Bitdefender GravityZone vs CrowdStrike Falcon
Updated November 2026 · AppBreakup editorial

Bitdefender GravityZone
Bitdefender's business endpoint security platform with cloud or on-premises management.

CrowdStrike Falcon
Cloud-delivered endpoint protection and EDR platform from CrowdStrike, sold in Go, Pro and Enterprise bundles.
The short answer
Bitdefender GravityZone suits small and mid-size IT teams and MSPs that want strong endpoint protection and the option to run the management console themselves. CrowdStrike Falcon suits organisations that want a highly regarded cloud-delivered EDR, from self-serve bundles up to managed detection and response. The biggest difference is deployment: GravityZone offers cloud or on-premises management, while Falcon is cloud-only.
Bitdefender GravityZone or CrowdStrike Falcon: our take
Both protect Windows, macOS and Linux endpoints with machine-learning malware detection and behaviour monitoring, and both sell EDR and managed detection and response to larger customers. GravityZone also includes ransomware rollback that restores encrypted files from backup copies, network attack blocking, web filtering and a risk dashboard for misconfigurations. Falcon uses a single lightweight sensor that sends activity to CrowdStrike's cloud, where threat intelligence and machine learning block threats and flag suspicious behaviour.
Deployment is the clearest difference. You can use GravityZone's console as a cloud service or run it yourself as a virtual appliance (OVA, XVA or VHD), which matters to organisations that need to keep management on-premises. Falcon is cloud-delivered only. GravityZone also offers an add-on for iOS, Android and ChromeOS devices, plus add-ons for patch management, full-disk encryption and email security. However, many features sit in separate add-ons or higher tiers, and the console has a lot of settings for a small team to learn.
On pricing, Falcon publishes self-serve prices: Falcon Go starts at $59.99 per device/year, or from $7.99 per device with monthly billing, and is capped at 100 devices. Falcon Pro and Falcon Enterprise add firewall management and full EDR, and costs climb as you add modules. Falcon also has a 15-day trial with no card required. GravityZone is a paid per-device subscription with a free trial. Small businesses can buy its entry package online, while larger companies buy through partners. Some buyers also weigh the July 2024 faulty Falcon update that crashed Windows machines worldwide.
If you need on-premises management, mobile protection or a broad set of add-ons from one vendor, GravityZone is the better fit. If you want a cloud-only platform known for detection quality, with clear self-serve prices and a path to managed detection, Falcon is the stronger choice.
Which should you pick?
Choose Bitdefender GravityZone if…
- Small and mid-size IT teams and MSPs that want strong endpoint protection with cloud or on-prem management
- You need to host it on your own servers
- You need iOS, Android and Self-hosted, which CrowdStrike Falcon doesn't list
- Choice of cloud console or self-hosted virtual appliance
- Ransomware protection that restores encrypted files from backup copies
Choose CrowdStrike Falcon if…
- Businesses of any size that want a top-tier EDR, from self-serve bundles to managed detection
- Self-serve bundles with published per-device prices
- Single lightweight sensor for Windows, macOS and Linux
About each app
What is Bitdefender GravityZone?
GravityZone is Bitdefender's security platform for businesses, separate from its consumer antivirus apps. Agents on Windows, macOS and Linux desktops, laptops and servers (physical or virtual) combine machine-learning malware detection, behaviour monitoring, ransomware rollback, network attack blocking and web filtering. A risk dashboard points out misconfigurations and risky users, and everything is managed from one console that you can use as a cloud service or run yourself as a virtual appliance. Higher tiers and add-ons bring EDR and XDR, patch management, full-disk encryption, email security, mobile protection for iOS and Android, and Bitdefender's managed detection and response service. Small businesses can buy the entry package online for a set number of devices, while larger companies and managed service providers buy through partners. It suits IT teams that want strong protection without a dedicated security operations centre. Plans are paid subscriptions per device, with a free trial.
What is CrowdStrike Falcon?
CrowdStrike Falcon is the endpoint security platform from CrowdStrike, one of the largest vendors in the market. A single lightweight sensor on each Windows, macOS or Linux machine sends activity to CrowdStrike's cloud, where machine learning and threat intelligence block malware and ransomware and flag suspicious behaviour for investigation. Small businesses can buy bundles online: Falcon Go is next-gen antivirus for up to 100 devices, Falcon Pro adds firewall management and more, and Falcon Enterprise adds full endpoint detection and response with threat hunting tools. Larger organisations buy Falcon Complete managed detection and response, identity and cloud protection, and a SIEM through sales. Prices are per device, monthly or annual, and a 15-day trial needs no card. Falcon is respected for detection quality, but the platform's many modules get expensive, and the July 2024 faulty update that crashed Windows machines worldwide made some buyers weigh vendor risk more carefully.
Side by side
| Attribute | Bitdefender GravityZone | CrowdStrike Falcon |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Paid | Paid |
| Open source | No | No |
| Self-hostable | Yes | No |
| Platforms | Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Self-hosted | Web, Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Best for | Small and mid-size IT teams and MSPs that want strong endpoint protection with cloud or on-prem management | Businesses of any size that want a top-tier EDR, from self-serve bundles to managed detection |
| Status | Active | Active |
Verified facts, compared
Facts both apps publish, checked on each vendor's own site.
| Fact | Bitdefender GravityZone | CrowdStrike Falcon |
|---|---|---|
| Free trial | Yes | 15 days, no card |
Bitdefender GravityZone vs CrowdStrike Falcon pricing
Bitdefender GravityZone: paid
- Free trial: Yes source
CrowdStrike Falcon: paid
- Starting price: $59.99 per device/year (Falcon Go, billed annually) source
- Falcon Pro plan: $99.99 per device/year source
- Falcon Enterprise plan: $184.99 per device/year source
- Free trial: 15 days, no card source
Platforms
| Platform | Bitdefender GravityZone | CrowdStrike Falcon |
|---|---|---|
| Web | ||
| Windows | ||
| macOS | ||
| Linux | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Self-hosted |
Bitdefender GravityZone facts
5 of 5 verified- Free trial
- Yes
- Checked Nov 8, 2026bitdefender.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Yes, with just a few clicks, you can get a FREE trial of GravityZone Business Security .”
- On-prem console
- Virtual appliance (OVA, XVA, VHD)
- Checked Nov 8, 2026bitdefender.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Control Center is delivered as a virtual appliance”
- Mobile add-on
- iOS, Android and ChromeOS
- Checked Nov 8, 2026bitdefender.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “· Security for Mobile to protect iOS, Android and ChromeOS devices against the latest mobile threats.”
- Deployment
- Cloud or on-premises management
- Checked Nov 8, 2026bitdefender.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “with the choice of cloud or on-premise management.”
- Supported OS
- Windows, Linux, macOS
- Checked Nov 8, 2026bitdefender.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “each type of endpoint (Windows, Linux, or macOS).”
CrowdStrike Falcon facts
7 of 7 verified- Monthly billing
- From $7.99 per device/month (Falcon Go)
- Checked Nov 8, 2026crowdstrike.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Security Essentials Falcon Go $7.99 per device, billed monthly”
- Operating systems
- Windows, macOS, Linux
- Checked Nov 8, 2026crowdstrike.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “The CrowdStrike Falcon® platform supports Windows, MacOS, and Linux operating systems.”
- Falcon Go device limit
- 100 devices
- Checked Nov 8, 2026crowdstrike.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “1 Purchases of Falcon Go are limited to a maximum of 100 devices.”
- Starting price
- $59.99 per device/year (Falcon Go, billed annually)
- Checked Nov 8, 2026crowdstrike.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Security Essentials Falcon Go $59.99 per device, billed annually”
- Falcon Pro plan
- $99.99 per device/year
- Checked Nov 8, 2026crowdstrike.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Enhanced Protection Falcon Pro $99.99 per device, billed annually”
- Falcon Enterprise plan
- $184.99 per device/year
- Checked Nov 8, 2026crowdstrike.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Advanced Protection Falcon Enterprise $184.99 per device, billed annually”
- Free trial
- 15 days, no card
- Checked Nov 8, 2026crowdstrike.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “15 days Falcon Free Trial Free No credit card required”
Pros and cons of Bitdefender GravityZone
- Choice of cloud console or self-hosted virtual appliance
- Ransomware protection that restores encrypted files from backup copies
- Small-business package can be bought online without a sales call
- Wide range of add-ons: patching, encryption, email and mobile security
- Many features sit in separate add-ons or higher tiers
- Console has a lot of settings to learn for a small IT team
- Mobile protection is an add-on, not part of the base package
Pros and cons of CrowdStrike Falcon
- Self-serve bundles with published per-device prices
- Single lightweight sensor for Windows, macOS and Linux
- Managed detection and response available for teams without a SOC
- 15-day free trial without a credit card
- Costs climb quickly as you add modules beyond the bundles
- Falcon Go is capped at 100 devices
- A faulty update in July 2024 caused a worldwide Windows outage
Other apps to consider
- SoSophos Endpoint
Instead of Bitdefender GravityZone
Similar mid-market endpoint suite with built-in XDR and an optional managed response service.
SentinelOne SingularityInstead of Bitdefender GravityZone
Autonomous EDR with automatic rollback, a step up in detection and response depth.
MalwarebytesInstead of Bitdefender GravityZone
Simpler anti-malware with business plans, easier for very small teams that want less to configure.
Microsoft Defender for EndpointInstead of CrowdStrike Falcon
Often already licensed through Microsoft 365 E5, with native Intune integration.
ESET PROTECTInstead of CrowdStrike Falcon
Lightweight agents with a cloud or on-prem console and tiered plans, so smaller IT teams can start basic and add EDR later.
Cortex XDRInstead of CrowdStrike Falcon
Palo Alto's EDR/XDR correlates endpoint, network, cloud and identity data, strongest if you already run Palo Alto firewalls.
Bitdefender GravityZone vs CrowdStrike Falcon: common questions
Is Bitdefender GravityZone better than CrowdStrike Falcon?
Bitdefender GravityZone suits small and mid-size IT teams and MSPs that want strong endpoint protection and the option to run the management console themselves. CrowdStrike Falcon suits organisations that want a highly regarded cloud-delivered EDR, from self-serve bundles up to managed detection and response. The biggest difference is deployment: GravityZone offers cloud or on-premises management, while Falcon is cloud-only.
Is Bitdefender GravityZone free?
No. Bitdefender GravityZone is paid, though it may offer a trial.
Is CrowdStrike Falcon free?
No. CrowdStrike Falcon is paid, though it may offer a trial.
Is Bitdefender GravityZone or CrowdStrike Falcon open source?
Neither is open source.
Which platforms do Bitdefender GravityZone and CrowdStrike Falcon support?
Bitdefender GravityZone: Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android and Self-hosted. CrowdStrike Falcon: Web, Windows, macOS and Linux.