12 Best Application Control & Allowlisting Tools Compared (2026): Features & Pricing
GBHackers compares twelve application allowlisting tools for 2026, naming ThreatLocker and Airlock Digital leaders and Microsoft WDAC the free native option.
GBHackers published an editorial comparison of twelve application control and allowlisting tools for 2026, assessing control depth, manageability, and pricing models. It ranks ThreatLocker and Airlock Digital as leading dedicated allowlisting options, positions Microsoft WDAC/AppLocker as the free native choice for Windows estates, and highlights CyberArk and BeyondTrust for coupling control with privilege management.
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Quick Answer: For dedicated deny-by-default allowlisting, ThreatLocker and Airlock Digital lead in 2026; Microsoft WDAC/AppLocker is the free native option for Windows estates with engineering capacity; CyberArk and BeyondTrust pair control with privilege management. Pricing is typically per endpoint; Microsoft’s is bundled.
Application control flips endpoint defense from “block known bad” to “allow only known good” — the single most effective architecture against ransomware and unsigned payload attacks, script-based droppers, and living-off-the-land abuse.
It is a control that frameworks like the ACSC Essential Eight put at the top of the mitigation list as part of a layered security software strategy.
The operational catch: a badly tuned allowlist blocks the business. This playbook compares twelve application control and allowlisting tools on control depth, manageability, and pricing model, with full per-tool detail so you can pick the level of lockdown your team can actually operate. Editorial assessment, not a lab test; pricing by model only.
Table of Contents
1. Stage 1 — Know the Models
2. Stage 2 — The 12 Tools in Depth
3. Stage 3 — Full Comparison
4. Stage 4 — How to Roll Out Without Breaking the Business
5. Stage 5 — FAQ
Stage 1 — Know the Models
Three approaches dominate: pure allowlisting specialists (ThreatLocker, Airlock Digital, Faronics, PC Matic) that enforce deny-by-default; platform-integrated control (Microsoft WDAC, Carbon Black, Trellix, Fortinet, WatchGuard) where control is one policy inside a bigger suite; and privilege-coupled control (CyberArk EPM, BeyondTrust, Ivanti) that binds what runs to who runs it.
Specialists give the deepest control with vendor-assisted operations; platforms reduce tool sprawl; privilege-coupled tools kill two controls with one agent.
Stage 2 — The 12 Tools in Depth
1. ThreatLocker
Description. ThreatLocker is the most visible dedicated allowlisting vendor, pairing deny-by-default execution control with Ringfencing™ — policies that constrain what approved apps can touch (files, registry, network, other apps) — plus storage and elevation control to block unauthorized lateral movement and script abuse with a 24/7 approval desk that makes strict lockdown operable.
Key features: Learning-mode allowlisting; Ringfencing containment; storage/USB control; elevation control; network control; 24/7 cyber-hero approval support.
Pricing model: Per endpoint, subscription.
Best for: SMB–mid-market and MSPs wanting maximum practical lockdown with vendor support.
Pros: Deep control made operable; containment of allowed apps; strong MSP fit.
Cons: Approval workflow discipline required; EDR still recommended alongside.
2. Airlock Digital
Description. Airlock Digital is an allowlisting specialist built around the ACSC Essential Eight, delivering enforceable deny-by-default aligned with Zero Trust architecture and access controls with unusually practical workflows (one-time passcodes, self-service exceptions) proven in government and regulated environments.
Key features: File-hash-based allowlisting at scale; exception workflows (OTP, self-service); blocklisting; audit evidence for Essential Eight/compliance; Windows/macOS/Linux agents.
Pricing model: Per endpoint, quote.
Best for: Regulated and government-aligned organizations enforcing Essential Eight-grade allowlisting.
Pros: Purpose-built, compliance-ready; practical exception handling; cross-OS.
Cons: Smaller brand outside ANZ/gov circles; pure control (pair with EDR).
3. Microsoft (WDAC / AppLocker)
Description. Windows Defender Application Control and AppLocker are Microsoft’s native application control layer free with Windows, managed via Intune/Configuration Manager, capable of true code-integrity enforcement, though administrators must guard against AppLocker policy and rule bypass vulnerabilities when configuring path rules.
Key features: Code-integrity policies (WDAC); publisher/path/hash rules (AppLocker); audit and enforce modes; Intune/SCCM management; Smart App Control lineage on modern Windows.
Pricing model: Bundled with Windows/Microsoft licensing.
Best for: Windows estates with engineering capacity wanting native control at no added product cost.
Pros: Free; kernel-level enforcement; Microsoft-stack integration.
Cons: Policy authoring is genuinely hard; Windows-only; no vendor approval desk.
4. VMware Carbon Black (App Control)
Description. Carbon Black App Control (now under Broadcom) is the long-standing enterprise lockdown product for fixed-function and regulated systems — POS, ICS-adjacent, servers — neutralizing cross-platform malware delivery and execution with high-enforcement allowlisting, file-integrity control, and change management.
Key features: High-enforcement allowlisting; file-integrity monitoring; change/trust policy; templates for fixed-function systems; EDR pairing.
Pricing model: Quote.
Best for: Enterprises locking down servers, kiosks, and regulated endpoints.
Pros: Battle-tested lockdown; strong for fixed-function estates.
Cons: Confirm Broadcom packaging/roadmap; administration weight.
5. CyberArk (Endpoint Privilege Manager)
Description. CyberArk EPM couples application control with least-privilege enforcement controlling both what runs and with what rights neutralizing privilege escalation zero-day vulnerabilities while adding credential-theft protection and ransomware controls from the identity-security leader.
Key features: Policy-based application control; JIT elevation; credential-theft blocking; ransomware protection; CyberArk PAM/identity integration.
Pricing model: Quote (per endpoint).
Best for: Enterprises unifying application control with privilege management.
Pros: Control + privilege in one agent; identity-security depth.
Cons: Enterprise cost/complexity; full value inside CyberArk’s ecosystem.
6. BeyondTrust (Privilege Management)
Description. BeyondTrust Privilege Management for Windows & Mac blends granular application control with elevation policy and Trusted Application Protection (TAP), mitigating risks highlighted in privilege management software advisories by hardening commonly abused legitimate apps against child-process injection.
Key features: Application control + elevation; Trusted Application Protection; QuickStart policy templates; analytics; PAM integration.
Pricing model: Quote.
Best for: Mid–enterprise teams wanting control and privilege from one mature product.
Pros: Granular policy; TAP hardening; strong templates.
Cons: Policy engine learning curve; enterprise pricing.
7. Ivanti (Application Control)
Description. Ivanti Application Control uses Trusted Ownership™ — allowing execution only of files introduced by trusted administrators which slashes rule maintenance versus hash-list management, helping security teams stay aligned with mandatory vulnerability remediation guidelines across large fleets.
Key features: Trusted Ownership allowlisting; privilege elevation; context-aware policy; Ivanti UEM/ITSM integration; compliance reporting.
Pricing model: Quote.
Best for: Enterprises wanting low-maintenance allowlisting logic inside the Ivanti stack.
Pros: Trusted Ownership cuts rule sprawl; control + privilege.
Cons: Ivanti-ecosystem value; track vendor product-security posture.
8. Faronics (Anti-Executable / Deep Freeze)
Description. Faronics Anti-Executable delivers straightforward allowlisting for labs, kiosks, education, and SMB fleets following guidance for safeguarding shared edge devices and kiosks, often paired with Deep Freeze reboot-to-restore.
Key features: Simple allow/deny execution control; central console; Deep Freeze pairing (reboot-to-restore); scheduled maintenance windows.
Pricing model: Per workstation, published tiers.
Best for: Education, labs, kiosks, and SMBs wanting simple lockdown.
Pros: Simple and affordable; great for shared/fixed-purpose PCs.
Cons: Not an enterprise policy engine; limited containment depth.
9. PC Matic (Application Allowlisting)
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Description. PC Matic brings default-deny allowlisting with a cloud-curated global allowlist to SMBs, government, and distributed offices, providing a proven alternative in comparisons of PC Matic vs traditional antivirus engines by trading complex policy authoring for out-of-the-box protection.
Key features: Cloud-curated global allowlist; default-deny execution; fileless-script protection; lightweight management; US-based support.
Pricing model: Per endpoint, published pricing.
Best for: Small businesses and budget-conscious teams wanting default-deny without policy engineering.
Pros: Very low operational burden; transparent pricing.
Cons: Less granular local policy; lighter enterprise/reporting depth.
10. WatchGuard (Application Control)
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Description. WatchGuard offers application control within its endpoint security (formerly Panda Adaptive Defense) — including a zero-trust application service that classifies every executable before execution — preventing post-exploitation web shells and lateral command execution within SMB and mid-market networks.
Key features: Zero-trust application service (100% classification model); application control policies; EDR integration; unified WatchGuard Cloud management.
Pricing model: Per endpoint/tier via partners.
Best for: WatchGuard network customers extending control to endpoints.
Pros: Classification-before-execution model; unified vendor stack.
Cons: Deepest value inside WatchGuard’s ecosystem; specialist depth trails pure allowlisters.
11. Fortinet (FortiEDR / FortiClient)
Description. Fortinet provides application control both at the network edge (FortiGate) and on endpoints via FortiClient/FortiEDR policies, closing gaps where attackers exploit writable directory and execution path evasion techniques on client machines.
Key features: Endpoint application control policies; network-layer app control; FortiEDR behavioral protection; Security Fabric integration; central FortiClient EMS.
Pricing model: Per endpoint/bundle, quote.
Best for: Fortinet Security Fabric shops consolidating vendors.
Pros: Fabric-wide integration; network + endpoint control.
Cons: Allowlisting granularity trails specialists; fabric lock-in consideration.
12. Trellix (Application Control)
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Description. Trellix Application Control (McAfee lineage) provides enterprise allowlisting and change control for servers and fixed-function endpoints, defending against advanced double-extortion and ransomware operations through centralized ePO management.
Key features: Allowlisting with memory-protection controls; change control/file-integrity; ePO central policy; XDR ecosystem integration.
Pricing model: Quote.
Best for: Trellix/ePO enterprises locking down servers and regulated endpoints.
Pros: Server/change control strength; central ePO management.
Cons: ePO-ecosystem value; heavier administration; modern UX trails newer rivals.
Stage 3 — Full Comparison
| Tool | Deny-by-default | Containment/ringfencing | Privilege coupling | Pricing | Best for |
| ThreatLocker | Yes | Yes | Yes | Per endpoint | Practical lockdown |
| Airlock Digital | Yes | Limited | No | Per endpoint (quote) | Essential Eight/regulated |
| Microsoft WDAC | Yes | Limited | Via Intune EPM | Bundled | Windows engineering teams |
| Carbon Black | Yes | Yes | No | Quote | Fixed-function lockdown |
| CyberArk EPM | Yes | Yes | Yes | Quote | Identity-led enterprises |
| BeyondTrust | Yes | Yes (TAP) | Yes | Quote | Control + privilege |
| Ivanti | Yes (Trusted Ownership) | Limited | Yes | Quote | Low-maintenance rules |
| Faronics | Yes | No | No | Published per-seat | Labs/kiosks/education |
| PC Matic | Yes | Limited | No | Published per-seat | SMB simplicity |
| WatchGuard | Classification-led | Limited | No | Per endpoint | WatchGuard shops |
| Fortinet | Policy-led | Limited | No | Quote/bundle | Security Fabric shops |
| Trellix | Yes | Change control | No | Quote | ePO server lockdown |
Stage 4 — How to Roll Out Without Breaking the Business
Start in audit/learning mode — every serious tool offers it; run 2–4 weeks to baseline legitimate software.
Enforce by ring — begin with servers and fixed-function machines (highest value, lowest app churn), then knowledge workers.
Design the exception path before day one — ThreatLocker’s approval desk, Airlock’s OTP self-service, or your own SLA; a slow exception path is how allowlisting projects die.
Pair with EDR — Allowlisting stops unapproved execution, while dedicated endpoint detection and response (EDR) monitors the runtime behavior of allowed software.
Measure: unapproved-execution blocks, exception turnaround time, and rule-set growth.
Key takeaways: specialists (ThreatLocker, Airlock) make strict control operable; WDAC is free but engineering-heavy; privilege-coupled tools (CyberArk, BeyondTrust, Ivanti) consolidate two controls; simple fleets (labs, kiosks) are solved cheaply by Faronics or PC Matic.
Stage 5 — FAQ
What is the best application allowlisting tool in 2026?
ThreatLocker and Airlock Digital lead dedicated deny-by-default allowlisting; Microsoft WDAC is the free native option for Windows estates with engineering capacity; CyberArk and BeyondTrust are strongest when you want control coupled with privilege management.
How much do application control tools cost?
Specialists typically price per endpoint per month/year (ThreatLocker, Airlock, PC Matic, Faronics — the latter two publish pricing); platform and privilege-coupled tools (CyberArk, BeyondTrust, Ivanti, Carbon Black, Trellix) are quote-based. Microsoft WDAC/AppLocker is bundled with Windows.
Is Microsoft WDAC good enough versus paid tools?
Technically WDAC enforces as strongly as anything on Windows. The gap is operational: policy authoring, exception handling, and reporting demand real engineering, which is exactly what commercial specialists productize.
What is ringfencing in application control?
Ringfencing restricts what an allowed application may do — which files, registry keys, network destinations, and child processes it can touch. This prevents attackers from weaponizing legitimate executables (LOLBins) or abusing browser zero-day vulnerabilities to spawn command shells.
Does allowlisting replace antivirus or EDR?
No — allowlisting prevents unapproved execution; EDR detects and responds to abuse of what’s allowed. The Essential Eight and most frameworks expect both layers.
How long does an allowlisting rollout take?
Typical phased rollouts run 30–90 days: a learning/audit phase, ringed enforcement starting with servers/fixed-function machines, then knowledge workers with a tuned exception workflow.
Conclusion
Deny-by-default is the strongest endpoint posture you can buy — if you can operate it. ThreatLocker and Airlock Digital make it practical; WDAC makes it free for engineering-strong Windows shops; CyberArk, BeyondTrust, and Ivanti merge it with privilege management; Carbon Black and Trellix lock down servers and fixed-function fleets; Faronics and PC Matic cover simple estates cheaply; WatchGuard and Fortinet fold control into their platforms. Pick for operability first, pair with EDR always, and roll out in rings.
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