Palo Alto Networks vs Rapid7: MDR Comparison 2026
Palo Alto Networks and Rapid7 are both categorized as EDR vendors, but differ in execution. Palo Alto Networks requires its own security platform and targets Mid-market and Enterprise organizations. Rapid7 requires its own security platform and focuses on SMB, Mid-market, and Enterprise. Palo Alto Networks includes 6 attack surfaces in base pricing (Endpoint, Cloud, SaaS, Identity, Network, OT/ICS), compared to 5 for Rapid7 (Endpoint, Cloud, SaaS, Identity, Network).
Key Differences at a Glance
Winner by Category
Palo Alto Networks vs Rapid7: Which Should You Choose?
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 OT/ICS coverage included in base pricing
Choose Rapid7 if:
- •Mid-market to enterprise organizations wanting full data transparency alongside MDR
- •Security teams that want to retain query access to their own data
- •Organizations needing active remediation without a fully outsourced model
- •You want direct Slack integration with your SOC
Bottom line: Palo Alto Networks offers broader coverage (6 surfaces vs. 5). Rapid7 may suit teams that need depth over breadth.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main difference between Palo Alto Networks and Rapid7?
Palo Alto Networks is an EDR vendor that is platform-native (requires their own security stack). Rapid7 is an EDR vendor that is platform-native (requires their own security stack). Palo Alto Networks covers 6 attack surfaces in base pricing vs. 5 for Rapid7.
How do Palo Alto Networks and Rapid7 differ in response capabilities?
Palo Alto Networks 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 Palo Alto Networks and included with Rapid7.
How does Palo Alto Networks pricing compare to Rapid7?
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.. Rapid7 pricing: Starting ~$17/asset/month; $30,000-$150,000+/year for enterprise deployments. 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. Watch for with Rapid7: Requires Rapid7 Insight Agent on at least 80% of supported assets; Enterprise tier significantly more expensive than Essentials.
Should I choose Palo Alto Networks or Rapid7?
Choose Palo Alto Networks if: enterprise organizations already invested in the Palo Alto ecosystem (NGFW, Prisma, WildFire) wanting native MDR integration. Choose Rapid7 if: mid-market to enterprise organizations wanting full data transparency alongside MDR. Palo Alto Networks is not ideal for sMBs or budget-constrained organizations — significant prerequisite costs (Cortex XDR + Data Lake) plus MDR service fee. Rapid7 is not ideal for small organizations with fewer than 100 assets seeking budget MDR.