# go-audit vs Splunk Enterprise Security: side-by-side comparison (2026)

[go-audit](https://cybersectools.com/tools/go-audit) is a free [security information and event management](https://cybersectools.com/categories/security-information-and-event-management-siem) solution. [Splunk Enterprise Security](https://cybersectools.com/tools/splunk-enterprise-security) is a commercial [security information and event management](https://cybersectools.com/categories/security-information-and-event-management-siem) solution by [Splunk Inc](https://cybersectools.com/companies/splunk-inc). Features, integrations, deployment and the company behind each one, side by side.

## Our take

What our shortlists say about the one we picked.

### [Splunk Enterprise Security](https://cybersectools.com/tools/splunk-enterprise-security)

Best for: Large SOCs that want to search every log in one place

Splunk is on the list as the search-first SIEM, which suits mid-market and enterprise SOCs that want to query any log and build their own detections. Federated search means you do not have to move every log into one store to use it. Splunk is part of Cisco and its company momentum has stalled, so ask how the product will develop inside Cisco.

From [Best SIEM Solutions for Business](https://cybersectools.com/shortlists/best-siem-solutions), Fall 2026.

Reviewed by [Nika (Nikoloz) Kokhreidze](https://cybersectools.com/about).

Need the answer fast? [Best SIEM Solutions for Business](https://cybersectools.com/shortlists/best-siem-solutions) picks Microsoft Sentinel, Splunk Enterprise Security, CrowdStrike Falcon Next-Gen SIEM and 4 more.

## Side-by-side comparison

| | go-audit | Splunk Enterprise Security |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Free | Commercial |
| Category | Security Information and Event Management | Security Information and Event Management |
| Verified | No | No |
| Deployment type | On-Premises | Hybrid |
| Company size fit | Startup, SMB, Mid-Market, Enterprise | Mid-Market, Enterprise |
| GitHub stars | 1,661 | – |
| Last commit | Dec 2025 | – |
| Company | – | Splunk Inc. |
| Headquarters | – | – |

### Use cases and capabilities

| | go-audit | Splunk Enterprise Security |
|---|---|---|
| Linux | Yes | – |
| MITRE ATT&CK | – | Yes |

### Core features

**go-audit**

No features listed.

**Splunk Enterprise Security**

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

### Integrations

**go-audit**

No integrations listed.

**Splunk Enterprise Security**

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

## Which one fits you

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

- [go-audit](https://cybersectools.com/tools/go-audit) fits if you need to run it on your own servers, you are a startup or a small business, you need a free product and you want an open-source product.
- [Splunk Enterprise Security](https://cybersectools.com/tools/splunk-enterprise-security) fits if you need both cloud and on-premises options.

## go-audit vs Splunk Enterprise Security FAQ

Common questions when comparing go-audit vs Splunk Enterprise Security for security information and event management.

### What is the difference between go-audit and Splunk Enterprise Security?

**go-audit**: An alternative to the auditd daemon with goals of safety, speed, JSON output, and pluggable pipelines connecting to the Linux kernel via netlink.

**Splunk Enterprise Security**: Unified SIEM platform with integrated SOAR, UEBA, and AI capabilities for TDIR, built by Splunk Inc.

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

### Who makes go-audit and Splunk Enterprise Security?

**go-audit** is open-source with 1,661 GitHub stars. **Splunk Enterprise Security** is made by Splunk Inc. The vendor behind a product decides its roadmap, support, and longevity, so check each company's profile before you commit.

### Is go-audit a good alternative to Splunk Enterprise Security?

Often, yes. go-audit and Splunk Enterprise Security are both Security Information and Event Management products. Key differences: go-audit is Free while Splunk Enterprise Security is Commercial, go-audit is open-source. Use the table above to see where features, deployment and company size fit differ.

## Related comparisons

- [go-audit vs BluSapphire OnePlatform](https://cybersectools.com/compare/blusapphire-oneplatform-vs-go-audit)
- [go-audit vs Rapid7 Incident Command](https://cybersectools.com/compare/go-audit-vs-rapid7-incident-command)
- [go-audit vs Gurucul AI POWERED NEXT-GEN SIEM](https://cybersectools.com/compare/go-audit-vs-gurucul-ai-powered-next-gen-siem)
- [Splunk Enterprise Security vs BluSapphire OnePlatform](https://cybersectools.com/compare/blusapphire-oneplatform-vs-splunk-enterprise-security)
- [Splunk Enterprise Security vs Rapid7 Incident Command](https://cybersectools.com/compare/rapid7-incident-command-vs-splunk-enterprise-security)
- [Splunk Enterprise Security vs Gurucul AI POWERED NEXT-GEN SIEM](https://cybersectools.com/compare/gurucul-ai-powered-next-gen-siem-vs-splunk-enterprise-security)

## Alternatives to each

- [See all go-audit alternatives](https://cybersectools.com/alternatives/go-audit)
- [See all Splunk Enterprise Security alternatives](https://cybersectools.com/alternatives/splunk-enterprise-security)

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Source: https://cybersectools.com/compare/go-audit-vs-splunk-enterprise-security

For AI agents: each product above has its own Markdown page (add .md to its URL, for example https://cybersectools.com/tools/go-audit.md). Every CybersecTools shortlist is listed at https://cybersectools.com/shortlists.md.

More on go-audit and Splunk Enterprise Security: 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