Falco vs Microsoft Sentinel: Which Should You Choose in 2026?
Choosing between Falco and Microsoft Sentinel comes down to understanding what each tool does best. This comparison breaks down the key differences so you can make an informed decision based on your specific needs, not marketing claims.
By Toolradar Team · Last updated February 28, 2026 · Methodology
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
We've tested both tools. Here's who should pick what:
Falco
Cloud-native runtime security
Best for you if:
- • You want the higher-rated option (8.6/10 vs 8.4/10)
- • You need something completely free
- • You need container orchestration features specifically
- • Falco is an open-source runtime security tool for Kubernetes and containers
- • It detects abnormal behavior and security threats using kernel-level monitoring
Microsoft Sentinel
Cloud-native SIEM by Microsoft
Best for you if:
- • You need ai agents features specifically
- • Microsoft Sentinel is a cloud-native SIEM and SOAR platform on Azure
- • It provides security analytics, threat detection, and automated response
| At a Glance |  Falco |  Microsoft Sentinel |
|---|---|---|
Price | Free | Paid |
Best For | Container Orchestration | AI Agents |
Rating | 86/100 | 84/100 |
| Feature | Falco | Microsoft Sentinel |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Free | Paid |
| Editorial Score | 86 | 84 |
| Community Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Total Reviews | 0 | 0 |
| Community Upvotes | 0 | 0 |
| Categories | Container OrchestrationMonitoring | AI AgentsLog Management |
How Falco and Microsoft Sentinel Compare
Falco
Cloud-native runtime security
Free · 86/100 score
Microsoft Sentinel
Cloud-native SIEM by Microsoft
Paid · 84/100 score
Falco is a container orchestration tool. Microsoft Sentinel is in ai agents.
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
Falco is free. Microsoft Sentinel is paid.
Go with: Falco
Want the highest-rated option?
Falco: 86/100. Microsoft Sentinel: 84/100.
Go with: Falco
Value user reviews?
Neither has user reviews yet.
Go with: Falco
3 Questions to Help You Decide
What's your budget?
Falco is free. Microsoft Sentinel is paid. Go with Falco if free matters most.
What's your use case?
Falco is a container orchestration tool. Microsoft Sentinel is in ai agents. Pick the category that matches your needs.
How important are ratings?
Falco scores higher: 86/100 vs 84/100.
Key Takeaways
Falco
- Higher score: 86/100 vs 84
- Completely free
- Our pick for this comparison
Microsoft Sentinel
- Better fit for ai agents
The Bottom Line
Falco (86/100) is our pick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Falco or Microsoft Sentinel better?
Falco scores 86/100 in our evaluation. Falco is free and Microsoft Sentinel is paid.
What are Falco and Microsoft Sentinel used for?
Falco: Cloud-native runtime security. Microsoft Sentinel: Cloud-native SIEM by Microsoft.
What does Falco cost vs Microsoft Sentinel?
Falco is completely free. Microsoft Sentinel is a paid tool. Visit their websites for detailed pricing.