Expel vs Fortra: MDR Comparison 2026
Expel (Pure-play MDR) and Fortra (Services firm) take different approaches to managed detection and response. Expel works with your existing tools, while Fortra works with your existing tools. Expel targets Mid-market and Enterprise organizations; Fortra focuses on SMB, Mid-market, and Enterprise.
Key Differences at a Glance
Winner by Category
Expel vs Fortra: 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 Fortra if:
- •Mid-market organizations needing strong compliance support
- •Healthcare organizations requiring HIPAA compliance MDR
- •Cloud-first companies on AWS, Azure, or hybrid environments
- •Threat hunting included in base pricing (it's an add-on with Expel)
Bottom line: Expel (Pure-play MDR) and Fortra (Services firm) serve different buyer profiles. Your decision depends on whether you prioritize Expel's strong transparency and integration breadth or Fortra's established mdr with strong cloud/compliance positioning and formalized slas.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main difference between Expel and Fortra?
Expel is a Pure-play MDR that is technology-agnostic (works with your existing tools). Fortra is a Services firm that is technology-agnostic (works with your existing tools). SLA commitments differ: Expel offers Not disclosed, Fortra offers ≤15 minutes.
How do Expel and Fortra 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. Fortra supports 5 autonomous actions (endpoint isolation, process termination, network containment, file quarantine, custom playbooks) and approval is configurable. Incident response is not included with Expel and included with Fortra.
How does Expel pricing compare to Fortra?
Expel pricing: Starting at $11,640/year; custom quotes based on environment. Fortra pricing: Custom-quoted pricing. 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 Fortra: Managed services being acquired by LevelBlue (announced Jan 2026, deal pending close — no timeline disclosed); Post-transition contract terms, SLAs, and pricing under LevelBlue are unconfirmed.
Should I choose Expel or Fortra?
Choose Expel if: mid-market and enterprise organizations with existing security tool investments wanting to maximize ROI. Choose Fortra if: mid-market organizations needing strong compliance support. Expel is not ideal for organizations wanting a single-vendor platform-native MDR (Expel requires existing security tools). Fortra is not ideal for organizations wanting long-term vendor stability — managed services transferring to LevelBlue (deal pending, no timeline disclosed).