Palo Alto Networks vs SentinelOne: MDR Comparison 2026
Palo Alto Networks and SentinelOne 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. SentinelOne requires its own security platform and focuses on Mid-market and Enterprise. Palo Alto Networks includes 6 attack surfaces in base pricing (Endpoint, Cloud, SaaS, Identity, Network, OT/ICS), compared to 3 for SentinelOne (Endpoint, Cloud, Identity).
Key Differences at a Glance
Winner by Category
Palo Alto Networks vs SentinelOne: 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 SaaS and Network and OT/ICS coverage included in base pricing
Choose SentinelOne if:
- •Organizations already running SentinelOne Singularity wanting platform-native MDR without adding another vendor
- •Mid-market and enterprise organizations wanting $1M breach response warranty as financial backstop
- •Organizations valuing AI-first detection with Purple AI and Google Threat Intelligence integration
Bottom line: Palo Alto Networks offers broader coverage (6 surfaces vs. 3). SentinelOne may suit teams that need depth over breadth.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main difference between Palo Alto Networks and SentinelOne?
Palo Alto Networks is an EDR vendor that is platform-native (requires their own security stack). SentinelOne is an EDR vendor that is platform-native (requires their own security stack). SLA commitments differ: Palo Alto Networks offers Not disclosed, SentinelOne offers ≤1 hour. Palo Alto Networks covers 6 attack surfaces in base pricing vs. 3 for SentinelOne.
How do Palo Alto Networks and SentinelOne 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. SentinelOne supports 5 autonomous actions (endpoint isolation, process termination, network containment, file quarantine, custom playbooks) and approval is configurable.
How does Palo Alto Networks pricing compare to SentinelOne?
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.. SentinelOne pricing: MDR add-on: ~$17-35/endpoint/year (standard) or ~$35-50/endpoint/year (Pro/Elite). Total: ~$197-280/endpoint/year for platform + MDR. Example: 1,000 endpoints x $35 MDR x 5 years = ~$175K MDR add-on cost.. 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 SentinelOne: Platform license ($69.99-$229.99/endpoint/year) is required BEFORE MDR — significant prerequisite cost; MDR pricing is a bolt-on fee separate from platform licensing — not shown on public pricing page.
Should I choose Palo Alto Networks or SentinelOne?
Choose Palo Alto Networks if: enterprise organizations already invested in the Palo Alto ecosystem (NGFW, Prisma, WildFire) wanting native MDR integration. Choose SentinelOne if: organizations already running SentinelOne Singularity wanting platform-native MDR without adding another vendor. Palo Alto Networks is not ideal for sMBs or budget-constrained organizations — significant prerequisite costs (Cortex XDR + Data Lake) plus MDR service fee. SentinelOne is not ideal for organizations running CrowdStrike, Microsoft Defender, or any non-SentinelOne EDR — platform-native lock-in.