# Palo Alto Networks Cortex Xpanse vs SurfaceDiff: side-by-side comparison (2026) [Palo Alto Networks Cortex Xpanse](https://cybersectools.com/tools/palo-alto-networks-cortex-xpanse) is a commercial [external attack surface management](https://cybersectools.com/categories/external-asm) solution by [Palo Alto Networks](https://cybersectools.com/companies/palo-alto-networks). [SurfaceDiff](https://cybersectools.com/tools/surfacediff) is a commercial [external attack surface management](https://cybersectools.com/categories/external-asm) solution by [SurfaceDiff](https://cybersectools.com/companies/surfacediff). Features, integrations, deployment and the company behind each one, side by side. ## Our take What our shortlists say about the one we picked. ### [Palo Alto Networks Cortex Xpanse](https://cybersectools.com/tools/palo-alto-networks-cortex-xpanse) Best for: Large companies wanting automated fixes for exposures It earns a place because it goes past listing exposures, since automated playbooks close them without a ticket, which suits a large company with a sprawling footprint. It fits mid-market and enterprise teams. Agree up front which fixes the playbooks may run on their own, because automatic changes to live assets need an owner. From [Best Attack Surface Management Solutions for Business](https://cybersectools.com/shortlists/best-attack-surface-solutions), Fall 2026. Reviewed by [Nika (Nikoloz) Kokhreidze](https://cybersectools.com/about). Need the answer fast? [Best Attack Surface Management Solutions for Business](https://cybersectools.com/shortlists/best-attack-surface-solutions) picks Palo Alto Networks Cortex Xpanse, Microsoft Defender EASM, Mandiant Attack Surface Management and 4 more. ## Side-by-side comparison | | Palo Alto Networks Cortex Xpanse | SurfaceDiff | |---|---|---| | Pricing model | Commercial | Commercial | | Category | External Attack Surface Management | External Attack Surface Management | | Verified | No | No | | Deployment type | Cloud | Cloud | | Company size fit | Mid-Market, Enterprise | Startup, SMB, Mid-Market, Enterprise | | Company | Palo Alto Networks | SurfaceDiff | | Headquarters | – | – | ### Use cases and capabilities | | Palo Alto Networks Cortex Xpanse | SurfaceDiff | |---|---|---| | Reconnaissance | Yes | Yes | | DNS Security | – | Yes | | Port Scanning | – | Yes | | TLS | – | Yes | | Subdomain Enumeration | – | Yes | | Network Scanning | – | Yes | | Security Scanning | – | Yes | | Alerting | – | Yes | | Visibility | – | Yes | | Web Security | – | Yes | ### Core features **Palo Alto Networks Cortex Xpanse** 10 features listed. Sign in on the page to see them. **SurfaceDiff** 9 features listed. Sign in on the page to see them. ### Integrations **Palo Alto Networks Cortex Xpanse** 12 integrations listed. Sign in on the page to see them. **SurfaceDiff** No integrations listed. ## Which one fits you Based on what each listing shows: deployment, company size, price and open source. - [SurfaceDiff](https://cybersectools.com/tools/surfacediff) fits if you are a startup or a small business. ## Palo Alto Networks Cortex Xpanse vs SurfaceDiff FAQ Common questions when comparing Palo Alto Networks Cortex Xpanse vs SurfaceDiff for external attack surface management. ### What is the difference between Palo Alto Networks Cortex Xpanse and SurfaceDiff? **Palo Alto Networks Cortex Xpanse**: Active attack surface mgmt solution for discovering & remediating unknown risks. Built by Palo Alto Networks. **SurfaceDiff**: Continuous external attack surface monitoring that shows what changed between scans. Built by SurfaceDiff. The table above shows where their features, integrations, deployment and company size fit differ. ### Who makes Palo Alto Networks Cortex Xpanse and SurfaceDiff? **Palo Alto Networks Cortex Xpanse** is made by Palo Alto Networks. **SurfaceDiff** is made by SurfaceDiff. The vendor behind a product decides its roadmap, support, and longevity, so check each company's profile before you commit. ### Is Palo Alto Networks Cortex Xpanse a good alternative to SurfaceDiff? Often, yes. Palo Alto Networks Cortex Xpanse and SurfaceDiff are both External Attack Surface Management products, and both cover Reconnaissance. Use the table above to see where features, deployment and company size fit differ. ## Related comparisons - [Palo Alto Networks Cortex Xpanse vs DDactic Attack Surface Discovery](https://cybersectools.com/compare/ddactic-attack-surface-discovery-vs-palo-alto-networks-cortex-xpanse) - [Palo Alto Networks Cortex Xpanse vs Attack Surface Scan](https://cybersectools.com/compare/attack-surface-scan-vs-palo-alto-networks-cortex-xpanse) - [Palo Alto Networks Cortex Xpanse vs Trickest ASM - Attack Surface Management](https://cybersectools.com/compare/palo-alto-networks-cortex-xpanse-vs-trickest-asm-attack-surface-management) - [SurfaceDiff vs DDactic Attack Surface Discovery](https://cybersectools.com/compare/ddactic-attack-surface-discovery-vs-surfacediff) - [SurfaceDiff vs Attack Surface Scan](https://cybersectools.com/compare/attack-surface-scan-vs-surfacediff) - [SurfaceDiff vs Trickest ASM - Attack Surface Management](https://cybersectools.com/compare/surfacediff-vs-trickest-asm-attack-surface-management) ## Alternatives to each - [See all Palo Alto Networks Cortex Xpanse alternatives](https://cybersectools.com/alternatives/palo-alto-networks-cortex-xpanse) - [See all SurfaceDiff alternatives](https://cybersectools.com/alternatives/surfacediff) --- Source: https://cybersectools.com/compare/palo-alto-networks-cortex-xpanse-vs-surfacediff For AI agents: each product above has its own Markdown page (add .md to its URL, for example https://cybersectools.com/tools/palo-alto-networks-cortex-xpanse.md). Every CybersecTools shortlist is listed at https://cybersectools.com/shortlists.md. More on Palo Alto Networks Cortex Xpanse and SurfaceDiff: 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