Choose Expel or Rapid7
Choose Expel if
- Mid-market and enterprise organizations with existing security tools wanting vendor-agnostic MDR
- Security teams that value transparency and want to see every SOC action in real time
- Multi-cloud environments needing broad integration coverage including Oracle Cloud
Choose Rapid7 if
- Mid-market to enterprise organizations (500+ assets) wanting full SIEM data transparency alongside MDR
- Security teams wanting active remediation via Velociraptor without a fully outsourced model
- Organizations that value analyst pod continuity and environment familiarity over time
- Breach warranty matters to you (Rapid7 offers one, Expel does not)
- Threat hunting included in base pricing (it's an add-on with Expel)
What’s actually different
Buyer brief
Updated 2026-03-09
Fit. Both give you full query access to your security data, which puts them in a small minority among MDR providers. Rapid7 keeps 13 months of data in InsightIDR, while Expel's Workbench retention is set per contract. Both support Slack for real-time SOC communication, though Expel gates that behind the Premium tier.
Response. Expel connects to your existing tools via API and requires no agent. Rapid7 needs their Insight Agent on 80%+ of assets with a 500-asset minimum, so if you have fewer than 500 assets or don't want to deploy another agent, Rapid7 isn't an option.
Cost and scope. Rapid7 Ultimate bundles unlimited DFIR, a $1M breach warranty and InsightConnect SOAR, none of which Expel includes. Expel also charges separately for threat hunting. But Rapid7's tiered pricing creates a real gap between what Essential customers get (no dedicated advisors, limited response) and what Ultimate customers get.
FAQ
What is the main difference between Expel and Rapid7?
Expel is a Pure-play MDR that is technology-agnostic (works with your existing tools). Rapid7 is a Platform vendor that is platform-native (requires their own security stack).
How do Expel and Rapid7 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. Rapid7 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 Rapid7.
How does Expel pricing compare to Rapid7?
Expel pricing: About $11,640/yr entry (third-party listings) up to six figures at mid-market and enterprise scope. AWS Marketplace publishes $88,800/yr for 500 cloud resources on a 12-month term. Rapid7 pricing: Third-party estimate: starting ~$17/asset/month. Mid-market deployments typically $60K-$80K/year. Enterprise $150K+/year. (500-seat minimum). Watch for with Expel: Threat hunting, phishing response, and vulnerability prioritization are separate add-ons; base tiers include remediation recommendations and endpoint auto-remediation, with multi-surface auto-remediation starting at Select; Onboarding and professional services can be billed separately (third-party estimate $10,000-$50,000+). Watch for with Rapid7: Requires Rapid7 Insight Agent on 80%+ of supported assets, minimum 500 assets; Breach warranty and unlimited DFIR only available on Ultimate tier.