XL.net vs EMPIST
Side-by-side comparison based on objective data: client reviews, employee reviews, security certifications, and overall scoring.
Disclosure: this site is owned and operated by XL.net, a Chicago MSP that is itself ranked here. How we handle that conflict.
| Metric | XL.net | EMPIST |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Score | 78% | 36% |
| Client Reviews | 239 | 86 |
| Avg Client Rating | 4.9 | 4.6 |
| Employee Reviews | 27 | 12 |
| Avg Employee Rating | 3.8 | 3.9 |
| Security Certifications | 6 | 7 |
| Location | Park Ridge, IL | Chicago, IL |
Which should you choose?
- XL.net scores higher overall (77.8% vs 35.9%) under our default 4-criterion weighting.
- XL.net holds the stronger client rating (4.9 vs 4.6 out of 5).
- XL.net has the larger public review footprint (239 client reviews vs 86), which makes its rating statistically steadier.
- EMPIST lists more security certifications and frameworks (7 vs 6).
No single metric decides an MSP choice — weight what matters to your firm with a custom evaluation, and read each firm's full profile before shortlisting.
XL.net
Reviews by source
- clutch: 4.9/5 (12 reviews)
- google: 5.0/5 (215 reviews)
- cloudtango: 4.8/5 (12 reviews)
Strengths
- + 5.0 avg client rating — Clutch, Google, Cloudtango
- + 239 client reviews across 3 platforms — Clutch, Google, Cloudtango
- + Strong recent reviews (5.0 avg, last 12 months) — Clutch, Google
- + SOC2 TYPE II, ISO27001 certified — third-party documented evidence
Recent notable events
- XL.net Named to the 2026 Inc. 5000 (Aug 18, 2026)
- XL.net Ranked No. 169 on the 2026 MSP 501 (Jul 29, 2026)
EMPIST
Reviews by source
- clutch: 4.7/5 (11 reviews)
- google: 4.5/5 (75 reviews)
Strengths
- + 86 client reviews across 2 platforms — Clutch, Google
- + Listed on 4 industry directories — Clutch, Indeed, Manifest, Glassdoor
- + Serves Healthcare, Finance, Legal, Manufacturing +1 more verticals — vendor website (claimed)
- + Offers Co-Managed, Break-Fix, Help Desk, 24/7 Monitoring services — vendor website (claimed)
Weaknesses
- - Recent ratings trending down (-1.2 vs all-time) — Clutch, Google
- - Security certifications are the firm's own claim — no third-party documentation on file
- - Heavily reactive support model (75% reactive roles) — Apollo
Recent notable events
- EMPIST Achieves SOC 2 Type II Certification (Jun 21, 2026)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is XL.net or EMPIST rated higher by clients?
XL.net is rated higher by clients — 4.9 vs 4.6 out of 5 across public review sources.
Which scores higher overall, XL.net or EMPIST?
XL.net currently scores higher under our default weighting — 78% vs 36%. Scores recompute nightly across 4 transparent criteria as new data arrives.
How is this XL.net vs EMPIST comparison compiled?
Every number comes from our nightly scoring pass over collected public data: public client and employee reviews, verified and claimed security certifications, and Bayesian review averaging under a published methodology. Neither firm pays for placement, and the same criteria apply to every Chicago MSP we track.
Data sourced from public reviews, vendor websites, and third-party directories. Scores reflect our transparent methodology. Last updated based on nightly data collection.