Expel vs Kroll: MDR Comparison 2026
Expel (Pure-play MDR) and Kroll (MDR provider) take different approaches to managed detection and response. Expel works with your existing tools, while Kroll works with your existing tools. Expel targets Mid-market and Enterprise organizations; Kroll focuses on SMB, Mid-market, and Enterprise.
Key Differences at a Glance
Winner by Category
Expel vs Kroll: 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 Kroll if:
- •Organizations wanting IR expertise built into MDR -- 3,000+ annual cases feeding detection, not just monitoring
- •Enterprises needing full threat eradication including forensics and root cause analysis, not just containment
- •Regulated industries needing compliance reporting, IR pedigree, and included $1M breach warranty
- •Breach warranty matters to you (Kroll offers one, Expel does not)
- •Threat hunting included in base pricing (it's an add-on with Expel)
Bottom line: Expel (Pure-play MDR) and Kroll (MDR provider) serve different buyer profiles. Your decision depends on whether you prioritize Expel's strong transparency and integration breadth or Kroll's kroll responder's differentiator is depth of real-world ir experience: 3,000+ annual breach inves....
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main difference between Expel and Kroll?
Expel is a Pure-play MDR that is technology-agnostic (works with your existing tools). Kroll is a MDR provider that is technology-agnostic (works with your existing tools).
How do Expel and Kroll 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. Kroll supports 6 autonomous actions (endpoint isolation, process termination, network containment, account disable, file quarantine, custom playbooks) and approval is configurable. Incident response is not included with Expel and included with Kroll.
How does Expel pricing compare to Kroll?
Expel pricing: Starting at $11,640/year; custom quotes based on environment. Kroll pricing: Not publicly disclosed. Unverified field estimates suggest $30K-$200K+/year depending on scope.. 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 Kroll: CrowdStrike Falcon Complete migration (Dec 2025) increases platform dependency -- customers wanting vendor-agnostic EDR lose that flexibility; Named TAM support (vs. Shared TAM) likely incurs additional cost; cost delta not disclosed.
Should I choose Expel or Kroll?
Choose Expel if: mid-market and enterprise organizations with existing security tool investments wanting to maximize ROI. Choose Kroll if: organizations wanting IR expertise built into MDR -- 3,000+ annual cases feeding detection, not just monitoring. Expel is not ideal for organizations wanting a single-vendor platform-native MDR (Expel requires existing security tools). Kroll is not ideal for organizations that need vendor-agnostic EDR choice (CrowdStrike migration reduces flexibility).