# Corelight Open NDR Platform vs Mercury: side-by-side comparison (2026)

[Corelight Open NDR Platform](https://cybersectools.com/tools/corelight-open-ndr-platform) is a commercial [network detection and response](https://cybersectools.com/categories/ndr) solution by [Corelight](https://cybersectools.com/companies/corelight). [Mercury](https://cybersectools.com/tools/mercury) is a free [network detection and response](https://cybersectools.com/categories/ndr) solution. Features, integrations, deployment and the company behind each one, side by side.

## Side-by-side comparison

| | Corelight Open NDR Platform | Mercury |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Commercial | Free |
| Category | Network Detection and Response | Network Detection and Response |
| Verified | No | No |
| Deployment type | Hybrid | On-Premises |
| Company size fit | SMB, Mid-Market, Enterprise | Mid-Market, Enterprise |
| GitHub stars | – | 501 |
| Last commit | – | Mar 2026 |
| Company | Corelight | – |
| Headquarters | – | – |

### Use cases and capabilities

| | Corelight Open NDR Platform | Mercury |
|---|---|---|
| Packet Capture | Yes | Yes |
| Zeek | Yes | – |
| Suricata | Yes | – |
| YARA | Yes | – |
| Anomaly Detection | Yes | – |
| Network Monitoring | Yes | – |
| PCAP | – | Yes |

### Core features

**Corelight Open NDR Platform**

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

**Mercury**

No features listed.

### Integrations

**Corelight Open NDR Platform**

8 integrations listed. Sign in on the page to see them.

**Mercury**

No integrations listed.

## Which one fits you

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

- [Corelight Open NDR Platform](https://cybersectools.com/tools/corelight-open-ndr-platform) fits if you need both cloud and on-premises options and you are a small business.
- [Mercury](https://cybersectools.com/tools/mercury) fits if you need to run it on your own servers, you need a free product and you want an open-source product.

## Corelight Open NDR Platform vs Mercury FAQ

Common questions when comparing Corelight Open NDR Platform vs Mercury for network detection and response.

### What is the difference between Corelight Open NDR Platform and Mercury?

**Corelight Open NDR Platform**: Network detection and response platform with IDS, NSM, and threat intel. Built by Corelight.

**Mercury**: Network metadata capture and analysis tool.

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

### Who makes Corelight Open NDR Platform and Mercury?

**Corelight Open NDR Platform** is made by Corelight. **Mercury** is open-source with 501 GitHub stars. The vendor behind a product decides its roadmap, support, and longevity, so check each company's profile before you commit.

### Is Corelight Open NDR Platform a good alternative to Mercury?

Often, yes. Corelight Open NDR Platform and Mercury are both Network Detection and Response products, and both cover Packet Capture. Key differences: Corelight Open NDR Platform is Commercial while Mercury is Free, Mercury is open-source. Use the table above to see where features, deployment and company size fit differ.

## Related comparisons

- [Corelight Open NDR Platform vs Stamus Networks Clear NDR](https://cybersectools.com/compare/corelight-open-ndr-platform-vs-stamus-networks-clear-ndr)
- [Corelight Open NDR Platform vs Stamus Clear NDR](https://cybersectools.com/compare/corelight-open-ndr-platform-vs-stamus-clear-ndr)
- [Corelight Open NDR Platform vs Viettel VCS-NSM](https://cybersectools.com/compare/corelight-open-ndr-platform-vs-viettel-vcs-nsm)
- [Mercury vs Stamus Networks Clear NDR](https://cybersectools.com/compare/mercury-vs-stamus-networks-clear-ndr)
- [Mercury vs Stamus Clear NDR](https://cybersectools.com/compare/mercury-vs-stamus-clear-ndr)
- [Mercury vs Viettel VCS-NSM](https://cybersectools.com/compare/mercury-vs-viettel-vcs-nsm)

## Alternatives to each

- [See all Corelight Open NDR Platform alternatives](https://cybersectools.com/alternatives/corelight-open-ndr-platform)
- [See all Mercury alternatives](https://cybersectools.com/alternatives/mercury)

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Source: https://cybersectools.com/compare/corelight-open-ndr-platform-vs-mercury

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More on Corelight Open NDR Platform and Mercury: 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