Fendr vs Varonis
Fendr
Fendr is a browser-extension based data loss prevention and AI governance product that monitors and controls what employees paste or upload into ChatGPT, Copilot, Claude, Gemini and other web-based AI tools. It is aimed at mid-market organisations and deploys via MDM, with Chrome and Edge named as supported browsers; policies can block a risky action, redirect the user to Copilot or log the action for audit. The vendor positions it as an option for firms without Microsoft Purview E5 licensing and Entra-enrolled Windows devices, and states that the extension does not see native desktop apps such as Claude desktop or Copilot inside Word. Pricing is published: the first 10 licences are free, the Standard plan is GBP 6 per user per month for 11 to 500 employees, and Enterprise pricing is custom. The product is made by Fendr Ltd, incorporated in London on 4 August 2025, with founder Katie Whitlock listed as a director at Companies House. Fendr took part in the LASR Validate programme and was profiled by Plexal in October 2025, when it was running proof-of-concept trials.
Pros
- Published per-user pricing with the first 10 licences free
- Registered UK company (Fendr Ltd, 16625357) with a published extension privacy notice
- Independent coverage from Plexal and the LASR Validate programme
Things to check
- Company incorporated August 2025 and still running proof-of-concept trials as of November 2025 per LASR
- Covers browser-based AI tools only; the vendor states it does not see native desktop apps such as Claude desktop or Copilot in Word
Pricing: Free for 1 to 10 employees; Standard is GBP 6 per user per month for 11 to 500 employees with discounts for annual commitment; Enterprise is custom pricing with volume discounts for 500 or more employees.
Varonis
Varonis is a data security and governance platform that protects enterprise data by providing deep visibility into who accesses data, how it is used, and where sensitive content resides. Varonis monitors file systems, email, cloud applications, and Active Directory to detect insider threats, enforce least privilege, and automate data protection policies. Its SaaS Data Security Platform maps data access permissions, classifies sensitive data at scale, and alerts on abnormal user behaviour that could indicate a breach or insider threat; the self-hosted product reaches end of life on 31 December 2026.
Pros
- Deep visibility into file and data access permissions across hybrid environments
- Powerful insider threat detection with behavioral analytics
- Automated remediation of overexposed data and stale permissions
- Broad coverage across file servers, SharePoint, Exchange, cloud apps, and databases
- Mature platform with 20 years of data security expertise
Things to check
- Enterprise pricing can be significant for large deployments
- Initial deployment and permission scanning can be time-intensive
- Agent-based architecture adds infrastructure overhead
- Steep learning curve for advanced configuration and policy tuning
- Cloud-native coverage has historically lagged behind on-premises capabilities
Pricing: Pricing is not published; quotes are per user and Varonis states it does not charge by data volume. A free data risk assessment and a 30 day trial are offered.