# AD Tripwires vs Helix Honeypot: side-by-side comparison (2026)

[AD Tripwires](https://cybersectools.com/tools/ad-tripwires) is a commercial [honeypots & deception](https://cybersectools.com/categories/honeypots) solution by [Horizon3.ai](https://cybersectools.com/companies/horizon3ai). [Helix Honeypot](https://cybersectools.com/tools/helix-honeypot) is a free [honeypots & deception](https://cybersectools.com/categories/honeypots) solution. Features, integrations, deployment and the company behind each one, side by side.

## Side-by-side comparison

| | AD Tripwires | Helix Honeypot |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Commercial | Free |
| Category | Honeypots & Deception | Honeypots & Deception |
| Verified | No | No |
| Deployment type | On-Premises | On-Premises |
| Company size fit | SMB, Mid-Market, Enterprise | Startup, SMB, Mid-Market, Enterprise |
| GitHub stars | – | 44 |
| Last commit | – | Jan 2024 |
| Company | Horizon3.ai | – |
| Headquarters | – | – |

### Use cases and capabilities

| | AD Tripwires | Helix Honeypot |
|---|---|---|
| Active Directory | Yes | – |
| Lateral Movement | Yes | – |
| Attack Detection | Yes | – |
| Attack Paths | Yes | – |
| Kubernetes | – | Yes |
| TCP | – | Yes |
| UDP | – | Yes |

### Core features

**AD Tripwires**

5 features listed. Sign in on the page to see them.

**Helix Honeypot**

No features listed.

## Which one fits you

Based on what each listing shows: deployment, company size, price and open source.

- [Helix Honeypot](https://cybersectools.com/tools/helix-honeypot) fits if you are a startup, you need a free product and you want an open-source product.

## AD Tripwires vs Helix Honeypot FAQ

Common questions when comparing AD Tripwires vs Helix Honeypot for honeypots & deception.

### What is the difference between AD Tripwires and Helix Honeypot?

**AD Tripwires**: Active Directory deception technology for threat detection and response. Built by Horizon3.ai.

**Helix Honeypot**: Helix is a versatile honeypot designed to mimic the behavior of various protocols including Kubernetes API server, HTTP, TCP, and UDP.

The table above shows where their features, integrations, deployment and company size fit differ.

### Who makes AD Tripwires and Helix Honeypot?

**AD Tripwires** is made by Horizon3.ai. **Helix Honeypot** is open-source with 44 GitHub stars. The vendor behind a product decides its roadmap, support, and longevity, so check each company's profile before you commit.

### Is AD Tripwires a good alternative to Helix Honeypot?

Often, yes. AD Tripwires and Helix Honeypot are both Honeypots & Deception products. Key differences: AD Tripwires is Commercial while Helix Honeypot is Free, Helix Honeypot is open-source. Use the table above to see where features, deployment and company size fit differ.

## Related comparisons

- [AD Tripwires vs Tropico Security - AI Powered Deception](https://cybersectools.com/compare/ad-tripwires-vs-tropico-security-ai-powered-deception)
- [AD Tripwires vs Acalvio ShadowPlex Advanced Threat Defense](https://cybersectools.com/compare/acalvio-shadowplex-advanced-threat-defense-vs-ad-tripwires)
- [AD Tripwires vs Deception Platform](https://cybersectools.com/compare/ad-tripwires-vs-labyrinth-deception-platform)
- [Helix Honeypot vs Tropico Security - AI Powered Deception](https://cybersectools.com/compare/helix-honeypot-vs-tropico-security-ai-powered-deception)
- [Helix Honeypot vs Acalvio ShadowPlex Advanced Threat Defense](https://cybersectools.com/compare/acalvio-shadowplex-advanced-threat-defense-vs-helix-honeypot)
- [Helix Honeypot vs Deception Platform](https://cybersectools.com/compare/helix-honeypot-vs-labyrinth-deception-platform)

## Alternatives to each

- [See all AD Tripwires alternatives](https://cybersectools.com/alternatives/ad-tripwires)
- [See all Helix Honeypot alternatives](https://cybersectools.com/alternatives/helix-honeypot)

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Source: https://cybersectools.com/compare/ad-tripwires-vs-helix-honeypot

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More on AD Tripwires and Helix Honeypot: funding, momentum, hiring and news, plus the full product and company record, are available through the Mandos MCP Server (paid plans), which connects to AI assistants: https://mandos.io/mcp?utm_source=cybersectools.com&utm_medium=compare-md