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Cybersecurity · head to head

Microsoft Sentinel vs Postman

Microsoft Sentinel logo

Microsoft Sentinel

Cybersecurity

Cloud-native SIEM and SOAR solution

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Visit Microsoft SentinelFull review
Postman logo

Postman

Developer Tools

The API platform for building and using APIs

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Visit PostmanFull review

The short version

  • Microsoft Sentinel is a scalable, cloud-native SIEM and SOAR solution; Postman is an API platform for building and using APIs.
  • Free plans on both; paid from $2.46/mo and $14/mo.
  • Only Microsoft Sentinel lists AI-powered analytics; only Postman lists API client.
  • Where Microsoft Sentinel falls short: 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.
  • Where Postman falls short: free plan limited to single user as of March 1, 2026, making it unsuitable for teams without paid plans.
  • Prices and features on this page were last checked on 13 November 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Microsoft Sentinel and Postman actually diverge.

Attributes where Microsoft Sentinel and Postman differ
AttributeMicrosoft SentinelPostman
PlatformsWeb, APIWeb, Windows, macOS, Linux
CategoryCybersecurityDeveloper Tools
Founded19752014

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes).

Not yet recorded: pricing model for Postman.

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 Microsoft Sentinel

  • AI-powered analytics
  • Fusion detection
  • UEBA
  • Automated response playbooks
  • Threat intelligence
  • Hunting queries
  • Workbooks
  • Incident management

Only in Postman

  • API client
  • Automated testing
  • Mock servers
  • Documentation
  • Monitors
  • Workspaces
  • Version control
  • API design

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Microsoft Sentinel

  • Cloud-based security information and event management (SIEM)not Postman
  • Extended detection and response (XDR) across enterprise infrastructurenot Postman
  • Data ingestion and long-term security analyticsnot Postman

Postman

  • API testingnot Microsoft Sentinel
  • API documentationnot Microsoft Sentinel
  • API monitoringnot Microsoft Sentinel
  • Team collaborationnot Microsoft Sentinel
  • API developmentnot Microsoft Sentinel

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

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

Postman

  • Free plan limited to single user as of March 1, 2026, making it unsuitable for teams without paid plans
  • Only 25 collection runs per month and 1,000 API calls/month on free tier
  • Removed local-only Scratch Pad mode in 2023, forcing cloud account creation and sync
  • Requires Postman account and internet connection for most features
  • Cloud-first architecture with mandatory syncing to Postman's cloud servers
  • No CI/CD integration or advanced security features on free plan

Pricing, plan by plan

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

Postman

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 1 user
    • 25 collection runs/month
    • 1,000 API calls/month
  • Team$14/mo
    • Team collaboration
    • Shared workspaces
    • API mocking
  • Professional$29/mo
    • Team features
    • Advanced security
    • SSO
  • Enterprise$49/mo
    • Professional features
    • Custom integrations
    • Priority support

Which should you pick?

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.
Microsoft Sentinel review

Choose Postman if

  • You need api client.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Windows, macOS, Linux.
  • You also want automated testing.
Postman review

Questions people ask

Is Microsoft Sentinel or Postman better?
Neither clearly leads. Microsoft Sentinel starts at Free and Postman at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Microsoft Sentinel or Postman?
Microsoft Sentinel starts at Free and Postman at Free.
Does Microsoft Sentinel or Postman run on more platforms?
Microsoft Sentinel runs on Web, API. Postman runs on Web, Windows, macOS, Linux.
Can I use Microsoft Sentinel for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Microsoft Sentinel best used for?
Microsoft Sentinel is most often used for cloud-based security information and event management (siem), extended detection and response (xdr) across enterprise infrastructure, data ingestion and long-term security analytics. Of those, cloud-based security information and event management (siem) and extended detection and response (xdr) across enterprise infrastructure are not what Postman is typically brought in for.
What can Microsoft Sentinel do that Postman cannot?
Microsoft Sentinel covers AI-powered analytics, Fusion detection, UEBA, Automated response playbooks. Postman covers API client, Automated testing, Mock servers, Documentation.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Microsoft 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/

Source
Postman: What is the cost of Postman?

Postman has a free plan limited to 1 user, 25 collection runs/month, 1,000 API calls/month. Team plans start at $14/user/month for Basic. Professional at $29/user/month, and Enterprise at $49/user/month.

Source
Microsoft 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/

Source
Postman: Can I use Postman offline?

Postman requires an internet connection to sync collections to the cloud. Since 2023, the Scratch Pad local-only mode was removed. Users must sign in with a Postman account, and collections sync to cloud by default. Offline work is possible but limited without cloud sync features.

Source
Postman: Does Postman have team collaboration?

Team collaboration is not available on the free plan (limited to 1 user). Team plans start at $14/user/month and include shared workspaces, real-time collaboration, and team management features.

Source
Postman: What are the free plan limits?

Free plan allows: 1 user only, 25 collection runs per month, 1,000 API calls/month, and 1,000 mock server calls/month. No CI/CD integration or advanced security features.

Source
Postman: Does Postman work with other development tools?

Postman integrates with Git repositories, offers a Node.js runner (Newman) for automation, and connects with popular CI/CD platforms. Teams using git-native workflows may prefer alternatives like Bruno.

Source
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