Best Critical Start MDR Alternatives in 2026

Paid#25 of 31 in Managed Detection and Response Services

The top Critical Start MDR alternatives are eSentire MDR, Arctic Wolf Managed Detection and Response and Red Canary MDR: 15 managed detection and response services our editors would look at instead of Critical Start MDR, in our ranking order.

7.0/10★★★★☆Editor score

Visit Critical Start

Critical Start MDR7.0 Visit Critical Start

• 15 alternatives
• Updated Oct 2026
• Our Critical Start MDR verdict

Critical Start MDR: 24/7 MDR with mobile investigation, coordinated containment, and contractual alert-response SLAs. Where it falls short: pricing requires a sales conversation.

All 15 Critical Start MDR Alternatives, Ranked

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1. 1
   
   eSentire MDR 9.4

   Best forBroad, mature enterprise MDR coverage

   • Better than Critical Start MDR:
   • Incident response
   • Editor score 9.4 vs 7.0

   Broad MDR coverage for enterprises needing continuous monitoring, hunting, and coordinated response.

   • Threat hunting
   • Incident response

   Pricing on request Our eSentire MDR verdict → + Compare Visit eSentire
   9.4/10★★★★★

   Visit eSentire
2. 2
   
   Arctic Wolf Managed Detection and Response 9.3

   Best forEnterprises needing deep MDR integrations

   • Better than Critical Start MDR:
   • Incident response
   • Editor score 9.3 vs 7.0

   A broad MDR service for enterprises that need continuous monitoring and coordinated response.

   • Threat hunting
   • Incident response

   Pricing on request Our Arctic Wolf Managed Detection and Response verdict → + Compare Visit Arctic Wolf
   9.3/10★★★★★

   Visit Arctic Wolf
3. 3
   
   Red Canary MDR 9.2

   Best forInvestigation-led MDR teams

   • Better than Critical Start MDR:
   • Incident response
   • Editor score 9.2 vs 7.0

   Investigation-led MDR with 24/7 coverage, coordinated response, and broad telemetry analysis.

   • Threat hunting
   • Incident response

   Pricing on request Our Red Canary MDR verdict → + Compare Visit Red Canary
   9.2/10★★★★★

   Visit Red Canary
4. 4
   
   Expel MDR 9.1

   Best forOrganizations wanting broad correlated coverage

   • Better than Critical Start MDR:
   • Incident response
   • Editor score 9.1 vs 7.0

   Broad, correlated MDR coverage with coordinated response across existing security tools.

   • Incident response

   Pricing on request Our Expel MDR verdict → + Compare Visit Expel
   9.1/10★★★★★

   Visit Expel
5. 5
   SM
   Sophos MDR 9.0

   Best forEstablished businesses needing MDR and retention

   • Better than Critical Start MDR:
   • Incident response
   • Editor score 9.0 vs 7.0

   A broad, managed MDR service for organizations that need continuous monitoring and response.

   • Threat hunting
   • Incident response

   Pricing on request Our Sophos MDR verdict → + Compare Visit Sophos
   9.0/10★★★★☆

   Visit Sophos
6. 6
   
   Check Point MDR/MPR 8.9

   Best forFortified environments needing automated response

   • Better than Critical Start MDR:
   • Incident response
   • Editor score 8.9 vs 7.0

   A managed SOC service for continuous, automated detection and response across complex environments.

   • Threat hunting
   • Incident response

   Pricing on request Our Check Point MDR/MPR verdict → + Compare Visit Check Point
   8.9/10★★★★☆

   Visit Check Point
7. 7
   
   Mnemonic MDR 8.8

   Best forTeams wanting customizable SOC operations

   • Better than Critical Start MDR:
   • Incident response
   • Editor score 8.8 vs 7.0

   A tiered MDR service combining continuous monitoring, threat hunting and coordinated response.

   • Threat hunting
   • Incident response

   Pricing on request Our Mnemonic MDR verdict → + Compare Visit Mnemonic
   8.8/10★★★★☆

   Visit Mnemonic
8. 8
   
   NTT Managed Detection and Response 8.7

   Best forMicrosoft-centered enterprise MDR

   • Better than Critical Start MDR:
   • Incident response
   • Editor score 8.7 vs 7.0

   A Microsoft-centered MDR service combining continuous monitoring, investigation and coordinated response.

   • Threat hunting
   • Incident response

   Pricing on request Our NTT Managed Detection and Response verdict → + Compare Visit NTT
   8.7/10★★★★☆

   Visit NTT
9. 9
   RM
   Rapid7 MDR 8.6

   Best forMDR with strong retention and SOAR

   • Better than Critical Start MDR:
   • Incident response
   • Editor score 8.6 vs 7.0

   A 24/7 MDR service with strong retention, response coverage, and SOAR automation.

   • Threat hunting
   • Incident response

   Pricing on request Our Rapid7 MDR verdict → + Compare Visit Rapid7
   8.6/10★★★★☆

   Visit Rapid7
10. 10
    
    CrowdStrike Falcon Complete 8.5

    Best forEndpoint-led MDR with a short trial

    • Better than Critical Start MDR:
    • Incident response
    • Editor score 8.5 vs 7.0

    A fully managed, endpoint-led MDR service with broad coverage and coordinated response.

    • Threat hunting
    • Incident response

    Pricing on request · 15-day trial Our CrowdStrike Falcon Complete verdict → + Compare Visit CrowdStrike
    8.5/10★★★★☆

    Visit CrowdStrike
11. 11
    
    Trustwave MDR 8.4

    Best forHybrid environments needing many integrations

    • Better than Critical Start MDR:
    • Incident response
    • Editor score 8.4 vs 7.0

    24/7/365 MDR with human investigation, threat hunting, and coordinated containment.

    • Threat hunting
    • Incident response

    Pricing on request Our Trustwave MDR verdict → + Compare Visit LevelBlue
    8.4/10★★★★☆

    Visit LevelBlue
12. 12
    
    ReliaQuest MDR 8.3

    Best forVendor-neutral security operations

    • Better than Critical Start MDR:
    • Incident response
    • Editor score 8.3 vs 7.0

    A vendor-neutral MDR service for organizations needing 24/7 security operations support.

    • Threat hunting
    • Incident response

    Pricing on request Our ReliaQuest MDR verdict → + Compare Visit ReliaQuest
    8.3/10★★★★☆

    Visit ReliaQuest
13. 13
    
    Deepwatch MDR 8.2

    Best forAI-assisted MDR with human oversight

    • Better than Critical Start MDR:
    • Incident response
    • Editor score 8.2 vs 7.0

    A 24/7 MDR service pairing AI-assisted response with human analyst oversight.

    • Threat hunting
    • Incident response

    Pricing on request Our Deepwatch MDR verdict → + Compare Visit Deepwatch
    8.2/10★★★★☆

    Visit Deepwatch
14. 14
    
    LevelBlue MDR 8.1

    Best forHybrid cloud and on-premises MDR

    • Better than Critical Start MDR:
    • Incident response
    • Editor score 8.1 vs 7.0

    A 24/7/365 MDR service for hybrid environments that need coordinated response.

    • Threat hunting
    • Incident response

    Pricing on request Our LevelBlue MDR verdict → + Compare Visit LevelBlue
    8.1/10★★★★☆

    Visit LevelBlue
15. 15
    OC
    Orange Cyberdefense Managed Detection and Response 8.0

    Best forMDR spanning IT and OT systems

    • Better than Critical Start MDR:
    • Incident response
    • Editor score 8.0 vs 7.0

    A tailored MDR service covering IT, OT, endpoints, networks, cloud and identities.

    • Threat hunting
    • Incident response

    Pricing on request Our Orange Cyberdefense Managed Detection and Response verdict → + Compare Visit site
    8.0/10★★★★☆

    Visit site

How to Switch from Critical Start MDR

1. Export your data from Critical Start MDR (most tools have an export in their settings).
2. Sign up for the alternative; start on its free plan or trial if it has one.
3. Import your export and set up the integrations your team relies on.
4. Run both side by side for a short while, then cancel Critical Start MDR.

Critical Start MDR vs Each Alternative

#	Tool	Paid from	Monitoring coverage	Response model	Threat hunting	Incident response	Coverage areas	Score
25	Critical Start MDR		24_7	Coordinated	Yes	No		7.0
1	eSentire MDR		24_7	Coordinated	Yes	Yes	All_three	9.4
2	Arctic Wolf Managed Detection and Response		24_7	Coordinated	Yes	Yes	All_three	9.3
3	Red Canary MDR		24_7	Coordinated	Yes	Yes	All_three	9.2
4	Expel MDR		24_7	Coordinated		Yes	All_three	9.1
5	SMSophos MDR		24_7	Coordinated	Yes	Yes	All_three	9.0
6	Check Point MDR/MPR		24_7	Automated	Yes	Yes	All_three	8.9
7	Mnemonic MDR		24_7	Coordinated	Yes	Yes	All_three	8.8
8	NTT Managed Detection and Response		24_7	Coordinated	Yes	Yes	All_three	8.7
9	RMRapid7 MDR		24_7	Coordinated	Yes	Yes	All_three	8.6
10	CrowdStrike Falcon Complete		24_7	Coordinated	Yes	Yes	All_three	8.5
11	Trustwave MDR		24_7	Coordinated	Yes	Yes		8.4
12	ReliaQuest MDR		24_7	Automated	Yes	Yes	All_three	8.3
13	Deepwatch MDR		24_7	Automated	Yes	Yes	All_three	8.2
14	LevelBlue MDR		24_7	Coordinated	Yes	Yes		8.1
15	OCOrange Cyberdefense Managed Detection and Response		24_7	Coordinated	Yes	Yes	All_three	8.0

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated 7 Oct 2026 · How we research and update