Greenbone (OpenVAS) vs Qualys
Side-by-side comparison of features, pricing, ratings, and alternatives.
Greenbone develops the OpenVAS vulnerability scanning engine, one of the most widely deployed open-source vulnerability management systems, used to discover assets and identify security weaknesses across desktops, servers, network devices, and IoT/industrial equipment before attackers can exploit them. Its enterprise feed grows continuously and includes over 100,000 vulnerability tests, with automated, schedulable scans and severity-based prioritization of findings. Greenbone offers several deployment paths: a free, open-source OpenVAS edition for self-hosting, an entry-level cloud/SaaS option (OpenVAS Basic) aimed at small businesses with a 14-day free trial, and hardware appliances or virtual-machine images for larger, on-premises enterprise deployments with GDPR-compliant data handling.
Qualys is an enterprise cyber risk and security platform built to help organizations "measure, communicate, and eliminate cyber risk." Its flagship VMDR (Vulnerability Management, Detection and Response) product continuously and automatically discovers assets across a network, including endpoints, servers, cloud workloads, containers, and IoT devices, then scans and prioritizes vulnerabilities for remediation. The platform emphasizes consolidation, positioning itself as a way for organizations to streamline and automate security and compliance work onto a single cloud platform rather than juggling multiple point tools, aiming for greater agility, better outcomes, and lower cost. Qualys does not publish list pricing on its site; prospective customers request pricing through the company's sales team based on organization size and needed modules.
- Free, open-source edition available for self-hosting
- Very large and continuously updated vulnerability test library
- Deployment options span free software to enterprise appliances
- On-premises option supports GDPR-sensitive environments
- Broad asset discovery covering endpoints, cloud, containers, and IoT
- Platform consolidation reduces the need for multiple separate security tools
- Strong brand recognition and long track record in vulnerability management
- Continuous, automated scanning rather than one-off assessments
- Enterprise appliance pricing isn't published and requires contacting sales
- Self-hosted free edition demands more setup and maintenance effort
- Interface and workflow are aimed at security practitioners, not general IT staff
- No public pricing is available; requires contacting sales for a quote
- Full feature depth of individual modules is not detailed on the general homepage
- Best suited to organizations with dedicated security teams to act on findings
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The Verdict
AI-generated from listing dataGreenbone offers a free, open‑source self‑hosted option with a large test library, while Qualys provides a fully managed cloud SaaS platform with broader asset discovery but undisclosed pricing.
Key differences
- •Deployment model: Greenbone can be self‑hosted (on‑prem), Qualys is cloud‑only.
- •Cost transparency: Greenbone has a freemium tier; Qualys requires sales contact for pricing.
- •Asset discovery scope: Qualys explicitly covers endpoints, cloud, containers, and IoT; Greenbone lists desktops, servers, IoT but not containers.
- •Management overhead: Greenbone free edition needs setup/maintenance; Qualys is managed by the vendor.
- •Open‑source vs proprietary: Greenbone’s core is open source; Qualys is closed source.
Pricing & value
Greenbone provides a free, open‑source edition; Qualys pricing is not public and requires a sales quote.
Ease of use / learning curve
Qualys is a managed SaaS platform, reducing setup effort; Greenbone free edition demands self‑hosting and maintenance.
Features & depth
Qualys includes continuous automated discovery across cloud, containers, and IoT; Greenbone lists basic asset discovery without container coverage.
Integrations & ecosystem
Qualys consolidates security and compliance functions on a single cloud platform; Greenbone lists no key integrations.
Collaboration
Qualys targets enterprises with dedicated security teams and offers cloud‑based shared dashboards; Greenbone’s interface is aimed at security practitioners.
Scalability
Qualys’ cloud SaaS scales automatically across large, distributed environments; Greenbone self‑hosted scaling depends on user‑managed infrastructure.
Support
Greenbone offers email and partner support; Qualys support details are not specified in the facts.
Choose Greenbone (OpenVAS) if…
Small to midsize teams that need a free, self‑hosted scanner and can manage infrastructure themselves.
Choose Qualys if…
Large enterprises that prefer a fully managed cloud service with extensive automated asset discovery.
Common questions
What are the upfront costs for each solution?
Greenbone has a free, open‑source edition; enterprise appliances require sales contact. Qualys does not publish pricing and requires a sales quote.
Can I run the tool on‑premises for data‑privacy reasons?
Yes, Greenbone offers on‑premises deployment via appliances or VM images. Qualys is cloud‑only.
Which solution covers containers and cloud workloads?
Qualys explicitly lists continuous discovery of containers and cloud assets; Greenbone’s listed coverage does not include containers.