ESET vs ThreatDown: MDR Comparison 2026
ESET (EDR vendor) and ThreatDown (MDR provider) take different approaches to managed detection and response. ESET requires its own security platform, while ThreatDown requires its own security platform. ESET targets SMB, Mid-market, and Enterprise organizations; ThreatDown focuses on SMB and Mid-market. ESET includes 5 attack surfaces in base pricing (Endpoint, Cloud, SaaS, Identity, Network), compared to 1 for ThreatDown (Endpoint).
Key Differences at a Glance
Winner by Category
ESET vs ThreatDown: 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 SaaS and Identity and Network coverage included in base pricing
Choose ThreatDown if:
- •SMBs and IT-constrained mid-market organizations wanting affordable MDR with published pricing ($99/endpoint/year)
- •MSPs wanting channel-first MDR with multi-tenant OneView console and RMM integrations
- •Organizations needing fast deployment — agent installs in minutes, MDR activates immediately
- •You want direct Slack integration with your SOC
Bottom line: ESET (EDR vendor) and ThreatDown (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 ThreatDown's one of the most affordable mdr options with fully published pricing ($99/endpoint/year).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main difference between ESET and ThreatDown?
ESET is an EDR vendor that is platform-native (requires their own security stack). ThreatDown is a MDR provider that is platform-native (requires their own security stack). SLA commitments differ: ESET offers ≤15 minutes, ThreatDown offers Not disclosed. ESET covers 5 attack surfaces in base pricing vs. 1 for ThreatDown.
How do ESET and ThreatDown 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. ThreatDown supports 3 autonomous actions (endpoint isolation, process termination, file quarantine) and approval is configurable. Incident response is included with ESET and not included with ThreatDown.
How does ESET pricing compare to ThreatDown?
ESET pricing: Custom-quoted based on environment and device count; volume discounts available (25-seat minimum). ThreatDown pricing: MDR included at $99/endpoint/year (Elite) or $119/endpoint/year (Ultimate). Server endpoints: $129-179/year. Mobile: $10/device. (5-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 ThreatDown: Endpoint-only coverage — no cloud workload, SaaS, identity, or network monitoring; Platform-native lock-in — cannot BYO CrowdStrike, SentinelOne, or Defender.
Should I choose ESET or ThreatDown?
Choose ESET if: sMBs with 25-500 devices needing enterprise-grade MDR. Choose ThreatDown if: sMBs and IT-constrained mid-market organizations wanting affordable MDR with published pricing ($99/endpoint/year). ESET is not ideal for enterprises requiring vendor-agnostic SIEM/EDR integration. ThreatDown is not ideal for enterprise organizations needing multi-surface coverage (cloud, SaaS, identity, network, OT).