Qualys vs Wazuh: 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 Qualys and Wazuh side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below, Wazuh leads on higher user rating and a free plan. 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:
Qualys
Cloud security and compliance platform
Best for you if:
- • You want enterprise vulnerability management
Wazuh
Open-source security monitoring
Best for you if:
- • You want a fully free tool (Qualys requires payment)
| At a Glance | Qualys | |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | From $199/year VMDR plan | Free 100% free |
Category | Vulnerability Scanning Compliance Management | Vulnerability Scanning Security Monitoring |
Rating | 4.2/5 G2 4.4 · Capterra 4.0 · Trustpilot 3.2 202 reviews | 4.5/5 G2 4.5 71 reviews |
Free plan | No | Yes |
Choose Qualys or Wazuh?
Choose Qualys if
- You want enterprise vulnerability management
- You want good scanning
Choose Wazuh if
- You want a fully free tool (Qualys requires payment)
- You want open source SIEM
- You want good features
In-Depth Analysis
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
Wazuh
Open-source security monitoring
Wazuh's pricing is exceptionally generous, offering a full-featured open-source SIEM/XDR solution for $0.
Strengths
- Pro: Open source SIEM
- Pro: Good features
- Pro: Self-hostable
- Pro: Active development
- Pro: Free
Weaknesses
- Con: Complex setup
- Con: Learning curve
- Con: Resource intensive
- Con: Documentation gaps
- Con: Enterprise features paid
Key features
Plans and prices: Qualys vs Wazuh
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Qualys |
| qualys.com read Oct 8, 2026 |
| Wazuh |
| wazuh.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 Qualys pricing and Wazuh pricing.
Key Takeaways
Qualys
- Choose if you want cloud security and compliance platform
Wazuh
- Higher user rating: 4.5/5 vs 4.2/5
- Has a free plan
What the data shows
On the data below, Wazuh leads on higher user rating and a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
- Wazuh has the higher user rating (4.2/5 from 202 reviews for Qualys, 4.5/5 from 71 reviews for Wazuh).
- Qualys starts at $199/year; Wazuh has no public paid plan price on file.
- Only Wazuh 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 Qualys and Wazuh compare in 2026?
On the data below, Wazuh leads on higher user rating and a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair. Wazuh has the higher user rating (4.2/5 from 202 reviews for Qualys, 4.5/5 from 71 reviews for Wazuh). Qualys starts at $199/year; Wazuh has no public paid plan price on file. Only Wazuh has a free plan.
What are Qualys and Wazuh used for?
Qualys: Cloud security and compliance platform. Wazuh: Open-source security monitoring.
What does Qualys cost vs Wazuh?
Qualys's cheapest paid plan is VMDR at $199/year. Wazuh is free. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Oct 8, 2026.
What's the main difference between Qualys and Wazuh?
Qualys's main strength: enterprise vulnerability management. Wazuh's main strength: open source SIEM.