Huntress vs Palo Alto Networks: MDR Comparison 2026
Huntress (MSP-channel) and Palo Alto Networks (EDR vendor) take different approaches to managed detection and response. Huntress requires its own security platform, while Palo Alto Networks requires its own security platform. Huntress targets SMB and Mid-market organizations; Palo Alto Networks focuses on Mid-market and Enterprise. Huntress includes 3 attack surfaces in base pricing (Endpoint, SaaS, Identity), compared to 6 for Palo Alto Networks (Endpoint, Cloud, SaaS, Identity, Network, OT/ICS).
Key Differences at a Glance
Winner by Category
Huntress vs Palo Alto Networks: Which Should You Choose?
Choose Huntress if:
- •MSPs wanting a channel-first MDR partner with multi-tenant management and volume pricing
- •SMBs needing affordable, enterprise-grade MDR with minimal overhead (deploys in 30 minutes)
- •Microsoft 365-heavy environments needing integrated identity threat detection (ITDR with 3-min MTTR)
Choose Palo Alto Networks if:
- •US government and defense organizations needing FedRAMP Moderate, DoD IL5, StateRAMP compliance
- •Large enterprises wanting co-managed SOC with full visibility into their Cortex XDR/XSIAM tenant
- •Organizations wanting breach response guarantee (MSIAM 2.0 — 250 hours IR included)
- •You need Cloud and Network and OT/ICS coverage included in base pricing
- •Breach warranty matters to you (Palo Alto Networks offers one, Huntress does not)
Bottom line: Huntress (MSP-channel) and Palo Alto Networks (EDR vendor) serve different buyer profiles. Your decision depends on whether you prioritize Huntress's the msp community's gold standard for smb-focused mdr or Palo Alto Networks's enterprise mdr backed by palo alto networks' threat intelligence infrastructure (500b events/day,....
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main difference between Huntress and Palo Alto Networks?
Huntress is a MSP-channel that is platform-native (requires their own security stack). Palo Alto Networks is an EDR vendor that is platform-native (requires their own security stack). Huntress covers 3 attack surfaces in base pricing vs. 6 for Palo Alto Networks.
How do Huntress and Palo Alto Networks differ in response capabilities?
Huntress supports 4 autonomous actions (endpoint isolation, process termination, account disable, file quarantine) and approval is configurable. Palo Alto Networks supports 6 autonomous actions (endpoint isolation, process termination, network containment, account disable, file quarantine, custom playbooks) and approval is configurable.
How does Huntress pricing compare to Palo Alto Networks?
Huntress pricing: Estimated ~$2.50-$3.50/endpoint/month for EDR (community-reported). Not officially published. Volume discounts decrease price. (50-seat minimum). Palo Alto Networks pricing: Cortex XDR Pro: ~$81/endpoint/year starting (platform only). Unit 42 MDR service is additional custom pricing. Total cost depends on endpoints, tier (Pro vs Premium), coverage scope, and contract terms.. Watch for with Huntress: 50-endpoint minimum for standard plan; under 50 requires sales engagement; Each product (EDR, ITDR, SIEM, SAT) priced separately — full stack costs add up. Watch for with Palo Alto Networks: Cortex XDR/XSIAM platform license is a significant prerequisite cost on top of MDR service fee; Cortex Data Lake storage costs are separate and scale with data volume.
Should I choose Huntress or Palo Alto Networks?
Choose Huntress if: mSPs wanting a channel-first MDR partner with multi-tenant management and volume pricing. Choose Palo Alto Networks if: enterprise organizations already invested in the Palo Alto ecosystem (NGFW, Prisma, WildFire) wanting native MDR integration. Huntress is not ideal for enterprise organizations needing deep SIEM integration with existing Splunk/Sentinel/Chronicle. Palo Alto Networks is not ideal for sMBs or budget-constrained organizations — significant prerequisite costs (Cortex XDR + Data Lake) plus MDR service fee.