Endpoint Detection and Response Tools 2026
Endpoint detection and response (EDR) is the layer that assumes prevention will eventually fail and gives you the telemetry to catch what gets through. It continuously records process, file, registry, and network activity on laptops, servers, and workstations, then correlates that into detections, investigation timelines, and response actions like isolating a host or killing a process. Security leaders reach for EDR when antivirus alone stops being enough: the goal shifts from blocking known-bad files to spotting the behavioral patterns of an active intrusion and scoping and containing it fast. It is the foundation most teams build their detection and response program on, and increasingly the data source feeding XDR and the SOC.
We cover 69 Endpoint Detection and Response tools, 8 free and 61 commercial.
Accuracy and depth improve over time. Last reviewed Aug 2026. Is something off? Reach out.
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Top Endpoint Detection and Response Tools
USE CASES
Endpoint security platform for visibility & control of AI, extensions, and 3rd-party code.
AI-native endpoint agent detecting insider risk and AI misuse via intent analysis.
EDR platform for real-time endpoint threat prevention, detection, and response.
Endpoint agent that detects and contains ransomware, limiting damage to ~7 files.
Entry-level EDR & endpoint protection for SMBs against ransomware & malware.
Prevention-first next-gen EDR stopping zero-day & ransomware in <20ms.
Agentless Linux EDR platform for threat detection and incident response.
Endpoint agent detecting in-memory malicious code execution on Windows.
European EPP+EDR+ASM platform with IKARUS malware engine in a single agent.
Unified endpoint control plane combining EDR, EPP, and XDR with NAC/ZTNA enforcement.
On-premises/hybrid EDR with local threat detection, response, and NAC integration.
eBPF-based, AI-driven EDR for edge, containers, and critical infra.
Endpoint management platform for incident containment, vuln scanning & control.
Cross-platform EDR sensor for endpoint threat detection and telemetry.
Cloud backend for SNOW platform: telemetry storage, ML anomaly detection & IR.
AI-powered EDR detecting zero-day threats & APTs via behavioral analysis
Ransomware-specific detection tool for rapid identification of extortion attacks
Endpoint security agent with ZTNA, EDR, and secure remote access capabilities
Policy-based EDR solution monitoring endpoints for IoCs with automated responses
EDR platform with integrated SIEM and SOAR for unified threat detection
EDR platform for APT threat hunting and ransomware prevention with MDR
Real-time endpoint threat investigation and incident response platform
Cloud-based EDR solution for threat detection and response across endpoints
AI-driven ransomware detection, prevention, and recovery platform
How to choose Endpoint Detection and Response tools
- Match the tool to your operating model: heavy analyst tooling and raw telemetry suit teams with a SOC, while strong automated response and a managed option fit lean teams.
- Test detection against your real environment, including your specific Windows, macOS, and Linux mix plus any legacy or server workloads, not just the vendor's demo scenarios.
- Measure agent overhead and stability under load, since a heavy or crash-prone agent will get exceptions carved out and quietly erode your coverage.
- Judge signal-to-noise in a proof of concept by running actual adversary techniques and counting both the real catches and the false positives your team would have to triage.
- Confirm it fits your stack: clean integration with your SIEM, SOAR, and ticketing, plus retention and export of telemetry you can actually query during an investigation.
- Weigh consolidation against capability. A single EPP-plus-EDR platform reduces agents and gaps, but verify it does not force you off a detection or data feature you depend on.
Endpoint Detection and Response Tools FAQ
Common questions about Endpoint Detection and Response tools, selection guides, pricing, and comparisons.
EDR is endpoint security software that continuously records activity on hosts (processes, file changes, network connections, registry edits) and analyzes it to detect attacker behavior, reconstruct what happened, and respond. Unlike traditional antivirus, which blocks known malware signatures, EDR is built to catch fileless attacks, living-off-the-land techniques, and post-compromise activity, then let analysts isolate or remediate the affected machine.
Antivirus (or EPP) prevents known threats at the endpoint; EDR adds detection, investigation, and response for what slips past. XDR extends that correlation across endpoint, identity, email, cloud, and network into one detection layer. MDR is a service: a vendor or partner runs detection and response on your behalf, often using an EDR underneath. Many platforms now bundle EPP and EDR together and market themselves as XDR.
Match it to who operates it. If you have a SOC or skilled analysts, weight detection depth, raw telemetry access, and threat hunting. If you are lean, prioritize automated response, low false positives, and an option for managed coverage. Then test detection against your actual OS mix, check the agent's performance overhead, confirm it integrates with your SIEM and ticketing, and run a proof of concept with real adversary techniques rather than trusting a feature matrix.
Most buyers consolidate. Running EDR on top of a separate antivirus from another vendor means two agents, two consoles, and gaps where they hand off. The dominant pattern is a single platform that combines prevention (EPP) with detection and response (EDR), often expanding into XDR. Standalone EDR still makes sense when you have a specific telemetry, hunting, or open-data requirement the bundled options do not meet.
Open-source options like osquery, Wazuh, and Velociraptor give real endpoint visibility and hunting capability at no license cost, and they are excellent for teams with the engineering bandwidth to deploy and tune them. The trade-off is you own the detection content, scaling, and response automation that commercial vendors ship out of the box. For most organizations the staffing cost outweighs the license savings; for well-resourced security teams they can be a strong fit or complement.
