Cybersecurity · head to head
CrowdStrike Falcon vs Microsoft Sentinel
CrowdStrike Falcon
Cybersecurity
Stop breaches with AI-native cybersecurity
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: CrowdStrike Falcon falcon Go device limit: capped at 100 devices maximum, forcing mid-market/enterprise customers to upgrade despite lower cost; Microsoft Sentinel billing is driven by the volume of log data ingested per day, so cost scales with log noise rather than with users or protected assets
- They diverge on capability: CrowdStrike Falcon covers Next-gen antivirus, Microsoft Sentinel covers AI-powered analytics.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 2 September 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which CrowdStrike Falcon and Microsoft Sentinel actually diverge.
| Attribute | CrowdStrike Falcon | Microsoft Sentinel |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | subscription | usage-based |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Web, Api |
| Founded | 2011 | 1975 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Cybersecurity).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in CrowdStrike Falcon
- Next-gen antivirus
- Endpoint detection and response
- IT hygiene
- USB device control
- Firewall management
- Threat graph
- Real-time response
- SIEM platforms
Only in Microsoft Sentinel
- AI-powered analytics
- Fusion detection
- UEBA
- Automated response playbooks
- Hunting queries
- Workbooks
- Incident management
- Microsoft 365
Both cover
- Threat intelligence
- ServiceNow
- AWS
- Google Cloud
- FedRAMP
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
CrowdStrike Falcon
- Endpoint detection and response for enterprise cybersecuritynot Microsoft Sentinel
- Malware prevention and threat huntingnot Microsoft Sentinel
- Managed detection and response (MDR) servicesnot Microsoft Sentinel
Microsoft Sentinel
- Cloud-based security information and event management (SIEM)not CrowdStrike Falcon
- Extended detection and response (XDR) across enterprise infrastructurenot CrowdStrike Falcon
- Data ingestion and long-term security analyticsnot CrowdStrike Falcon
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
CrowdStrike Falcon
- Falcon Go device limit: capped at 100 devices maximum, forcing mid-market/enterprise customers to upgrade despite lower cost
- EDR locked behind Enterprise tier: endpoint detection and response available only at $19.99/device/month tier; not available in Pro
- Managed service pricing opaque: Falcon Complete Next-Gen MDR requires contacting sales; no pricing range for 24/7 MDR services published
- Annual discount modest: 17-24% savings on annual vs. monthly create minimal incentive to prepay
Microsoft Sentinel
- Billing is driven by the volume of log data ingested per day, so cost scales with log noise rather than with users or protected assets
- Commitment tier discounts require reserving daily ingestion capacity in advance, and a tier cannot be downgraded until 31 days have passed
- Commitment tiers start at 100 GB per day, above what smaller estates ingest
- Charges for Log Analytics, Logic Apps and Machine Learning are billed separately on top of Sentinel itself
- The free allowance is only up to 5 MB per user per day for selected Microsoft 365 security logs
- Promotional commitment pricing is time limited and locks in only until a stated end date
Pricing, plan by plan
CrowdStrike Falcon
Free- Falcon Go$undefined/mo
- Falcon Pro$undefined/mo
- Falcon Enterprise$undefined/mo
- Falcon Complete Next-Gen MDR$undefined/mo
Microsoft Sentinel
Free- Pay-As-You-Go$2.46/day
- Per GB ingested
- 90-day retention
- First 31 days free for new workspaces
- Commitment TiersFree
- 100GB to 50TB tiers
- Up to 65% discount
- Predictable billing
- Microsoft 365 E5Free
- Free data ingestion for M365 logs
- Bundled with E5 license
Which should you pick?
Choose CrowdStrike Falcon if
- You need next-gen antivirus.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Windows, macOS, Linux.
- You also want endpoint detection and response.
Choose Microsoft Sentinel if
- You need ai-powered analytics.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Api.
- You also want fusion detection.
Questions people ask
- Is CrowdStrike Falcon or Microsoft Sentinel better?
- Neither clearly leads. CrowdStrike Falcon starts at Free and Microsoft Sentinel at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, CrowdStrike Falcon or Microsoft Sentinel?
- CrowdStrike Falcon starts at Free and Microsoft Sentinel at Free.
- Does CrowdStrike Falcon or Microsoft Sentinel run on more platforms?
- CrowdStrike Falcon runs on Windows, macOS, Linux. Microsoft Sentinel runs on Web, Api.
- Can I use CrowdStrike Falcon for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is CrowdStrike Falcon best used for?
- CrowdStrike Falcon is most often used for endpoint detection and response for enterprise cybersecurity, malware prevention and threat hunting, managed detection and response (mdr) services. Of those, endpoint detection and response for enterprise cybersecurity and malware prevention and threat hunting are not what Microsoft Sentinel is typically brought in for.
- What can CrowdStrike Falcon do that Microsoft Sentinel cannot?
- CrowdStrike Falcon covers Next-gen antivirus, Endpoint detection and response, IT hygiene, USB device control. Microsoft Sentinel covers AI-powered analytics, Fusion detection, UEBA, Automated response playbooks. Both handle Threat intelligence, ServiceNow, AWS, Google Cloud.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
CrowdStrike Falcon: How much does CrowdStrike Falcon cost per device?
Falcon Go costs $7.99/device/month ($59.99/year), Falcon Pro costs $14.99/device/month ($99.99/year), and Falcon Enterprise costs $19.99/device/month ($184.99/year).
SourceMicrosoft Sentinel: How is Microsoft Sentinel pricing calculated?
Microsoft Sentinel uses a pay-as-you-go usage-based model where you pay only for data ingested, stored, and consumed. Flexible commitment tiers are available to reduce total cost of ownership, with specific rates not published on the public pricing page. Source: https://www.microsoft.com/security/business/siem-and-xdr/microsoft-sentinel/
SourceCrowdStrike Falcon: What is the device limit for Falcon Go?
Falcon Go is limited to a maximum of 100 devices. Organizations with more than 100 devices must upgrade to Pro or Enterprise tiers.
SourceMicrosoft Sentinel: Does Microsoft Sentinel require an Azure subscription?
Yes, Microsoft Sentinel requires a Microsoft Azure subscription to operate. Pricing is handled through Azure and varies based on data consumption and the commitment tier you select. Source: https://www.microsoft.com/security/business/siem-and-xdr/microsoft-sentinel/
SourceCrowdStrike Falcon: What is the difference between Falcon Pro and Enterprise?
Falcon Pro ($14.99/device/month) includes firewall management and advanced device control. Falcon Enterprise ($19.99/device/month) adds endpoint detection and response (EDR), threat hunting services, and expert threat intelligence.
SourceCrowdStrike Falcon: How much does the managed detection and response service cost?
Falcon Complete Next-Gen MDR pricing is custom. It provides 24/7 expert-led detection and response with AI acceleration and continuous investigations by expert threat teams. Contact CrowdStrike sales for a quote.
SourceRelated pages
More on CrowdStrike Falcon
More on Microsoft Sentinel
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