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Head-to-head · Vulnerability Scanner Software

Tenable Nessus vs Intruder

  • Updated Sep 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 2 checks side by side
Tenable Nessus #6 in Vulnerability Scanner Software 5.1/10 From $4,790/yr ✓ 1 of 3 features Visit Tenable
Higher score Intruder #8 in Vulnerability Scanner Software 6.3/10 Free plan · 14-day trial Free plan✓ 1 of 3 features Visit Intruder

Tenable Nessus leads on 0 checks, Intruder on 1, and 1 is even. Who comes out ahead on the 2 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreIntruder · 6.3/10
  • Free planonly Intruder

Intruder scores higher on our rubric for vulnerability scanner software: 6.3 against 5.1 out of 10; our editors rank them #8 and #6.

Intruder offers free plan; Tenable Nessus doesn't.

Tenable Nessus is the better fit for practitioners needing credentialed network and IP scans. Intruder is the better fit for teams scanning external assets, endpoints, and cloud.

  • Tenable Nessus fits best

    Practitioners needing credentialed network and IP scans

  • Intruder fits best

    Teams scanning external assets, endpoints, and cloud

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Side by side

Feature Tenable Nessus 5.1/10 Visit ↗ Intruder 6.3/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 5.1 6.3
Ranking #6 in Vulnerability Scanner Software #8 in Vulnerability Scanner Software
Best for Practitioners needing credentialed network and IP scans Teams scanning external assets, endpoints, and cloud
Pricing model Paid Free plan + paid
Starting price Not published Not published
Free plan — ✓ (best)
Free trial — —
Deployment Self-hosted, Desktop Cloud
Platforms Windows, macOS, Linux Web, Windows, macOS, Linux
Support Phone, Email, Live chat, Community, Docs · 24/7 Live chat, Email, Docs
Compliance PCI DSS SOC 2, ISO 27001, PCI DSS, HIPAA, 2FA
Built for Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Tenable Nessus 1/3 · Intruder 1/3
Authenticated scans Not published Not published
Continuous scanning ✓ ✓
Report exports Not published Not published
Specs
Scan targets Not published Not published
Deployment Not published Not published
Asset limit Not published Not published
Our review
Pros
  • Credentialed and scheduled scans cover IP-based assets and network environments.
  • Professional includes compliance checks, configuration auditing, and Live Results.
  • Expert adds web application and Infrastructure as Code scanning.
  • Scans public assets, internal devices, web apps, APIs, cloud, and container images
  • Supports authenticated scans, scheduled checks, and remediation verification
  • Connects with cloud, ticketing, collaboration, and SIEM tools
Cons
  • Professional starts at $4,790 per year, with no permanent free plan.
  • Self-hosted deployment requires installing and operating the software.
  • Professional lacks Expert's web application and Infrastructure as Code scanning.
  • Free plan excludes authenticated web application scanning
  • Internal scans require an agent on Windows, macOS, or Linux devices
  • PCI DSS alignment does not make Intruder a PCI ASV
Our verdict

Tenable Nessus is vulnerability assessment software for security teams, consultants, penetration testers, and organizations that need to assess IP-based assets. Its scans can identify vulnerabilities, missing patches, configuration issues,…

Read the review →

Intruder is a vulnerability management platform for security, IT, and compliance teams that need to scan assets across multiple environments. It covers public IP addresses, domains and subdomains, internal Windows, macOS and Linux devices,…

Read the review →
  1. Tenable NessusVulnerability Scanner Software 5.1From $4,790/yr
  2. IntruderVulnerability Scanner Software 6.3Free plan · 14-day trial

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Tenable Nessus — where it wins

    • Credentialed and scheduled scans cover IP-based assets and network environments.
    • Professional includes compliance checks, configuration auditing, and Live Results.
    • Expert adds web application and Infrastructure as Code scanning.

    Where it doesn't

    • Professional starts at $4,790 per year, with no permanent free plan.
    • Self-hosted deployment requires installing and operating the software.
    • Professional lacks Expert's web application and Infrastructure as Code scanning.

  • Intruder — where it wins

    • Scans public assets, internal devices, web apps, APIs, cloud, and container images
    • Supports authenticated scans, scheduled checks, and remediation verification
    • Connects with cloud, ticketing, collaboration, and SIEM tools

    Where it doesn't

    • Free plan excludes authenticated web application scanning
    • Internal scans require an agent on Windows, macOS, or Linux devices
    • PCI DSS alignment does not make Intruder a PCI ASV
  • Tenable Nessus5.1/10 · From $4,790/yr

    Credentialed IP scanning and compliance checks, delivered as self-hosted software.

    Visit TenableFull verdict →
  • Intruder6.3/10 · Free plan · 14-day trial

    A broad scanner for teams that need visibility across external, internal, application, and cloud assets.

    Visit IntruderFull verdict →

More comparisons

All vulnerability scanner software comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Sep 2026