Falco vs Material Security: Pricing and Ratings Compared (2026)
Entry prices and free plans as read on each vendor's pricing page, and user ratings as published on review sites, for Falco and Material Security side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below, Falco leads on a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
Based on published vendor pricing and features and on public review data, here's who should pick what:
Falco
Detect runtime threats in containers and Kubernetes
Best for you if:
- • You want a fully free tool (Material Security requires payment)
Material Security
The first detection and response platform built for the cloud workspace.
Best for you if:
- • You want purpose-built for cloud workspaces (Google Workspace, Microsoft 365), not retrofitted
| At a Glance | Falco | Material Security |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Free 100% free | From $4/mo, billed monthly Essentials plan |
Category | Cloud & Infrastructure Security | Security Security Monitoring |
Rating | n/a | 4.9/5 G2 4.9 20 reviews |
Free plan | Yes | No |
Watch out for | n/a | ATO Resilience is an add-on, increasing base cost. |
Choose Falco or Material Security?
Choose Falco if
- You want a fully free tool (Material Security requires payment)
- You want runtime security
- You want kubernetes native
- You work in cloud & infrastructure, not security
Choose Material Security if
- You want purpose-built for cloud workspaces (Google Workspace, Microsoft 365), not retrofitted
- You want provides holistic security across email, files, and accounts from a single platform
- You work in security, not cloud & infrastructure
In-Depth Analysis
Falco
Detect runtime threats in containers and Kubernetes
Falco's pricing is exceptionally generous as it is entirely free and open-source.
Strengths
- Pro: Runtime security
- Pro: Kubernetes native
- Pro: CNCF graduated
- Pro: Good detection
- Pro: Open source
Weaknesses
- Con: Learning curve
- Con: Rule writing complex
- Con: Resource overhead
- Con: Alert fatigue risk
- Con: Setup complexity
Key features
Material Security
The first detection and response platform built for the cloud workspace.
Material Security's pricing for Essentials at $4/month and Advanced at $6/month is competitive for the extensive cloud workspace security features offered.
Watch out
ATO Resilience is an add-on, increasing base cost.
Strengths
- Pro: Purpose-built for cloud workspaces (Google Workspace, Microsoft 365), not retrofitted
- Pro: Provides holistic security across email, files, and accounts from a single platform
- Pro: Automates threat detection and response, reducing manual effort and burnout for security teams
- Pro: Offers full lifecycle protection: detection, containment, and resilience
- Pro: Seamlessly integrates into existing workflows and is extensible via APIs and event hooks
Weaknesses
- Con: No free tier or trial explicitly mentioned on the provided pages
- Con: Requires integration with existing cloud workspace environments
Key features
Plans and prices: Falco vs Material Security
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Falco |
| falco.org read Oct 7, 2026 |
| Material Security |
| material.security/pricing read Oct 22, 2026 |
Prices as read on each vendor's own pricing page on the date shown. Plans are listed per tool and are not matched against the other tool's plans: a plan name or price in one column says nothing about the same row in the other. Details on Falco pricing and Material Security pricing.
Key Takeaways
Falco
- Has a free plan
Material Security
- Choose if you want the first detection and response platform built for the cloud workspace
What the data shows
On the data below, Falco leads on a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
- Only Material Security has a published user rating (4.9/5 from 20 reviews); Falco has none we can show.
- Material Security starts at $4/mo, billed monthly; Falco has no public paid plan price on file.
- Only Falco has a free plan.
Criteria: user rating (only above 20 reviews on both sides, gap of 0.2 or more), entry price (only on the same billing basis), free plan. How we rate
Frequently Asked Questions
How do Falco and Material Security compare in 2026?
On the data below, Falco leads on a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair. Only Material Security has a published user rating (4.9/5 from 20 reviews); Falco has none we can show. Material Security starts at $4/mo, billed monthly; Falco has no public paid plan price on file. Only Falco has a free plan.
What are Falco and Material Security used for?
Falco: Detect runtime threats in containers and Kubernetes. Material Security: The first detection and response platform built for the cloud workspace.
What does Falco cost vs Material Security?
Falco is free. Material Security's cheapest paid plan is Essentials at $4/mo, billed monthly. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Oct 22, 2026.
What's the main difference between Falco and Material Security?
Falco's main strength: runtime security. Material Security's main strength: purpose-built for cloud workspaces (Google Workspace, Microsoft 365), not retrofitted.