Critical Start MDR vs Expel MDR
Critical Start MDR
criticalstart.com
Expel MDR
expel.comSide by side
| Figure | Critical Start MDR | Expel MDR |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | — | — |
| Free plan | — | — |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | — |
| Android | Yes | — |
| API | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 3 |
| Spec score · Managed Detection and Response Services | 7.1 (#12) | 7.1 (#14) |
| Headquarters | Critical Start lists its headquarters at 6100 Tennyson Pkwy, Suite 200, Plano, Texas 75024. | Herndon, Virginia, United States |
| Integrations | Named integrations include CrowdStrike Falcon, Microsoft Defender for Endpoint, Palo Alto Networks Cortex XDR, SentinelOne, and VMware Carbon Black. | Expel lists 160+ coverage options, including CrowdStrike, Okta, AWS, Microsoft, Google Cloud, Splunk, and Wiz; most connect directly by API. |
| Service | Critical Start provides managed detection and response with proactive security intelligence and human-driven threat detection and response. | Expel MDR monitors customers’ existing security tools around the clock, investigates alerts, and remediates confirmed threats. |
Plans
Expel MDR
- PremiumPrice not published
- SelectPrice not published
- StarterPrice not published
In their own words
Critical Start MDR
Critical Start MDR is a managed detection and response service combining proactive security intelligence with human-driven threat detection and response. It identifies unmonitored assets, endpoint coverage gaps, and log-ingestion failures. Customers can choose automatic, facilitated, or managed remediation, while analyst collaboration and threat response are described as available 24x7x365. The MDR page states a 10-minute notification SLA for Critical alerts. Named integrations include CrowdStrike Falcon, Microsoft Defender for Endpoint, Palo Alto Networks Cortex XDR, SentinelOne, and VMware Carbon Black. The provider also describes direct APIs and more than 100 log-source integrations across email, identity, cloud, network, and endpoint environments. MOBILESOC, available on iOS and Android, can isolate hosts, disable user accounts, and remove email. Analysts work in SOC 2 Type 2 certified centers. MDR for operational technology supports multiple physical locations, separate IT and OT alert handling, and read-only visibility rules. Pricing is available on request.