Huntress Alternatives: 9 Security Providers for SMBs in 2026

Big-name Huntress alternatives like CrowdStrike, Microsoft Defender XDR, and SentinelOne are powerful, but often priced and sized for enterprises, not SMBs. In this guide, we focus on Huntress competitors that are built around SMB realities, like Blackpoint Cyber, UnderDefense, Cynet 360 AutoXDR, Blumira, ThreatDown (Malwarebytes), and more.

What You’ll Take Away

• 9 Huntress alternatives that offer 24/7 monitoring and response without asking you to build a full SOC in-house.
• How each vendor fits SMB and MSPs: what they actually monitor (endpoint, email, M365, logs), what they are good at, and the watchouts to spot in PoCs.
• Pricing bands so you can ballpark TCO for a 100–300-endpoint environment before talking to sales.

9 Huntress Alternatives in 2026

1. UnderDefense: AI-assisted SOC
2. Blackpoint Cyber
3. Cynet 360 AutoXDR + SOC
4. Blumira: AI-enabled SOC
5. ConnectWise: AI-powered SOC
6. ThreatDown (Malwarebytes)
7. Barracuda SKOUT Managed XDR
8. Arctic Wolf SOC-as-a-Service
9. Sophos MDR

Let’s walk through each of these in more detail.

1. UnderDefense: AI-assisted SOC

UnderDefense operates a 24/7 AI-assisted SOC powered by the MAXI AI platform, which ingests telemetry from your existing tools and normalizes it into a single 360° view with ~2-minute triage, ~15-minute containment, and up to 99% fewer false positives. UnderDefense MDR adds the human layer on top: a dedicated SOC team that hunts, investigates, and responds to incidents ultra-fast.

• 24/7 monitoring and response across endpoints, identities, cloud, SaaS, email, and network.
• Level 5 SOC maturity: proactive threat hunting, playbooks, and simulations.
• Tight integration with your stack (CrowdStrike, Defender, SentinelOne, Elastic, Splunk, etc.) so you keep the tools you like and make them work harder.

UnderDefense field notes:

• In a recent Black Basta ransomware attempt, UnderDefense spotted DarkGate/Cobalt Strike activity, acknowledged it in 5 minutes, and fully contained it in 43 minutes.
• In another case, we discovered 11 servers already beaconing Cobalt Strike during onboarding. UnderDefense cleaned them up in under 24 hours, avoiding an estimated $650K loss.
• In a separate case for a government/healthcare org, UnderDefense SOC caught and contained a live backdoor two days before CrowdStrike OverWatch flagged it.

UnderDefense MAXI pricing starts free. You can use the AI platform as your control panel at no cost. Managed 24/7 SOC on top starts at around $11 per protected endpoint per month and scales with coverage and asset count. Use the cost calculator for a precise quote.

2. Blackpoint Cyber

Blackpoint Cyber is a 24/7 SOC platform built for MSPs and small/mid-sized businesses. You get an endpoint agent, managed EDR, Microsoft 365/cloud monitoring, and a human-led SOC that watches, investigates, and contains threats.

Blackpoint Cyber field notes:

• “Saved our ass more than once”. MSPs say Blackpoint is usually the first to alert and has a “top-notch” team that helps stop incidents, often paired with Defender for Endpoint.
• G2 reviews emphasize responsive SOC, easy deployment, and MDR that feels more “serious and covert” compared to Huntress.
• MSPs love how Blackpoint kills noise, but note it barely touches firewall logs and leans hard on an “everything bad hits the endpoint” philosophy

What to watch out for:

• Recent feedback flags “portal issues” and “poor reporting” as downsides: navigation can feel clunky, and reporting is less polished than competitors.
• MSPs comparing the two say: “Huntress is flashier, Blackpoint is more serious and more covert,” and note gaps like no Mac XProtect integration in some setups, which may require extra tooling.

The Blackpoint Cyber pricing is around $8–12 per endpoint per month (field benchmark). Users say Blackpoint lands in roughly the same SOC/MDR cost band as Huntress, around ~$8K–$50K+/year (RFP), depending on fleet size and add-ons.

3. Cynet 360 AutoXDR + SOC

Cynet 360 AutoXDR is an all-in-one XDR + SOC stack aimed at lean IT and SMB teams: one agent, one console, and 24/7 CyOps MDR bundled in for endpoint, network, user, SaaS/cloud, and email protection. It’s pitched as “security that doesn’t need a big security team,” with automated detection/response and a managed SOC on top.

Cynet field notes:

• Admins like that Cynet consolidates EDR, XDR, automation, and MDR into a single stack.
• Cynet markets itself as “purpose-built” for SMEs and MSPs to replace a tool pile with a single multi-tenant platform.

What to watch out for:

• Not everyone agrees on “lightweight.” Critical reviews describe a “bloated agent” causing endpoint slowdowns or lockups in some environments and frustration with support response.
• Reporting could be more customizable, some dashboards don’t drill down cleanly, and cloud-native/XSOAR integrations or broader email security (e.g., beyond M365) can feel limited.

The Cynet pricing starts around $7–10 per endpoint per month for the all-in-one XDR platform with 24/7 CyOps MDR included, with many SMB deployments landing closer to $8–16 per endpoint per month once you factor in scope, servers, and partner margin (field benchmark). For an SMB with ~200 endpoints, that roughly translates to $1.5K–$3K per month before discounts.

4. Blumira: AI-enabled SOC

Blumira is a cloud SIEM + XDR platform “purpose-built with smaller teams in mind”. It combines log collection, detections, endpoint visibility, and automated response in one platform, with options to add 24/7 SecOps-style support on higher tiers. 

Blumira field notes:

• Built for small teams, not big SOCs. Blumira repeatedly markets itself as a cloud SIEM/XDR designed for “resource-strapped IT teams. Some users call out “easy to implement” and “easiest setup”.
• Their content leans hard into Microsoft 365 and general SMB security. G2 reviews stress fast O365 and cloud integrations for fully SaaS-based companies.
• Reviews say deployment is quick, detections are filtered to reduce noise, and support steps in to fine-tune rules.

What to watch out for:

• Users flag “limited customization” and less granular control for advanced environments, less deeper tuning options.
• You’ll likely need at least one on-prem sensor/collector VM to pull AD and other on-prem logs. It’s not 100% “no infra” for hybrid estates. This comes up in reviews referencing the deployment of sensors and hybrid log collection.
• A recent SMB-focused partnership announcement with Trava calls out that Blumira is backed by a dedicated 24/7 SecOps team, but it’s still more “SIEM + XDR with automation and optional human help” than a classic full-service MDR-for-everything.

Blumira pricing is $12/employee/month (Detect: SIEM Starter), $16/employee/month (Respond: SIEM+), and $21/employee/month (Automate), priced by “knowledge workers” – people with a corporate email + device.

For a ~200-employee company, that’s on the order of $3,200–$4,200 per month.

5. ConnectWise: AI-powered SOC/MDR

ConnectWise MDR is a 24/7 managed detection and response service built for MSPs that secure small and mid-sized businesses. It runs on top of EDR tools like Bitdefender, Microsoft Defender for Business, or SentinelOne: those agents collect endpoint telemetry, while the ConnectWise SOC watches alerts 24/7 and handles responses. 

ConnectWise MDR field notes:

• There are dedicated SKUs like ConnectWise MDR with Microsoft Defender for Business and ConnectWise MDR for Microsoft 365 that plug directly into Microsoft’s SMB security stack.
• ConnectWise and Microsoft both market this as a way to extend MSP teams with a 24/7 SOC and a cyber research unit (CRU), without adding headcount.

What to watch out for:

• Some users compare ConnectWise MDR to “chalky candy”: it technically meets MDR requirements, but wouldn’t be their first choice if they had other options.
• ConnectWise MDR focuses on managed endpoint defense and some Microsoft 365 coverage. Broader log/XDR correlation and long-term retention live in ConnectWise SIEM (former Perch) and related offerings, which is a separate adoption and cost line item.
• Some MSP reviewers are more critical when they look at the ConnectWise SIEM/Perch side of the house. They argue it’s “more support desk than true SOC”.

The ConnectWise pricing is generally in the ~$10–25 per endpoint per month band for SMB estates (RFP rumor). For an MSP or SMB with around 200–300 protected endpoints, that loosely translates to roughly $2K–$7.5K per month (~$24K–$90K per year).

6. ThreatDown (Malwarebytes)

ThreatDown (powered by Malwarebytes) is an all-in-one endpoint security + MDR platform aimed at resource-constrained IT teams and MSPs. Malwarebytes explicitly pitches ThreatDown as a platform for “IT-constrained organizations” with bundled EDR, MDR, and email/DNS protection so smaller teams don’t have to stitch tools together. You get EDR, ransomware rollback, vulnerability assessment, firewall management, DNS filtering, and 24/7 MDR on Elite/Ultimate tiers.

ThreatDown field notes:

• In G2’s Winter 2024 reports, ThreatDown EDR and ThreatDown MDR both picked up “Leader” in ease-of-use.
• G2 rates ThreatDown 4.6/5, highlighting an intuitive interface, strong protection against infections and data leaks, and quick issue resolution from the console.

What to watch out for:

• ThreatDown MDR is still EDR-centric. If you need heavy SIEM-style ingestion and broad third-party log correlation, you may find limits compared to larger XDR/SIEM platforms.
• Some customers complain about support quality and responsiveness, slow callbacks, complex login issues for the portal, and a desire for “less techy” support for non-expert users.
• You’ll want to model device counts and tier choice carefully. Elite/Ultimate with MDR + DNS/email controls are positioned for organizations that need 24/7 analyst coverage and can push you into mid-tier MDR pricing. 

ThreatDown pricing is roughly $50–85 per device per year, depending on tier and volume, with Elite adding 24/7 MDR on top. 

For a typical SMB with ~100–300 devices on Elite (EDR + MDR), that loosely puts you in the ~$6K–$20K/year.

7. Barracuda SKOUT Managed XDR

Barracuda SKOUT Managed XDR is Barracuda’s MSP-first managed XDR + 24/7 SOC service, built to give real-time monitoring and response across endpoints, email, cloud, and network for SMB and mid-market clients. Barracuda entered this space by acquiring SKOUT Cybersecurity.

Barracuda SKOUT Managed XDR field notes:

• Barracuda leans into gateway-style email + firewall + endpoint, whereas Huntress focuses on endpoints and Microsoft 365 identity/email (BEC, account takeover) via Managed ITDR.
• Users say Barracuda Managed XDR is easy to deploy, affordable, and SMB-friendly, which makes it easier to roll out to smaller customers and keep them well-protected. 
• Reviews highlight 24/7 traffic monitoring, fast and detailed security alerts, and a SOC that can isolate suspicious machines and guide remediation.

What to watch out for:

1. Reviewers mention that Barracuda Managed XDR takes time to fine-tune for their specific environment and call out a noticeable learning curve when navigating all the security features.
2. Some users describe the backend as “not very modern” and “not user-friendly,” and wish they had more self-service visibility into the underlying MDR/XDR data instead of relying on the SOC to drive most of it.
3. Multiple reviews ask for richer, more customizable reporting and dashboards, and a deeper ability to investigate/analyze raw alerts themselves, rather than just consuming the curated outputs Barracuda provides.

The Barracuda SKOUT Managed XDR pricing is in the ~$8–20 per user or endpoint per month band for SMB estates (RFP rumor). For an SMB with around 200–300 protected users/endpoints, that loosely translates to roughly $1.6K–$6K per month (~$20K–$70K per year).

8. Arctic Wolf SOC-as-a-Service

Arctic Wolf offers SOC-as-a-service with a named Concierge Security Team (CST) that plugs into your environment. You get 24/7 monitoring and guided response across endpoints, network, cloud, and SaaS, delivered from their Security Operations Cloud and positioned very explicitly at mid-market and SME customers.

Arctic Wolf field notes:

• Arctic Wolf pitches the CST as “your” security team: analysts tune detections, investigate incidents, and coach you on hardening and cloud posture over time.
• In June 2024, Arctic Wolf MDR won “Best SME Security Solution” at the SC Awards Europe, reinforcing that they’re seen as an SME-centric MDR platform.

What to watch out for:

• Users call out a noticeable number of false positives and extra tickets if tuning isn’t done well, with reviewers saying they had to work with Arctic Wolf to reduce noise.
• Clients also mention notification delays, plus a desire for more integrations and better support for some endpoint types.
• Admins warn that the appliance is a “black box” MDR service rather than a full SIEM you can drive yourself, and that some customers have churned because they wanted more transparent data access and control.
• By default, Arctic Wolf stores raw log data for 90 days; longer retention (13 months+ and multi-year tiers) costs extra.

Arctic Wolf pricing for SMBs comes in around $25–$40 per user per month (field benchmark) once you include core MDR, log retention beyond 90 days, and common add-ons like Managed Security Awareness. For a ~200-user environment, that roughly translates into $5K–$8K/month before discounts and multi-year commitments.

9. Sophos MDR

Sophos MDR is a 24/7 managed detection and response service that puts a human SOC on top of Sophos Intercept X endpoint/XDR and can also monitor parts of your existing stack (firewall, email, cloud, identity) via integration packs. It’s a common “one vendor for AV + MDR” choice for SMBs that don’t want to run their own SOC.

Sophos MDR field notes:

• Recent small-business reviews say it’s easy to set up, with support that feels like an extension of their team.
• Some G2 reviewers complain that the alerting can be overly sensitive, creating extra low-priority alerts to filter, and that onboarding and third-party integrations could be smoother, with more advanced customization sometimes locked behind higher tiers.
• Sophos also sells integration packs (for third-party firewall, network, email, cloud, identity) as extra licenses, which can add to TCO if you want broad cross-vendor coverage.

The Sophos pricing on paper starts around $48–79 per user per year (roughly $4–6.5 per user per month) for MDR. In practice, MDR Complete bundles often land closer to $15–25 per user per month once you layer in servers, Intercept X, integration packs, and partner margin (field quotes). One customer bluntly calls Sophos “pricy as hell”, so model bundle-driven TCO.

Which Huntress Alternatives Should You Shortlist?

You don’t need nine vendors in a spreadsheet. You need 3–4 that fit your stack and budget. A simple approach is:

• Pick one endpoint-centric MDR/XDR: e.g., Blackpoint Cyber or ThreatDown/Cynet.
• Pick one “overlay” MDR that runs on your tools: e.g., UnderDefense MDR or Arctic Wolf.
• Optionally add one SIEM/XDR-first option: e.g., Blumira, ConnectWise MDR, or Barracuda SKOUT Managed XDR.

Then put all of them through the same PoC scorecard and see who wins on outcomes.

Run Every Huntress Alternative Through This PoC Checklist

You can literally turn this table into a one-page scorecard, run the same tests for Huntress and each alternative, and let the PoC results decide your shortlist.

How Do You Ensure 360° Protection?

The net of most vendors in this list is “Great coverage once you tune it…” and  “…a learning curve, reporting gaps, and noisy alerts.”

Someone on your side still has to wire logs together, set guardrails for what the SOC can do, validate detections, and keep tuning so you’re not buried in low-value alerts.

If you don’t want your security to be complex, talk to an UnderDefense engineer.

Instead of dropping another console on your desk, we put a 24/7 AI-assisted SOC on top of the stack you already own:

• Run on your stack, not against it. We operate on your existing EDR/IdP/SIEM/SOAR and key SaaS and cloud platforms, so there’s no rip-and-replace project just to get value.
• Combine AI with human judgment. MAXI automates triage and enrichment; our cybersecurity experts step in when things get weird, risky, or legally sensitive.
• Take ownership of tuning. We own the tuning loop during onboarding and day two, so you’re not stuck constantly tweaking rules to keep alert volume under control.
• Measure outcomes. We track minutes-to-action, reduced dwell time, and fewer critical incidents, and we can show these numbers on real incidents, not just a demo.

If you’re comparing Huntress and the alternatives in this guide and want 360° protection without extra complexity, put us on your shortlist and let our team show how we’d operate in your environment.

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