Head to head · Checked against vendor sites, September 2026
Neo vs Onyx Security: AI agent security compared
The verdict
Neo scores higher overall on our weights (7.5 vs 7.4 out of 10). Neo scores higher on visibility and identity and audit; Onyx Security scores higher on maturity and breadth. They tie on tool-call control, policy and footprint. Neither publishes list prices.
How do Neo and Onyx Security compare on each criterion?
| Criterion | Weight | Neo | Onyx Security | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visibility | 22% | 9 | 7 | Neo |
Why these scoresNeo: Live inventory of agents, models, skills, MCP servers and extensions on every endpoint, with risk scores from its Neoverse knowledge base. Onyx Security: Discovers AI agents across SaaS, cloud, endpoint and code; endpoint inventory detail is lighter than endpoint-first tools. | ||||
| Tool-call control | 20% | 8 | 8 | Tie |
Why these scoresNeo: Intercepts agent actions at the endpoint and allows, blocks or holds them for approval before they run. Onyx Security: Inspects every prompt, tool call and model response inline. | ||||
| Policy | 15% | 8 | 8 | Tie |
Why these scoresNeo: Policies built with a built-in LLM, such as Block secret reads or Hold exports over 10 MB; actions are allow, block, redirect or hold for verified human approval, with an audit mode before enforcement. Onyx Security: Five enforcement actions: alert, block, mask, steer, or ask a human. | ||||
| Identity and audit | 12% | 8 | 7 | Neo |
Why these scoresNeo: Ties every action to the human or agent that caused it, in what Neo calls an immutable audit chain, with alerts to a SIEM. Onyx Security: Agent identity and access governance is a named solution. | ||||
| Footprint | 13% | 6 | 6 | Tie |
Why these scoresNeo: A lightweight endpoint sensor with no kernel module, no reboot and no OS hooks; analysis stays on the device. It is a new sensor rather than a rollout through existing EDR, and OS support is not listed on the pages we read. Onyx Security: Works across endpoint agents, browser extensions, APIs and gateways; the endpoint component is a resident agent or extension. | ||||
| Breadth | 8% | 6 | 9 | Onyx Security |
Why these scoresNeo: Its platform page names desktop and SaaS AI such as ChatGPT Desktop, Slack AI, Notion AI and Salesforce Agentforce alongside coding agents; cloud workloads and red teaming are not described. Onyx Security: Browser AI, coding assistants, desktop agents, cloud workloads and MCP servers, plus agentic red teaming. | ||||
| Maturity | 10% | 5 | 7 | Onyx Security |
Why these scoresNeo: Came out of stealth on 20 July 2026 with $100M from Andreessen Horowitz and Bessemer; no documentation portal or pricing on neo.ai. Onyx Security: $113M Series B announced 29 July 2026; SOC 2 Type II and ISO 27001 listed; pricing not published. | ||||
| Total | 100% | 7.5 | 7.4 | Neo |
How do they deploy, and what do they cost?
| Attribute | Neo | Onyx Security |
|---|---|---|
| Owner | Not acquired | Not acquired |
| How it reaches devices | Own endpoint sensor | Endpoint agent, browser extension, API, gateway |
| Deployment detail | A lightweight endpoint sensor with no kernel module, no reboot and no OS hooks; analysis stays on the device. It is a new sensor rather than a rollout through existing EDR, and OS support is not listed on the pages we read. | Onyx says it needs no SDK changes and works across endpoint agents, browser extensions, APIs and gateways. It integrates with Okta, Entra, Splunk and CrowdStrike. On devices this means a resident component, which is why it scores lower on footprint than tools that deploy through EDR or MDM. |
| Pricing | Contact sales. Neo does not publish pricing. | Contact sales. Onyx Security does not publish pricing. |
Source: neo.ai · Neo platform · Neo launch announcement (20 Jul 2026) · onyx.security · Onyx AI security · Onyx Series B · Reviewed Sep 2026
Which should you choose?
Choose Neo if
- Your priority matches our designation for Neo: best for approval holds and an agent-level audit trail.
- You need a fleet-wide inventory of AI agents, MCP servers, extensions and credentials on devices: Neo scores 9 to 7.
- You need an audit record that separates agent actions from human actions: Neo scores 8 to 7.
Choose Onyx Security if
- Your priority matches our designation for Onyx Security: best for inline control across many AI surfaces.
- Your agents also run in SaaS platforms, cloud workloads or apps you build: Onyx Security scores 9 to 6.
- Vendor maturity, public documentation and backing weigh heavily in procurement: Onyx Security scores 7 to 5.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, Neo or Onyx Security?
Neo scores higher overall on our weights (7.5 vs 7.4 out of 10). Neo scores higher on visibility and identity and audit; Onyx Security scores higher on maturity and breadth. They tie on tool-call control, policy and footprint. Scores are editorial assessments from public vendor material, reviewed September 2026.
Do Neo and Onyx Security publish prices?
No. Neither publishes list prices, so ask both for a quote.
Do Neo or Onyx Security replace EDR?
No. The tools in this guide add control over AI agent actions and work alongside EDR. Neo: Own endpoint sensor. Onyx Security: Endpoint agent, browser extension, API, gateway.
Related
Sources
- neo.ai · Reviewed Sep 2026
- Neo platform · Reviewed Sep 2026
- Neo launch announcement (20 Jul 2026) · Reviewed Sep 2026
- onyx.security · Reviewed Sep 2026
- Onyx AI security · Reviewed Sep 2026
- Onyx Series B · Reviewed Sep 2026