Head to head · Checked against vendor sites, September 2026
Neo vs Koi (Palo Alto Networks): AI agent security compared
The verdict
Neo scores higher overall on our weights (7.5 vs 7.1 out of 10). Neo scores higher on tool-call control, policy and identity and audit; Koi scores higher on maturity and breadth. They tie on visibility and footprint. Neither publishes list prices.
Koi (Palo Alto Networks Cortex Agentic Endpoint Security)
Owner: Palo Alto Networks (acquisition completed 14 April 2026)
Best for Palo Alto Cortex customers
How do Neo and Koi compare on each criterion?
| Criterion | Weight | Neo | Koi | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visibility | 22% | 9 | 9 | Tie |
Why these scoresNeo: Live inventory of agents, models, skills, MCP servers and extensions on every endpoint, with risk scores from its Neoverse knowledge base. Koi: Visibility into models, MCPs, extensions and packages on the endpoint, with risk scoring. | ||||
| Tool-call control | 20% | 8 | 7 | Neo |
Why these scoresNeo: Intercepts agent actions at the endpoint and allows, blocks or holds them for approval before they run. Koi: Blocks unsafe AI application interactions and prevents prompt injections; tool-call level mechanics not published. | ||||
| Policy | 15% | 8 | 7 | Neo |
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. Koi: Out-of-the-box policies and one-click removal of insecure packages, extensions and AI tools. | ||||
| Identity and audit | 12% | 8 | 5 | 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. Koi: Agent vs human attribution not described on the pages we reviewed. | ||||
| 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. Koi: Agent-based; offered as a Cortex XDR module and as a standalone offering. | ||||
| Breadth | 8% | 6 | 7 | Koi |
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. Koi: Palo Alto Networks is integrating Koi with Prisma AIRS for wider AI coverage. | ||||
| Maturity | 10% | 5 | 7 | Koi |
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. Koi: Acquisition completed 14 April 2026 by Palo Alto Networks; pricing not published. | ||||
| Total | 100% | 7.5 | 7.1 | Neo |
How do they deploy, and what do they cost?
| Attribute | Neo | Koi |
|---|---|---|
| Owner | Not acquired | Palo Alto Networks (acquisition completed 14 April 2026) |
| How it reaches devices | Own endpoint sensor | Cortex XDR module or standalone agent |
| 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. | Integrates with Cortex XDR as a module and is also available standalone as an agent-based deployment. If you run Cortex XDR, this is the lowest-friction path; if you run another EDR, expect a separate agent. |
| Pricing | Contact sales. Neo does not publish pricing. | Contact sales. Pricing is not published. |
Source: neo.ai · Neo platform · Neo launch announcement (20 Jul 2026) · Cortex Agentic Endpoint Security · Press release, 14 April 2026 · 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 an audit record that separates agent actions from human actions: Neo scores 8 to 5.
- You need to evaluate or stop individual tool calls before they run: Neo scores 8 to 7.
Choose Koi if
- Your priority matches our designation for Koi: best for Palo Alto Cortex customers.
- Vendor maturity, public documentation and backing weigh heavily in procurement: Koi scores 7 to 5.
- Your agents also run in SaaS platforms, cloud workloads or apps you build: Koi scores 7 to 6.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, Neo or Koi (Palo Alto Networks)?
Neo scores higher overall on our weights (7.5 vs 7.1 out of 10). Neo scores higher on tool-call control, policy and identity and audit; Koi scores higher on maturity and breadth. They tie on visibility and footprint. Scores are editorial assessments from public vendor material, reviewed September 2026.
Do Neo and Koi (Palo Alto Networks) publish prices?
No. Neither publishes list prices, so ask both for a quote.
Do Neo or Koi (Palo Alto Networks) replace EDR?
No. The tools in this guide add control over AI agent actions and work alongside EDR. Neo: Own endpoint sensor. Koi: Cortex XDR module or standalone agent.
Related
Sources
- neo.ai · Reviewed Sep 2026
- Neo platform · Reviewed Sep 2026
- Neo launch announcement (20 Jul 2026) · Reviewed Sep 2026
- Cortex Agentic Endpoint Security · Reviewed Sep 2026
- Press release, 14 April 2026 · Reviewed Sep 2026