TL;DR – Which Is Right for You?
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick breakdown to help guide your decision between CrowdStrike and Huntress based on business size, security needs, and internal resources.
🛡️ CrowdStrike Falcon
- Best For: Mid-market to enterprise organizations
- Strengths: AI-powered XDR, full-featured SIEM (LogScale), vulnerability management
- Deployment: Cloud-native with single lightweight agent
- Support: Human + AI (Falcon Complete MDR)
- Downside: May be complex for smaller teams
🧠 Huntress
- Best For: SMBs, MSPs, and lean IT teams
- Strengths: 24/7 human-led SOC, threat hunting, simple setup
- Deployment: Cloud-managed, agent-based monitoring
- Support: High-touch, responsive SOC experts
- Downside: Less extensible for complex, enterprise needs
Why This Comparison Matters
Cyber threats aren’t just targeting massive enterprises anymore. Today’s attackers are faster, more automated, and often zero in on organizations with lean security teams and limited visibility — like yours.
One of our customers thought their off-the-shelf antivirus was enough. After a phishing email led to an account compromise, they spent days chasing alerts and doing forensics. That incident was the wake-up call that moved them toward a managed detection and response (MDR) strategy.
Whether you’re proactively upgrading your defenses or reacting to a close call, this guide compares CrowdStrike and Huntress head-to-head — so you can confidently choose the right security solution for your team, your stack, and your stage of growth.
CrowdStrike Falcon Overview
CrowdStrike is a recognized leader in endpoint and extended detection and response (XDR), designed for businesses that need full-stack visibility, speed, and scalability. Its Falcon platform combines AI-driven prevention, EDR, managed detection and response (MDR), and SIEM into one cloud-native solution.
⚙️ Core Features
- Falcon Prevent: Next-gen antivirus (NGAV) powered by AI and behavioral analysis
- Falcon Insight: Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) with continuous monitoring
- Falcon Complete: Fully managed MDR service with 24/7 expert-led response
- Falcon Spotlight: Scanless vulnerability management with AI-powered risk prioritization
- Falcon LogScale: Next-gen SIEM with ultra-fast search and scalable log ingestion
- Falcon Fusion: Built-in SOAR for automation and orchestration
☁️ Technology Architecture
Falcon is cloud-native with a single lightweight agent that’s less than 20MB. It leverages CrowdStrike’s Threat Graph — analyzing 2+ trillion events weekly — to deliver real-time threat intelligence. No on-prem infrastructure required. Built to scale from 50 to 50,000+ endpoints.
🎯 Who It’s Best For
CrowdStrike is ideal for mid-size to enterprise organizations, especially in regulated industries like healthcare, finance, and tech. It’s perfect for teams with moderate to advanced security maturity that need high customizability, advanced analytics, and integrated threat hunting.
Huntress Overview
Huntress is purpose-built for small to mid-sized businesses and Managed Service Providers (MSPs) that need robust, human-led protection without the overhead of managing a full SOC. Their managed security platform focuses on detecting persistent footholds, identity threats, and ransomware early — with actionable remediation included.
🔐 Core Features
- Managed EDR: Continuous monitoring for footholds, process anomalies, and ransomware behaviors
- 24/7 SOC: Human-led threat hunting, detection, and response by security analysts
- Managed ITDR: Identity threat detection for Microsoft 365 accounts and cloud email environments
- Managed SIEM: Noise-filtered log management and compliance-focused alerting
- Security Awareness Training: Engaging content and phishing simulations for employee education
🧩 Technology Architecture
Huntress uses a lightweight, cloud-managed agent that’s easy to deploy and maintain — perfect for IT teams with limited time or resources. It integrates seamlessly with PSA and RMM tools like ConnectWise, Kaseya, and NinjaOne, enabling smooth ticketing and threat remediation.
🎯 Who It’s Best For
Huntress is ideal for small to mid-sized businesses, IT consultants, and MSPs managing security for multiple clients. If your team lacks a dedicated SOC or simply wants peace of mind with expert threat response baked in — Huntress is built for you.
CrowdStrike vs. Huntress: Feature Comparison
Here’s how CrowdStrike Falcon and Huntress stack up across core cybersecurity capabilities — from next-gen antivirus to SIEM, MDR, and vulnerability management.
| Feature | CrowdStrike | Huntress |
|---|---|---|
| Next-Gen Antivirus (NGAV) | AI/ML-powered with exploit blocking | Via Microsoft Defender (optional) |
| EDR/XDR | Continuous monitoring, full telemetry, Falcon Insight | Managed EDR with SOC-led investigations |
| MDR | Falcon Complete (24/7 expert-led) | Core offering: 24/7 SOC included |
| SIEM | Falcon LogScale (Next-Gen SIEM) | Managed SIEM with noise reduction |
| Threat Intelligence | Integrated platform-wide via Threat Graph | Used by analysts in the SOC |
| Vulnerability Management | Falcon Spotlight (AI-driven prioritization) | External Recon for perimeter exposures |
| Identity Protection (ITDR) | Falcon Identity module for AD & Entra ID | Managed ITDR for Microsoft 365 |
| Automation & SOAR | Falcon Fusion (built-in SOAR engine) | Integrates with tools like Rewst for automation |
| Ease of Use | Powerful, but may require onboarding | Simple, intuitive, low-friction for MSPs |
| Best For | Mid-market to enterprise, compliance-heavy industries | SMBs, MSPs, and IT teams with limited staff |
Pricing Comparison
While both platforms offer robust protection, their pricing models reflect different customer priorities. CrowdStrike is transparent and per-device, while Huntress is volume-based and partner-centric — especially well-suited for MSPs managing multiple clients.
🛡️ CrowdStrike Falcon
- Falcon Go: $59.99/device/year (SMB starter bundle)
- Falcon Pro: $99/device/year (mid-market security)
- Falcon Enterprise: $184.99/device/year (advanced features)
- Falcon Complete MDR: Custom quote required
- Falcon Flex: Custom pricing for large-scale or flexible deployments
Multi-year discounts and custom bundles available.
🧠 Huntress
- Partner-Centric Model: Pricing shared directly with MSPs and resellers
- Minimum Commitment: 50 hosts with a 12-month term
- Billing: Monthly in arrears based on usage above minimum
- Volume Discounts: Tiered pricing based on endpoint count
- VAR Options: Some resellers offer no minimum (slightly higher per-agent price)
Best suited for MSPs and IT service providers managing multiple clients.
💡 ROI Insight:
CrowdStrike delivers ROI through integrated tools that eliminate siloed security products. Huntress delivers ROI through simplicity, fast time-to-value, and reducing the need for in-house security staffing.
Which One Is Right for You?
Not every organization has the same threat surface, internal resources, or compliance needs. Here’s a quick guide to help you determine whether CrowdStrike or Huntress is the better fit for your team.
✅ Choose CrowdStrike If:
- You have internal security expertise or a growing SOC team
- You need XDR, SIEM, and vulnerability management under one roof
- Your business operates in a regulated industry (e.g. healthcare, finance)
- Scalability and API integrations are mission-critical
- You want maximum control over security operations
✅ Choose Huntress If:
- You have limited time or security headcount
- You want a 24/7 SOC to handle detection and response for you
- Your company is an SMB or you serve many clients as an MSP
- You prioritize speed-to-value and hands-off remediation
- You need a solution that’s easy to deploy and manage
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use both CrowdStrike and Huntress together?
What’s the main difference between EDR and MDR?
Does Huntress replace antivirus software?
What’s the learning curve for CrowdStrike?
Which is better for a growing MSP?
Still Not Sure Which Platform Is Right for You?
Whether you’re scaling fast, managing dozens of client environments, or simply need better visibility — we’re here to help you choose the right MDR strategy for your business.
No pressure. Just expert guidance from a team that’s helped hundreds of organizations secure their endpoints.