Qualys is a platform that allows vulnerability management, asset discovery, and compliance monitoring. However, organizations should look for alternatives that offer scalability, flexible pricing, or features according to their security stack. Whether you're looking to replace Qualys entirely or use it with other tools, understanding the top competitors is essential.

Read the blog to learn about Qualys' alternatives to meet security and compliance requirements.

Top 10 Qualys Alternatives and Competitors

Want to know what alternatives to Qualys exist? Here are the top ten alternatives and competitors that provide modern, scalable, and specialized security solutions.

1. Akto

Akto is an AI-based API security platform to help security engineers automate API discovery, vulnerability detection, and risk prioritization in staging and production environments. It continuously scans APIs for OWASP Top 10 risks and combines easily with CI/CD pipelines and provides real-time feedback. Akto uses machine learning to prioritize vulnerabilities based on how easy they are to exploit and their impact. The platform focuses on workflows that are friendly for developers and reduces the risks of API security gaps. Its flexible design is ideal for organizations using modern DevOps practices.

Features:

• Automated API discovery and inventory management.

• Continuously scans OWASP API Top 10 vulnerabilities.

• Easily integrates with CI/CD pipelines.

• Machine learning risk prioritization.

• Sends continuous alerts and detailed reports.

Advantages:

• Provides AI-based detection.

• The UI is user-friendly for developers.

• Simple to deploy and integrate.

• Integrates smoothly with modern DevOps practices.

• Prioritizes risks based on their exploitability.

2. Tenable (Nessus)

Tenable’s Nessus is a vulnerability scanner that finds security weaknesses in different networks, systems, and applications using both credentialed and non-credentialed scans. It has a large plugin library that updates regularly to spot the latest vulnerabilities and misconfigurations. Nessus provides tailored scanning templates and detailed reports, helping security teams focus on their repair efforts.

Source: Tenable

Features:

• Allows 60,000+ vulnerability checks

• Offers agent-based and agentless scanning

• Customizable scan templates

• Continuous plugin updates

• Detailed and exportable reporting

Advantages:

• Broad vulnerability coverage

• User-friendly interface

• Strong community and support

• Regularly updated threat database

• Perfect for large environments

Disadvantages:

• Offers only Resource-intensive scanning

• Licensing can be costly

• Hard learning curve for advanced use

3. Rapid7 (InsightVM)

Rapid7 InsightVM provides live vulnerability management and endpoint analytics, which allows security teams to understand and prioritize risks. It provides real-time dashboards, known as Liveboards, that reflect asset risk scores continuously. InsightVM integrates with automation tools to orchestrate remediation workflows from the console.

Source: Rapid7 (InsightVM)

Features:

• Offers live vulnerability dashboards (Liveboards).

• Automation orchestration for remediation.

• Agent-based and agentless scans.

• Comes with integrated threat intelligence feeds.

• Allows API access for custom integrations.

Advantages:

• Real-time risk visibility.

• Strong automation and orchestration.

• Flexible and detailed reporting.

• Easy SIEM and tool integrations.

• Responsive support team.

Disadvantages:

• Increased total cost of ownership.

• Initial configuration is complex

• Dealing with huge datasets may cause performance latency.

4. CrowdStrike Falcon

CrowdStrike Falcon is a cloud-native endpoint protection platform combining next-generation antivirus, endpoint detection and response (EDR), and threat intelligence. It uses behavioral analysis and AI to detect and prevent known and unknown threats in real-time. It comes with a lightweight agent that deploys and starts working quickly in global environments.

Source: CrowdStrike

Features:

• Offers advanced antivirus analysis and EDR.

• Allows AI-based behavioral analytics.

• Cloud-based architecture.

• Offers managed threat hunting services.

• Provides real-time notifications and root cause analysis.

Advantages:

• Low resource footprint.

• Fast worldwide deployment.

• High detecting accuracy.

• Proactive Threat Hunting

• Scalable cloud infrastructure.

Disadvantages:

• Premium pricing model.

• Limited offline features.

• Rely on Internet connectivity.

5. Microsoft Defender for Endpoint

Microsoft Defender for Endpoint is an enterprise-grade platform that integrates endpoint behavioral sensors and offers cloud-based analytics and threat intelligence. It provides automated reviews and remediation to reduce response times. The platform strictly integrates with Microsoft 365 security stack for unified visibility across endpoints, identities, and emails.

Source: Microsoft Defender

Features:

• Endpoint behavioral sensors

• Automated review and remediation

• Threat and vulnerability management.

• Advanced threat detection features.

• Integration of Microsoft 365 security tools

Advantages:

• Integration with the Windows OS

• Automated and rapid cleanup.

• Unified Microsoft 365 security perspective.

• Strong threat intelligence.

• Offers automated security management.

Disadvantages:

• Works well only with the full Microsoft stack.

• Complex licensing tiers.

• Hard learning curve for small security teams

6. Palo Alto Networks Prisma Cloud

Prisma Cloud is a cloud-based security platform that helps to defend hosts, containers, and serverless workloads. It provides vulnerability management, compliance monitoring, and runtime defense in a variety of cloud configurations. The platform follows infrastructure-as-code (IaC) security standards and shift-left security processes.

Source: Palo Alto Network

Features:

• Vulnerability scanning for cloud workloads

• IaC security and compliance checks

• Runtime protection for containers and serverless

• Multi-cloud environment support

• Risk-based vulnerability prioritization

Advantages:

• Broad cloud security coverage

• Strong compliance management

• Scalable architecture

• Integrated threat intelligence

• Customizable security policies

Disadvantages:

• Complex initial setup

• Higher cost for smaller teams

• Steep learning curve

7. Trend Micro Deep Security

Trend Micro Deep Security is a host-based platform that offers intrusion detection, integrity monitoring, and firewall features for virtual, physical, and cloud workloads. It provides automatic kernel-level protection for vulnerabilities without the need for immediate patching. It integrates with major cloud platforms and virtualization tools to simplify deployment.

Source: Trend Micro Deep Security

Features:

• Host-based intrusion detection and prevention

• Integrity monitoring and log checking.

• Kernel-based virtual patches

• Centralized management console

• Integrates with major cloud platforms.

Advantages:

• Strong protection against zero-day vulnerabilities.

• Support a hybrid cloud environment.

• Centralized visibility and control.

• Lowers patch management overhead.

• Good integration with cloud service providers.

Disadvantages:

• It can be complex to configure in the start.

• The licensing model may be costly.

• Basic user interface.

8. McAfee MVISION

McAfee MVISION is a cloud-native security platform delivering endpoint, data, and cloud workload protection. It provides unified visibility and control across devices, data, and cloud environments. MVISION incorporates AI and machine learning to detect advanced threats and automate responses. The platform supports integration with SIEM and SOAR tools for orchestration.

Source: McAfee Dashboard

Features:

• Endpoint and data protection

• Cloud workload security

• AI-driven threat detection

• Integration with SIEM and SOAR

• Unified security management console

Advantages:

• Strong cross-domain coverage

• Automated threat detection and response

• Scalable for large enterprises

• Good integration capabilities

• Cloud-native deployment

Disadvantages:

• Complex pricing structure

• Steep learning curve for some modules

• Occasional performance impact on endpoints

9. IBM Security QRadar

IBM QRadar is a Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) platform that collects and evaluates security data to identify threats in real-time. It comes with various features like strong analytics, anomaly detection, and threat intelligence integration. QRadar connects events from various sources to give complete insights into incidents.

Source: IBM Security QRadar

Features:

• Real-time event correlation and analytics

• Anomaly and behavior detection

• Integrated threat intelligence feeds

• Compliance reporting and dashboards

• Integration with multiple security products

Advantages:

• Powerful correlation engine

• Extensive integrations

• Scalable for enterprise environments

• Strong compliance support

• Mature platform with expert support

Disadvantages:

• High cost of ownership

• Complex setup and tuning

• Requires skilled personnel to manage

10. SentinelOne

SentinelOne is an automated endpoint protection solution that uses artificial intelligence to detect, respond, and prevent attacks. It provides automated detection and repair of ransomware. It can monitor endpoints, cloud workloads, and containers with a single agent.

Source: SentineOne

Features:

• AI-driven prevention and detection

• Automated threat detection and response

• Ransomware's rollback capabilities

• A single agent for endpoints and cloud workloads.

• Real-time root cause analysis.

Advantages:

• High automation minimizes manual work.

• Effective Ransomware Protection

• Lightweight, single agent

• It scales effectively across environments.

• Detailed forensic data.

Disadvantages:

• Premium pricing tier

• Some advanced features require training

• Integration complexity with legacy tools

How to Choose the Best API Security Platform

Choosing the correct API security platform is critical for protecting an organization's data and ensuring safe digital interactions.

Complete API Discovery and Inventory

An API security platform should automatically detect and update a list of all APIs, including shadow and undocumented ones. This ensures that no API endpoints go undetected, reducing weak spots in the organization's security posture. It should also allow to continuously identify new or old APIs in changing contexts.

Vulnerability Detection and Testing

Effective API security tools should perform detailed vulnerability checks that cover the OWASP API Top 10 vulnerabilities and more. They must identify problems like invalid authentication, data exposure, and injection attacks. Platforms should use AI and machine learning to identify both known and zero-day vulnerabilities.

Easy Integration

The best API security tools should integrate easily into existing development, with DevOps, CI/CD Pipelines, and deployment workflows. This allows continuous security testing that doesn't interrupt release cycles. Integrating with CI/CD pipelines allows automated scanning while building, testing, and deploying applications.

Risk Prioritization and Alerts

An API security platform must prioritize vulnerabilities based on their exploitable nature and business implications. It removes noise and reduces false positives, allowing security engineers to prioritize and address high-risk scenarios first. It should also send real-time alerts to quickly inform security and development teams about critical issues. Prioritizing insights helps speed up and improve remediation efforts.

Scalability and Support for Modern Architectures

Choose an API security platform that can scale with the growing and changing architecture of an organization. It should support the latest API standards, including REST, GraphQL, and gRPC. It should also accommodate microservices and serverless architecture. The API security platform must support cloud-based and SaaS-based platforms to improve flexibility and manageability.

Final Thoughts

Qualys is a popular platform used for managing vulnerabilities and provides many tools for finding assets, ensuring compliance, and scanning for security issues. Its platform supports numerous organizations with extensive coverage across networks and systems. However, current threats need advanced security solutions that require more specialized and flexible solutions.

Akto is an agentic AI-based API security platform designed for modern development environments. It automates API discovery and continuous testing, revealing critical OWASP Top 10 risks with AI-powered prioritization. Akto’s smooth CI/CD integration allows security and development teams to work together without slowing down the release pace. Its easy-to-use interface and flexible design make it great for organizations using agile and DevOps workflows. Schedule a APi Security demo today to see how Akto can boost your security.

• High automation minimizes manual work.

• Effective Ransomware Protection

• Lightweight, single agent

• It scales effectively across environments.

• Detailed forensic data.