterprise organizations; Huntress focuses on SMB and Mid-market. ESET includes 5 attack surfaces in base pricing (Endpoint, Cloud, SaaS, Identity, Network), compared to 3 for Huntress (Endpoint, SaaS, Identity).
Key Differences at a Glance
Winner by Category
ESET vs Huntress: 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)
- •You need Cloud and Network coverage included in base pricing
Choose Huntress if:
- •MSPs wanting a channel-first MDR partner with multi-tenant management and volume pricing
- •SMBs needing affordable, enterprise-grade MDR with minimal overhead (deploys in 30 minutes)
- •Microsoft 365-heavy environments needing integrated identity threat detection (ITDR with 3-min MTTR)
Bottom line: ESET (EDR vendor) and Huntress (MSP-channel) 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 Huntress's the msp community's gold standard for smb-focused mdr.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main difference between ESET and Huntress?
ESET is an EDR vendor that is platform-native (requires their own security stack). Huntress is a MSP-channel that is platform-native (requires their own security stack). SLA commitments differ: ESET offers ≤15 minutes, Huntress offers Not disclosed. ESET covers 5 attack surfaces in base pricing vs. 3 for Huntress.
How do ESET and Huntress 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. Huntress supports 4 autonomous actions (endpoint isolation, process termination, account disable, file quarantine) and approval is configurable. Incident response is included with ESET and not included with Huntress.
How does ESET pricing compare to Huntress?
ESET pricing: Custom-quoted based on environment and device count; volume discounts available (25-seat minimum). Huntress pricing: Estimated ~$2.50-$3.50/endpoint/month for EDR (community-reported). Not officially published. Volume discounts decrease price. (50-seat minimum). 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 Huntress: 50-endpoint minimum for standard plan; under 50 requires sales engagement; Each product (EDR, ITDR, SIEM, SAT) priced separately — full stack costs add up.
Should I choose ESET or Huntress?
Choose ESET if: sMBs with 25-500 devices needing enterprise-grade MDR. Choose Huntress if: mSPs wanting a channel-first MDR partner with multi-tenant management and volume pricing. ESET is not ideal for enterprises requiring vendor-agnostic SIEM/EDR integration. Huntress is not ideal for enterprise organizations needing deep SIEM integration with existing Splunk/Sentinel/Chronicle.