ThreatLocker Zero Trust Endpoint Protection Platform vs VMware Carbon Black App Control comparison

ThreatLocker and Broadcom are both solutions in the Application Control category. ThreatLocker is ranked #1 with an average rating of 9.2, while Broadcom is ranked #4. ThreatLocker holds a 20.2% mindshare in AC, compared to Broadcom’s 12.3% mindshare. Additionally, 97% of ThreatLocker users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 100% of Broadcom users who would recommend it.

ThreatLocker Zero Trust End...

Read 40 ThreatLocker Zero Trust Endpoint Protection Platform reviews

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97% willing to recommend

VMware Carbon Black App Con...

Read 8 VMware Carbon Black App Control reviews

703 Views
612 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

ThreatLocker Zero Trust End...

VMware Carbon Black App Con...

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Jan 11, 2026

VMware Carbon Black App Control and ThreatLocker Zero Trust Endpoint Protection Platform are competing products in the endpoint security category. ThreatLocker appears to be the preferred choice due to its robust features and comprehensive security measures, outweighing VMware's pricing and support advantages.

Features: VMware Carbon Black App Control offers application whitelisting, lockdown capabilities, and open API integration, providing strong control over applications. ThreatLocker Zero Trust Endpoint Protection includes a zero-trust model, application control, and elevation control, offering versatile options for security management, enhanced by ring-fencing and granular visibility.

Room for Improvement: VMware Carbon Black App Control could enhance granularity in threat visibility and improve integration speed with other security tools. Simplifying reporting and extending support for more platforms could also be beneficial. ThreatLocker Zero Trust Endpoint Protection would benefit from simplifying its complex deployment process and reducing the learning curve. Additionally, its reporting tools and granular control settings could be expanded for better user-friendliness.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: VMware Carbon Black App Control is known for its straightforward deployment and reliable customer service, suitable for businesses prioritizing ease of setup. ThreatLocker Zero Trust Endpoint Protection, although offering more features, involves a more complex deployment, supported by dedicated customer service to address implementation challenges.

Pricing and ROI: VMware Carbon Black App Control is recognized for competitive pricing and strong ROI, especially for companies needing basic endpoint security. ThreatLocker Zero Trust Endpoint Protection might involve higher initial costs but promises significant long-term benefits due to its advanced feature set and security model, making it a strategic investment for organizations aiming for comprehensive protection.

To learn more, read our detailed ThreatLocker Zero Trust Endpoint Protection Platform vs. VMware Carbon Black App Control Report (Updated: December 2025).

Buyer's Guide

ThreatLocker Zero Trust Endpoint Protection Platform vs. VMware Carbon Black App Control

December 2025

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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

ThreatLocker Zero Trust End...

Ranking in Application Control

1st

Average Rating

9.2

Reviews Sentiment

7.4

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Network Access Control (NAC) (4th), Endpoint Protection Platform (EPP) (6th), Advanced Threat Protection (ATP) (6th), ZTNA (4th), Ransomware Protection (1st)

VMware Carbon Black App Con...

Ranking in Application Control

4th

Average Rating

9.2

Reviews Sentiment

6.8

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of January 2026, in the Application Control category, the mindshare of ThreatLocker Zero Trust Endpoint Protection Platform is 20.2%, up from 10.8% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of VMware Carbon Black App Control is 12.3%, down from 26.6% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Application Control Market Share Distribution
Product	Market Share (%)
ThreatLocker Zero Trust Endpoint Protection Platform	20.2%
VMware Carbon Black App Control	12.3%
Other	67.5%

Application Control

Featured Reviews

Charles Loveland

Supervisor, Client Security at a consultancy with 11-50 employees

World-class support and highly effective for application control and elevation

Their product is solid. I have a hard time complaining much about it because when we do find little things, they are usually interface-related or related to things that would be nice to have. Their idea portal, unlike so many other vendors we deal with, shows movement. At least four to eight features of ThreatLocker exist because I made a request in the last five years, and it became a feature of the actual product. When it comes to improvements, we moved the product as customers, and we got to move the product by making suggestions. They seem to be very reactive to it, so there is not a whole lot that they actively need to change right now. It is one of those situations where when we run into something that would be nice to have, it happens. They make it work.

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Abul Atti M Salem

Cybersecurity Consultant at KAFD DMC

We can isolate problem machines and limit their access

We use App Control to scan the network for virtual machines that have unauthorized applications. We can isolate the problem VMs and control application access. More than two years. I rate Carbon Black App Control 10 out of 10 for stability. I rate App Control six out of 10 for scalability.…

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Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"Unified Audit is excellent for identifying our denies and using those to dynamically create rules, as opposed to manually observing the logs and creating them. It saves so much time."

"The biggest improvement has been knowing that something unauthorized isn't going to get installed on anyone’s machines."

"The pre-built policies and the fact that I get notified when a user requests an application are significant."

"The solution has made knowing and managing what is running on our clients' devices much easier for us. We know they cannot run what they are not supposed to run."

"With ThreatLocker, we don't have shadow IT, and it has reduced ransomware."

"Being able to protect and trust nothing by default, known as zero trust, is the most important feature to me."

"What sets ThreatLocker apart from competitors offering similar solutions is ringfencing. The ringfencing controls, along with the application elevation features, keep it out of the user's line of sight while still protecting them."

"ThreatLocker Protect has improved my organization greatly."

More ThreatLocker Zero Trust Endpoint Protection Platform pros

"The effectiveness of application whitelisting is very good."

"The visibility is valuable."

"We use App Control to scan the network for virtual machines that have unauthorized applications. We can isolate the problem VMs and control application access."

"The visibility, reporting, and the ability to stop or prevent malicious or undesired applications from being installed are the most valuable features."

"I use the console to check for threats and I find it to be very user-friendly."

"All the functions within VMware Carbon Black App Control are valuable."

"If any malicious activity, like VAT viruses, anything RNE, ZOD malware, or something similar, comes in we know that unless we approve it, it's going to be blocked."

"The API integration is good."

Cons

"Better visualizations of what exactly is happening in our logs would be helpful. There can be more visuals on what has been elevated. Presenting this in a more refined manner would be beneficial."

"It is a little frustrating on my end since I like to go as quickly as I possibly can, and it slows me down."

"I cannot suggest anything that they are not already doing. They should keep adding features as they have been."

"Identifying areas of improvement is challenging, however, perhaps adding a few more built-ins could help."

"There are some times when applications get submitted, the hashes don't really line up."

"Initially, the learning curve was slightly high for me, however, that has been resolved now."

"Something we have come up against a couple of times is that we have two clients that are software developers. They create software that doesn't have digital signatures and that's not easy to categorize or whitelist with ThreatLocker. We have to go in and make custom rules to allow them to do their work and to be protected from malicious threats."

"From my point of view, logging could be improved. Logging should be easier."

More ThreatLocker Zero Trust Endpoint Protection Platform cons

"Its setup is very complex, and it requires guidance from the support team, but it is well worth the effort."

"I would like to see the addition of some more features that are in other, similar solutions."

"The reporting is not good and needs to be improved."

"The initial setup is somewhat complex."

"Carbon Black does not use the database for identifying the file, the fields, or malware."

"I rate App Control six out of 10 for scalability."

"The solution should have overhead in keeping lists of applications that you want don't want to run."

"Another issue is that even sometimes if you approve, for example, Adobe as a publisher, you say any product or anything that's from Adobe has to run. It generally runs, but especially in a large environment and with a lot of users, sometimes, due to some certification validation issues or some other issue, it might stop the process from running. Genuine processes like Adobe and Chrome can get blocked. so that needs to be improved."

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The price is very reasonable, and we have been able to integrate ThreatLocker with all of our clients."

"I do not know about the licensing and price as it comes bundled from our MSP. However, it seems fairly reasonable for us, which is why we chose it."

"Although the pricing seems good, there have been inconsistencies in contract negotiations."

"We have not had any real issues with the pricing. As they have added more features, due to the way our contracts are structured with our customers, we have had to hold off on adopting the new features because they do add costs."

"We have encountered a few challenges regarding pricing, contract renewals, and additions. As we explored adding features like Cyber Hero, it proved to be an increased expense for our clients. This was primarily a mistake on our part due to how we initially priced it to clients."

"So far, it has been great. I have no complaints. Of course, everybody wishes it was cheaper."

"I believe ThreatLocker's pricing model is fair and flexible, allowing account managers to offer customized deals based on our specific needs."

"Its price is fair. They have added some additional things to it beyond allowlisting. They are up-charging for them, but in terms of the value we get and the way it impacts us, we get a bang for our buck with ThreatLocker than a lot of our other security tools."

More ThreatLocker Zero Trust Endpoint Protection Platform pricing and cost advice

"We pay a fee for support, which is renewed annually."

"The pricing for this product is competitive and our customers who told us that often, Carbon Back is the cheaper solution."

"Its price is reasonable and what is expected for these types of products."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

22%

Retailer

Manufacturing Company

Financial Services Firm

17%

Computer Software Company

10%

Government

Construction Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	32
Midsize Enterprise	4
Large Enterprise	3

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	4
Midsize Enterprise	1
Large Enterprise	3

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about ThreatLocker Allowlisting?

The interface is clean and well-organized, making it simple to navigate and find what we need.

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What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for ThreatLocker Allowlisting?

Pricing, setup costs, and licensing have been pretty accessible and manageable. It was not too expensive to get started, especially at a small scale for a smaller MSP. It is very accessible, easy t...

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What needs improvement with ThreatLocker Allowlisting?

Going with the theme of ThreatLocker Zero Trust Endpoint Protection Platform being a one-stop shop where they have just about everything, and they have a really good product stack as is. However, t...

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Comparisons

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Compared 8% of the time

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Compared 7% of the time

Microsoft Defender for Endpoint vs ThreatLocker Zero Trust Endpoint Protection Platform

Compared 5% of the time

SentinelOne Singularity Complete vs ThreatLocker Zero Trust Endpoint Protection Platform

Compared 4% of the time

Check Point Harmony SASE (formerly Perimeter 81) vs ThreatLocker Zero Trust Endpoint Protection Platform

Compared 2% of the time

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Compared 29% of the time

McAfee Application Control vs VMware Carbon Black App Control

Compared 15% of the time

Ivanti Application Control vs VMware Carbon Black App Control

Compared 12% of the time

Application Control vs VMware Carbon Black App Control

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Zscaler Zero Trust Exchange Platform vs VMware Carbon Black App Control

Compared 9% of the time

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Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

ThreatLocker Zero Trust Endpoint Protection Platform

January 2026

ThreatLocker Zero Trust Endpoint Protection Platform report

Download ThreatLocker Zero Trust Endpoint Protection Platform product report

Buyer's Guide

VMware Carbon Black App Control

January 2026

Download VMware Carbon Black App Control product report

Also Known As

Protect, Allowlisting, Network Control, Ringfencing

CB Protection, Carbon Black CB Protection

Overview

ThreatLocker Zero Trust Endpoint Protection Platform empowers organizations with application control, selective elevation, and ring-fencing to enhance security and prevent unauthorized access.

ThreatLocker provides comprehensive security management using application allowlisting to ensure only approved software operates across servers and workstations. The platform's centralized management simplifies security processes by consolidating multiple tools, and its robust capabilities align with zero-trust strategies by actively blocking unauthorized applications and ensuring compliance. Users note intuitive features such as mobile access, helpful training resources, and responsive support, which effectively reduce operational costs and help desk inquiries. The managed service providers prefer ThreatLocker to maintain network integrity by preventing malicious scripts and unauthorized access attempts. However, users identify room for growth in training and support flexibility, the interface, and certain technical challenges like network saturation from policy updates.

What are the most important features?

Application Control: Ensures only approved applications can be executed, minimizing security risks.
Selective Elevation: Provides granular control over application permissions without compromising security.
Ring-Fencing: Isolates applications to limit possible damage from compromised software.
Comprehensive Blocking: Blocks unauthorized applications, supporting zero-trust strategies.
Centralized Management: Offers a unified platform for managing security tools efficiently.

What benefits should users look for in reviews?

Intuitive Interface: Simplifies complex security processes, making them manageable for non-expert users.
Reduced Operational Costs: Minimizes resource expenditure through effective security management.
Enhanced Security: Provides robust protection against unauthorized access and malicious scripts.
Responsive Support: Offers quick and effective assistance to minimize downtime and issues.

Organizations utilize ThreatLocker for application allowlisting, ensuring only authorized software operates to prevent unauthorized access efficiently. Deployed across servers and workstations, its features support zero-trust principles and are favored by managed service providers for application management and network integrity.

ThreatLocker

Carbon Black is a leading provider of next-generation endpoint security. Carbon Black serves more than 3,700 customers globally, including 33 of the Fortune 100. As a cybersecurity innovator, Carbon Black has a strong heritage of innovative technology leadership in multiple endpoint security categories, including application control, endpoint detection and response (EDR), and next-generation antivirus (NGAV). Leveraging its big data and analytics cloud platform - the Cb Predictive Security Cloud - Carbon Black solutions enable customers to defend against the most advanced cyber threats, including malware, ransomware, and non-malware attacks. Deployed via the cloud, on premise, or as a managed service, customers use Carbon Black solutions to lock down critical systems, hunt threats, and replace legacy antivirus.

Broadcom

Sample Customers

Information Not Available

Kaas Tailored, Core-Mark, Indeed, Hologic, Landmark Credit Union, Project Worldwide

Buyer's Guide

ThreatLocker Zero Trust Endpoint Protection Platform vs. VMware Carbon Black App Control

December 2025

Free Report: ThreatLocker Zero Trust Endpoint Protection Platform vs. VMware Carbon Black App Control

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