Expel vs Field Effect: MDR Comparison 2026
Expel (Pure-play MDR) and Field Effect (MDR provider) take different approaches to managed detection and response. Expel works with your existing tools, while Field Effect requires its own security platform. Expel targets Mid-market and Enterprise organizations; Field Effect focuses on SMB and Mid-market.
Key Differences at a Glance
Winner by Category
Expel vs Field Effect: Which Should You Choose?
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
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
- •Threat hunting included in base pricing (it's an add-on with Expel)
Bottom line: Field Effect is the choice if you want a single-vendor stack with deep integration. Expel is better if you have existing tools and want flexibility.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main difference between Expel and Field Effect?
Expel is a Pure-play MDR that is technology-agnostic (works with your existing tools). Field Effect is a MDR provider that is platform-native (requires their own security stack).
How do Expel and Field Effect differ in response capabilities?
Expel 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.
How does Expel pricing compare to Field Effect?
Expel pricing: Starting at $11,640/year; custom quotes based on environment. Field Effect pricing: MDR Core: $99/user/month (ideal for <=25 users). MDR Complete: custom pricing (larger organizations, compliance requirements).. Watch for with Expel: Threat hunting is NOT included in base MDR -- it is an add-on service; Price increases announced for 2025. 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 Expel or Field Effect?
Choose Expel if: mid-market and enterprise organizations with existing security tool investments wanting to maximize ROI. Choose Field Effect if: sMBs and MSPs wanting affordable, easy-to-deploy MDR with published per-user pricing. Expel is not ideal for organizations wanting a single-vendor platform-native MDR (Expel requires existing security tools). Field Effect is not ideal for organizations with existing CrowdStrike/SentinelOne/Defender deployments — requires proprietary Field Effect agent.