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Cybersecurity · head to head

CrowdStrike Falcon vs Splunk Enterprise Security

CrowdStrike Falcon logo

CrowdStrike Falcon

Cybersecurity

Stop breaches with AI-native cybersecurity

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Splunk Enterprise Security logo

Splunk Enterprise Security

Cybersecurity

The platform for operational intelligence

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only CrowdStrike Falcon has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • 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; Splunk Enterprise Security splunk Enterprise Security is licensed separately from the Splunk platform, so a SIEM deployment needs both
  • They diverge on capability: CrowdStrike Falcon covers Next-gen antivirus, Splunk Enterprise Security covers Security monitoring.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 2 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which CrowdStrike Falcon and Splunk Enterprise Security actually diverge.

Attributes where CrowdStrike Falcon and Splunk Enterprise Security differ
AttributeCrowdStrike FalconSplunk Enterprise Security
Starting priceFreeOn request
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWindows, macOS, LinuxWeb, Api
Founded20112003

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), 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 Splunk Enterprise Security

  • Security monitoring
  • Incident review
  • Risk-based alerting
  • Investigation workbench
  • MITRE ATT&CK mapping
  • Automated response
  • Compliance reporting
  • Palo Alto

Both cover

  • Threat intelligence
  • ServiceNow
  • AWS
  • Azure
  • Google Cloud
  • Okta
  • SOC2 Type 2
  • 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 Splunk Enterprise Security
  • Malware prevention and threat huntingnot Splunk Enterprise Security
  • Managed detection and response (MDR) servicesnot Splunk Enterprise Security

Splunk Enterprise Security

  • Running a security operations centre on Splunk indexed log datanot CrowdStrike Falcon
  • Correlation searches, risk based alerting and incident investigationnot CrowdStrike Falcon
  • Compliance reporting from pooled security telemetrynot 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

Splunk Enterprise Security

  • Splunk Enterprise Security is licensed separately from the Splunk platform, so a SIEM deployment needs both
  • Splunk publishes no rate for Enterprise Security and directs buyers to contact a pricing expert
  • UEBA, SOAR and automated threat analysis require the Premier edition rather than Essentials
  • The platform underneath can be billed by ingest volume, workload or activity, so the total cost depends on a pricing model chosen at contract time rather than a list price

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

Splunk Enterprise Security

On request
  • Workload PricingFree
    • Pay per compute
    • Flexible scaling
    • All features
  • Ingest PricingFree
    • Pay per GB ingested
    • Predictable costs
    • All features
  • Entity PricingFree
    • Pay per monitored entity
    • Security focused
    • All features

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.
CrowdStrike Falcon review

Choose Splunk Enterprise Security if

  • You need security monitoring.
  • You work on Web, Api.
  • You also want incident review.
Splunk Enterprise Security review

Questions people ask

Is CrowdStrike Falcon or Splunk Enterprise Security better?
Neither clearly leads. CrowdStrike Falcon starts at Free and Splunk Enterprise Security at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, CrowdStrike Falcon or Splunk Enterprise Security?
CrowdStrike Falcon has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for CrowdStrike Falcon and On request for Splunk Enterprise Security.
Does CrowdStrike Falcon or Splunk Enterprise Security run on more platforms?
CrowdStrike Falcon runs on Windows, macOS, Linux. Splunk Enterprise Security runs on Web, Api.
Can I use CrowdStrike Falcon for free?
Yes. CrowdStrike Falcon has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Splunk Enterprise Security starts at On request.
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 Splunk Enterprise Security is typically brought in for.
What can CrowdStrike Falcon do that Splunk Enterprise Security cannot?
CrowdStrike Falcon covers Next-gen antivirus, Endpoint detection and response, IT hygiene, USB device control. Splunk Enterprise Security covers Security monitoring, Incident review, Risk-based alerting, Investigation workbench. Both handle Threat intelligence, ServiceNow, AWS, Azure.

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).

Source
Splunk Enterprise Security: How much does Splunk Enterprise Security cost?

Splunk Enterprise Security pricing is not published. The product is available in Essentials Edition with threat detection, investigation, and response capabilities, and Premier Edition with UEBA, SOAR, and Automated Threat Analysis. Customers must contact Splunk sales for pricing quotes on either edition.

Source
CrowdStrike 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.

Source
Splunk Enterprise Security: What editions of Splunk Enterprise Security are available?

Splunk Enterprise Security offers Essentials Edition with threat detection, investigation, and response capabilities, and Premier Edition which adds UEBA (User and Entity Behavior Analytics), SOAR (Security Orchestration, Automation and Response), and Automated Threat Analysis.

Source
CrowdStrike 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.

Source
CrowdStrike 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.

Source
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