Sentaro is the best Sublime Security alternative for EU teams on Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace: it connects over the Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace APIs in four minutes with no MX change and no agents; its BEC and vendor-fraud verdicts show their reasoning in the console, so you can audit them on your own mail; its App vector, live since Q3 2026, covers OAuth grants and AI tools in the same platform; its price, $6 per protected account per month with every feature included, is published (USD); and it is hosted in Sweden on Microsoft Azure, with subprocessors listed in the DPA. Sublime is unusually open, with public detection rules, a free tier and self-hosting; Sentaro is the better choice when you do not have engineers to write and tune rules.
- Why Sentaro wins
- no rules to write or maintain: automatic verdicts with reasoning shown in the admin console, bulk remediation, and alerts only when a decision is needed.
- Choose Sentaro if
- you are a lean EU team that wants published pricing above 100 mailboxes and hosting in Sweden.
- Consider staying with Sublime only if
- your SOC writes its own detections, wants to self-host in its own cloud region, or fits under the free 100-mailbox tier.
What you are comparing against: Sublime Security at a glance
- Approach
- Detection-as-code in its Message Query Language (MQL), with an open-source rule library on GitHub
- AI agents
- Autonomous Security Analyst (triage of user reports) and Autonomous Detection Engineer (writes and backtests rules; GA for Enterprise)
- Deployment
- API; managed cloud, or self-hosted (Docker up to 600 active mailboxes; AWS CloudFormation or Azure ARM at any scale)
- Platforms
- Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, IMAP
- Pricing
- Managed cloud: first 100 mailboxes free; Enterprise via sales
- Funding
- $150 million Series C (October 2025), over $240 million raised in total
Why teams look for a Sublime Security alternative
Each reason below follows from Sublime’s own documentation, not from customer surveys.
- Engineering time. Detection-as-code pays off when someone reads, tunes and writes rules in MQL. A team with one generalist IT admin may prefer a product that decides on its own. Sublime’s AI agents reduce this work, and the Autonomous Detection Engineer is GA for Enterprise.
- Managed-cloud hosting. Sublime’s docs list managed-cloud regions in the US, UK (London), EU (Dublin), Canada and Australia, and self-hosting lets you pick your own cloud region. EU buyers should still check the subprocessor list for where other processing happens.
- Growth past the free tier. The managed cloud is free for the first 100 mailboxes; Enterprise pricing beyond that is via sales.
- Broader scope. Teams that also want OAuth app governance, training or archiving look at tools that include those.
Sublime Security alternatives at a glance
| Vendor | Type | Deploys via | Public price | Hosting | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sentaro (our pick) | API (ICES) | Microsoft 365 and Workspace APIs | $6 per account/month | Sweden (Microsoft Azure); see DPA | Our pick: EU teams on Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace |
| Defender for Office 365 | Native | Exchange Online mail flow | Plan 1 $2, Plan 2 $5 per user/month | EU Data Boundary | Microsoft 365 tenants already licensed |
| IRONSCALES | API (ICES) | API at mailbox level | Quote (tiers published) | AWS USA or Germany (subprocessor list) | SMBs and MSPs wanting simulation bundled |
| Abnormal AI | API (ICES) | API, no MX change | Quote | US or EU (Ireland), by subscription | Large enterprises |
| Material Security | API (ICES) | API | From $4 per user/month | No EU region documented | Workspace-heavy, post-compromise focus |
| Check Point Harmony Email | API (ICES), inline option | API, no MX change | Quote | Ireland region option | Inline-via-API and many SaaS apps |
| Darktrace / EMAIL | API (ICES) | API or API plus journaling | Quote | Not publicly documented | Existing Darktrace customers |
| Barracuda | API (ICES) | API, no MX change | Quote | Gateway: Frankfurt, London; API modules: US | SMBs wanting backup and archive bundled |
| Cloudflare Email Security | Gateway, API or BCC | MX, API or journaling | Quote | Processing region selectable, incl. Germany | Cloudflare Zero Trust customers |
| Google Workspace built-in | Native | Gmail | Included in Workspace | Europe data region (edition-dependent) | Workspace tenants as a baseline |
| Mimecast | Gateway and API | MX or API | Quote | Frankfurt data centres (2018) | Archive, continuity, on-prem Exchange |
The 7 Sublime Security alternatives in detail
- 1
Sentaro
Our pickBest for: EU teams on Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace that want strong BEC and phishing protection without a gateway project.
Sentaro suits teams that want an API approach like Sublime’s without writing rules: email and SaaS security for Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace, built in Stockholm and hosted in Sweden on Microsoft Azure. Strengths: Vord, Sentaro’s proprietary engine, reaches one verdict per message and every verdict shows its reasoning in the console; alerts fire only when a decision is needed; OAuth grant and shadow AI inventory; $6 per protected account per month, or $68 per account per year; the first account is free. Prices in USD. Rules are not user-editable in the way Sublime’s are, Sentaro is a cloud service with no self-hosted option, and the API is in private preview.
Sentaro vs Sublime Security Best for: Microsoft-only organizations that want to use what they already license.
Native protection in Exchange Online. Strengths: Plan 1 in Business Premium and, from 2026, E3; Plan 2 adds advanced hunting, which SOC teams use for custom queries; EU Data Boundary. Limits, per Microsoft Learn as of 18 October 2026: Microsoft 365 only; OAuth governance is a separate product.
Best for: SMBs and MSPs that want automatic remediation plus simulation.
Mailbox-level API protection. Strengths: behavioral baselines plus community intelligence; vendor claims 99%+ of threats remediated automatically; training in higher tiers. Limits, per ironscales.com as of 21 October 2026: pricing not published; its subprocessor list names AWS in the USA and AWS Europe (Germany) for the primary application platform.
Best for: Large enterprises that want a behavioral platform rather than rules.
Behavioral API platform. Strengths: baselines per employee and vendor; account takeover, posture and AI security products; large customer base. Limits, per abnormal.ai as of 21 October 2026: pricing not published; hosting on AWS in the US or the EU (Ireland), set by subscription (subprocessor list, July 2026).
Best for: Technical, Google Workspace-heavy companies that want published pricing and post-compromise controls.
Email and workspace security. Strengths: public pricing from $4 per user per month plus a Shared Drive fee; OAuth app inventory; Drive data exposure; ATO containment; self-serve free trial. Limits, per material.security as of 21 October 2026: no EU hosting region documented (its subprocessor list names Google Cloud infrastructure in the U.S.A.).
Best for: Teams that want inline blocking via API and a documented EU region.
API-based protection, formerly Avanan. Strengths: inspects mail before the inbox, per Check Point; wide collaboration-app coverage; Ireland data residency region. Limits, per checkpoint.com as of 18 October 2026: pricing not published; add-ons for DMARC, archiving and training.
- 7
Darktrace / EMAIL
Best for: Security teams already running Darktrace elsewhere.
Self-learning email security. Strengths: per-organization behavioral model; API plus journaling for Microsoft 365; identity response that can terminate sessions. Limits, per darktrace.com as of 18 October 2026: Google Workspace support not confirmed; pricing not published.
Sublime and the alternatives side by side
| Capability | Sentaro | Sublime Security | Defender for Office 365 | IRONSCALES | Abnormal AI | Material Security | Check Point Harmony Email |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deployment and platforms | |||||||
| Deployment | API, no MX change | API; managed or self-hosted | Native to Exchange Online | API, alongside a gateway | API, no MX change | API | API with inline prevention |
| Microsoft 365 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Google Workspace | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| On-premises Exchange | NoCloud mailboxes only | Not publicly documentedIMAP sources supported | PartialStandalone EOP | Not publicly documentedNot publicly documented | Not publicly documentedNot publicly documented | Not publicly documentedNot publicly documented | Not publicly documentedNot publicly documented |
| Threat coverage | |||||||
| BEC and impersonation | YesMessage vector, live | YesOpen detection rules | YesImpersonation protection (Plan 1) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| QR-code phishing | YesDecoded and destination analyzed | YesOpen detection rules | YesSafe Links (Plan 1) | Yes | Yes | Not publicly documentedNot publicly documented | Not publicly documentedNot publicly documented |
| OAuth apps and shadow IT | YesApp vector, live | Not publicly documentedNot publicly documented | NoSeparate product: Defender for Cloud Apps | Not publicly documentedNot publicly documented | Not publicly documentedNot publicly documented | YesOAuth app inventory | YesShadow IT detection |
| Suite extras | |||||||
| DMARC report management | NoReads DMARC posture as a signal only | Not publicly documentedNot publicly documented | NoEnforces DMARC; no report management | Not publicly documentedNot publicly documented | Not publicly documentedNot publicly documented | Not publicly documentedNot publicly documented | Paid add-on |
| Awareness training | NoNot offered by design | Not publicly documentedNot publicly documented | YesAttack simulation training (Plan 2) | YesHuman Risk Management | YesAI Phishing Coach | Not publicly documentedNot publicly documented | Paid add-on |
| Buying and data | |||||||
| Public pricing | Yes$6 per account/month | PartialFirst 100 mailboxes free; Enterprise on quote | YesPlan 1 $2, Plan 2 $5 | NoTiers published, prices on quote | NoQuote-based | YesFrom $4 per user/month | NoQuote-based |
| EU hosting documented | YesHosted in Sweden on Microsoft Azure; see DPA | PartialEU (Dublin) managed region, or self-host | YesEU Data Boundary | PartialAWS USA or Germany (subprocessor list) | PartialUS or EU (Ireland), by subscription | Not publicly documentedNo EU region documented | YesIreland region option |
“Not publicly documented” means we could not find it in the vendor’s public material on 18 October 2026, not that the capability is missing. Add-on means sold separately or in a higher tier.
- Yes
- Partial
- No
- On roadmap
- Paid add-on
- Not publicly documented
How to choose a Sublime Security alternative
| Question | Points toward |
|---|---|
| Will anyone on your team write or tune rules? | Yes: stay with Sublime, or Defender Plan 2 advanced hunting. No: Sentaro, IRONSCALES, Abnormal |
| Do you need EU hosting without self-hosting? | Sentaro (Sweden, DPA), Check Point (Ireland), Defender (EU Data Boundary); Sublime’s own managed cloud also lists an EU (Dublin) region |
| Do you want published pricing? | Sentaro, Material Security, Defender |
| Do you need OAuth app risk in the same tool? | Sentaro, Material Security, Check Point (shadow IT detection) |
Why Sentaro is our pick
Why Sentaro wins
- Verdicts instead of rule maintenance: The Message vector, live since Q2 2026, scores intent, sender identity and relationship signals before interaction, including vendor-compromise and thread-hijack detection, and every verdict shows its reasoning in the console, so you can audit its BEC calls on your own mail.
- Setup measured in minutes: Sentaro connects over the Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace admin APIs in four minutes, with no agents and no MX change (your MX record stays where it is, which you can check in DNS), and shows historical mail within 15 minutes.
- Shadow AI and OAuth risk built in: The App vector, live since Q3 2026, inventories every app, AI tool and OAuth grant within 15 minutes of connecting, blocks consent phishing and revokes risky grants in one click.
- No sales call to learn the price: $6 per protected account per month, or $68 per year, every feature included, published on sentaro.com/en/pricing; the first account is free, so you can test it before talking to sales. Prices in USD.
- Run as a managed cloud service: Hosted in Sweden on Microsoft Azure, with every subprocessor listed in the public DPA (sentaro.com/en/legal/dpa).
Consider another option only if
- You need account-takeover monitoring or a SOC 2 or ISO 27001 certificate today; see the roadmap and certification notes on this page.
- You also need a gateway, archive, encryption, backup or DMARC tooling; Sentaro does none of these.
- You are on on-premises Exchange rather than Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace.
- You want to write and version your own detection rules, or self-host the engine.
How to evaluate an alternative next to Sublime
- 01
Export what you built
Keep a copy of any custom MQL rules; they document what your organization cares about and help you test the alternative.
- 02
Connect in parallel
Both are API-based. Sentaro connects in four minutes, with historical visibility within 15 minutes.
- 03
Test against your custom rules
Check whether the alternative catches what your custom rules caught, and what it catches that they did not.
- 04
Compare effort, not only catches
Note how much admin time each tool needs per week. For a small team, that can decide it.
- 05
Switch and disconnect
Move enforcement, then revoke Sublime’s app consent and, if self-hosted, decommission the infrastructure.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best Sublime Security alternative?
Sentaro. For EU teams on Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace, Sentaro is our pick as the best Sublime Security alternative: it connects over API in four minutes with no MX change, catches BEC and vendor fraud before interaction, blocks OAuth consent phishing in the same platform and costs $6 per protected account per month (USD), hosted in Sweden on Microsoft Azure. If your SOC writes its own detections or wants to self-host, Sublime itself remains a strong choice.
Is Sublime Security free?
Partly. Sublime’s managed cloud is free for the first 100 mailboxes, and self-hosting with Docker supports up to 600 active mailboxes. Enterprise features and larger deployments are sold through sales. Check Sublime’s plans page for current limits.
Who does Sublime Security compete with?
Sublime competes with other API-based email security vendors, including Abnormal AI, IRONSCALES, Material Security, Check Point Harmony Email & Collaboration, Darktrace / EMAIL and Sentaro, and with Microsoft Defender for Office 365 for Microsoft 365 budgets.
What is detection-as-code in email security?
Detection-as-code means detections are written as rules in a query language, versioned and tested like software. Sublime uses its Message Query Language (MQL) and publishes many rules openly on GitHub. The alternative model, used by Sentaro and Abnormal, is for the vendor’s engine to decide, with reasoning shown.
Is there a Sublime alternative hosted in the EU?
Yes. Sublime’s managed cloud lists an EU (Dublin) region, and you can self-host Sublime in your own EU cloud region. Among managed alternatives, Sentaro is hosted in Sweden on Microsoft Azure, with subprocessors listed in its DPA; Check Point documents an Ireland region; Microsoft 365 falls under the EU Data Boundary.
How much has Sublime Security raised?
Sublime announced a $150 million Series C on 28 October 2025, led by Georgian, bringing total funding to over $240 million. Earlier rounds included a $60 million Series B in December 2024.
Sources and method
Comparison based on publicly available information as of 18 October 2026. Product capabilities change; check each vendor’s current documentation. Trademarks belong to their owners. Corrections: contact Sentaro.
- Sublime Security docs: Installation (accessed 2026-10-18)
- Sublime Security docs: Quickstart (accessed 2026-10-18)
- GitHub: sublime-security/sublime-rules detection rules
- SecurityWeek: Sublime Security raises $150 million (October 2025)
- Microsoft Learn: Why do I need Microsoft Defender for Office 365? (accessed 2026-10-18)
- Microsoft: Defender for Office 365 pricing (accessed 2026-10-18)
- Microsoft Tech Community: Defender for Office 365 Plan 1 rolling out to Microsoft 365 E3 (2026-06-17)
- Microsoft Learn: EU Data Boundary (accessed 2026-10-18)
- IRONSCALES: Home page (accessed 2026-10-18)
- Abnormal AI: Inbound Email Security (accessed 2026-10-18)
- Material Security: Pricing (accessed 2026-10-18)
- Check Point: Harmony Email & Collaboration (accessed 2026-10-18)
- Check Point: Harmony Email & Collaboration admin guide, data residency
- Darktrace: Darktrace / EMAIL (accessed 2026-10-18)
- Barracuda: Email Protection (accessed 2026-10-18)
- Cloudflare docs: Email Security setup and deployment modes
- Mimecast: Email Security (accessed 2026-10-18)
- Datacentre News: Mimecast opens two Frankfurt data centres (2018)
- Google Workspace pricing (accessed 2026-10-18)
- Google Workspace Admin Help: Data regions (accessed 2026-10-18)
- Sentaro Data Processing Agreement and subprocessor list
- Abnormal AI: Subprocessors (updated 31 July 2026; accessed 2026-10-21)
- IRONSCALES: List of current sub-processors (PDF, December 2024; accessed 2026-10-21)
- Material Security: Subprocessors (updated 12 June 2025; accessed 2026-10-21)
- Sublime Security docs: Sublime Cloud regions (accessed 2026-10-21)
- Barracuda Trust Center: Data center locations (accessed 2026-10-21)
- Cloudflare docs: Email Security regional processing (accessed 2026-10-21)