Independent cybersecurity directory, built from public sources. Featured listings are paid placements and always labelled. How we work

Elastic Security vs Microsoft Sentinel

Elastic Security and Microsoft Sentinel are both open source siem solutions. Elastic Security open-source SIEM and security analytics built on the ELK Stack, while Microsoft Sentinel cloud-native Azure SIEM with AI-powered detection and automated response. The best choice depends on your organization's size, technical requirements, and budget.

Updated Feb 2026

Summary

Choose Elastic Security if open-source core with no ingest-based pricing is your priority and teams wanting open-source flexibility with enterprise SIEM capabilities and no per-GB ingest pricing. Choose Microsoft Sentinel if deep native integration with Microsoft ecosystem matters most and microsoft-centric organizations wanting a cloud-native SIEM with deep M365 and Azure integration.

Choose Elastic Security if:

  • You value open-source core with no ingest-based pricing
  • You value scales massively with Elasticsearch
  • You value unified SIEM, EDR, and cloud security
  • You want to avoid per-GB costs can spike with non-Microsoft data sources
  • You want to avoid kQL learning curve for teams used to other query languages

Choose Microsoft Sentinel if:

  • You value deep native integration with Microsoft ecosystem
  • You value cloud-native with no infrastructure to manage
  • You value free data ingestion for Microsoft 365 and Azure logs
  • You want to avoid complex cluster management at scale
  • You want to avoid advanced features require paid subscription

Feature Comparison

FeatureElastic SecurityMicrosoft Sentinel
PricingFree (basic) / From $95/month (Cloud) / Enterprise customFrom $2.46/GB ingested (pay-as-you-go) / Commitment tiers available
Pricing ModelResource-based (nodes/capacity)Per-GB ingested (with commitment tier discounts)
Open SourceYesNo
DeploymentCloud, Self-HostedCloud
Best ForTeams wanting open-source flexibility with enterprise SIEM capabilities and no per-GB ingest pricingMicrosoft-centric organizations wanting a cloud-native SIEM with deep M365 and Azure integration
SIEM with detection engine and rulesSupportedNot available
Endpoint detection and response (EDR)SupportedNot available
MITRE ATT&CK-aligned detection rulesSupportedNot available

Sources

Related

Full SIEM & Security Analytics guideElastic Security AlternativesMicrosoft Sentinel AlternativesElastic Security OverviewMicrosoft Sentinel Overview

Shortlists these appear on