Nessus vs Qualys VM Comparison
Nessus
Starting at $2,790 /Year
- Free Trial
- Large Enterprises
- Medium Business
Nessus is a vulnerability scanner of its kind, giving user a complete picture of organization's security status. Instantly scan thousands of systems for the latest vulnerabilities and react to them in real time. Nessus m…
Qualys VM
Starting at Contact for pricing
- Free Trial
- Large Enterprises
- Medium Business
Qualys Vulnerability Management (VM) is a scalable, flexible, and cost-effective vulnerability management solution to identify and fix vulnerable software across the enterprise. VM continuously monitors public and local…
Nessus leads on user satisfaction with a 4.4-star rating across 580 reviews.
SpotSaaS Analysis
NessusQualys VM
The core difference between Nessus and Qualys VM lies in Nessus's focus on comprehensive and flexible vulnerability scanning, while Qualys VM emphasizes scalable and continuous enterprise vulnerability management. Nessus is ideal for organizations of all sizes seeking user-friendly scanning, whereas Qualys VM is best suited for mid-sized to large enterprises that require ongoing real-time monitoring.
- Comprehensive vulnerability scanning across diverse IT environments - User-friendly interface supporting agent-based and credentialed scans - Automated scanning and reporting for accurate detection - Suitable for both small businesses and large enterprises - Fixed price of $2,790 - Flexible deployment options available
- Scalable solution for continuous enterprise vulnerability management - Real-time updates and automatic vulnerability signature updates - Ideal for mid-sized (51-500 employees) and large enterprises (500+ employees) - Supports flexible deployment across various environments - Focus on continuous, real-time monitoring - Pricing not listed
Nessus vs Qualys VM — at a glance
| Feature | Nessus | Qualys VM |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.4 / 5 | 4.1 / 5 |
| Reviews | 580 | 103 |
| Starting price | $2,790 /Year | Contact for pricing |
| Free trial | Yes | Yes |
| Free version | No | No |
| Best for | Large Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business | Large Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business |
| Category | Vulnerability Management Software | Vulnerability Management Software |
| Platforms | SaaS/Web/Cloud, Installed - Windows, Installed - Mac | SaaS/Web/Cloud |
| API | — | — |
| Support modes | 24/7 (Live rep), Online | Online |
| Certifications | — | SOC 2, HIPAA, GDPR, ISO 27001 |
| Data residency | US | Global |
Key differences between Nessus and Qualys VM
- Pricing: Nessus starts at $2,790 /Year. Qualys VM pricing is not publicly listed.
- User satisfaction: Nessus scores higher with a 4.4-star average.
- Deployment: Nessus supports SaaS/Web/Cloud, Installed - Windows, Installed - Mac; Qualys VM supports SaaS/Web/Cloud.
Nessus vs Qualys VM — find the better fit before you commit.
Which tool fits your team best
Which is actually cheaper for your team size
Where each product wins, per real buyers
Most Vulnerability Management Software tools look identical on paper. This comparison cuts to the differences that matter — pricing structure, team fit, and what real buyers found after signing up.
Biggest differences
Features
Pricing
Buying details
Security
Buyer feedback
Integrations
Product tour
Other options
Biggest differences
Start here before you go deeper into features.
Best for comprehensive, flexible vulnerability scanning across diverse IT environments.
- You need accurate, up-to-date vulnerability detection with automated scanning and reporting.
- Your team values a user-friendly interface that supports both agent-based and credentialed scans.
- You require scalable vulnerability management with flexible licensing for any organization size.
- You need extensive third-party integrations beyond core vulnerability scanning capabilities.
- Your workflows demand highly customizable reporting without complex setup or cumbersome configuration.
Best for scalable, continuous enterprise vulnerability management with real-time updates.
- You need a solution that scales across large and mid-sized enterprises with flexible deployment.
- Your security team requires continuous, real-time monitoring and automatic vulnerability signature updates.
- You want comprehensive asset discovery combining forensic analysis, code review, and penetration testing.
- You are a very small business with limited IT resources and need a simple setup.
- You prefer a standalone vulnerability scanner without complex integration or sales engagement for pricing.
Nessus: Best for comprehensive, flexible vulnerability scanning across diverse IT environments. Qualys VM: Best for scalable, continuous enterprise vulnerability management with real-time updates.
Description | Nessus is a vulnerability scanner of its kind, giving user a complete picture of organization's security status. Instantly scan thousands of systems for the latest vulnerabilities and react ... Read More about Nessus | Qualys Vulnerability Management (VM) is a scalable, flexible, and cost-effective vulnerability management solution to identify and fix vulnerable software across the enterprise. VM ... Read More about Qualys VM |
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Entry Level Pricing |
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Free Trial Availability |
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User RatingsBased on verified Spotsaas reviews | ||
Best Company Size | Small BusinessLarge Enterprises | 51-500 employees500+ employees |
Get pricing help | Get pricing help |
Software Demo
Demo |  Qualys VM has not given any software demo yet If you're the owner of this profile, add your demo.Contact us |
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Compare Nessus and Qualys VM on pricing
Review starting price, plan structure, and free-trial access side by side so you can see which option fits your budget and buying process.
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Pricing Page |  | Pricing information not available |
Other Details
Organization Types supported |
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Platforms Supported |
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API Support |
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Get help choosing | Get help choosing |
Security & Compliance
Certifications, data handling, and security controls for IT and compliance evaluators.
SOC 2 | — | ✓ Yes |
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HIPAA | — | ✓ Yes |
GDPR | — | ✓ Yes |
ISO 27001 | — | ✓ Yes |
Single Sign-On (SSO) | — | ✓ Yes |
Multi-Factor Auth (MFA) | — | ✓ Yes |
Data Encryption | — | ✓ Yes |
Audit Logs | — | ✓ Yes |
Data Residency | 🇺🇸 US | 🌐 Global |
Nessus User Reviews & Rating Comparison
User Ratings | 4.1 (based on 103 reviews) | |
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Rating Distribution | ||
Spotsaas Editor’s POV generated by AI | Buyer sentiment Overall positive sentiment highlights Nessus’s strong vulnerability detection and user-friendly interface, tempered by occasional scan inconsistencies and limited marketplace options. What buyers like
Common complaints
| Buyer sentiment Overall positive sentiment highlights scalability and comprehensive monitoring, with some concerns about pricing transparency and setup complexity. What buyers like
Common complaints
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Pros and Cons |
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Positive Reviews | No reviews available for the product | No reviews available for the product |
List of Customers
Customers |  VMware  DocuSign  American Eagle Outfitters | No Customers information available. |
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Media and Screenshots
Screenshots |  5 Screenshots |  6 Screenshots |
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Videos |  3 Videos | No videos available. |
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Disclaimer: This research has been collated from a variety of authoritative sources. We welcome your feedback at [email protected].
Frequently asked questions
- Which is better, Nessus or Qualys VM?
- Nessus edges out the other on user ratings (4.4 vs 4.1). That said, the best pick depends on your use case — use the comparison tables above to evaluate each dimension.
- Do Nessus and Qualys VM offer a free trial?
- Yes, both Nessus and Qualys VM offer a free trial.
- What is the starting price of Nessus vs Qualys VM?
- Nessus starts at $2,790 /Year. Qualys VM starts at Contact for pricing.
- What are the top alternatives to Nessus?
- Top alternatives to Nessus include Tenable.io, BeyondTrust Vulnerability Management, Qualys VM, Microsoft Threat Vulnerability Management, Flexera Software Vulnerability Management.
- What are the top alternatives to Qualys VM?
- Top alternatives to Qualys VM include Microsoft Threat Vulnerability Management, TAC Security, Brinqa, Defendify, SAINTCloud.