Cloud Vulnerability Management Platforms -- Tenable Alternatives
Cloud vulnerability management platforms provide SaaS-delivered alternatives to Tenable for continuous vulnerability assessment across hybrid and cloud-native environments. These platforms handle scanning infrastructure, vulnerability databases, and reporting in the cloud, reducing operational overhead for security teams. They are particularly well-suited for organizations with distributed workforces, cloud-first architectures, and teams that prefer consumption-based pricing over on-premises infrastructure management.
Custom pricing based on asset count / Typically from $3,000/year for small environments
The most feature-complete cloud VM alternative with integrated patch management, TruRisk scoring, and zero on-premises infrastructure. Best for organizations wanting a single platform for vulnerability detection through remediation without switching tools.
From $2.19/asset/month / Enterprise custom pricing
The strongest option for remediation workflow management with live dashboards and project tracking. Best for organizations that need tight coordination between security and IT operations teams, especially those invested in the broader Rapid7 Insight platform.
Add-on to CrowdStrike Falcon platform / Custom pricing
The fastest path to vulnerability visibility for existing CrowdStrike Falcon customers, providing scanless assessment through the existing EDR agent. Best for organizations wanting endpoint vulnerability data with zero additional deployment effort.
Cloud-native vulnerability management platform with integrated detection, prioritization, and patch management
Custom pricing based on asset count / Typically from $3,000/year for small environments
Organizations wanting an all-in-one cloud-based VM platform with integrated patching and asset inventory
Risk-based vulnerability management platform with live dashboards and remediation project tracking
From $2.19/asset/month / Enterprise custom pricing
Organizations wanting risk-based VM with strong remediation tracking and integration across the Rapid7 Insight platform
EDR-integrated scanless vulnerability assessment built on the CrowdStrike Falcon platform
Add-on to CrowdStrike Falcon platform / Custom pricing
CrowdStrike Falcon customers wanting vulnerability visibility without deploying additional scanning infrastructure
Compare all 3 Tenable alternatives side-by-side across pricing, deployment, and key capabilities.
| Feature | Qualys VMDR 4.4/5 | Rapid7 InsightVM 4.3/5 | CrowdStrike Falcon Spotlight 4.2/5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Per-asset (annual subscription) | Per-asset (monthly or annual subscription) | Per-endpoint (annual subscription, bundled with Falcon) |
| Open Source | -- | -- | -- |
| Cloud-Hosted | + | + | + |
| Self-Hosted | -- | + | -- |
| Best For | Organizations wanting an all-in-one cloud-based VM platform with integrated patching and asset inventory | Organizations wanting risk-based VM with strong remediation tracking and integration across the Rapid7 Insight platform | CrowdStrike Falcon customers wanting vulnerability visibility without deploying additional scanning infrastructure |
| Key Features |
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| Website | Visit | Visit | Visit |
Tenable.io is itself a cloud-native VM platform, so the comparison is between cloud-native approaches. Qualys VMDR differentiates with integrated patching and TruRisk scoring. Rapid7 InsightVM offers live dashboards and stronger remediation tracking. CrowdStrike Falcon Spotlight eliminates scanning entirely using the EDR agent. Each platform makes trade-offs between scanning depth, remediation capabilities, and deployment model. Tenable.io maintains the deepest vulnerability coverage thanks to its Nessus scanning engine.
All three leaders offer risk-based prioritization but use different methodologies. Qualys uses TruRisk scoring that combines vulnerability severity with asset criticality and business context. Rapid7 uses Real Risk scoring with threat intelligence correlation. CrowdStrike uses ExPRT.AI that correlates vulnerabilities with active exploit intelligence. Tenable's VPR (Vulnerability Priority Rating) uses machine learning to predict exploit probability. Each approach has merit — evaluate which scoring methodology aligns best with your risk management framework.
Falcon Spotlight is excellent for endpoint vulnerability visibility but has significant coverage gaps. It cannot scan network devices, OT/ICS systems, cloud infrastructure configurations, web applications, or any assets without the Falcon agent. It also lacks compliance scanning capabilities. Most organizations use Falcon Spotlight for endpoint VM alongside a dedicated scanner like Tenable or Qualys for comprehensive coverage across all asset types.
Pricing varies significantly by model and scale. Tenable.io starts at approximately $2,275/year for 65 assets. Qualys VMDR uses custom per-asset pricing typically starting around $3,000/year for small environments. Rapid7 InsightVM charges approximately $2.19/asset/month. CrowdStrike Falcon Spotlight is sold as an add-on to the Falcon platform. Microsoft Defender VM is included free with Defender for Endpoint P2. For large enterprises, negotiate volume discounts and compare total cost of ownership including operational overhead.
Cloud-native vulnerability management platform with integrated detection, prioritization, and patch management
ComparisonRisk-based vulnerability management platform with live dashboards and remediation project tracking
ComparisonEDR-integrated scanless vulnerability assessment built on the CrowdStrike Falcon platform
CategoryCompare the best open source vulnerability scanner alternatives to Tenable in 2026. Greenbone OpenVAS, Nuclei — features, scanning depth, and deployment compared.
CategoryCompare the best enterprise vulnerability management alternatives to Tenable in 2026. Microsoft Defender VM, Tanium, Arctic Wolf — enterprise features, scale, and pricing compared.
Use CaseCompare the best Tenable alternatives for continuous vulnerability scanning in 2026. Qualys VMDR, Rapid7 InsightVM, CrowdStrike Falcon Spotlight, Nuclei — scanning capabilities compared.
Use CaseCompare the best Tenable alternatives for compliance scanning in 2026. Qualys VMDR, Rapid7 InsightVM, Greenbone OpenVAS, Tanium — CIS, DISA STIG, and PCI compliance capabilities compared.