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# OpenVAS vs Qualys VM Comparison - What are their main differences?

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OpenVASQualys VM[+ Add Product](#)

Reviews

**OpenVAS** [

4.4/5(32)

](https://www.g2.com/products/openvas/reviews#reviews)

**Qualys VM** [

4.2/5(23)

](https://www.g2.com/products/qualys-vm/reviews#reviews)

Pricing

**OpenVAS**
No pricing available

**Qualys VM**
No pricing available

**Pricing Insights**
from reviews

Time to Implement

**OpenVAS**
1 month

Based on 6 responses

**Qualys VM**
Not enough reviews yet

Return on Investment

**OpenVAS**
Not enough reviews yet

**Qualys VM**
Not enough reviews yet

Perceived Cost

**OpenVAS**
$$$$$

**Qualys VM**
$$$$$

Average Discount

**OpenVAS**
Not enough reviews yet

**Qualys VM**
Not enough reviews yet

Pros & Cons

**OpenVAS**
Not enough data

**Qualys VM**
[
Ease of Use (2)
](https://www.g2.com/products/qualys-vm/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=2053872&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)[
Vulnerability Identification (2)
](https://www.g2.com/products/qualys-vm/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=2053868&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)[
Access Restrictions (1)
](https://www.g2.com/products/qualys-vm/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=2497753&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)[
Expensive (1)
](https://www.g2.com/products/qualys-vm/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=2053871&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)

Integrations

**OpenVAS**
Not enough data

**Qualys VM**
[

 ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_da836c06c61c98d4a0795c7cfc3a9a5a/servicenow-it-service-management.jpg "Product Avatar Image")

ServiceNow IT Service...

](https://www.g2.com/products/servicenow-it-service-management/reviews)[
View all
](https://www.g2.com/products/qualys-vm/integrations)

Ratings

Meets Requirements

**OpenVAS**

8.5

8.521

**Qualys VM**

8.9

8.919

Ease of Use

**OpenVAS**

7.7

7.721

**Qualys VM**

8.3

8.319

Ease of Setup

**OpenVAS**

7.9

7.915

**Qualys VM**

8.2

8.214

Ease of Admin

**OpenVAS**

7.7

7.715

**Qualys VM**

8.6

8.613

Quality of Support

**OpenVAS**

6.9

6.915

**Qualys VM**

7.5

7.519

Has the product been a good partner in doing business?

**OpenVAS**

7.5

7.510

**Qualys VM**

8.5

8.513

Product Direction (% positive)

**OpenVAS**

8.1

8.118

**Qualys VM**

8.8

8.819

Features

Vulnerability Scanner[Hide 58 FeaturesShow 58 Features](javascript:void(0);)

7.5

18

8.3

11

Performance

Issue Tracking

7.9

13

8.5(won by 0.6)

8

|

Verified

 (There is a greater than 0.5 difference between this product's rating and its competitors)

Detection Rate

8.1

16

9.2(won by 1.1)

8

|

Verified

 (There is a greater than 0.5 difference between this product's rating and its competitors)

False Positives

6.6(won by 1.0)

15

 (There is a greater than 0.5 difference between this product's rating and its competitors)

5.6

8

|

Verified

Automated Scans

8.3

13

8.5(won by 0.2)

9

|

Verified

Anomaly/Malware Detection

Not enough data

Not enough data

Network

Compliance Testing

7.5

12

9.1(won by 1.6)

9

|

Verified

 (There is a greater than 0.5 difference between this product's rating and its competitors)

Perimeter Scanning

8.0

14

9.4(won by 1.4)

8

|

Verified

 (There is a greater than 0.5 difference between this product's rating and its competitors)

Configuration Monitoring

7.0

11

8.1(won by 1.1)

6

|

Verified

 (There is a greater than 0.5 difference between this product's rating and its competitors)

Vulnerability Scanning

Not enough data

Not enough data

Source-Code Scanning

Not enough data

Not enough data

Web Scanning

Not enough data

Not enough data

Application

Manual Application Testing

8.5(won by 0.8)

10

 (There is a greater than 0.5 difference between this product's rating and its competitors)

7.7

5

|

Verified

Black Box Testing

7.8

13

8.3(won by 0.5)

6

 (There is a greater than 0.5 difference between this product's rating and its competitors)

Static Code Analysis

5.7(won by default)

9

Not enough data

Risk Analysis

Not enough data

Not enough data

Agentic AI - Vulnerability Scanner

Autonomous Task Execution

Not enough data

Not enough data

Proactive Assistance

Not enough data

Not enough data

Additional Functionality

SSL Security

Not enough data

Not enough data

HIPAA Compliant

Not enough data

Not enough data

API

Not enough data

Not enough data

Threat Response

Not enough data

Not enough data

Endpoint Protection

Not enough data

Not enough data

Maintenance Scheduling

Not enough data

Not enough data

Third-Party Integrations

Not enough data

Not enough data

Security Auditing

Not enough data

Not enough data

Application Security

Not enough data

Not enough data

Encryption

Not enough data

Not enough data

Network Security

Not enough data

Not enough data

Real-Time Reporting

Not enough data

Not enough data

AI Copilot

Not enough data

Not enough data

Reporting/Analytics

Not enough data

Not enough data

Authentication

Not enough data

Not enough data

Financial Data Protection

Not enough data

Not enough data

Anti Virus

Not enough data

Not enough data

Secure Data Storage

Not enough data

Not enough data

Virus Definition Update

Not enough data

Not enough data

Activity Dashboard

Not enough data

Not enough data

VPN

Not enough data

Not enough data

Audit Trail

Not enough data

Not enough data

Anti Spam

Not enough data

Not enough data

Access Controls/Permissions

Not enough data

Not enough data

Data Visualization

Not enough data

Not enough data

Alerts/Escalation

Not enough data

Not enough data

Data Security

Not enough data

Not enough data

Runtime Container Security

Not enough data

Not enough data

Asset Discovery

Not enough data

Not enough data

Threat Intelligence

Not enough data

Not enough data

Vulnerability Protection

Not enough data

Not enough data

Alerts/Notifications

Not enough data

Not enough data

Vulnerability/Threat Prioritization

Not enough data

Not enough data

Generative AI

Not enough data

Not enough data

SQL Injections

Not enough data

Not enough data

Real-Time Analytics

Not enough data

Not enough data

Threat Protection

Not enough data

Not enough data

Web-Application Security

Not enough data

Not enough data

Password Protection

Not enough data

Not enough data

Website Crawling

Not enough data

Not enough data

Vulnerability Assessment

Not enough data

Not enough data

User Insights

Reviewers' Company Size

[![OpenVAS](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/thumb_square/thumb_square_48d6ca1f8cebf47000b6f8223acab699/openvas.png "OpenVAS")](https://www.g2.com/products/openvas/reviews)

OpenVAS

Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)

35.7%

Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)

53.6%

Enterprise(\> 1000 emp.)

10.7%

[![Qualys VM](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/thumb_square/thumb_square_2edfb1fa70190bf6a364f82ceb56b20e/qualys-vm.jpg "Qualys VM")](https://www.g2.com/products/qualys-vm/reviews)

Qualys VM

Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)

14.3%

Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)

38.1%

Enterprise(\> 1000 emp.)

47.6%

Small-Business

(50 or fewer emp.)

35.7%

14.3%

Mid-Market

(51-1000 emp.)

53.6%

38.1%

Enterprise

(\> 1000 emp.)

10.7%

47.6%

Reviewers' Industry

[![OpenVAS](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/thumb_square/thumb_square_48d6ca1f8cebf47000b6f8223acab699/openvas.png "OpenVAS")](https://www.g2.com/products/openvas/reviews)
OpenVAS

Computer & Network Security

25.0%

Hospital & Health Care

14.3%

Information Technology and Services

10.7%

Computer Software

10.7%

Management Consulting

7.1%

Other

32.1%

[![Qualys VM](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/thumb_square/thumb_square_2edfb1fa70190bf6a364f82ceb56b20e/qualys-vm.jpg "Qualys VM")](https://www.g2.com/products/qualys-vm/reviews)
Qualys VM

Information Technology and Services

33.3%

Computer & Network Security

28.6%

Banking

14.3%

Information Services

4.8%

Hospital & Health Care

4.8%

Other

14.3%

FAQs

## OpenVAS vs Qualys VM FAQs

Generated using AI

Last updated: August 14, 2026

### What is the difference between OpenVAS vs Qualys VM?

OpenVAS is rated higher for overall satisfaction and is more popular with mid-market users, while Qualys VM is favored for its advanced features and support among enterprise users.

| [OpenVAS](https://www.g2.com/products/openvas/reviews) | [Qualys VM](https://www.g2.com/products/qualys-vm/reviews) |
| --- | --- |
| 4.4/5 (32 reviews) | 4.2/5 (23 reviews) |
| Mid-Market | Enterprise |
| 7.9 | 8.2 |
| 6.9 | 7.5 |
| Free and open-source scanning | Advanced dashboard usability |

### How do the pricing models of OpenVAS and Qualys VM compare?

OpenVAS is considered the stronger value due to its free and open-source model, while Qualys VM is seen as a premium-priced solution with higher satisfaction among enterprise users.

- **OpenVAS:** Reviewers consistently highlight the value of OpenVAS being free and open-source, making it highly attractive for cost-conscious organizations.
- **Qualys VM:** Reviewers note that Qualys VM is a premium product with higher costs, but it delivers advanced features and comprehensive vulnerability management.
- **Switching reasons:** In recent reviews, buyers mention moving to OpenVAS to avoid high licensing costs, while others choose Qualys VM for its enterprise-grade capabilities despite the higher price.

### What are the best alternatives to OpenVAS and Qualys VM?

The top three alternatives to OpenVAS and Qualys VM are Wiz, Tenable Nessus, and Burp Suite.

| Product | G2 Rating (reviews) | Largest Segment | Pricing Insight | Top Reviewer-Cited Strength |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [OpenVAS](https://www.g2.com/products/openvas/reviews) | 4.4/5 (32) | Mid-Market | Free and open-source | Free and open-source scanning |
| [Qualys VM](https://www.g2.com/products/qualys-vm/reviews) | 4.2/5 (23) | Enterprise | Premium-priced | Advanced dashboard usability |
| [Wiz](https://www.g2.com/products/wiz-wiz/reviews) | 4.7/5 (844) | Enterprise | — | Comprehensive cloud security |
| [Tenable Nessus](https://www.g2.com/products/tenable-nessus/reviews) | 4.5/5 (305) | Mid-Market | — | Robust vulnerability detection |
| [Burp Suite](https://www.g2.com/products/burp-suite/reviews) | 4.8/5 (129) | Mid-Market | — | Web application security testing |

### Which Vulnerability Scanner features should I prioritize when comparing OpenVAS and Qualys VM?

Buyers should prioritize Ease of Setup, Quality of Support, False Positives, Dashboard Usability, and Integration capabilities when comparing OpenVAS and Qualys VM.

- **Ease of Setup:** OpenVAS scores 7.9, Qualys VM scores 8.2.
- **Quality of Support:** OpenVAS scores 6.9, Qualys VM scores 7.5.
- **False Positives:** Both products have reviewer feedback on false positives, with Qualys VM noted for fewer false positives in recent reviews.
- **Dashboard Usability:** Qualys VM has 1 all-time mention for dashboard usability.
- **Integrations:** Qualys VM has 1 all-time mention for integrations.

### What are the pros and cons of OpenVAS vs Qualys VM?

OpenVAS stands out for its free, open-source model, while Qualys VM is recognized for advanced features and dashboard usability.

- **OpenVAS strengths:** Free and open-source, easy to deploy, customizable, and strong reporting formats.
- **OpenVAS trade-offs:** Reviewers note a less intuitive UI, more frequent false positives, and slower plugin updates.
- **Qualys VM strengths:** Advanced dashboard usability (1 all-time mention), strong vulnerability identification (2 all-time mentions), and robust integration capabilities (1 all-time mention).
- **Qualys VM trade-offs:** Higher cost (1 all-time mention), slower customer support (1 all-time mention), and complex licensing.

### Is OpenVAS or Qualys VM better for small businesses?

OpenVAS is the better fit for small businesses, supported by its popularity in the mid-market segment and strong value sentiment.

- **OpenVAS:** Most reviewers are from the mid-market segment and highlight the free, open-source nature as ideal for small businesses with limited budgets.
- **Qualys VM:** Largest segment is enterprise, with reviewers noting higher costs and more advanced features suited to larger organizations.

### Which Vulnerability Scanner platform has better integrations?

Qualys VM is favored for integrations, with reviewers citing integration capabilities in recent reviews.

- **OpenVAS:** No recent reviewer-cited integrations.
- **Qualys VM:** Integrates with ServiceNow (SNOW) and ITSM tools, with 1 all-time mention for integrations.

### How do OpenVAS and Qualys VM compare on customer support?

Qualys VM leads OpenVAS on Quality of Support by 0.6 points, a material difference.

- **OpenVAS:** Reviewers describe support as variable, with some citing slow or limited assistance.
- **Qualys VM:** Reviewers note support is generally responsive but can be slow for technical issues, with some citing delays of 24 hours or more for initial replies.

### Which is easier to implement, OpenVAS or Qualys VM?

Qualys VM and OpenVAS are nearly equal on Ease of Setup, with Qualys VM scoring 8.2 and OpenVAS 7.9, a difference below the materiality threshold.

- **OpenVAS:** Reviewers highlight straightforward deployment, especially for small-scale or open-source environments, but note that configuration can be confusing for new users.
- **Qualys VM:** Reviewers describe setup as smooth for most environments, with onboarding taking longer in large organizations but generally positive experiences.

### Which product has better False Positives?

Qualys VM is rated as having fewer false positives than OpenVAS, according to recent reviewer sentiment.

- **OpenVAS:** Reviewers frequently mention false positives as a trade-off, with several noting the need for manual triage.
- **Qualys VM:** Recent reviews highlight very few false positives, with advanced filtering and AI-driven prioritization reducing noise.

Alternatives

**OpenVAS Alternatives**

 ![Tenable Nessus](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/127e03b7d601741c15306f07b0f8cf84/tenable-nessus.svg "Tenable Nessus")

[
Tenable Nessus
](/products/tenable-nessus/reviews)

 ![Tenable Vulnerability Management](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/127e03b7d601741c15306f07b0f8cf84/tenable-vulnerability-management.svg "Tenable Vulnerability Management")

[
Tenable Vulnerability...
](/products/tenable-vulnerability-management/reviews)

 ![Burp Suite](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/1084a0792dcd7344d19c56aea015669c/burp-suite.svg "Burp Suite")

[
Burp Suite
](/products/burp-suite/reviews)

 ![InsightVM (Nexpose)](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/1d6a2407e149c3d13d93bc4b09b076d6/insightvm-nexpose.svg "InsightVM (Nexpose)")

[
InsightVM (Nexpose)
](/products/insightvm-nexpose/reviews)

**Qualys VM Alternatives**

 ![Wiz](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/991dbad301661dc9e1b78a7e252252b4/wiz-wiz.svg "Wiz")

[
Wiz
](/products/wiz-wiz/reviews)

 ![Tenable Nessus](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/127e03b7d601741c15306f07b0f8cf84/tenable-nessus.svg "Tenable Nessus")

[
Tenable Nessus
](/products/tenable-nessus/reviews)

 ![Microsoft Defender Vulnerability Management](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/thumb_square/thumb_square_0b5e1380b077d4b7e375fb3053da7b3a/microsoft-defender-vulnerability-management.jpg "Microsoft Defender Vulnerability Management")

[
Microsoft Defender...
](/products/microsoft-defender-vulnerability-management/reviews)

 ![SentinelOne Singularity Endpoint](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/c15547079e2b285340998eb8a52a44b8/sentinelone-singularity-endpoint.svg "SentinelOne Singularity Endpoint")

[
SentinelOne Singularity...
](/products/sentinelone-singularity-endpoint/reviews)

## OpenVAS vs Qualys VM

When assessing the two solutions, reviewers found Qualys VM easier to use, set up, and administer. Reviewers also preferred doing business with Qualys VM overall.

- Reviewers felt that Qualys VM meets the needs of their business better than OpenVAS.
- When comparing quality of ongoing product support, reviewers felt that Qualys VM is the preferred option.
- For feature updates and roadmaps, our reviewers preferred the direction of Qualys VM over OpenVAS.