CrowdStrike Falcon vs. McAfee Total Protection (discontinued) vs. Palo Alto Networks Cortex XDR

Overview
ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price
CrowdStrike Falcon
Score 9.1 out of 10
N/A
CrowdStrike offers the Falcon Endpoint Protection suite, an antivirus and endpoint protection system emphasizing threat detection, machine learning malware detection, and signature free updating. Additionally the available Falcon Spotlight module delivers vulnerability assessment with no performance impact, no additional agents, hardware, scheduled scans, firewall exceptions or admin credentials.
$59.99
per endpoint/month (minimum number of endpoints applies)
McAfee Total Protection (discontinued)
Score 5.1 out of 10
N/A
McAfee's Total Protection included antivirus and antimalware offerings for home and small businesses or home offices. This product line is not a focus for Trellix, the brand formed from the merger of McAfee and FireEye that offers business grade products. Trellix Endpoint Security is the company's product line for business endpoint security.
$24.99
per year (2 year subscription, 5 devices)
Palo Alto Networks Cortex XDR
Score 8.5 out of 10
N/A
Cortex XDR (formerly Traps) replaces traditional antivirus with multi-method prevention, a proprietary combination of malware and exploit prevention methods that protect users and endpoints from known and unknown threats.N/A
Pricing
CrowdStrike FalconMcAfee Total Protection (discontinued)Palo Alto Networks Cortex XDR
Editions & Modules
Falcon Go (Small Business)
$59.99
per endpoint/month (minimum number of endpoints applies)
Falcon Go (Small Business)
$59.99
Falcon Pro
$99.99
per endpoint/month (for 5-250 endpoints, billed annually)
Falcon Enterprise
$184.99
per endpoint/month (minimum number of endpoints applies)
Multi-Device
$24.99
per year (2 year subscription, 5 devices)
Individual
$29.99 ($79.99)
1st year price (subsequent years)
Family
$29.99
per year (2 year subscription, 10 devices)
No answers on this topic
Offerings
Pricing Offerings
CrowdStrike FalconMcAfee Total Protection (discontinued)Palo Alto Networks Cortex XDR
Free Trial
YesNoNo
Free/Freemium Version
NoNoNo
Premium Consulting/Integration Services
YesNoNo
Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup feeNo setup fee
Additional Details
More Pricing Information
Community Pulse
CrowdStrike FalconMcAfee Total Protection (discontinued)Palo Alto Networks Cortex XDR
Considered Multiple Products
CrowdStrike Falcon
Chose CrowdStrike Falcon
McAfee did not stop the attack we received. We hope that Crowdstrike proves that it can going forward.
Chose CrowdStrike Falcon
Since CrowdStrike is a cloud-native platform, it reduces the need to maintain many servers on-premise and worldwide architecture. McAfee uses very high CPU and RAM resources on endpoints and servers.
Identity protection feature is a huge step towards zero trust implementation.
Chose CrowdStrike Falcon
I have evaluated Cortex XDR and SentinelOne Singularity alongside CrowdStrike Falcon, and while all three are capable enterprise-grade solutions, Falcon ultimately stood out due to its cloud-native architecture, broader modular coverage, and stronger identity-focused detection. …
Chose CrowdStrike Falcon
In my opinion,
CrowdStrike Falcon does a better job of detection than Carbon black in all forms. Compared to SentinelOne XDR, CrowdStrike Falcon does a better job of finding potential threats even though the machine learning based detection cause more False Positives than the …
Chose CrowdStrike Falcon
CrowdStrike Falcon provides a single solution to complex problems along with the ability to contain a machine and remotely execute programs using admin dashboard and administrator capabilities
Chose CrowdStrike Falcon
CrowdStrike Falcon Endpoint Protection is one of the best industry leading NG-AV and it is capable to cater all needs which are present requirement. You can blindly trust on this product as it is having multiple features and using latest technology to eliminate the risk which …
Chose CrowdStrike Falcon
Crowdstrike Falcon Endpoint protection is based on AIML enhanced technology,l. It's cloud-based so users don't need to connect to their office network to get their policy synchronization done from Server to endpoints agents. Also, the Crowdstrike Falcon agent size is small and …
Chose CrowdStrike Falcon
It's easier to manage, less time to deploy, has more integrations and better understands the business needs. False positives, visibility, sensors management, device control, detections, preventions are pretty much the differentiators with other rivals. It will have more and …
Chose CrowdStrike Falcon
Crowdstrike [Falcon Endpoint Protection] blows [McAfee Endpoint Security] out of the water. At least when you compare their traditional AV to CrowdStrike. Operational and Security wise, leaps and bounds.
Chose CrowdStrike Falcon
CrowdStrike is on another level compared to AV solutions.
Chose CrowdStrike Falcon
I was not part of the selection process; however after speaking with the team that did make the call, the following where the key scenarios or features that ultimately made the decision.
  1. The number one decision from the support team was the client deployment and management of …
Chose CrowdStrike Falcon
Crowdstrike has a much lower memory footprint than most traditional antivirus platforms and has a much more modern interface. The centralized portal gives data which feels like it actually represents reality. We feel we can be confident that Falcon actually works but we have …
Chose CrowdStrike Falcon
CrowdStrike is the only software we have used or tried that actually held up to what they said they would do and could do. I have tried multiple different products and was able to sneak exploits by them all while using and testing them - I was not able to do so with CrowdStrike.
McAfee Total Protection (discontinued)

No answer on this topic

Palo Alto Networks Cortex XDR
Chose Palo Alto Networks Cortex XDR
Traps is the slickest interface, easy to use and intuitive rule making, and the rest just didn't quite stack up to the performance level of Traps. McAfee and Kaspersky just hog processor and RAM power. I didn't like the interface and functionality of SentinelOne as much as …
Chose Palo Alto Networks Cortex XDR
Due to budget some of them are too costly as compare to Palo Alto Networks Cortex XDR. For some level of add on license for specific features other OEM charge higher based on data but Palo Alto Networks Cortex XDR gives use benefits in it also. Easy GUI to understand and not …
Chose Palo Alto Networks Cortex XDR
It is a robotic product with complete visibility and controls.
Chose Palo Alto Networks Cortex XDR
Traps provided us with a cloud-based platform that made our lives a lot simpler. Nothing like Traps exists in the market and I've never used anything like it. Others, on the other hand, were a lot slower to respond. Malwarebytes and other enterprise-level malware software are …
Chose Palo Alto Networks Cortex XDR
At that time, we could not find other solutions that could compete with Traps. Most of the solutions presented to us are traditional anti-virus. While traps do not rely on the signature of malware but more on the suspicious behaviour or method used. This gave Traps a lot of …
Chose Palo Alto Networks Cortex XDR
Traps and its integration with central management tools by Palo Alto and wildfire was a better fit for our environment. Others provided similar levels of protection but in some cases did not live up to expectations as traps did. Palo Alto also worked with us to better Traps, …
Features
CrowdStrike FalconMcAfee Total Protection (discontinued)Palo Alto Networks Cortex XDR
Endpoint Security
Comparison of Endpoint Security features of Product A and Product B
CrowdStrike Falcon
8.8
98 Ratings
4% above category average
McAfee Total Protection (discontinued)
-
Ratings
Palo Alto Networks Cortex XDR
-
Ratings
Anti-Exploit Technology9.089 Ratings00 Ratings00 Ratings
Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR)9.396 Ratings00 Ratings00 Ratings
Centralized Management9.097 Ratings00 Ratings00 Ratings
Hybrid Deployment Support8.24 Ratings00 Ratings00 Ratings
Infection Remediation9.093 Ratings00 Ratings00 Ratings
Vulnerability Management7.772 Ratings00 Ratings00 Ratings
Malware Detection9.396 Ratings00 Ratings00 Ratings
Best Alternatives
CrowdStrike FalconMcAfee Total Protection (discontinued)Palo Alto Networks Cortex XDR
Small Businesses
ThreatLocker
ThreatLocker
Score 9.4 out of 10
Malwarebytes
Malwarebytes
Score 8.8 out of 10
SentinelOne Singularity
SentinelOne Singularity
Score 8.9 out of 10
Medium-sized Companies
BlackBerry Protect (CylancePROTECT)
BlackBerry Protect (CylancePROTECT)
Score 9.1 out of 10
BlackBerry Protect (CylancePROTECT)
BlackBerry Protect (CylancePROTECT)
Score 9.1 out of 10
CrowdStrike Falcon
CrowdStrike Falcon
Score 9.1 out of 10
Enterprises
BeyondTrust Endpoint Privilege Management
BeyondTrust Endpoint Privilege Management
Score 10.0 out of 10
BlackBerry Protect (CylancePROTECT)
BlackBerry Protect (CylancePROTECT)
Score 9.1 out of 10
CrowdStrike Falcon
CrowdStrike Falcon
Score 9.1 out of 10
All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
User Ratings
CrowdStrike FalconMcAfee Total Protection (discontinued)Palo Alto Networks Cortex XDR
Likelihood to Recommend
9.0
(98 ratings)
9.0
(3 ratings)
8.0
(13 ratings)
Likelihood to Renew
10.0
(3 ratings)
10.0
(1 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Usability
10.0
(2 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
7.0
(2 ratings)
Support Rating
10.0
(9 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
10.0
(3 ratings)
In-Person Training
9.0
(1 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Implementation Rating
10.0
(1 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
User Testimonials
CrowdStrike FalconMcAfee Total Protection (discontinued)Palo Alto Networks Cortex XDR
Likelihood to Recommend
CrowdStrike
Crowdstrike is a unified platform for monitoring endpoint devices, whether they're workstations, servers, cloud-native machines, or even mobile devices. It uses AI/ML to monitor anomalies and suspicious behavior, including zero-day attacks. It is suitable for large organizations but may be costlier or less appropriate for smaller organizations, those who want an on-prem EDR setup, and those who need custom scanning based on compliance requirements.
Read full review
Discontinued Products
I think McAfee is great to have whether it's for work or for personal use. While it has some drawbacks, I like the peace of mind of feeling safe when I'm browsing the web/email, especially when my computer has sensitive/confidential information, knowing that McAfee will immediately detect any threats. The UI is extremely easy to navigate, which makes it easy for users regardless of how tech-savvy they are.
Read full review
Palo Alto Networks
Malware that doesn’t leave files behind has become widely available. Anyone who can afford to reverse this trend should purchase technology. Application whitelisting isn’t for everyone, and Palo Alto Networks Traps can help. Enterprises looking for a low-affected, next-generation solution with high protection should consider it. PAN Traps is a great product at a reasonable price, and I highly recommend it.
Read full review
Pros
CrowdStrike
  • The Log analysis is very detailed and easy to use.
  • Prevent and block all type of malwares.
  • Great threat intelligence which is very up-to-date with the recent cyber attacks
  • very user friendly in access and management
  • Automated feature of detecting, taking action and closing incidents using fusion workflow.
Read full review
Discontinued Products
  • Excellent protection of all internet connected assets on our VPN.
  • Constant updates of needed security patches that ensure our network and systems are protected from current and emerging/potential threats.
  • Prompt and reliable customer service that provides needed answers and expertise in a crisis.
  • Strategic whitepapers on emerging cyber threats and McAfee solutions to resolve them before they become a problem for my team or our clients.
Read full review
Palo Alto Networks
  • Direct Access to devices via Live Terminal which provides operations with scripting, triage, and preservation of artifacts.
  • Behavioral Indicators of Compromise which provides alerts on events regarding groups of hosts and their signatures.
  • Querying complex data sets involving a variety of devices for network connections, hashes, DNS, etc.
Read full review
Cons
CrowdStrike
  • Support - we are often tasked with running down problems rather than being directed by support.
  • The sales staff we have dealt with are not very responsive or timely.
  • I believe this is a product built for installations of 300 users or more.
Read full review
Discontinued Products
  • Price - Extremely high price tag for many of the solutions.
Read full review
Palo Alto Networks
  • Traps doesn't seem to function as a traditional A/V very well, so it's better as another layer to your endpoint protection
  • Traps can cause issues with some legacy or custom programs, so exceptions may have to be made
  • Traps falsely identifies things as malicious at times, this is not often though
Read full review
Likelihood to Renew
CrowdStrike
Crowdstrike has a large suite of tools built for helping the engineers triage and respond to security event whenever identified. The ability to customize the security policies and implement more granular policies to different devices based on the functionality is unmatched. Crowdstrike provides so much of ability in a decent budget which ascertains the value for money or ROI.
Read full review
Discontinued Products
McAfee has consistently delivered on its stated goals of providing comprehensive protection for our networks and systems. Due to their excellent work and follow through I have been, and will continue to be a loyal customer.
Read full review
Palo Alto Networks
No answers on this topic
Usability
CrowdStrike
I think it is a complete and very trustful XDR platform, with very few False Positives. It is very well supported by highly skilled professionals on all levels: from pre-sales engineers, Customer Account Managers and support engineers.
Read full review
Discontinued Products
No answers on this topic
Palo Alto Networks
As every attacks get started because of user mistake or employee mistake. they click on any link they open any software without knowing its behavioural. But after Palo Alto Networks Cortex XDR we able to identify what user is doing We can put sudden type of restriction as per our organization policy. If some malicious file is found it can be quarantined. easy remote terminal access for investogation rather going one by one user for endpoint if they are busy then we have to wait but now from console only we can do this all.
Read full review
Support Rating
CrowdStrike
Any time we need to engage the Crowdstrike Falcon Complete Team, their response is switch, thorough, and they are sure to not close out any request until the customer confirms that they have provided an acceptable resolution. If I ever need anything from the account team related to the product, I also get a response from them within minutes typically to address my question. Top notch customer service!
Read full review
Discontinued Products
No answers on this topic
Palo Alto Networks
The support we receive from Palo Alto is one of the best aspects of Traps. It is very easy to recommend their support. It seems much easier to connect directly with someone with a deep understanding of the product rather than other companies where you basically have to make an airtight case that it is some kind of non-standard issue that can't be solved with existing documentation. Palo Alto digs deep and helps with advanced troubleshooting to get things working.
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In-Person Training
CrowdStrike
There is limited amount of learning that can be completed in an in-person training available. In my opinion, the self-paced learning provided by Falcon portal is more useful over in-person training. The support from Falcon is great and useful to overcome difficulties, if any.
Read full review
Discontinued Products
No answers on this topic
Palo Alto Networks
No answers on this topic
Online Training
CrowdStrike
The training provided by Crowdstrike Falcon is complete in terms of the depth of technical knowledge and teaches the users about going through with the platform. There are lots of jargons for different tools that Crowdstrike Falcon has and this training teaches them all which helps in managing the platform better. Plus, the regular knowledge checks are also very helpful for the end user.
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Discontinued Products
No answers on this topic
Palo Alto Networks
No answers on this topic
Implementation Rating
CrowdStrike
Read the documentation
Read full review
Discontinued Products
No answers on this topic
Palo Alto Networks
No answers on this topic
Alternatives Considered
CrowdStrike
It was just a legacy AV program onboarded during initial setup days. As the org. As it expanded, its threat landscape also grew, and we needed a next-gen solution to protect against evolving threat vectors. Falcon EDR was the one that solved all these in a single place.
Read full review
Discontinued Products
I haven't used Norton for a while, but when I did use it I felt that it slowed down my computer and had constant pop-ups, which were both equally frustrating and annoying. It was also very difficult to remove from my computer. Malwarebytes is a great, straightforward program I've used for virus scanning. It's pretty bare bones but I think if you just want something to scan for viruses it gets the job done quickly and reliably. In my opinion McAfee offers similar benefits as Norton but its more intuitive and doesn't impact system performance.
Read full review
Palo Alto Networks
Traps is the slickest interface, easy to use and intuitive rule making, and the rest just didn't quite stack up to the performance level of Traps. McAfee and Kaspersky just hog processor and RAM power. I didn't like the interface and functionality of SentinelOne as much as Traps. Palo Alto really put a lot of time into the development of this software, and had some of the founding fathers of IT Security heading the development process. Can't beat that.
Read full review
Return on Investment
CrowdStrike
  • CrowdStrike Falcon's proactive threat mitigation has significantly reduced the risk of successful cyber attacks, resulting in tangible savings related to potential data breaches or system compromises.
  • The cloud-native architecture and automated features have improved operational efficiency.
  • The platform's real-time visibility and threat hunting capabilities have drastically improved incident response times.
Read full review
Discontinued Products
  • Blocks unsafe websites
  • Virus detection and removal
  • Protects sensitive data
Read full review
Palo Alto Networks
  • After putting Palo Alto Networks Cortex XDR on a user's system, users came back with a positive response that there are no performance issues now.
  • We are able to track and control granular suspicious and malicious activities.
  • Web controls are missing, which if they would have been there would have been very helpful.
Read full review
ScreenShots

Palo Alto Networks Cortex XDR Screenshots

Screenshot of a Cortex XDR overviewScreenshot of a view of the Cortex XDR dashboardScreenshot of a view of the Cortex XDR dashboardScreenshot of a view of the Cortex XDR dashboard