OpenVAS vs ShadowSecurityScanner
OpenVAS
openvas.orgShadowSecurityScanner
shadowsecurityscanner.comSide by side
| Figure | OpenVAS | ShadowSecurityScanner |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | €210.33/mo | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| API | Yes | — |
| Self-hosted | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 3 | 1 |
| Spec score · Vulnerability Scanning Software | 8.5 (#6) | 7.5 (#18) |
| Spec score · Network Vulnerability Scanners | 8.6 (#5) | 7.3 (#14) |
| Deployment | OPENVAS SCAN is available as hardware or virtual appliances and can run entirely within the customer's environment. | It is distributed as a single self-contained desktop app with no agents or database server required. |
| Purpose | OPENVAS is a vulnerability scanner for detecting weaknesses in IT systems. | ShadowSecurityScanner is a free, open-source penetration testing tool and network vulnerability scanner. |
| Scanning | It supports authenticated and unauthenticated testing across internet and industrial protocols, with performance tuning for large scans. | It combines automated port scanning, service and operating-system fingerprinting, and thousands of active network and web-application security checks. |
| Support | OPENVAS FREE has no default enterprise support; product questions are handled voluntarily through the Greenbone Community Portal. | The maker invites questions, demos, or enterprise support inquiries and says it usually replies within a day. |
Plans
In their own words
OpenVAS
OPENVAS is a vulnerability scanner for identifying weaknesses in IT systems. It supports authenticated and unauthenticated testing across internet and industrial protocols, with performance tuning for large scans, and uses a vulnerability-test feed updated daily. The commercial OPENVAS SCAN product checks network services, servers, applications, container images, and authenticated endpoints for vulnerabilities, misconfigurations, and missing patches. It is offered as hardware or virtual appliances and can run entirely inside a customer's environment. Listed integrations include ServiceNow, Splunk, Nagios, Sourcefire, and CyberArk. OPENVAS FREE is a cross-platform virtual appliance intended for private use and non-professional IT infrastructures. It uses the Community Feed, cannot update itself, and lacks schedules, notifications, integrated backups, and air-gap support. The free edition has no default enterprise support, and its self-signed TLS certificate requires a browser exception. OPENVAS BASIC costs €2,524 a year; it excludes API access, sensors, remediation tickets, and Greenbone Support. OPENVAS SCAN pricing is by quote.
ShadowSecurityScanner
ShadowSecurityScanner is a free, open-source desktop tool for penetration testing and network vulnerability scanning on Windows, macOS, and Linux. It scans network hosts, servers, web applications, and network appliances using port checks, service and operating-system fingerprinting, and thousands of active security tests. Findings receive FIRST.org EPSS scores and are checked against the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog. Scan comparisons identify findings that are new, regressed, or resolved. Reports can be exported as PDF, HTML, SARIF, XML, or CSV, with SARIF described as suitable for GitHub code scanning. A signed update feed refreshes the audit catalog with daily CISA KEV updates, Nuclei, and curated advisories. The application runs locally, stores its database in the user profile, and has no cloud component or telemetry. It is distributed as one self-contained app, without agents or a database server. Listed requirements include Windows 10/11, macOS 11 or later on Apple Silicon, and Linux x64 or ARM64. Use is limited to authorized testing; denial-of-service tests are excluded.