Best MDR / XDR Software · 2026

Expel logoExpel vs Huntress logoHuntress

Expel vs Huntress: on our data-weighted scoring, Huntress edges ahead (8.6 vs 7.5/10). Expel starts at Custom quote and is best for mid-market/enterprise wanting transparent MDR across their existing tools; Huntress starts at Custom quote and is best for MSPs and SMBs wanting affordable managed detection with a real human SOC. Choose Huntress for the stronger overall track record; consider Expel if its pricing model or fit matches your environment better. Side-by-side table below.

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Expel

7.5/10
MSP Compared score
Starting price
Custom quote
Reviews
4.7/5 (~90 G2 reviews)
Free trial
Deployment
Cloud
Best for
Mid-market/enterprise wanting transparent MDR across their existing tools
Visit Expel →
Our pick

Huntress

8.6/10
MSP Compared score
Starting price
Custom quote
Reviews
4.9/5 (~700 G2 reviews)
Free trial
Free trial
Deployment
Cloud
Best for
MSPs and SMBs wanting affordable managed detection with a real human SOC
Visit Huntress →

Strengths at a glance

Six criteria, each scored 0–10 on the same scale from real review data, public pricing and feature coverage. See our methodology →

EditorialUser reviewsAdoptionAffordabilityFeature breadthEase of trial
ExpelHuntress
CriterionExpelHuntress
Editorial 7.5 8.6
User reviews 9.4 9.8
Adoption 5.2 7.5
Affordability 5.0 5.0
Feature breadth 4.0 5.0
Ease of trial 3.0 6.0

Expel vs Huntress: head-to-head

Expel vs Huntress — specs and pricing
ExpelHuntress
Starting price Custom quote Custom quote
Pricing model quote per endpoint
Free trial / tier Free trial
Best for Mid-market/enterprise wanting transparent MDR across their existing tools MSPs and SMBs wanting affordable managed detection with a real human SOC
Deployment Cloud Cloud
G2 rating 4.7/5 (90) 4.9/5 (700)
Capterra rating
Our score 7.5 8.6

Choose Expel if…

You need mid-market/enterprise wanting transparent mdr across their existing tools.

Pros

  • Vendor-agnostic
  • Transparent investigations
  • Strong cloud coverage

Cons

  • Premium pricing
  • Quote-only
  • Enterprise focus

Expel pricing · review

Choose Huntress if…

You need msps and smbs wanting affordable managed detection with a real human soc.

Pros

  • Outstanding SOC + support
  • Built for MSPs/SMB
  • Fast time-to-value

Cons

  • Quote pricing
  • Complements (not replaces) some AV
  • Endpoint-count based

Huntress pricing · review

In depth

In Depth

Pricing & Model

AspectHuntressExpel
ModelPer-endpointQuote-based
Best ForMSPs, SMBs (predictable scaling)Mid-market, enterprise (custom deals)
TransparencyPublished tiers availableEnterprise negotiations required
TrialYesContact sales

Huntress wins on predictability—you know what you’re paying per machine. Expel requires a sales conversation, which typically means higher minimums and longer sales cycles. For SMBs, Huntress is the faster path to deployment.

Features & Deployment

Both deploy cloud-native, but with different angles:

Huntress focuses on breadth for MSPs:

  • Managed EDR with 24/7 SOC inclusion (not just alerts)
  • Microsoft 365 ITDR (identity + data risk detection)
  • Security awareness training bundled
  • Ransomware canaries
  • Multi-tenant MSP portal

Expel prioritizes transparency and tool agnosticism:

  • MDR that works across your cloud + endpoint + SIEM (not locked to one stack)
  • Transparent workbench (you see the investigation, not just the verdict)
  • Automation and clear remediation steps
  • Vendor-agnostic design

Verdict on features: Huntress is a complete platform with strong identity coverage; Expel is a wrapper that improves your existing tools. Choose Huntress if you want a unified product, Expel if you want someone to manage your heterogeneous environment.

Ratings & Community

PlatformHuntressExpel
G2 Score4.9/54.7/5
Reviews70090
Our Score8.67.5

Huntress has significantly more community feedback, reflecting its MSP popularity. Expel’s smaller review count reflects enterprise-focused, custom deployments. Both score well, but Huntress edges ahead on volume and sentiment.

Verdict

Choose Huntress if you’re an MSP or SMB wanting a turnkey EDR with actual humans monitoring it, plus ITDR, at predictable per-seat costs.

Choose Expel if you’re mid-market/enterprise, already have a security stack, and want a mature SOC to manage it transparently without ripping and replacing.

Huntress is the faster, cheaper entry point. Expel is the premium, vendor-agnostic choice for complex environments.

Frequently asked questions

Expel vs Huntress: which is better?
Expel vs Huntress: on our data-weighted scoring, Huntress edges ahead (8.6 vs 7.5/10). Expel starts at Custom quote and is best for mid-market/enterprise wanting transparent MDR across their existing tools; Huntress starts at Custom quote and is best for MSPs and SMBs wanting affordable managed detection with a real human SOC.
Is Expel cheaper than Huntress?
Expel starts at Custom quote and Huntress starts at Custom quote (see the pricing rows for models and limits).
Data as of September 17, 2026. Sources: expel.com, huntress.com. Figures are pulled from public vendor and security data and refreshed automatically.