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Cortex XDR by Palo Alto Networks vs FortiXDR comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive Summary

Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Categories and Ranking

Cortex XDR by Palo Alto Net...
Ranking in Extended Detection and Response (XDR)
7th
Average Rating
8.4
Reviews Sentiment
7.4
Number of Reviews
90
Ranking in other categories
Endpoint Protection Platform (EPP) (4th), Ransomware Protection (2nd), AI-Powered Cybersecurity Platforms (4th)
FortiXDR
Ranking in Extended Detection and Response (XDR)
28th
Average Rating
8.0
Reviews Sentiment
6.6
Number of Reviews
4
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of April 2025, in the Extended Detection and Response (XDR) category, the mindshare of Cortex XDR by Palo Alto Networks is 5.6%, down from 6.8% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of FortiXDR is 0.6%, up from 0.4% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Extended Detection and Response (XDR)
 

Q&A Highlights

AM
Jan 17, 2022
 

Featured Reviews

Mohammad Qaw - PeerSpot reviewer
Perfect correlation and XDR capabilities for network traffic plus endpoint security
The solution should force customers to integrate with network traffic to see the full benefits of XDR. If you are not integrating it or feeding in your network traffic, then you are just buying a normal antivirus which doesn't make any sense. You are paying double the price to use the antivirus feature or to say you have XDR, but in reality you are not using it. The solution should include an on-premises option because some customers want only on-premises. It would be hard, but good to do if possible. Open XDR would be beneficial in the future. Right now, the solution is Closed XDR so cannot communicate with the few new vendors in the Open XDR market.
Abdulrahman Mashabi - PeerSpot reviewer
Affordable pricing improves access to solutions with scalable and efficient protection
We are a system integrator and cloud service provider. Although I am in sales and not technical, I am involved with these products to sell them to our customers We are using FortiGate and FortiWeb mostly.  Additionally, we are engaged with FortiXDR and FortiEDR. They could change their licensing…

Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Pros

"Cortex XDR is a simple platform that's easy for administrators and users. You have a lot of flexibility to change or customize the features."
"The solution's most valuable feature is its ability to rapidly detect certain hardware files."
"The dashboard is customizable."
"The solution allows us to make investigations. Other XDR solutions also provide similar capabilities but for investigation, Cortex XDR is better."
"The behavior-based detection feature is valuable."
"We've had a significant increase in blocking with a decrease in false positives, because it's looking at how the files work, not just a list of files that it's been told to look for."
"The solution's most valuable feature is the user interface."
"They did what they said. This solution could apply to any scenario."
"The most valuable feature of FortiXDR is its ability to block clients, providing comprehensive endpoint protection."
"Our customers are satisfied with FortiXDR."
"FortiXDR is valuable for its integration capabilities with one hundred percent compatibility with other vendors in cloud environments like Google, Oracle, and Microsoft."
"The most valuable feature of FortiXDR is it integrates well with other Fortinet solutions, such as Fortinet firewall, FortiMail, FortiSandbox, Forti Fabric, switches, and access points. Whatever the flow of the traffic comes in or goes out, the entire traffic can be managed and monitored properly."
"The most valuable feature of FortiXDR is its ability to block clients, providing comprehensive endpoint protection."
"The product is stable enough."
"FortiXDR is valuable for its integration capabilities with one hundred percent compatibility with other vendors in cloud environments like Google, Oracle, and Microsoft."
 

Cons

"There is a severe gap in functionality between Windows, Linux, and Mac versions. For example all folder restriction settings are Windows only. Traps 5.0+ does not have SAML / LDAP integration."
"The product's pricing could be better."
"Limited remote connection."
"It's very time-consuming to log support issues and the people that answer the tickets aren't very knowledgeable."
"Cortex XDR is trickier to configure than other Palo Alto products. This is one area where we are not so satisfied."
"It's more focused on network communication. If a customer wants to increase the level of protection and start working with documents, it's impossible to integrate these features into the system. It's more of a communication-oriented system than a content security-oriented system."
"It's not an ideal choice for smaller businesses, as you need a minimum of 200 endpoints to even use the solution at all."
"Cortex XDR could improve its sales support team, including better commission structures and referral programs."
"The pricing of FortiXDR should be improved."
"The pricing of FortiXDR should be improved. It's a point of concern for us."
"Improvement is needed in the intuitiveness and integration measures of FortiXDR, especially in terms of compatibility."
"They could change their licensing costs to make it more affordable for smaller businesses."
"Improvement is needed in the intuitiveness and integration measures of FortiXDR, especially in terms of compatibility."
"Many of the solutions, such as CrowdStrike have an MDR solution where remediation can be provided by the vendor. For example, if there is any zero data threat found, a new threat that the customer is not able to recognize, fix, or understand what needs to be done this feature has to be added in FortiXDR so that the customer feels comfortable."
"They could change their licensing costs to make it more affordable for smaller businesses."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"We didn't have to pay any additional fee for the cloud instance. It just came with the renewal, which was nice."
"Compared to CrowdStrike, Cortex XDR is an expensive solution."
"It is "expensive" and flexible."
"I don't like that they have different types of licenses."
"Every customer has to pay for a license because it doesn't work with what you get from a managed services provider."
"Cortex XDR’s pricing is very reasonable."
"The pricing is okay, although direct support can be expensive."
"It's the most expensive solution, but features-wise, it's quite strong. It's very good for protection, so the results are very good in the case of protection. I would rate it a two out of ten in terms of pricing."
"This is an expensive solution compared to other vendors, such as Check Point."
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Answers from the Community

AM
Jan 17, 2022
Jan 17, 2022
@KostiantynFrolov, @Zubair Ahmad, @Mantu Shaw, @Gian Michele Roletto, Can you please share any advice here?
See 2 answers
ER
Mar 10, 2021
Disclosure - I work for a company where we are Partners of Palo Alto Networks. Hi Augusto, The answer depends on what you are looking for and your current infrastructure. If you have Fortinet security infrastructure, it will "make sense" to go with them, if you have palo alto firewalls "then" Cortex XDR PRO.  However, As I am not completely familiar with FortiXDR, I am going to showcase why I will select Cortex XDR PRO: 0- Security: Cortex XDR PRO does really well compared to other endpoint products (NSS labs showed this, not sure what happened to them). Look info at MITRE.  1- More time and expertise on the XDR market: Cortex XDR was the first XDR platform out there to integrate, endpoint, network and cloud. 2- Integrations with other firewalls: Cortex XDR can integrate checkpoint, fortigate and cisco ASA logs. 3- Licensing model: You can start with EPP (Prevent), PRO for endpoint (EDR + other features), and PRO for network (integrate fw/cloud) using the same cloud platform. I believe that the best way is to see both product by yourself. Let me know if you are interested to see Cortex XDR PRO, we can schedule a call. We have some clients in Brazil (assuming that based in your title). Regards, Edwardo
EB
Jan 17, 2022
@KostiantynFrolov, @Zubair Ahmad, @Mantu Shaw, @Gian Michele Roletto, Can you please share any advice here?
 

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
14%
Financial Services Firm
9%
Government
8%
Manufacturing Company
7%
Computer Software Company
23%
Comms Service Provider
10%
Government
9%
Financial Services Firm
9%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
No data available
 

Questions from the Community

Cortex XDR by Palo Alto vs. Sentinel One
Cortex XDR by Palo Alto vs. SentinelOne SentinelOne offers very detailed specifics with regard to risks or attacks. The ability to reverse damage caused by ransomware with minimal interruptions to...
Comparing CrowdStrike Falcon to Cortex XDR (Palo Alto)
Cortex XDR by Palo Alto vs. CrowdStrike Falcon Both Cortex XDR and Crowd Strike Falcon offer cloud-based solutions that are very scalable, secure, and user-friendly. Cortex XDR by Palo Alto offers ...
How is Cortex XDR compared with Microsoft Defender?
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint is a cloud-delivered endpoint security solution. The tool reduces the attack surface, applies behavioral-based endpoint protection and response, and includes risk-ba...
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for FortiXDR?
Comparing to the enterprise level, the pricing is reasonable. However, for some companies, it might be a little high.
What needs improvement with FortiXDR?
They could change their licensing costs to make it more affordable for smaller businesses.
What is your primary use case for FortiXDR?
We are a system integrator and cloud service provider. Although I am in sales and not technical, I am involved with these products to sell them to our customers.
 

Also Known As

Cyvera, Cortex XDR, Palo Alto Networks Traps
No data available
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

CBI Health Group, University Honda, VakifBank
Information Not Available
Find out what your peers are saying about Cortex XDR by Palo Alto Networks vs. FortiXDR and other solutions. Updated: February 2025.
844,944 professionals have used our research since 2012.