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 
UnderDefense Expel vs UnderDefense: on our data-weighted scoring, UnderDefense edges ahead (8.1 vs 7.5/10). Expel starts at Custom quote and is best for mid-market/enterprise wanting transparent MDR across their existing tools; UnderDefense starts at $11/endpoint/mo and is best for teams that want an agentic AI SOC on top of the SIEM or XDR they already run. Choose UnderDefense 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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UnderDefense
8.1/10
MSP Compared score
- Starting price
- $11/endpoint/mo
- Reviews
- 4.9/5 (~29 G2 reviews)
- Free trial
- 14 days
- Deployment
- Cloud + on-prem
- Best for
- Teams that want an agentic AI SOC on top of the SIEM or XDR they already run
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 | UnderDefense |
|---|---|---|
| Editorial | 7.5 | 8.1 |
| User reviews | 9.4 | 9.8 |
| Adoption | 5.2 | 3.9 |
| Affordability | 5.0 | 4.1 |
| Feature breadth | 4.0 | 6.0 |
| Ease of trial | 3.0 | 6.0 |
Expel vs UnderDefense: head-to-head
| Expel | UnderDefense | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Custom quote | $11/endpoint/mo |
| Pricing model | quote | per endpoint |
| Free trial / tier | — | 14 days |
| Best for | Mid-market/enterprise wanting transparent MDR across their existing tools | Teams that want an agentic AI SOC on top of the SIEM or XDR they already run |
| Deployment | Cloud | Cloud + on-prem |
| G2 rating | 4.7/5 (90) | 4.9/5 (29) |
| Capterra rating | — | — |
| Our score | 7.5 | 8.1 |
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 UnderDefense if…
You need teams that want an agentic ai soc on top of the siem or xdr they already run.
✓ Pros
- Published per-endpoint floor (rare in this category)
- Runs on the SIEM/XDR you already own
- 14-day trial
✕ Cons
- G2 volume still small vs Huntress or Arctic Wolf
- Higher tiers are contact-sales
- Annual contracts
In depth
In Depth
Pricing
| Aspect | UnderDefense | Expel |
|---|---|---|
| Model | Per-endpoint | Quote-based |
| Starting Price | $11/endpoint/mo (published floor) | Not disclosed |
| Billing | Annual contracts | Enterprise deals |
| Free Trial | 14 days (up to ~100 employees) | None listed |
| Transparency | High (floor published) | Low (custom quotes) |
The take: UnderDefense leads decisively on pricing transparency—the $11/endpoint starting point is rare for managed SOC services. However, Standard/Enhanced/Professional tiers require sales conversations, so total cost scales opaquely. Expel’s quote-only model and “premium pricing” tag suggest higher typical spend and less price predictability. If budget visibility matters, UnderDefense wins; if you’re already enterprise-sized, Expel’s opacity may be acceptable.
Features & Deployment
UnderDefense positions itself as an AI SOC overlay that runs on top of your existing SIEM or XDR—you keep your current stack and add agentic intelligence. Its vendor-agnostic connectors and 24/7 concierge analysts handle detection/response while co-managed SIEM and ChatOps tie into Slack/Teams. Deployable cloud + on-prem.
Expel is a full-stack MDR covering endpoint + cloud + SIEM with a transparent workbench that exposes investigation logic and remediation steps. Cloud-only deployment; emphasizes clear visibility into how decisions are made.
Verdict: UnderDefense suits teams already invested in a SIEM/XDR who want AI augmentation without rip-and-replace. Expel suits teams willing to let a vendor orchestrate across tools if they get radical transparency. UnderDefense’s on-prem option is a rare advantage for regulated or air-gapped environments.
Ratings & Community Feedback
| Metric | UnderDefense | Expel |
|---|---|---|
| G2 Score | 4.9 / 5.0 | 4.7 / 5.0 |
| Review Count | 29 | 90 |
| Our Score | 8.1 | 7.5 |
UnderDefense’s smaller but slightly higher-rated cohort suggests strong satisfaction among early adopters, though sample size limits statistical confidence. Expel’s 90 reviews provide more robust feedback and reflect mid-market/enterprise adoption. Both score well; the gap favors UnderDefense’s focused positioning over Expel’s broader appeal.
Verdict
Choose UnderDefense if you have a functioning SIEM/XDR and want agentic AI analysts layered on top without vendor lock-in, pricing is a concern, or you need on-prem flexibility.
Choose Expel if you value transparent investigation workflows, want unified MDR across your stack without managing connectors, or operate at enterprise scale where custom pricing is the norm.
Frequently asked questions
- Expel vs UnderDefense: which is better?
- Expel vs UnderDefense: on our data-weighted scoring, UnderDefense edges ahead (8.1 vs 7.5/10). Expel starts at Custom quote and is best for mid-market/enterprise wanting transparent MDR across their existing tools; UnderDefense starts at $11/endpoint/mo and is best for teams that want an agentic AI SOC on top of the SIEM or XDR they already run.
- Is Expel cheaper than UnderDefense?
- Expel starts at Custom quote and UnderDefense starts at $11/endpoint/mo (see the pricing rows for models and limits).
Data as of September 17, 2026. Sources: expel.com, underdefense.com. Figures are pulled from public vendor and security data and refreshed automatically.