Nessus vs Qualys: Pricing and Ratings Compared (2026)
Entry prices and free plans as read on each vendor's pricing page, and user ratings as published on review sites, for Nessus and Qualys side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below, Nessus leads on higher user rating and a free plan; Qualys leads on lower entry price. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
Based on published vendor pricing and features and on public review data, here's who should pick what:
Nessus
Vulnerability assessment scanner
Best for you if:
- • You want industry standard scanner
Qualys
Cloud security and compliance platform
Best for you if:
- • You want enterprise vulnerability management
| At a Glance | Nessus | Qualys |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Free plan, paid from $249.17/mo, billed yearly Professional plan | From $16.58/mo, billed yearly VMDR plan |
Category | Security Vulnerability Scanning | Vulnerability Scanning Compliance Management |
Rating | 4.6/5 G2 4.5 · Capterra 4.7 402 reviews | 4.2/5 G2 4.4 · Capterra 4.0 · Trustpilot 3.2 202 reviews |
Free plan | No | No |
Choose Nessus or Qualys?
Choose Nessus if
- You want industry standard scanner
- You want good vulnerability detection
- You work in security, not vulnerability scanning
Choose Qualys if
- You want enterprise vulnerability management
- You want good scanning
- Budget matters ($16.58/mo, billed yearly vs $249.17/mo, billed yearly)
- You work in vulnerability scanning, not security
In-Depth Analysis
Nessus
Vulnerability assessment scanner
Nessus offers a fair entry point with its free tier, but the Professional tier at $2990/year is quite expensive for basic vulnerability scanning compared to some market alternatives.
Strengths
- Pro: Industry standard scanner
- Pro: Good vulnerability detection
- Pro: Comprehensive coverage
- Pro: Good reporting
- Pro: Active development
Weaknesses
- Con: Expensive
- Con: Learning curve
- Con: Resource intensive
- Con: Per-asset pricing
- Con: Better alternatives exist
Key features
Qualys
Cloud security and compliance platform
Qualys is enterprise-grade vulnerability management.
Strengths
- Pro: Enterprise vulnerability management
- Pro: Good scanning
- Pro: Cloud-based
- Pro: Comprehensive
- Pro: Industry established
Weaknesses
- Con: Very expensive
- Con: Complex platform
- Con: Learning curve
- Con: Per-asset pricing
- Con: UI dated
Key features
Plans and prices: Nessus vs Qualys
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Nessus |
| tenable.com/products/nessus read Oct 12, 2026 |
| Qualys |
| qualys.com read Oct 8, 2026 |
Prices as read on each vendor's own pricing page on the date shown. Plans are listed per tool and are not matched against the other tool's plans: a plan name or price in one column says nothing about the same row in the other. Details on Nessus pricing and Qualys pricing.
Key Takeaways
Nessus
- Higher user rating: 4.6/5 vs 4.2/5
- Has a free plan
Qualys
- Lower entry price: $16.58/mo, billed yearly vs $249.17/mo, billed yearly
What the data shows
On the data below, Nessus leads on higher user rating and a free plan; Qualys leads on lower entry price. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
- Nessus has the higher user rating (4.6/5 from 402 reviews for Nessus, 4.2/5 from 202 reviews for Qualys).
- Qualys has the lower entry price: $16.58/mo, billed yearly (VMDR) against $249.17/mo, billed yearly (Professional) for Nessus.
- Only Nessus has a free plan.
Criteria: user rating (only above 20 reviews on both sides, gap of 0.2 or more), entry price (only on the same billing basis), free plan. How we rate
Frequently Asked Questions
How do Nessus and Qualys compare in 2026?
On the data below, Nessus leads on higher user rating and a free plan; Qualys leads on lower entry price. We do not name an overall winner for this pair. Nessus has the higher user rating (4.6/5 from 402 reviews for Nessus, 4.2/5 from 202 reviews for Qualys). Qualys has the lower entry price: $16.58/mo, billed yearly (VMDR) against $249.17/mo, billed yearly (Professional) for Nessus. Only Nessus has a free plan.
What are Nessus and Qualys used for?
Nessus: Vulnerability assessment scanner. Qualys: Cloud security and compliance platform.
What does Nessus cost vs Qualys?
Nessus's cheapest paid plan is Professional at $249.17/mo, billed yearly. Qualys's cheapest paid plan is VMDR at $16.58/mo, billed yearly. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Oct 12, 2026.
What's the main difference between Nessus and Qualys?
Nessus's main strength: industry standard scanner. Qualys's main strength: enterprise vulnerability management.