Independent comparison for enterprise buyers. Updated May 2026.
Quick verdict: Both CyberArk and BeyondTrust are recognised leaders in privileged access management (PAM) and frequently shortlisted together. Choose CyberArk when the use case is deep secrets management, session isolation, and DevOps machine identity at enterprise scale, particularly where Conjur secrets and PAM coexist. Choose BeyondTrust when privileged remote access for third parties and operational technology environments are the dominant requirement, or when endpoint privilege management (Privilege Management for Windows and Mac) sits alongside vaulting in scope. The differentiator is centre of gravity: CyberArk in vaulting and machine identity, BeyondTrust in remote access and endpoint privilege.
| Criteria | CyberArk | BeyondTrust |
|---|---|---|
| Editorial score | 4.5 / 5.0 | 4.4 / 5.0 |
| Deployment / Hosting Model | SaaS (Privilege Cloud), self-hosted, hybrid | SaaS, self-hosted appliance, hybrid |
| Pricing Model | Per privileged user/account, modular add-ons | Per user / per asset, bundled by suite |
| Target Buyer / Best For | Enterprise security teams; vaulting, machine identity | Security and operations teams; remote access, endpoint privilege |
| Implementation / Time to Value | Typically 12–32 weeks enterprise PAM | Typically 8–24 weeks; faster for remote access only |
| Customisation | Conjur secrets, REST APIs, plug-in framework | BeyondInsight platform extensibility, scripting |
| Key Strength | Vaulting depth, machine identity, DevOps secrets | Privileged remote access, endpoint privilege management |
| Key Limitation | Implementation complexity and TCO at enterprise scale | PAM vault depth lags CyberArk in heavily regulated buyers |
CyberArk's portfolio is anchored by Privileged Access Manager — an enterprise vault, Central Policy Manager for password rotation, Privileged Session Manager for proxy-based session isolation, and Conjur for secrets management in DevOps and machine identity workloads. Privilege Cloud delivers PAM as a managed service, while Endpoint Privilege Manager addresses least-privilege on Windows and Mac. Identity Security capabilities — workforce, customer, and machine identity — are increasingly stitched into a single platform.
BeyondTrust's portfolio centres on Password Safe (vaulting and session management), Privileged Remote Access (for vendor and internal remote sessions without VPN), Remote Support, and Privilege Management for Windows and Mac (endpoint least-privilege). BeyondInsight provides the management console, reporting, and analytics layer. The strength is end-to-end coverage where third-party remote access and helpdesk-class remote support intersect with PAM.
Architecturally, CyberArk has a deeper heritage in secrets vaulting and is frequently the choice when the security operating model demands strict separation of duties, hardware security module (HSM) integration, and dual-control workflows. BeyondTrust's appliance-based remote access architecture is typically simpler to deploy where the requirement is fast onboarding of external technicians, OT vendors, or contractors needing time-bound access.
DevOps and machine identity are where the gap is most visible. CyberArk Conjur and Secrets Hub address Kubernetes secrets, application identity, and cloud-native workloads in a way that is functionally broader than BeyondTrust's equivalent capabilities. Buyers prioritising secrets-as-code or container-native secret retrieval typically shortlist CyberArk first.
Endpoint privilege management is the inverse story. BeyondTrust's Privilege Management for Windows and Mac is widely deployed and benefits from a long heritage (Avecto acquisition). CyberArk Endpoint Privilege Manager is competitive and improving, but is more often deployed alongside CyberArk PAM in CyberArk-led estates than chosen on standalone merit.
CyberArk pricing is per privileged user or per privileged account with modular SKUs for Privilege Cloud, Session Manager, Conjur, and Endpoint Privilege Manager. Mid-market deployments typically range $40,000–$200,000 annually for vaulting plus session management; enterprise programmes covering vault, session, endpoint privilege, and secrets management routinely reach $500,000–$2 million+ annually before discount. Implementation services add a comparable line item for the first year.
BeyondTrust prices Password Safe, Privileged Remote Access, Privilege Management, and Remote Support as separate suites, typically per user or per asset under management. Mid-market deployments range $30,000–$150,000 annually for a single suite; integrated PAM plus remote access bundles reach $300,000–$1 million+ at enterprise scale. The buying-side caveat for both vendors is that PAM implementation cost is typically 1.0–1.5× the first-year licence, depending on the number of integrated targets, custom plug-ins, and the maturity of the existing privileged account inventory; under-scoping discovery and onboarding is the most common cost overrun. Pricing as of May 2026, list pricing before enterprise discount.
Choose CyberArk when the operating model demands deep vaulting with dual-control workflows, HSM integration, and rigorous separation of duties, when machine identity and DevOps secrets are in scope alongside human PAM, when Conjur is required for Kubernetes or cloud-native workloads, or when the buyer values a centre of gravity in vaulting and is willing to invest in a longer implementation. CyberArk also fits regulated industries — financial services, government — where audit and compliance posture is decisive.
Choose BeyondTrust when privileged remote access for third parties, vendors, or OT engineers is the dominant use case, when endpoint privilege management on Windows and Mac is in scope and Avecto-heritage capability matters, when the appliance-based deployment model aligns with the operations team's preferences, or when the buyer wants tightly integrated PAM, remote support, and remote access from a single vendor. BeyondTrust also fits where time to first value on remote access is the principal selection criterion.
Tell us what you're evaluating and we'll send a tailored shortlist of vendors that actually fit — no vendor funding, no pay-to-play.
6,000+ vendors · 893 comparisons · 48 country guides · Independent & vendor-neutral