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
Best MDR / XDR Software · 2026
Expel vs 
Rapid7 MDR Expel vs Rapid7 MDR: on our data-weighted scoring, Expel edges ahead (7.5 vs 7.3/10). Expel starts at Custom quote and is best for mid-market/enterprise wanting transparent MDR across their existing tools; Rapid7 MDR starts at Custom quote and is best for orgs wanting MDR built on the InsightIDR SIEM platform. Choose Expel for the stronger overall track record; consider Rapid7 MDR if its pricing model or fit matches your environment better. Side-by-side table below.
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Rapid7 MDR
7.3/10
MSP Compared score
- Starting price
- Custom quote
- Reviews
- 4.5/5 (~100 G2 reviews)
- Free trial
- —
- Deployment
- Cloud
- Best for
- Orgs wanting MDR built on the InsightIDR SIEM platform
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 →
| Criterion | Expel | Rapid7 MDR |
|---|---|---|
| Editorial | 7.5 | 7.3 |
| User reviews | 9.4 | 9.0 |
| Adoption | 5.2 | 5.3 |
| Affordability | 5.0 | 5.0 |
| Feature breadth | 4.0 | 4.0 |
| Ease of trial | 3.0 | 3.0 |
Expel vs Rapid7 MDR: head-to-head
| Expel | Rapid7 MDR | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Custom quote | Custom quote |
| Pricing model | quote | quote |
| Free trial / tier | — | — |
| Best for | Mid-market/enterprise wanting transparent MDR across their existing tools | Orgs wanting MDR built on the InsightIDR SIEM platform |
| Deployment | Cloud | Cloud |
| G2 rating | 4.7/5 (90) | 4.5/5 (100) |
| Capterra rating | — | — |
| Our score | 7.5 | 7.3 |
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
Choose Rapid7 MDR if…
You need orgs wanting mdr built on the insightidr siem platform.
✓ Pros
- Strong SIEM foundation
- Good detections
- Established vendor
✕ Cons
- Quote pricing
- Platform-tied
- Enterprise focus
In depth
In Depth
Pricing
Both solutions operate on a quote-based model with no published starting prices, reflecting their enterprise focus. Neither offers a free tier.
| Factor | Expel | Rapid7 MDR |
|---|---|---|
| Model | Quote | Quote |
| Free Tier | No | No |
| Published Pricing | None | None |
| Best For | Transparency seekers | InsightIDR users |
Verdict: Pricing parity at the opaque level. Expect to negotiate; Expel’s vendor-agnostic approach may appeal to orgs with diverse tool stacks, while Rapid7 benefits from bundling savings if you’re already on InsightIDR.
Features & Deployment
Both deploy as cloud-native MDR services.
Expel emphasizes:
- Vendor-agnostic MDR (cloud + endpoint + SIEM)
- Transparent workbench for investigator visibility
- Clear automation and remediation guidance
Rapid7 MDR emphasizes:
- Purpose-built on InsightIDR SIEM foundation
- Threat intelligence integration
- Custom detections + incident response inclusion
Deployment: Identical (cloud-based). Key difference is architectural philosophy—Expel works across your tools; Rapid7 consolidates within its platform.
Ratings & Reviews
| Platform | Expel | Rapid7 MDR |
|---|---|---|
| G2 Score | 4.7/5 | 4.5/5 |
| Review Count | 90 | 100 |
| Our Score | 7.5/10 | 7.3/10 |
Expel edges ahead on G2 (4.7 vs 4.5), suggesting stronger customer satisfaction around transparency and ease of use. Rapid7’s larger reviewer base (100) indicates broader adoption.
Verdict
Pick Expel if you value vendor flexibility and investigator-facing transparency. You’re paying a premium for the ability to layer MDR atop whatever tools you already own—ideal for heterogeneous enterprises.
Pick Rapid7 MDR if you’re committed to the InsightIDR ecosystem or want a tightly integrated SIEM + MDR bundle. Strong detection capabilities and IR inclusion justify the choice for orgs standardizing on Rapid7.
Both are enterprise-grade, quote-only plays. Neither suits price-sensitive mid-market buyers or those needing self-service provisioning. Expel’s slight rating edge reflects its transparency promise; Rapid7’s appeal lies in consolidation and established Rapid7 relationships.
Frequently asked questions
- Expel vs Rapid7 MDR: which is better?
- Expel vs Rapid7 MDR: on our data-weighted scoring, Expel edges ahead (7.5 vs 7.3/10). Expel starts at Custom quote and is best for mid-market/enterprise wanting transparent MDR across their existing tools; Rapid7 MDR starts at Custom quote and is best for orgs wanting MDR built on the InsightIDR SIEM platform.
- Is Expel cheaper than Rapid7 MDR?
- Expel starts at Custom quote and Rapid7 MDR starts at Custom quote (see the pricing rows for models and limits).
Data as of October 12, 2026. Sources: expel.com, rapid7.com. Figures are pulled from public vendor and security data and refreshed automatically.