If you're evaluating SentinelOne, CrowdStrike, Palo Alto Cortex XDR, and Microsoft Defender for Endpoint for enterprise cybersecurity, you need data beyond vendor claims. We used QBack to analyze 853 G2 reviews, Reddit discussions from IT professionals, and official pricing to give you an unbiased comparison.

This guide covers G2 ratings, detailed pricing (including hidden costs), top pain points reported by security teams, and how each platform positions itself. Whether you're a mid-market company, an enterprise SOC, or an MSP managing multiple clients, this comparison helps you make an informed EDR/XDR decision.

Which Endpoint Security Platform Has the Best G2 Rating?

SentinelOne Singularity: 4.7/5 (190 reviews)

SentinelOne ties with CrowdStrike at 4.7/5 with 190 reviews on G2. Known for autonomous AI-driven threat detection and response.

Top Pros:

• User-friendly management console — 15 mentions
• Autonomous threat detection — 12 mentions
• Strong/exceptional security features — 11 mentions
• Ease of management / device management — 9 mentions
• Knowledgeable support / easy integrations — 7 mentions

Top Cons:

• Compatibility / migration challenges — 4 mentions
• Lack of clarity in device control policies — 4 mentions
• Missing features / limited MDM or mobile maturity — 4 mentions
• Agent/alert/blocking issues (false positives) — 3 mentions
• Expense and perceived cost / poor support — 2-3 mentions

Notable Reviews:

• "SentinelOne Sets the Standard for Endpoint Protection" - Darold S., Enterprise, 5.0/5 (G2)
• "Easy to deploy and use. Very responsive to config changes. Support team is amazing." - Verified reviewer (AC) (G2)

CrowdStrike Falcon: 4.7/5 (312 reviews)

CrowdStrike also scores 4.7/5 with the most reviews (312) on G2. The market leader in cloud-native EDR.

Top Pros:

• (Detailed mention counts not available from automated extraction)
• Strong detection capabilities
• Broad feature set (endpoint, cloud, identity)
• Lightweight agent
• Cloud-native architecture

Top Cons:

• (Detailed mention counts not available)
• BSOD incidents (July 2024 outage)
• Pricing concerns
• Complex licensing

Notable Context:

• Widely respected for detection capabilities and enterprise value
• July 2024 BSOD incident affected millions globally (see Reddit discussions)

Palo Alto Cortex XDR: 4.6/5 (47 reviews)

Cortex XDR scores 4.6/5 with only 47 reviews on G2, the fewest among all platforms.

Top Pros:

• Quick response against malware and virus
• Robust protection
• Next generation approach to endpoint security

Top Cons:

• UI complexity
• Resource usage
• Steep learning curve
• Query language difficulty
• Expensive/complex

Notable Reviews:

• "We use Cortex XDR. It is a fantastic product. It might take some time to tune but is very effective. PRO licensing is a must." - Reddit user
• "The amount of false positives in XDR is incredible...the product is so noisy you are constantly tuning alerts...upgrade fails so often on clients." - Reddit user

Microsoft Defender for Endpoint: 4.4/5 (304 reviews)

Microsoft Defender has the lowest rating (4.4/5) but substantial reviews (304) on G2.

Top Pros:

• Ease of use — 20 mentions
• Security / Robust protection — 17 mentions
• Advanced threat detection — 16 mentions
• Protection (general) — 15 mentions
• Broad cybersecurity protection / integration — 14 mentions

Top Cons:

• Compatibility issues (older Windows versions) — 7 mentions
• Complexity in licensing & configuration — 7 mentions
• Lack of clarity in documentation/visibility — 6 mentions
• Difficult configuration / exception configuration — 5 mentions
• Difficult navigation / UI complexity — 5 mentions

Notable Reviews:

• "Endpoint security improved with Microsoft Defender" - Manuel H., Enterprise (G2)
• "Microsoft Defender for Endpoint (formerly Defender ATP) gives you full EPP & EDR functionality. It is very comprehensive & beats most of the competition." - r/sysadmin

How Much Do These EDR/XDR Platforms Really Cost?

SentinelOne Pricing

SentinelOne pricing is tiered and transparent, but reseller/MSP pricing varies significantly.

Pricing Tiers:

• Singularity Control: $79.99 per endpoint/year

  • Security + Suite Features
  • Management, device control

• Singularity Complete: $179.99 per endpoint/year

  • Essential AI Security
  • AI-powered endpoint & cloud workload protection
  • Real-time detection & response
  • 14-day data retention
  • AI Security Assistant

• Singularity Commercial: $229.99 per endpoint/year

  • Everything in Complete
  • Identity Detection & Response (IDR)
  • 90-day data retention
  • Managed Threat Hunting

• Singularity Enterprise: Contact Sales

  • Everything in Commercial
  • Agentic AI SOC Analyst
  • Full Visibility & Forensics
  • Managed Threat Hunting & MDR
  • 24/7 expert services

Hidden Costs:

• Prices displayed for 5-100 workstations; volume pricing varies
• May not include taxes and other charges
• Final pricing controlled by authorized third-party partners
• Reseller/marketplace pricing may exclude 24/7 SOC or cyber warranty

True Cost Analysis (from Reddit MSPs):

• Pax8 SentinelOne Core: $2.50/month per endpoint
• Complete: $12.00/month per user
• Control: $8.00/month per user
• Note: Partner pricing significantly lower than published rates

CrowdStrike Pricing

CrowdStrike pricing is tiered with annual billing required.

Pricing Tiers:

• Falcon Go: $59.99 per device/year (max 100 devices)

  • Next-gen antivirus
  • Device control
  • Mobile protection
  • Firewall management
  • EDR, threat intelligence & hunting
  • Identity protection
  • IT hygiene
  • Next-gen SIEM
  • Express Support

• Falcon Pro: $99.99 per device/year

  • All Go features
  • Integrated intelligence
  • Enhanced protection
  • Falcon OverWatch

• Falcon Enterprise: $184.99 per device/year

  • Advanced protection
  • Continuous EDR/XDR (Falcon Insight XDR)
  • Threat hunting
  • Expanded modules
  • Expert hunting

• Falcon Complete (Fully Managed MDR): Contact sales

  • 24/7 expert-led, AI-accelerated MDR
  • Optional add-ons: Next-Gen Identity Security, Next-Gen SIEM
  • CrowdStrike Breach Prevention Warranty

Hidden Costs:

• Annual billing required (full amount due at start)
• Optional bundle add-ons cost extra
• No additional fees beyond subscription per CrowdStrike

True Cost Analysis: Transparent annual pricing, but Falcon Complete MDR pricing hidden behind contact sales.

Palo Alto Cortex XDR Pricing

Palo Alto does not publicly publish pricing. Third-party estimates only.

Estimated Pricing:

• Cortex XDR Pro: ~$81 per endpoint/year (includes 30 days data retention)
• Cortex Data Lake storage: ~$11,000 per TB

What's Included:

• Cortex XDR Pro: Integrations and alert stitching with third-party apps (Azure, AWS)

Hidden Costs:

• Longer data retention increases costs
• Cortex Data Lake storage fees
• Add-on modules or "Pro" licensing required
• Managed services (Unit 42 MDR) cost extra
• Professional services/implementation fees

True Cost Analysis: "PRO licensing is a must" per Reddit users, driving up costs significantly. Total cost unclear without vendor quote.

Microsoft Defender for Endpoint Pricing

Microsoft Defender pricing is the most affordable, especially if already in M365 ecosystem.

Pricing Tiers:

• Microsoft Defender for Business: $3.00 per user/month (annual)

  • For organizations up to 300 users
  • Enterprise-grade protection
  • NGAV, attack-surface reduction
  • Simplified EDR
  • Automated investigation & remediation
  • Cross-platform support

• Defender for Endpoint Plan 1: ~$3.00 per user/month (annual)

  • NGAV, attack-surface reduction (ASR)
  • Device-based conditional access
  • Network protection
  • Application control
  • APIs/SIEM connectors
  • Included with Microsoft 365 E3

• Defender for Endpoint Plan 2: ~$5.20 per user/month (annual)

  • Everything in P1
  • Full EDR (endpoint detection & response)
  • Automated investigation & remediation
  • Automatic attack disruption
  • Vulnerability management
  • Threat intelligence/analytics
  • 6 months data retention
  • Advanced hunting
  • Included with Microsoft 365 E5

Hidden Costs:

• Defender for Business Servers add-on: ~$3 per server instance
• Licensing complexity can lead to consulting costs
• No setup fees reported

True Cost Analysis: Most cost-effective if already using M365 E3/E5. Standalone pricing competitive at $3-$5.20/user/month.

What Are the Top Pain Points for Each Platform?

SentinelOne: Top 3 Concerns

1. Compatibility / Migration Challenges

Severity: Medium-High - Blocking legitimate apps

Evidence:

• Compatibility / migration challenges — 4 G2 mentions
• Reddit reports of SentinelOne blocking legitimate applications during migration
• Need for tuning to avoid false positives

2. Expense and Perceived Cost

Severity: Medium - Higher than Microsoft Defender

Evidence:

• Expense and perceived cost — 2-3 G2 mentions
• Published pricing: $79.99-$229.99/endpoint/year (higher than Microsoft's $36-$62.40/user/year)
• Reseller pricing variability creates confusion

3. Missing Features / Limited MDM Maturity

Severity: Low-Medium - Mobile management gaps

Evidence:

• Missing features / limited MDM or mobile maturity — 4 G2 mentions
• Less mature mobile device management compared to competitors

CrowdStrike: Top 3 Pain Points

1. July 2024 BSOD Incident ⚠️ Critical

Severity: Critical - Global outage affecting millions

Evidence:

• July 2024 update caused widespread Blue Screen of Death (BSOD)
• Affected millions of computers globally
• Major Reddit discussions: r/crowdstrike, r/sysadmin, r/pcmasterrace
• "Microsoft explains the root cause behind..." - Reddit threads analyzing incident

This incident severely damaged CrowdStrike's reputation for reliability.

2. Pricing Concerns

Severity: Medium - Higher cost than alternatives

• Enterprise tier: $184.99/device/year
• Falcon Complete MDR pricing hidden (contact sales)

3. Complex Licensing

Severity: Low-Medium - Difficulty understanding tiers

Multiple tiers and add-ons create confusion about what's included.

Palo Alto Cortex XDR: Top 3 Pain Points

1. False Positives / Noisy Alerts ⚠️ Critical

Severity: High - Constant tuning required

Evidence:

• "The amount of false positives in XDR is incredible...the product is so noisy you are constantly tuning alerts" - Reddit user
• UI complexity mentioned as top con on G2

2. Client Upgrade Failures

Severity: High - Operational disruption

Evidence:

• "upgrade fails so often on clients" - Reddit
• "Crowdstrike was so easy to administer and update on the clients, in XDR I have an alert email when a client fails to upgrade" - Reddit

3. Expensive / "PRO Licensing is a Must"

Severity: High - True cost unclear

Evidence:

• "PRO licensing is a must" - Reddit user
• Estimated ~$81/endpoint/year for Pro (vs ~$60 for CrowdStrike Go)
• Hidden costs for data lake storage, retention, modules

Microsoft Defender for Endpoint: Top 3 Pain Points

1. Compatibility Issues (Older Windows)

Severity: Medium-High - Limits deployment scope

Evidence:

• Compatibility issues (esp. older Windows versions) — 7 G2 mentions (top con)

2. Complexity in Licensing & Configuration

Severity: Medium-High - Steep learning curve

Evidence:

• Complexity in licensing & configuration — 7 G2 mentions (tied for top con)
• "Licensing confusion (which SKU includes which features)" - Reddit
• Multiple Reddit posts about licensing complexity

3. Difficult Navigation / UI Complexity

Severity: Medium - Impacts productivity

Evidence:

• Difficult navigation / UI complexity — 5 G2 mentions
• "UI navigation and locating the right portal features" - Reddit pain point

How Do These Platforms Position Themselves?

SentinelOne: Autonomous AI EDR/XDR

SentinelOne positions as the leader in autonomous, AI-driven endpoint security with behavioral AI and automated remediation (including rollback capabilities).

Target Customers: Enterprises and mid-market organizations, MSPs managing multiple clients, industries requiring high automation (finance, healthcare, government)

Key Messaging: "AI-powered autonomous cybersecurity with prevention, detection, response, remediation, and forensics"

Competitive Attack: Autonomous AI (Purple AI), unified platform (endpoints + cloud + identity), MITRE ATT&CK validation, marketplace automation

CrowdStrike: Cloud-Native Market Leader

CrowdStrike positions as the cloud-native market leader with the broadest feature set and the Falcon platform's lightweight single-agent architecture.

Target Customers: Enterprises across all industries, recognized as market leader by Gartner and Forrester

Key Messaging: "Cloud-native platform delivering swift deployment, unique protection and performance, and reduced complexity"

Competitive Attack: Market leadership, breadth of features (endpoint + cloud + identity), lightweight agent, Falcon OverWatch threat hunting

Note: July 2024 BSOD incident significantly damaged reputation.

Palo Alto Cortex XDR: Network-Centric XDR

Palo Alto positions Cortex XDR as the XDR platform for organizations already using Palo Alto firewalls and network security, emphasizing deep ecosystem integration.

Target Customers: Enterprises with SOC teams, organizations already using Palo Alto NGFWs or Prisma Cloud

Key Messaging: "AI-driven XDR integrating telemetry from endpoints, cloud, network, and identity sources"

Competitive Attack: MITRE validation, deep Palo Alto ecosystem integration (Cortex Data Lake, NGFWs), Unit 42 managed services

Microsoft Defender: M365 Native Security

Microsoft Defender positions as the cost-effective, deeply integrated option for organizations already using Microsoft 365, emphasizing seamless integration and value.

Target Customers: Microsoft 365 customers (E3/E5), SMBs (Defender for Business), enterprises already in Microsoft ecosystem

Key Messaging: "Cloud-native endpoint protection with deep Microsoft 365 integration and trillions of daily signals"

Competitive Attack: Lowest cost ($3-$5.20/user/month), included with M365 E3/E5, seamless integration (Sentinel, Intune, Defender XDR)

Feature Comparison: What's Actually Included?

Strengths and Weaknesses Summary

SentinelOne

Strengths:

• Autonomous AI-driven detection and response (behavioral AI, Purple AI)
• User-friendly management console (15 G2 mentions)
• Automated rollback capabilities
• Unified platform (endpoints + cloud + identity + forensics)
• Strong MITRE ATT&CK results
• Marketplace and automation features
• Competitive MSP/reseller pricing ($2.50-$12/month)

Weaknesses:

• Compatibility/migration challenges (4 G2 mentions)
• Limited MDM/mobile maturity (4 mentions)
• Higher published pricing than Microsoft Defender
• Agent/blocking issues require tuning
• Reseller pricing variability creates confusion

CrowdStrike

Strengths:

• Market leader with broadest feature set
• Highest number of G2 reviews (312) = most validated
• Cloud-native architecture
• Lightweight single-agent
• Falcon OverWatch threat hunting
• Falcon Complete fully managed MDR
• Transparent annual pricing
• Strong detection capabilities

Weaknesses:

• July 2024 BSOD incident (critical reputation damage)
• Higher pricing ($184.99/device Enterprise tier)
• Falcon Complete MDR pricing hidden
• Complex licensing with add-ons
• Some Reddit users report switching away post-BSOD

Palo Alto Cortex XDR

Strengths:

• Strong threat detection (MITRE validated)
• Deep integration with Palo Alto ecosystem (NGFWs, Data Lake)
• Agentic AI and automation features
• Unit 42 managed services available
• Good for organizations already using Palo Alto

Weaknesses:

• Excessive false positives / noisy alerts (top Reddit complaint)
• Client upgrade failures (high operational impact)
• "PRO licensing is a must" (significantly increases cost)
• UI complexity and steep learning curve
• No public pricing (unclear total cost)
• Fewest G2 reviews (47) = least social validation
• ~$81/endpoint more expensive than CrowdStrike Go ($60)

Microsoft Defender

Strengths:

• Most cost-effective ($3-$5.20/user/month)
• Included with M365 E3/E5 (massive value for existing customers)
• Deep Microsoft ecosystem integration (Sentinel, Intune, Defender XDR)
• Trillions of daily signals powering detection
• Comprehensive EDR/XDR in P2
• Cross-platform (Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android)
• 6 months data retention (P2) vs 14-30 days competitors

Weaknesses:

• Compatibility issues with older Windows (7 G2 mentions)
• Licensing complexity (7 mentions)
• UI navigation/complexity (5 mentions)
• Lowest G2 rating (4.4/5)
• Limited managed MDR compared to competitors
• Some users report false positives

Key Insights: Common Themes Across All Platforms

1. The July 2024 CrowdStrike Incident Changed Everything

CrowdStrike's BSOD incident affecting millions globally is a watershed moment for the industry. Previously the undisputed leader, CrowdStrike now faces reputation challenges and increased scrutiny of update mechanisms.

This incident benefits SentinelOne, Palo Alto, and Microsoft Defender as organizations reconsider vendor diversification.

2. Pricing Transparency Varies Wildly

Transparent: CrowdStrike ($59.99-$184.99/device), SentinelOne ($79.99-$229.99/endpoint), Microsoft Defender ($3-$5.20/user)

Opaque: Palo Alto Cortex XDR (no public pricing)

Budget 20-40% above published pricing for true costs (data retention, add-ons, managed services).

3. False Positives Are Universal

Every platform reports false positive issues:

• SentinelOne: Agent/blocking issues (3 mentions)
• Palo Alto: "incredible" false positives, "so noisy"
• Microsoft Defender: Some users report false positives

Expect 2-6 months of tuning regardless of vendor.

4. Microsoft Defender is the Value Play

At $3-$5.20/user/month (and included with M365 E3/E5), Microsoft Defender offers unmatched value for organizations already in the Microsoft ecosystem.

However, lowest G2 rating (4.4/5) suggests feature/usability trade-offs.

5. MSP/Reseller Pricing Drastically Different

SentinelOne Reddit MSP pricing: $2.50-$12/month (vs $79.99-$229.99 published)

This creates confusion and makes vendor comparisons difficult. Always get reseller quotes, not just published pricing.

Which Platform Should You Choose?

Choose SentinelOne if:

• Autonomous AI and automated rollback are priorities
• You're an MSP managing multiple clients
• User-friendly management console matters
• You want strong MITRE validation without CrowdStrike's recent reputation damage
• You can get MSP/reseller pricing ($2.50-$12/month)

✅ Best for: MSPs, mid-market enterprises wanting autonomous protection

⚠️ Risk: Compatibility/migration challenges; limited mobile maturity

Choose CrowdStrike if:

• You need the broadest feature set (endpoint + cloud + identity)
• Market leadership and validation matter (312 G2 reviews)
• Lightweight agent and cloud-native architecture are priorities
• You can accept the July 2024 BSOD incident risk
• Budget supports $60-$185/device/year

⚠️ Risk: July 2024 BSOD incident damaged reputation; higher pricing; some users switching away

Choose Palo Alto Cortex XDR if:

• You already use Palo Alto firewalls/Prisma Cloud
• Deep network-centric integration is critical
• You have dedicated SOC team to handle tuning/complexity
• Budget supports ~$81+/endpoint + data lake costs
• You can tolerate false positives and client upgrade issues

⚠️ Risk: Noisy alerts require constant tuning; client upgrade failures; "PRO licensing is a must"; no public pricing

Choose Microsoft Defender if:

• You're already using Microsoft 365 E3/E5 (it's included!)
• Budget is constrained ($3-$5.20/user/month)
• Deep Microsoft ecosystem integration is valuable
• You can tolerate lower G2 rating (4.4/5)
• Compatibility with older Windows isn't a concern

✅ Best for: Microsoft 365 customers, budget-conscious organizations, SMBs (Defender for Business)

⚠️ Risk: Lowest rating; licensing complexity; compatibility issues with older Windows

Final Verdict

There's no universal winner - choice depends on your ecosystem and priorities:

• Best Value: Microsoft Defender for M365 customers (included with E3/E5)
• Best for MSPs: SentinelOne with reseller pricing ($2.50-$12/month)
• Best for Enterprises (Pre-BSOD): CrowdStrike Falcon (but July 2024 incident changes calculus)
• Best for Palo Alto Shops: Cortex XDR if you can handle tuning overhead

Post-July 2024 Landscape:

CrowdStrike's BSOD incident creates opportunities for SentinelOne (autonomous AI without recent outage) and Microsoft Defender (cost-effective, ecosystem integration).

Most mid-market organizations should evaluate SentinelOne (autonomous AI, MSP pricing) vs. Microsoft Defender (value, M365 integration) as primary candidates.

Enterprises already using Palo Alto should consider Cortex XDR for ecosystem integration, but budget for "PRO licensing" and SOC resources for tuning.

Reality Check:

• All platforms require 2-6 months of tuning
• False positives are universal
• Budget 20-40% above published pricing
• Get MSP/reseller quotes (often 50-80% lower than published)
• July 2024 CrowdStrike incident validates vendor diversification strategies

Sources & Links

Company Websites

• SentinelOne | Pricing
• CrowdStrike | Pricing
• Palo Alto Networks Cortex XDR
• Microsoft Defender for Endpoint

G2 Reviews

• SentinelOne Singularity G2 (4.7/5, 190 reviews)
• CrowdStrike Falcon G2 (4.7/5, 312 reviews)
• Palo Alto Cortex XDR G2 (4.6/5, 47 reviews)
• Microsoft Defender for Endpoint G2 (4.4/5, 304 reviews)

Reddit Discussions

SentinelOne:

• What is SentinelOne pricing?
• Pax8 pricing changes for SentinelOne
• Anyone deployed SentinelOne? Looking for pros/cons

CrowdStrike:

• r/crowdstrike Community
• BSOD error in latest CrowdStrike update
• CrowdStrike BSOD affecting millions
• CrowdStrike BSOD - r/sysadmin

Palo Alto Cortex XDR:

• Should I use Palo Alto's Cortex offerings?

Microsoft Defender:

• Windows Defender for Endpoint ATP effective?
• r/DefenderATP
• Defender for Business Servers add-on pricing