Acunetix
Acunetix is a comprehensive web application security scanner that automatically detects vulnerabilities like SQL injection and Cross-Site Scripting to help you secure your websites, applications, and APIs effectively.
Tenable Nessus
Nessus is a vulnerability assessment solution providing deep-point-in-time scans to identify security flaws, misconfigurations, and malware across your modern IT infrastructure, including cloud, containers, and traditional assets.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Acunetix | Tenable Nessus |
|---|---|---|
| Website | acunetix.com | tenable.com |
| Pricing Model | Custom | Freemium |
| Starting Price | Custom Pricing | Free |
| FREE Trial | ✓ 0 days free trial | ✓ 7 days free trial |
| Free Plan | ✘ No free plan | ✓ Has free plan |
| Product Demo | ✓ Request demo here | ✓ Request demo here |
| Deployment | ||
| Integrations | ||
| Target Users | ||
| Target Industries | ||
| Customer Count | 0 | 0 |
| Founded Year | 2004 | 2002 |
| Headquarters | London, UK | Columbia, USA |
Overview
Acunetix
Acunetix provides an automated way for you to find and fix security gaps in your web applications and APIs. Instead of manual testing, you can run high-speed scans that identify over 7,000 vulnerabilities, including SQL injection, XSS, and misconfigurations. It crawls complex architectures, including Single Page Applications and password-protected areas, ensuring you don't miss hidden entry points that hackers might exploit.
You can integrate security testing directly into your development pipeline to catch issues before they reach production. The platform provides clear, actionable reports that help your developers understand exactly how to remediate risks. Whether you manage a single website or a massive portfolio of enterprise applications, it helps you maintain a strong security posture without slowing down your release cycles.
Tenable Nessus
Nessus helps you identify and fix security vulnerabilities before attackers can exploit them. You can scan your entire environment—including cloud instances, web applications, and traditional network hardware—to find missing patches, software flaws, and configuration errors. It provides a clear view of your attack surface so you can prioritize the most critical risks to your business.
You can choose between different versions depending on your needs, ranging from a free version for educators and students to professional and expert versions for security consultants. It simplifies the complex task of vulnerability assessment with pre-built templates and automated reporting. Whether you are securing a small office or a complex hybrid-cloud environment, you can rely on its extensive plugin library to stay protected against the latest threats.
Overview
Acunetix Features
- DeepScan Technology Crawl complex websites and single-page applications built with HTML5 and JavaScript to find vulnerabilities hidden deep in your code.
- AcuSensor Technology Combine black-box scanning with source code analysis to achieve higher detection rates and significantly reduce time-wasting false positives.
- Automated Vulnerability Management Prioritize risks automatically based on business impact so you can focus your remediation efforts on the most critical threats first.
- CI/CD Integration Connect security scans directly into your DevOps tools like Jenkins or Azure DevOps to catch vulnerabilities during the build process.
- Network Security Scanning Scan your perimeter network services alongside your web apps to identify open ports and insecure network configurations in one go.
- Interactive Reporting Generate specialized reports for developers or compliance auditors to meet regulatory requirements like PCI DSS, HIPAA, and ISO 27001.
Tenable Nessus Features
- Pre-Built Scan Templates. Start scanning immediately using over 450 pre-configured templates for common audits like PCI-DSS and HIPAA compliance.
- Live Results. Perform offline vulnerability analysis against your scan history to find new threats without running a new scan.
- Cloud Infrastructure Scanning. Assess your cloud-native assets and identify misconfigurations in AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud environments easily.
- Customizable Reporting. Create tailored reports in multiple formats like HTML or PDF to share critical security findings with your stakeholders.
- Web Application Scanning. Identify vulnerabilities in your web applications and APIs to prevent common attacks like SQL injection and cross-site scripting.
- External Surface Discovery. Find and map your internet-facing assets to understand what an attacker sees when looking at your organization.
Pricing Comparison
Acunetix Pricing
Tenable Nessus Pricing
- Scan up to 16 IP addresses
- High-speed accurate scanning
- Community support access
- Standard vulnerability assessment
- Free for educators and students
- Everything in Essentials, plus:
- Unlimited IP address scanning
- Advanced support access
- Configuration audits
- Live Results analysis
- Customizable reporting
Pros & Cons
Acunetix
Pros
- Extremely low false positive rate saves manual verification time
- Fast scanning engine completes complex crawls quickly
- Detailed remediation guidance helps developers fix bugs faster
- Excellent coverage of modern JavaScript-heavy applications
Cons
- Pricing can be high for small organizations
- Initial configuration requires some technical security knowledge
- Reporting templates can feel rigid for custom needs
Tenable Nessus
Pros
- Extremely high accuracy with very low false-positive rates
- Massive library of plugins updated daily for new threats
- Easy to set up and run your first scan quickly
- Detailed remediation instructions help you fix issues faster
Cons
- Annual subscription cost is high for small businesses
- Interface can feel dated compared to newer cloud platforms
- Reporting customization requires a learning curve to master