Vuls
Fastest to get started
Why teams pick it
Launch quickly with streamlined setup and onboarding.
Open-source alternatives to Qualys VMDR
Compare community-driven replacements for Qualys VMDR in vulnerability scanners workflows. We curate active, self-hostable options with transparent licensing so you can evaluate the right fit quickly.
Qualys VMDR
Qualys VMDR (Vulnerability Management, Detection & Response) discovers assets, continuously assesses for vulnerabilities, quantifies risk with TruRisk, and orchestrates remediation/patching via no-code workflows across hybrid environments.Read more
Key stats
- 5Alternatives
- 4Active development
Recent commits in the last 6 months
- 2Permissive licenses
MIT, Apache, and similar licenses
Counts reflect projects currently indexed as alternatives to Qualys VMDR.
Start with these picks
These projects match the most common migration paths for teams replacing Qualys VMDR.
scan4all
AI-powered workflows
Why teams pick it
Integrated vscan, nuclei, subfinder, and ksubdomain in one binary
All open-source alternatives
scan4all
Unified, fast, multi-protocol vulnerability scanner for red teams
Permissive licenseIntegration-friendlyAI-powered workflowsGo
Why teams choose it
- Integrated vscan, nuclei, subfinder, and ksubdomain in one binary
- Supports 146 protocols and over 90,000 port‑scanning rules
- Intelligent password blasting with custom dictionaries
Watch for
Relies on external tools like nmap for some scans
Migration highlight
Comprehensive external network assessment
Identify open ports, services, and applicable exploits across thousands of IPs in a single run.
Vuls
Agent-less vulnerability scanner for Linux, FreeBSD, containers, and more
Active developmentFast to deployIntegration-friendlyGo
Why teams choose it
- Agent-less scanning across Linux, FreeBSD, Windows, macOS, containers, and WordPress
- Fast non‑root and root‑privileged modes with minimal target load
- Aggregates vulnerability data from NVD, JVN, vendor advisories, and exploit databases
Watch for
Does not perform automatic package updates or remediation
Migration highlight
Daily compliance scanning
Automated nightly scans generate reports and Slack alerts, ensuring compliance teams are aware of new CVEs affecting production servers.
OpenVAS Scanner
Powerful, continuously updated vulnerability scanner for comprehensive security testing.
Active developmentFast to deployIntegration-friendlyRust
Why teams choose it
- Continuously updated vulnerability test feed
- Native Rust implementation centralizing scanner components
- Flexible deployment via source build or Docker containers
Watch for
Building from source requires C/C++ toolchain and familiarity with CMake
Migration highlight
Internal network assessment
Identify vulnerable hosts across the corporate LAN and generate detailed remediation reports.
Faraday
Collaborative platform to centralize, automate, and visualize vulnerability data
Active developmentFast to deployIntegration-friendlyPython
Why teams choose it
- Aggregates and normalizes data from 80+ scanners
- Multi‑user web dashboard with visualizations
- CLI and API for automation and CI/CD integration
Watch for
Requires PostgreSQL for production deployments
Migration highlight
CI/CD pipeline integration
Automatically run Bandit and OWASP ZAP, ingest results into Faraday for continuous monitoring, reducing time to remediation.
Nettacker
Automated, modular framework for fast, ethical penetration testing
Active developmentPermissive licenseFast to deployPython
Why teams choose it
- Modular architecture lets you enable or disable individual scan modules
- Multi‑protocol, multithreaded scanning accelerates large‑scale assessments
- Exportable reports in HTML, JSON, CSV, and plain‑text formats
Watch for
Requires Python environment knowledge for custom module development
Migration highlight
Penetration Testing
Automates reconnaissance, service discovery, and vulnerability checks to produce repeatable test reports.
Choosing a vulnerability scanners alternative
Teams replacing Qualys VMDR in vulnerability scanners workflows typically weigh self-hosting needs, integration coverage, and licensing obligations.
- 4 options are actively maintained with recent commits.
Tip: shortlist one hosted and one self-hosted option so stakeholders can compare trade-offs before migrating away from Qualys VMDR.