Expel vs Trustwave: MDR Comparison 2026
Expel (Pure-play MDR) and Trustwave (Services firm) take different approaches to managed detection and response. Expel works with your existing tools, while Trustwave works with your existing tools. Expel targets Mid-market and Enterprise organizations; Trustwave focuses on Mid-market and Enterprise.
Key Differences at a Glance
Winner by Category
Expel vs Trustwave: 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 Trustwave if:
- •US government organizations needing the first FedRAMP-authorized pure-play MDR provider
- •Companies needing both MDR and PCI DSS compliance/assessment from a single provider
- •Mid-market and enterprise organizations wanting a co-managed SOC model alongside internal teams
- •Threat hunting included in base pricing (it's an add-on with Expel)
Bottom line: Expel (Pure-play MDR) and Trustwave (Services firm) serve different buyer profiles. Your decision depends on whether you prioritize Expel's strong transparency and integration breadth or Trustwave's the most compliance-credentialed mdr provider in the market — fedramp authorized, pci dss qsa, na....
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main difference between Expel and Trustwave?
Expel is a Pure-play MDR that is technology-agnostic (works with your existing tools). Trustwave is a Services firm that is technology-agnostic (works with your existing tools). SLA commitments differ: Expel offers Not disclosed, Trustwave offers ≤30 minutes.
How do Expel and Trustwave 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. Trustwave supports 6 autonomous actions (endpoint isolation, process termination, network containment, account disable, file quarantine, custom playbooks) and approval is configurable.
How does Expel pricing compare to Trustwave?
Expel pricing: Starting at $11,640/year; custom quotes based on environment. Trustwave pricing: Starting at ~$43,775/year (SelectHub estimate). Enterprise pricing is custom/quote-based.. 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 Trustwave: Ownership instability — 4 ownership events in 10 years (Singtel → Chertoff/MC2 → failed Cybereason merger → LevelBlue); IR not included in base MDR — separate DFIR retainer required.
Should I choose Expel or Trustwave?
Choose Expel if: mid-market and enterprise organizations with existing security tool investments wanting to maximize ROI. Choose Trustwave if: uS government organizations needing the first FedRAMP-authorized pure-play MDR provider. Expel is not ideal for organizations wanting a single-vendor platform-native MDR (Expel requires existing security tools). Trustwave is not ideal for organizations concerned about vendor stability — 4 ownership events in 10 years including a failed Cybereason merger.