Skip to content

qsa.sh vs Snyk: Which is Better in 2026?

Choosing between qsa.sh and Snyk comes down to understanding what each tool does best. This comparison breaks down the key differences so you can make an informed decision based on your specific needs, not marketing claims.

Bottom line: Snyk is our overall pick for security workflows. Pick qsa.sh if you need a free tier to start with.

··Methodology
Editor reviewed0 verified reviews comparedPricing checked Jul 2026

Short on time? Here's the quick answer

We've tested both tools. Here's who should pick what:

qsa.sh

External security scans from your terminal via curl

Best for you if:

  • Run curl qsa.sh from your terminal to instantly scan your public IP for open ports, services, and vulnerabilities using open-source tools.
  • Results stream live and are never stored; you get a full external perspective without installing any software on your host.

Snyk

Secure your code, dependencies, containers, and IaC from dev to production

Best for you if:

  • Developer-first security platform scanning code, dependencies, containers, and IaC directly in your IDE and CI/CD pipeline
  • Automated fix pull requests and AI prioritization cut remediation time by up to 75%
At a Glance
qsa.shqsa.sh
SnykSnyk
Starts at
FreeFree tier available
FreeFree tier available
Best For
SecuritySecurity
Rating
-4.5/5
Free plan
Yes Yes

Choose qsa.sh or Snyk?

qsa.sh

Choose qsa.sh if

External security scans from your terminal via curl

  • Zero installation, just run curl; no agent or software to deploy.
  • Transparent and auditable, uses only public open-source tools, no black box.
  • Strictly limited to scanning your own IP, with consent gate and opt-out for operators.
Snyk

Choose Snyk if

Secure your code, dependencies, containers, and IaC from dev to production

  • Developer-friendly workflow integrates security scanning directly into IDEs and pull requests
  • Broad coverage across code, dependencies, containers, IaC, and DAST in a single platform
  • Automated fix pull requests save significant remediation time
Featureqsa.shSnyk
Pricing ModelFreemiumFreemium
User RatingNo ratings yet
4.5/5
149 reviews
Categories
SecurityTerminal Tools
SecurityDeveloper Tools

In-Depth Analysis

qsa.shqsa.sh

External security scans from your terminal via curl

Strengths

  • +Zero installation, just run curl; no agent or software to deploy.
  • +Transparent and auditable, uses only public open-source tools, no black box.
  • +Strictly limited to scanning your own IP, with consent gate and opt-out for operators.

Weaknesses

  • -IPv4 only, IPv6 connections are refused.
  • -Free scan limited to one per 24 hours and only top 1,000 ports; Full and Deep require payment.

Key features

Scans only your own connecting public IP – no target field, cannot be pointed at others.Uses naabu, nmap + vulners, and nuclei – all open source, transparent toolchain.Live terminal streaming of results as they are found (ports, services, versions, CVEs).No data stored; results ephemeral, only rate-limit counters retained temporarily.15-second pre-scan consent window with Ctrl-C abort option.Opt-out mechanism for IPs/ranges you control – permanently excluded from all scans.
Starts at Free

Value 85/100. The pricing is generous for casual use with a free tier that covers the top 1,000 ports, but the $5/mo Full Pro tier is a steal for continuous scanning of all ports, while $7/scan for Deep is steep for occasional use.

Watch out: Free tier limited to one scan per 24h

SnykSnyk

Secure your code, dependencies, containers, and IaC from dev to production

Strengths

  • +Developer-friendly workflow integrates security scanning directly into IDEs and pull requests
  • +Broad coverage across code, dependencies, containers, IaC, and DAST in a single platform
  • +Automated fix pull requests save significant remediation time
  • +Generous free tier with 200 open-source and 100 code tests per month
  • +AI-powered prioritization focuses teams on the most exploitable vulnerabilities first

Weaknesses

  • -Team plan limited to 10 developers per organization, requiring Ignite for larger teams
  • -Ignite tier at $1,260/year per developer is expensive for mid-size teams
  • -DAST scanning limited to 10 targets even on Ignite plan
  • -Advanced features like custom rules and SSO only available on Ignite and above
  • -Can produce noisy results on large monorepos without careful policy tuning

Key features

Static application security testing (SAST) for first-party codeSoftware composition analysis (SCA) for open-source dependenciesContainer image vulnerability scanning with base image recommendationsInfrastructure-as-Code security scanning for Terraform, Kubernetes, and CloudFormationDynamic application security testing (DAST) for APIs and web appsAI-powered vulnerability prioritization based on exploitability and context
Starts at Free

Value 60/100. Snyk Free is usable for individual developers but test limits are tight (200 SCA, 100 SAST, 100 container tests/month).

Watch out: Free tier test limits burn through quickly in CI/CD pipelines

Pricing: qsa.sh vs Snyk

Planqsa.shSnyk
Tier 1
$0/mo or Free
Free
Free
Free
Tier 2
$5/mo
Full Pro
$25
Team
Tier 3
$7/scan
Deep
$1260
Ignite
Tier 4N/A
Enterprise

Pricing verified from each vendor's public pricing page. Compare in detail on qsa.sh pricing and Snyk pricing.

Who Should Use What?

On a budget?

Both are freemium. Compare plans on their websites.

Go with: qsa.sh

Want the highest-rated option?

Snyk is rated 4.5/5. qsa.sh has no ratings yet.

Go with: Snyk

Value user reviews?

qsa.sh: no ratings yet. Snyk: 149 reviews (4.5/5).

Go with: Snyk

3 Questions to Help You Decide

1

What's your budget?

Both are freemium. Pricing won't help you decide here.

2

What's your use case?

Both are security tools. Compare their specific features to decide.

3

How important are ratings?

Snyk is rated 4.5/5; qsa.sh has no ratings yet.

Key Takeaways

Snyk

  • Free tier available
  • Our pick for this comparison

qsa.sh

  • Choose if you want external security scans from your terminal via curl

The Bottom Line

Snyk is our pick.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is qsa.sh or Snyk better?

Snyk is rated in our evaluation. Both are freemium.

What are qsa.sh and Snyk used for?

qsa.sh: External security scans from your terminal via curl. Snyk: Secure your code, dependencies, containers, and IaC from dev to production.

What does qsa.sh cost vs Snyk?

qsa.sh is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Snyk is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Visit their websites for detailed pricing.

Related Comparisons & Resources

Compare other tools