Palo Alto Networks vs ThreatDown: MDR Comparison 2026
Palo Alto Networks (EDR vendor) and ThreatDown (MDR provider) take different approaches to managed detection and response. Palo Alto Networks requires its own security platform, while ThreatDown requires its own security platform. Palo Alto Networks targets Mid-market and Enterprise organizations; ThreatDown focuses on SMB and Mid-market. Palo Alto Networks includes 6 attack surfaces in base pricing (Endpoint, Cloud, SaaS, Identity, Network, OT/ICS), compared to 1 for ThreatDown (Endpoint).
Key Differences at a Glance
Winner by Category
Palo Alto Networks vs ThreatDown: 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 Cloud and SaaS and Identity and Network and OT/ICS coverage included in base pricing
- •Breach warranty matters to you (Palo Alto Networks offers one, ThreatDown does not)
Choose ThreatDown if:
- •SMBs and IT-constrained mid-market organizations wanting affordable MDR with published pricing ($99/endpoint/year)
- •MSPs wanting channel-first MDR with multi-tenant OneView console and RMM integrations
- •Organizations needing fast deployment — agent installs in minutes, MDR activates immediately
- •You want direct Slack integration with your SOC
Bottom line: Palo Alto Networks (EDR vendor) and ThreatDown (MDR provider) serve different buyer profiles. Your decision depends on whether you prioritize Palo Alto Networks's enterprise mdr backed by palo alto networks' threat intelligence infrastructure (500b events/day,... or ThreatDown's one of the most affordable mdr options with fully published pricing ($99/endpoint/year).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main difference between Palo Alto Networks and ThreatDown?
Palo Alto Networks is an EDR vendor that is platform-native (requires their own security stack). ThreatDown is a MDR provider that is platform-native (requires their own security stack). Palo Alto Networks covers 6 attack surfaces in base pricing vs. 1 for ThreatDown.
How do Palo Alto Networks and ThreatDown 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. ThreatDown supports 3 autonomous actions (endpoint isolation, process termination, file quarantine) and approval is configurable.
How does Palo Alto Networks pricing compare to ThreatDown?
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.. ThreatDown pricing: MDR included at $99/endpoint/year (Elite) or $119/endpoint/year (Ultimate). Server endpoints: $129-179/year. Mobile: $10/device. (5-seat minimum). 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 ThreatDown: Endpoint-only coverage — no cloud workload, SaaS, identity, or network monitoring; Platform-native lock-in — cannot BYO CrowdStrike, SentinelOne, or Defender.
Should I choose Palo Alto Networks or ThreatDown?
Choose Palo Alto Networks if: enterprise organizations already invested in the Palo Alto ecosystem (NGFW, Prisma, WildFire) wanting native MDR integration. Choose ThreatDown if: sMBs and IT-constrained mid-market organizations wanting affordable MDR with published pricing ($99/endpoint/year). Palo Alto Networks is not ideal for sMBs or budget-constrained organizations — significant prerequisite costs (Cortex XDR + Data Lake) plus MDR service fee. ThreatDown is not ideal for enterprise organizations needing multi-surface coverage (cloud, SaaS, identity, network, OT).