Software · head to head
Darktrace vs Splunk Enterprise Security
Splunk Enterprise Security
Software
The platform for operational intelligence
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Darktrace listed on UK G-Cloud at £2.50 per user per month for the Darktrace Active AI Security Platform, via reseller Bytes Software Services Limited; Splunk Enterprise Security splunk Enterprise Security is licensed separately from the Splunk platform, so a SIEM deployment needs both
- They diverge on capability: Darktrace covers Self-learning AI, Splunk Enterprise Security covers Security monitoring.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Darktrace and Splunk Enterprise Security actually diverge.
| Attribute | Darktrace | Splunk Enterprise Security |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $20000/year | On request |
| Platforms | Network, Cloud, Email | Web, Api |
| Founded | 2013 | 2003 |
Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
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 Darktrace
- Self-learning AI
- Network anomaly detection
- Autonomous response
- Behavioral analysis
- Threat model visualization
- Email security
- Application control
- Incident response automation
Only in Splunk Enterprise Security
- Security monitoring
- Incident review
- Risk-based alerting
- Threat intelligence
- Investigation workbench
- MITRE ATT&CK mapping
- Automated response
- Compliance reporting
Both cover
- SOC2 Type 2
- ISO 27001
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Darktrace
- Threat Detectionnot Splunk Enterprise Security
- Ndrnot Splunk Enterprise Security
- Incident Responsenot Splunk Enterprise Security
Splunk Enterprise Security
- Running a security operations centre on Splunk indexed log datanot Darktrace
- Correlation searches, risk based alerting and incident investigationnot Darktrace
- Compliance reporting from pooled security telemetrynot Darktrace
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Darktrace
- Listed on UK G-Cloud at £2.50 per user per month for the Darktrace Active AI Security Platform, via reseller Bytes Software Services Limited
- Also listed on UK G-Cloud by reseller Grove Information Systems at £1,500 to £12,500 per device per month for the Malicious Network Activity Detection tool
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
Darktrace
$20000/year- Detect$20000/year
- Network anomaly detection
- AI-powered threat detection
- Compliance reporting
- Detect & Respond$35000/year
- All Detect features
- Autonomous response
- Email security
- Enterprise$50000/year
- All features
- Dedicated support
- Custom training
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 Darktrace if
- You need self-learning ai.
- You work on Network, Cloud, Email.
- You also want network anomaly detection.
Choose Splunk Enterprise Security if
- You need security monitoring.
- You work on Web, Api.
- You also want incident review.
Questions people ask
- Is Darktrace or Splunk Enterprise Security better?
- Neither clearly leads. Darktrace starts at $20000/year 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, Darktrace or Splunk Enterprise Security?
- Darktrace starts at $20000/year and Splunk Enterprise Security at On request.
- Does Darktrace or Splunk Enterprise Security run on more platforms?
- Darktrace runs on Network, Cloud, Email. Splunk Enterprise Security runs on Web, Api.
- What is Darktrace best used for?
- Darktrace is most often used for threat detection, ndr, incident response. Of those, threat detection and ndr are not what Splunk Enterprise Security is typically brought in for.
- What can Darktrace do that Splunk Enterprise Security cannot?
- Darktrace covers Self-learning AI, Network anomaly detection, Autonomous response, Behavioral analysis. Splunk Enterprise Security covers Security monitoring, Incident review, Risk-based alerting, Threat intelligence. Both handle SOC2 Type 2, ISO 27001.