Compare Tools
Side-by-side comparison to help you choose the right tool for your organisation.
Tenable Nessus
Tenable
Qualys
Qualys
Tagline
The world's most widely deployed vulnerability scanner
Cloud-based vulnerability management and compliance
Category
Vulnerability Management
Vulnerability Management
Importance
★★★★☆
★★★☆☆
UK Pricing
Nessus Essentials: Free (16 IPs). Nessus Professional: ~£3,200/yr. Tenable.io for enterprise.
Qualys VMDR from ~£15/asset/yr. Full platform enterprise pricing on request.
Target Size
Any size — Essentials free tier suitable for smaller environments
200+ assets
Pros
- Industry-standard vulnerability detection — most comprehensive plugin library
- Free Essentials tier for small environments
- Covers network devices, servers, cloud, containers, and web apps
- Clear severity ratings with CVSS scores and remediation guidance
- Audit and compliance templates for CIS, DISA, GDPR, and more
- Continuous cloud-based scanning — no scanner appliance maintenance
- Asset inventory and categorisation built in
- Strong compliance reporting (PCI DSS, ISO 27001, GDPR)
- Web Application Scanning (WAS) built into platform
- Patch management module enables direct remediation from scan results
Cons
- Scanning can impact network performance if not scheduled carefully
- Professional licence is expensive for SMBs vs. free alternatives
- Results require skilled interpretation to prioritise effectively
- No built-in remediation workflow — integrates with ticketing tools
- Cloud-native environments require Tenable.io (higher cost)
- Complex platform with a steep learning curve
- More expensive than Nessus for smaller environments
- Results dashboards can be overwhelming without dedicated VM analyst
- Agent deployment required for complete coverage
- UK data residency availability requires verification for compliance
Cyber Essentials
Patch ManagementSecure Configuration
Patch ManagementSecure Configuration
Integrations
JiraServiceNowSplunkMicrosoft SentinelCrowdStrike (via Tenable.io)
JiraServiceNowSplunkMicrosoft SentinelAWS Security Hub
Why Use It
Nessus is the benchmark vulnerability scanner. For UK businesses aiming for Cyber Essentials Plus or ISO 27001, regular vulnerability scanning is required — Nessus provides the audit trail and compliance reports needed.
Qualys is the enterprise choice for organisations that need continuous, cloud-based vulnerability management with strong compliance reporting. Its VMDR (Vulnerability Management, Detection, and Response) module closes the loop from detection to remediation.