Splunk vs Elastic Security -- SIEM & Security Analytics Compared

Splunk vs Elastic Security

Elastic Security offers a compelling open-source alternative to Splunk, eliminating per-GB ingest pricing while providing unified SIEM, EDR, and cloud security. Splunk offers a more mature analytics platform with deeper SPL capabilities and a larger app ecosystem, but at significantly higher cost.

The Verdict

Choose Elastic Security if you want an open-source SIEM with no per-GB costs and unified endpoint protection. Choose Splunk if you need the most mature analytics platform with the largest ecosystem and your budget supports enterprise licensing.

Feature-by-Feature Comparison

FeatureElastic SecuritySplunk
Core SIEMDetection engine with EQL and KQLCorrelation searches with SPL
Pricing ModelResource-based, no per-GB costWorkload or ingest-based pricing
Endpoint SecurityBuilt-in EDR (Elastic Agent)Requires separate product
Open SourceYes (Elastic License 2.0)No
Query LanguageKQL, EQL, ES|QLSPL (Search Processing Language)
App EcosystemGrowing integrations library2,500+ Splunkbase apps
Cloud SecurityBuilt-in CSPM and KSPMVia add-ons and integrations
Threat IntelligenceBuilt-in TI integrationSplunk Intelligence Management

When to Choose Each Tool

Choose Elastic Security when:

  • +You want to eliminate per-GB data ingest costs
  • +You need unified SIEM and endpoint security in one platform
  • +You prefer open-source with the ability to self-host
  • +Your team is comfortable managing Elasticsearch clusters
  • +You want MITRE ATT&CK-aligned detection out of the box

Choose Splunk when:

  • +You need the most mature SIEM analytics and SPL query language
  • +You rely on Splunk's 2,500+ app ecosystem
  • +You want built-in SOAR capabilities (Splunk SOAR)
  • +Your SOC team is already trained on Splunk
  • +You need Splunk's premium support and professional services

Pros & Cons Comparison

Elastic Security

Pros

  • +Open-source core with no ingest-based pricing
  • +Scales massively with Elasticsearch
  • +Unified SIEM, EDR, and cloud security
  • +Strong community and extensive documentation
  • +No per-GB data licensing costs

Cons

  • Complex cluster management at scale
  • Advanced features require paid subscription
  • Steeper operational overhead than SaaS alternatives
  • Detection content less mature than Splunk

Splunk

Pros

  • +Industry-leading search and analytics
  • +Massive ecosystem of apps and integrations
  • +Powerful SPL query language
  • +Strong enterprise support and training
  • +Comprehensive security content library

Cons

  • Very expensive at scale
  • Complex licensing and pricing model
  • Steep learning curve for SPL
  • Heavy infrastructure requirements
  • Vendor lock-in with proprietary format

Splunk vs Elastic Security FAQ

Common questions about choosing between Splunk and Elastic Security.

What is the main difference between Splunk and Elastic Security?

Elastic Security offers a compelling open-source alternative to Splunk, eliminating per-GB ingest pricing while providing unified SIEM, EDR, and cloud security. Splunk offers a more mature analytics platform with deeper SPL capabilities and a larger app ecosystem, but at significantly higher cost.

Is Elastic Security better than Splunk?

Choose Elastic Security if you want an open-source SIEM with no per-GB costs and unified endpoint protection. Choose Splunk if you need the most mature analytics platform with the largest ecosystem and your budget supports enterprise licensing.

How much does Elastic Security cost compared to Splunk?

Elastic Security pricing: Free (basic) / From $95/month (Cloud) / Enterprise custom. Splunk pricing: From $1,800/year (workload pricing) / Enterprise custom. Elastic Security's pricing model is resource-based (nodes/capacity), while Splunk uses workload-based or ingest-based pricing.

Can I migrate from Splunk to Elastic Security?

Yes, you can migrate from Splunk to Elastic Security. The migration process depends on your specific setup and the features you use. Both platforms offer APIs that can facilitate automated migration. Consider running both tools in parallel during the transition to ensure zero downtime.

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