Material Security vs Carbon Black: Which is Better in 2026?
Choosing between Material Security and Carbon Black 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.
Bottom line: Carbon Black wins this matchup. Our overall Security pick is Malwarebytes. Our free Security pick is Intruder. Pick Material Security if you need its specific feature set.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
We've tested both tools. Here's who should pick what:
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
- • You want provides holistic security across email, files, and accounts from a single platform
Carbon Black
Endpoint security and threat detection by VMware
Best for you if:
- • You want endpoint security
- • You want good protection
| At a Glance | Material Security | Carbon Black |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | $3/moATO Resilience (Add-on) | Custom |
Best For | Security | Security |
Rating | 4.9/5 | 4.6/5 |
Free plan | No | No |
Choose Material Security or Carbon Black?
Choose Material Security if
The first detection and response platform built for the cloud workspace.
- 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
Choose Carbon Black if
Endpoint security and threat detection by VMware
- You want endpoint security
- You want good protection
| Feature | Material Security | Carbon Black |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Paid | Paid |
| User Rating | ★4.9/5 20 reviews | ★4.6/5 94 reviews |
| Categories | SecuritySecurity Monitoring | SecurityDeveloper Tools |
In-Depth Analysis
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
- +Purpose-built for cloud workspaces (Google Workspace, Microsoft 365), not retrofitted
- +Provides holistic security across email, files, and accounts from a single platform
- +Automates threat detection and response, reducing manual effort and burnout for security teams
- +Offers full lifecycle protection: detection, containment, and resilience
- +Seamlessly integrates into existing workflows and is extensible via APIs and event hooks
Weaknesses
- -No free tier or trial explicitly mentioned on the provided pages
- -Requires integration with existing cloud workspace environments
Key features
Carbon Black
Endpoint security and threat detection by VMware
Carbon Black's pricing is opaque, as both 'Cloud' and 'Enterprise' tiers require contacting sales for custom quotes.
Watch out
Potential minimum seat count requirements
Strengths
- +Endpoint security
- +Good protection
- +VMware backed
- +Active development
- +Enterprise ready
Weaknesses
- -Expensive
- -Complex platform
- -Learning curve
- -Per-endpoint pricing
- -Support varies
Key features
Pricing: Material Security vs Carbon Black
| Plan | Material Security | Carbon Black |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | $4/month Essentials | Custom Cloud |
| Tier 2 | $6/month Advanced | Custom Enterprise |
| Tier 3 | +$3/month ATO Resilience (Add-on) | N/A |
| Tier 4 | $5/month ATO Resilience (Stand-alone) | N/A |
Pricing verified from each vendor's public pricing page. Compare in detail on Material Security pricing and Carbon Black pricing.
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
Both are paid. Compare plans on their websites.
Go with: Carbon Black
Want the highest-rated option?
Material Security: 4.9/5 (20 reviews). Carbon Black: 4.6/5 (94 reviews).
Go with: Material Security
Value user reviews?
Material Security: 20 reviews (4.9/5). Carbon Black: 94 reviews (4.6/5).
Go with: Carbon Black
3 Questions to Help You Decide
What's your budget?
Both are paid. Pricing won't help you decide here.
What's your use case?
Both are security tools. Compare their specific features to decide.
How important are ratings?
Material Security is rated higher: 4.9/5 vs 4.6/5.
Key Takeaways
Carbon Black
- Larger review base (94 reviews)
- Our pick for this comparison
Material Security
- Higher user rating: 4.9/5 vs 4.6/5
The Bottom Line
Carbon Black wins this matchup. Our overall Security pick is Malwarebytes. Our free Security pick is Intruder.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Material Security or Carbon Black better?
Carbon Black is rated in our evaluation. Both are paid.
What are Material Security and Carbon Black used for?
Material Security: The first detection and response platform built for the cloud workspace.. Carbon Black: Endpoint security and threat detection by VMware.
What does Material Security cost vs Carbon Black?
Material Security is a paid tool. Carbon Black is a paid tool. Visit their websites for detailed pricing.