The Best Vulnerability Scanning Software in 2026
We researched vulnerability scanning software through official websites, including pricing pages, plan tables and product documentation. Products were ranked on their core scanning job, value for money and verified features, helping teams compare practical options for vulnerability scanning software.
Our top picks
-
Top ranked
Vornin#1 of 349.4/10Broad cloud vulnerability coverage with a free tier for up to five assets.
Free plan · 14-day trial
-
Runner-up
Intruder#2 of 349.3/10Broad vulnerability coverage with a free tier and expansion paths for larger environments.
Free plan · 14-day trial
-
Top-ranked free plan
OpenVAS#3 of 349.0/10A broad open-source scanner with authenticated testing, continuous scans and compliance features.
Free plan · 14-day trial
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
The full ranking 34 tools, best first
-
Best forSmall teams needing broad cloud scanning
Broad cloud vulnerability coverage with a free tier for up to five assets.
- Continuous scanning
- Authenticated scanning
Free plan · 14-day trial Our Vornin verdict → Visit VorninFor vendors Sponsor this spot · #1 · $149/mo →9.4/10★★★★★Visit Vornin -
Best forBroad scanning with a free starting tier
Broad vulnerability coverage with a free tier and expansion paths for larger environments.
- Continuous scanning
- Authenticated scanning
Free plan · 14-day trial Our Intruder verdict → Visit IntruderFor vendors Sponsor this spot · #2 · $99/mo →9.3/10★★★★★Visit Intruder -
Best forTeams wanting open-source network coverage
A broad open-source scanner with authenticated testing, continuous scans and compliance features.
- Continuous scanning
- Authenticated scanning
Free plan · 14-day trial Our OpenVAS verdict → Visit OpenVASFor vendors Sponsor this spot · #3 · $79/mo →9.0/10★★★★☆Visit OpenVAS -
Best forMSPs needing broad continuous scanning
A wide MSP-focused scanning platform with a $300 monthly starting point.
- Continuous scanning
- Authenticated scanning
8.8/10★★★★☆Visit ConnectSecure -
Best forMixed environments needing mature VM workflows
A mature hybrid platform for scanning, prioritizing, and tracking vulnerabilities across mixed environments.
- Authenticated scanning
8.7/10★★★★☆Visit Rapid7 -
Best forHybrid enterprises needing deep assessment
Deep hybrid vulnerability assessment with advanced prioritization and quote-based pricing.
- Authenticated scanning
8.6/10★★★★☆Visit Holm Security -
Best forLarge enterprises with complex asset estates
A broad vulnerability platform for enterprises managing complex, hybrid asset estates.
- Continuous scanning
- Authenticated scanning
8.5/10★★★★☆Visit Qualys VMDR -
Best forOn-premises enterprises needing centralized control
A centralized, on-premises platform for broad assessment, prioritization, and remediation tracking.
- Authenticated scanning
8.4/10★★★★☆Visit Tenable -
Best forCloud VM teams needing advanced prioritization
A strong cloud VM platform for advanced prioritization, with a higher annual cost and no web app scanning.
- Authenticated scanning
8.3/10★★★★☆Visit Tenable -
Best forTeams combining scanning with automated remediation
Combines broad vulnerability scanning with prioritization, patching, and remediation verification.
8.2/10★★★★☆Visit Vicarius -
Best forSmall teams needing validated network scans
A broad scanner for small teams that need validated network findings and scheduled coverage.
- Continuous scanning
- Authenticated scanning
Free plan · 7-day trial Our Pentest-Tools Network Vulnerability Scanner verdict → Visit Pentest-Tools8.1/10★★★★☆Visit Pentest-Tools -
Best forEndpoint-focused teams seeking strong value
Endpoint-focused vulnerability management with scanning, prioritization, patching, and compliance tools.
- Authenticated scanning
8.0/10★★★★☆Visit ManageEngine -
Best forAWS-centric security teams
A strong fit for AWS security teams needing continuous, multi-workload scanning.
- Continuous scanning
7.9/10★★★★☆Try Amazon Inspector -
Best forOpen-source teams needing agent telemetry
A self-hosted scanner for teams that need open-source visibility across networks and hosts.
- Continuous scanning
7.8/10★★★★☆Visit Sirius -
Best forLow-cost open-source network assessments
An open-core scanner for local, air-gapped network assessments and compliance reporting.
7.7/10★★★★☆Visit NSAuditor AI -
Best forTraditional network vulnerability assessments
A capable network scanner with broad assessment coverage, but a high annual starting price.
- Continuous scanning
- Authenticated scanning
7.5/10★★★★☆Visit Tenable -
Best forRisk-focused hybrid vulnerability programs
A broad hybrid platform for prioritizing and remediating network and cloud exposure.
- Continuous scanning
- Authenticated scanning
7.3/10★★★★☆Visit Outpost24 -
Best forAuthenticated web application testing
A focused cloud platform for authenticated web application and API testing.
- Continuous scanning
- Authenticated scanning
7.2/10★★★★☆Visit XBOW -
Best forDevelopers building custom template scans
A flexible, developer-focused scanner for custom templates, authenticated testing, and CI/CD workflows.
7.1/10★★★★☆Visit Nuclei -
Best forWeb application teams needing DAST
Authenticated DAST with CI workflows, scheduled scans, and reporting for web applications and APIs.
- Continuous scanning
- Authenticated scanning
7.0/10★★★★☆Visit VAddy -
Best forMSPs needing multi-tenant network scanning
A multi-tenant scanner for MSPs managing distributed internal and external environments.
- Continuous scanning
- Authenticated scanning
6.9/10★★★☆☆Visit Kaseya VulScan -
Best forEndpoint and compliance management teams
A focused choice for endpoint vulnerability assessment, compliance checks, and remediation tracking.
- Authenticated scanning
6.8/10★★★☆☆Visit Tanium -
Best forIvanti shops automating risk-based remediation
A cloud platform for consolidating findings, prioritizing risk, and automating remediation workflows.
Pricing on request Our Ivanti Neurons for Risk-Based Vulnerability Management verdict → Visit Ivanti6.7/10★★★☆☆Visit Ivanti -
Best forTeams assessing breach and data exposure risk
A focused vulnerability and data-risk scanner for managed service providers.
- Continuous scanning
6.5/10★★★☆☆Visit N-able -
Best forContinuous external web asset monitoring
A focused cloud platform for continuous external asset discovery and web vulnerability monitoring.
- Continuous scanning
6.4/10★★★☆☆Visit SecApps -
Best forPortable open-source desktop scanning
A portable open-source scanner with useful prioritisation and reporting depth.
6.3/10★★★☆☆Visit site -
Best forOpen-source reconnaissance and CVE checks
A broad open-source scanner for authorized reconnaissance and CVE checks.
- Authenticated scanning
6.2/10★★★☆☆Explore Nettacker -
Best forOpen-source web server checks
A focused, configurable scanner for local web server security checks.
- Authenticated scanning
6.1/10★★★☆☆Visit Nikto -
Best forWordPress-specific vulnerability assessment
A specialist WordPress scanner with deep enumeration and security data APIs.
- Authenticated scanning
6.0/10★★★☆☆Visit WPScan -
Best forFree network discovery and assessment
A mature free scanner for network discovery, assessment, and troubleshooting.
6.0/10★★★☆☆Visit Nmap -
Best forBrowser vulnerability spot checks
A free web service for browser-focused vulnerability checks and real-time CVE lookup.
6.0/10★★★☆☆Visit Sploit.io -
Best forMicrosoft users needing low-cost endpoint security
A low-cost Microsoft endpoint suite that adds vulnerability management to broader protection.
6.0/10★★★☆☆Visit Microsoft -
Best forOrganizations prioritizing patch deployment
A patch-focused platform that connects vulnerability findings to controlled remediation.
6.0/10★★★☆☆Visit Qualys -
Best forWordPress firewall and malware defense
A focused WordPress firewall and malware defense tool, not a broad scanning suite.
6.0/10★★★☆☆Visit Wordfence
No tools match those filters.
Compare at a glance
| # | Tool | Free plan | Paid from | Deployment model | Supported targets | Authenticated scanning | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vornin | Yes | €99/mo | Cloud | Hostnames, IP addresses, IP ranges, URLs, web applications, APIs, networks, code repositories, containers, Kubernetes clusters, and cloud accounts | Yes | 9.4 |
| 2 | Intruder | Yes | Hybrid | external IP addresses, domains, subdomains, internal Windows/macOS/Linux devices, web applications, APIs, cloud environments, container images | Yes | 9.3 | |
| 3 | OpenVAS | Yes | On_premises | network services, servers, applications, endpoints, container images | Yes | 9.0 | |
| 4 | ConnectSecure | No | Hybrid | networks, endpoints, applications, websites, APIs, ports, cloud assets, Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, Active Directory, Entra ID, firewalls | Yes | 8.8 | |
| 5 | Rapid7 InsightVM | $1.62/mo | Hybrid | Yes | 8.7 | ||
| 6 | Holm Security Vulnerability Management | No | Hybrid | Yes | 8.6 | ||
| 7 | Qualys VMDR | No | Hybrid | routers, switches, firewalls, servers, workstations, databases, printers, wireless access devices, cloud assets, containers, mobile devices, OT and IoT assets | Yes | 8.5 | |
| 8 | Tenable Security Center | No | Yes | 8.4 | |||
| 9 | Tenable One Vulnerability Management | No | $3,500/unit usage-based | Cloud | Yes | 8.3 | |
| 10 | Vicarius vRx | No | Hybrid | 8.2 | |||
| 11 | Pentest-Tools Network Vulnerability Scanner | Yes | $95/mo | Cloud | network hosts, hostnames, IP addresses, public-facing infrastructure, internal networks, private clouds | Yes | 8.1 |
| 12 | ManageEngine Vulnerability Manager Plus | Yes | $695/unit/yr | Hybrid | Yes | 8.0 | |
| 13 | Amazon Inspector | No | Cloud | Amazon EC2 instances; Amazon ECR container images; AWS Lambda functions; code repositories; CI/CD container images; Microsoft Azure VMs; Azure Function Apps; Azure Container Registry images | 7.9 | ||
| 14 | Sirius | Yes | Free | On_premises | network infrastructure, hosts, cloud, agents | 7.8 | |
| 15 | NSAuditor AI | Yes | $470/device/yr | 7.7 | |||
| 16 | Tenable Nessus | No | $4,790/yr | On_premises | IP addresses, operating systems, network devices, databases, applications, SCADA systems | Yes | 7.5 |
| 17 | Outpost24 Risk-Based Vulnerability Management | No | Hybrid | network hosts, IP addresses, FQDNs, ports, cloud environments | Yes | 7.3 | |
| 18 | XBOW | Cloud | interactive web applications and their APIs | Yes | 7.2 | ||
| 19 | Nuclei | Yes | Free | 7.1 | |||
| 20 | VAddy | No | Cloud | Web applications; authenticated applications; multi-FQDN applications; intranet sites; SPAs; API servers; local development servers | Yes | 7.0 | |
| 21 | Kaseya VulScan | No | Hybrid | networks, endpoints, systems, applications, internet-facing assets | Yes | 6.9 | |
| 22 | Tanium Comply | Hybrid | Yes | 6.8 | |||
| 23 | Ivanti Neurons for Risk-Based Vulnerability Management | Cloud | 6.7 | ||||
| 24 | N-able Risk Intelligence | Cloud | Windows, macOS, Linux devices, servers, workstations, and mobile devices | 6.5 | |||
| 25 | SecApps | Cloud | domains, IP addresses, ports, services, web applications | 6.4 | |||
| 26 | ShadowSecurityScanner | Yes | Free | On_premises | network hosts, servers, web applications, and network appliances | 6.3 | |
| 27 | OWASP Nettacker | Free | On_premises | IPv4 addresses, IPv4 ranges, IPv4 CIDR blocks, domains, HTTP and HTTPS URLs | Yes | 6.2 | |
| 28 | Nikto | Free | On_premises | web servers; host URLs | Yes | 6.1 | |
| 29 | WPScan | WordPress core, plugins, themes, usernames, media, configuration backups, database exports, TimThumb files, and remote WordPress applications | Yes | 6.0 | |||
| 30 | Nmap | Yes | Free | 6.0 | |||
| 31 | Sploit.io | Yes | Free | web browsers | 6.0 | ||
| 32 | Microsoft Defender for Business | No | $3/user/mo | 6.0 | |||
| 33 | Qualys Patch Management | No | 6.0 | ||||
| 34 | Wordfence Security | Yes | 6.0 |
Head-to-head All 22 comparisons →
- Vornin vs Intruder
- Vornin vs OpenVAS
- Vornin vs ConnectSecure
- Vornin vs Rapid7 InsightVM
- Vornin vs Holm Security Vulnerability Management
- Vornin vs Qualys VMDR
- Vornin vs Tenable Security Center
- Intruder vs ConnectSecure
- Intruder vs Holm Security Vulnerability Management
Explore other topics All topics →
- AI Tools 303 directories · 8,269 tools ranked AI Writing Tools · AI Video Generators · Text-to-Speech Software
- Web Hosting & Domains 275 directories · 6,107 tools ranked Shared Web Hosting · Managed Cloud Hosting · Dedicated Server Hosting
- Productivity 157 directories · 4,948 tools ranked Note-Taking Apps · Calendar Apps · Project Management Software
- Marketing 135 directories · 3,977 tools ranked SEO Tools · Influencer Marketing Platforms · Email Marketing Software
- Sales & CRM 152 directories · 4,161 tools ranked Real Estate CRM Software · CRM Software · Proposal Software
- Customer Service 55 directories · 1,547 tools ranked Chatbot Builders · Knowledge Base Software · Call Center Software
How we rank vulnerability scanning software
Every tool on this page was researched by iTechGuides Editors from its official website — pricing pages, plan tables and product documentation. We rank on how well each one does this category's core job, what the free or entry plan includes, and where it falls short. Where we have enough verified facts, the score out of 10 is a rubric — job fit, value and how much we could verify — shown with its breakdown on every tool's page; a tool we have not verified enough to score yet shows its rank without a number. Scores are re-checked when a product changes its plans. Read the full editorial policy, or submit a tool we missed.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update