Acunetix vs Qualys Web Application Scanning comparison

Invicti and Qualys are both solutions in the Application Security Tools category. Invicti is ranked #12 with an average rating of 8.4, while Qualys is ranked #16 with an average rating of 7.7. Invicti holds a 2.3% mindshare in AS, compared to Qualys’s 1.8% mindshare. Additionally, 88% of Invicti users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 88% of Qualys users who would recommend it.

Acunetix

Read 38 Acunetix reviews

6,206 Views
2,979 Comparison Views

88% willing to recommend

Qualys Web Application Scan...

Read 40 Qualys Web Application Scanning reviews

3,821 Views
2,407 Comparison Views

88% willing to recommend

Acunetix

Qualys Web Application Scan...

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Jan 18, 2026

Qualys Web Application Scanning and Acunetix compete in the vulnerability management category, each offering distinct advantages. Based on features, Qualys has the upper hand with its dual functionality for web and internal vulnerability management. In room for improvement, both face challenges, but Acunetix has fewer false positives noted. For deployment and customer service, Qualys offers a more extensive cloud-based deployment, but Acunetix's customer service is often praised for being direct. In pricing and ROI, Qualys tends to be more expensive, but Acunetix's recent price increases affect cost-effectiveness.

Features: Qualys integrates with Selenium IDE to automate logins, offers cloud-based deployment for flexibility, and reports fewer false positives, enhancing reliability. Acunetix features high-speed detection, detailed crawl capabilities, and can manage login sequences and record sessions effectively.

Room for Improvement: Qualys could enhance XSS detection, prioritize more integration options, and improve its user interface and scanning accuracy. Acunetix should address false positives, improve scan speed, and expand integration capabilities.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Qualys can be deployed across various cloud environments and on-premises, though customer service varies from supportive to transactional. Acunetix primarily deploys on-premises and has received positive feedback for direct technical support despite some customer service criticisms.

Pricing and ROI: Qualys is seen as expensive with asset-based pricing but offers good potential ROI through scalability. Acunetix was initially cost-effective, but recent price increases and its domain-based licensing may impact organizations with many sub-domains. Discounts for bulk purchases are available for Qualys.

To learn more, read our detailed Acunetix vs. Qualys Web Application Scanning Report (Updated: December 2025).

Buyer's Guide

Acunetix vs. Qualys Web Application Scanning

December 2025

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Helped 881,082 peers since 2012

Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

ROI

Sentiment score

6.9

Acunetix improves efficiency and security by automating vulnerability detection, reducing costs and manual testing efforts for businesses.

Sentiment score

2.5

Qualys Web Application Scanning delivers positive ROI, competitive licensing, scalability, and reduces failure rates with 70% time-saving automation.

It saves a significant amount of time by covering attack surfaces.

Abdullah Ozkan

Information Security Engineer at Tübitak Bilgem

I have seen a return on investment, as Acunetix helps reduce the man-days and effort needed for scanning bulk applications through automated assessments.

Rahul Kumar

Senior Engineer - Penetration Tester at a government with 10,001+ employees

I have seen a return on investment with Acunetix, including time saved and cost reduction, because it provides us threats on our web application servers.

Mohamed Fouad

Cybersecurity Team Leader at EMAK For Integrated Solutions

For more quotes and insights, download the Acunetix report

No quotes available

For more quotes and insights, download the Qualys Web Application Scanning report

Customer Service

Sentiment score

6.4

Acunetix's customer service is praised for responsiveness, yet users experience varying response times and suggest improvements.

Sentiment score

3.8

Customer service is generally positive but inconsistent, with some noting efficiency while others suggest improvements in speed and engagement.

For high-severity issues, they reach out within two to three hours, and for critical issues, a response is received within 15 minutes.

Himanshu_Tyagi

Lead Cybersecurity at TBO

The technical support from Invicti is very good and fast.

Abdullah Ozkan

Information Security Engineer at Tübitak Bilgem

Support staff not being familiar with the problem.

Rahul Kumar

Senior Engineer - Penetration Tester at a government with 10,001+ employees

For more quotes and insights, download the Acunetix report

They have various options in the vulnerability management process, and when we initially bought our license, we didn't realize we needed PCI for better results, which isn't included in the default configurations.

AnkitSharma13

Security Officer at a tech vendor with 10,001+ employees

Once we purchase the license, we have access to top-notch support.

Kelvin Oladipo

Team Lead, Cyber Security at Uridium Technologies

I have dealt with Qualys's technical support, and any enhancements are challenging.

PankajKhullar

Senior Security Engineer at Charter Communications

For more quotes and insights, download the Qualys Web Application Scanning report

Scalability Issues

Sentiment score

6.9

Acunetix efficiently manages growing workloads with adaptable deployment despite scan speed and Linux support challenges, with user satisfaction.

Sentiment score

7.2

Qualys Web Application Scanning offers scalable cloud integration but faces challenges with concurrent scan limits and report limitations.

Acunetix can handle increasing workloads and more applications easily.

Rahul Kumar

Senior Engineer - Penetration Tester at a government with 10,001+ employees

Acunetix's scalability for my growing needs is great; it is a very scalable product compared to others.

Mohamed Fouad

Cybersecurity Team Leader at EMAK For Integrated Solutions

For more quotes and insights, download the Acunetix report

My concern remains the lack of deep dive analysis and that it produces similar vulnerability results as other tools such as Nessus based on version checks instead of real impact checks.

AnkitSharma13

Security Officer at a tech vendor with 10,001+ employees

It is licensed for assets, so we just contact the team for additional licenses if needed.

Kelvin Oladipo

Team Lead, Cyber Security at Uridium Technologies

At one point, there was a limitation on reporting for 100,000 assets at a time.

PankajKhullar

Senior Security Engineer at Charter Communications

For more quotes and insights, download the Qualys Web Application Scanning report

Stability Issues

Sentiment score

8.1

Acunetix is stable and reliable, with minimal issues and helpful support, offering consistent performance and reporting capabilities.

Sentiment score

7.9

Users praise Qualys Web Application Scanning for its stability, reliability, minimal bugs, and consistently high-performance ratings.

I did not need to reach customer support because the product is very stable.

Mohamed Fouad

Cybersecurity Team Leader at EMAK For Integrated Solutions

For more quotes and insights, download the Acunetix report

No quotes available

For more quotes and insights, download the Qualys Web Application Scanning report

Room For Improvement

Acunetix needs improved scanning speed, reduced false positives, better reporting, enhanced support, flexible licensing, and improved mobile integration.

Qualys Web Application Scanning needs improvements in detection, usability, integration, performance, pricing, and feature set to compete effectively.

The main concern is related to false positives; Acunetix needs to work on identifying valid and invalid findings.

Himanshu_Tyagi

Lead Cybersecurity at TBO

Acunetix should have better integration with newer tools such as GitHub and Azure DevOps.

KashifJamil

CEO at Xcelliti

I believe Acunetix can improve customer support, as the dedicated support staff are often unfamiliar with problems and troubleshooting, leading to communication gaps that delay issue resolution.

Rahul Kumar

Senior Engineer - Penetration Tester at a government with 10,001+ employees

For more quotes and insights, download the Acunetix report

With the growing reliance on AI, Qualys Web Application Scanning should be updated to handle AI-based applications and LLM-based attacks.

MukeshSaha

Associate Principal, Software Engineering at LTI - Larsen & Toubro Infotech

Qualys Web Application Scanning does IP-level testing, requiring direct input of credentials, and can only scan a few pages to provide known generic vulnerabilities.

AnkitSharma13

Security Officer at a tech vendor with 10,001+ employees

I would like it to be cheaper because it is a bit expensive compared to competitors like Tenable Nessus.

Kelvin Oladipo

Team Lead, Cyber Security at Uridium Technologies

For more quotes and insights, download the Qualys Web Application Scanning report

Setup Cost

Acunetix pricing is viewed as costly, with calls for more flexible and transparent pricing to match market standards.

Qualys Web Application Scanning offers flexible, negotiable pricing, deemed cost-effective but pricey, with discounts for bulk orders.

The pricing cost is affordable for small and mid-sized organizations, and when compared to Checkmarx, it is significantly affordable, as Checkmarx is quite expensive.

Himanshu_Tyagi

Lead Cybersecurity at TBO

We secured a special licensing model for penetration testing companies, which is cost-effective.

Abdullah Ozkan

Information Security Engineer at Tübitak Bilgem

The pricing of Acunetix is pretty expensive and could be improved.

Srinivas Walikar

Senior Business Development Manager at Intouch World

For more quotes and insights, download the Acunetix report

They offer discounts on bulk licenses, making it cheaper compared to competitors like Veracode DAST.

MukeshSaha

Associate Principal, Software Engineering at LTI - Larsen & Toubro Infotech

I find it a bit expensive compared to other competitors.

Kelvin Oladipo

Team Lead, Cyber Security at Uridium Technologies

Regarding pricing, I think for personal use, it is costly, but if organizations are ready to pay, then it is fine as they are using it.

AnkitSharma13

Security Officer at a tech vendor with 10,001+ employees

For more quotes and insights, download the Qualys Web Application Scanning report

Valuable Features

Acunetix excels in vulnerability detection, offers comprehensive reports, scalability, and ease of use for enhanced application security.

Qualys Web Application Scanning offers efficient vulnerability management with Selenium IDE integration, real-time monitoring, and comprehensive security features.

Its most valuable role is in enhancing security by identifying potential vulnerabilities efficiently.

Srinivas Walikar

Senior Business Development Manager at Intouch World

The solution is excellent at detecting SQL injection and cross-site scripting vulnerabilities.

KashifJamil

CEO at Xcelliti

Rahul Kumar

Senior Engineer - Penetration Tester at a government with 10,001+ employees

For more quotes and insights, download the Acunetix report

It effectively detects vulnerabilities like the OWASP Top 10 without any issues in reporting.

PankajKhullar

Senior Security Engineer at Charter Communications

Credential scanning is very effective because it goes in-depth into the system, crawling the pages, and reporting on vulnerabilities.

Kelvin Oladipo

Team Lead, Cyber Security at Uridium Technologies

Qualys Web Application Scanning is accurate and provides minimal false positives.

MukeshSaha

Associate Principal, Software Engineering at LTI - Larsen & Toubro Infotech

For more quotes and insights, download the Qualys Web Application Scanning report

Categories and Ranking

Acunetix

Ranking in Application Security Tools

12th

Ranking in Static Application Security Testing (SAST)

7th

Average Rating

7.8

Reviews Sentiment

6.6

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Vulnerability Management (19th), DevSecOps (6th)

Qualys Web Application Scan...

Ranking in Application Security Tools

16th

Ranking in Static Application Security Testing (SAST)

13th

Average Rating

7.6

Reviews Sentiment

6.3

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of January 2026, in the Application Security Tools category, the mindshare of Acunetix is 2.3%, down from 2.5% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Qualys Web Application Scanning is 1.8%, down from 1.9% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Application Security Tools Market Share Distribution
Product	Market Share (%)
Acunetix	2.3%
Qualys Web Application Scanning	1.8%
Other	95.9%

Application Security Tools

Featured Reviews

Rahul Kumar

Senior Engineer - Penetration Tester at a government with 10,001+ employees

Identifies vulnerabilities across bulk web applications but needs better support and cleaner reports

The best feature Acunetix offers is the centralized dashboard and the quality of reports it generates, which includes various options for selecting reports and developer options for directly sharing the reports with developers. The centralized dashboard of Acunetix gives visibility into the security aspects of mass applications; for instance, with more than 200 applications, it provides a valuable overview of findings and necessary fixes, along with a high-level summary that helps us achieve compliance through monthly and sometimes weekly scanning. In terms of reporting, Acunetix is excellent because it can generate different types of reports, such as an executive summary report, detailed reports, and developer reports that can be shared directly with developers. Acunetix positively impacts my organization by helping identify outdated libraries and applications, including legacy applications vulnerable to old attacks based on OWASP Top 10, thus aiding in compliance checks for PCI DSS and OWASP. Acunetix provides a centralized report with compliance-related aspects and a vulnerability timeline, effectively helping reduce vulnerabilities and save time.

Read full review

AnkitSharma13

Security Officer at a tech vendor with 10,001+ employees

Web scanning needs improvement but offers good vulnerability detection

The downside of Qualys Web Application Scanning is that it cannot crawl automatically. If I provide an IP address and a login form, it does basic testing, but it doesn't go deep as IBM AppScan does. If Qualys Web Application Scanning could improve its crawling capability, it would be more user-friendly. Qualys Web Application Scanning does IP-level testing, requiring direct input of credentials, and can only scan a few pages to provide known generic vulnerabilities, which isn't as beneficial from my point of view. The Vulnerability Management also relies heavily on version numbers and will flag vulnerabilities based on the component version, but it doesn't check if a real fix exists, leading to flags on components that actually have workarounds available.

Read full review

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

14%

Financial Services Firm

13%

Manufacturing Company

10%

Government

Financial Services Firm

14%

Manufacturing Company

12%

Computer Software Company

12%

Government

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	15
Midsize Enterprise	7
Large Enterprise	17

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	8
Midsize Enterprise	6
Large Enterprise	27

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Acunetix Vulnerability Scanner?

The tool's most valuable feature is scan configurations. We use it for external physical applications. The scanning time depends on the application's code.

See all answers

What is your primary use case for Acunetix Vulnerability Scanner?

My main use case for Acunetix is providing a vulnerability scanner for our web application server. I use Acunetix to scan our web security and discover vulnerabilities so we can patch these vulnera...

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What advice do you have for others considering Acunetix Vulnerability Scanner?

My advice to others looking into using Acunetix is that it is really helpful to discover the web attacks and have great, powerful reporting so you can have reduced incidents to look at. I have rate...

See all answers

What do you like most about Qualys Web Application Scanning?

The vulnerability management feature is a strong one. And also the patch management feature.

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What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Qualys Web Application Scanning?

Regarding pricing, I think for personal use, it is costly, but if organizations are ready to pay, then it is fine as they are using it.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Qualys Web Application Scanning?

See all answers

Comparisons

OWASP Zap vs Acunetix

Compared 14% of the time

PortSwigger Burp Suite Professional vs Acunetix

Compared 8% of the time

Invicti vs Acunetix

Compared 7% of the time

HCL AppScan vs Acunetix

Compared 5% of the time

PortSwigger Burp Suite Enterprise Edition vs Acunetix

Compared 4% of the time

More Acunetix Competitors

OWASP Zap vs Qualys Web Application Scanning

Compared 11% of the time

SonarQube vs Qualys Web Application Scanning

Compared 9% of the time

Checkmarx SAST vs Qualys Web Application Scanning

Compared 6% of the time

Veracode vs Qualys Web Application Scanning

Compared 6% of the time

PortSwigger Burp Suite Professional vs Qualys Web Application Scanning

Compared 6% of the time

More Qualys Web Application Scanning Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Acunetix

January 2026

Download Acunetix product report

Buyer's Guide

Qualys Web Application Scanning

January 2026

Download Qualys Web Application Scanning product report

Also Known As

AcuSensor

Qualys WAS

Overview

Acunetix Web Vulnerability Scanner is an automated web application security testing tool that audits your web applications by checking for vulnerabilities like SQL Injection, Cross site scripting, and other exploitable vulnerabilities.

Invicti

Qualys Web Application Scanning (WAS) is a fully cloud-based web application security scanner. The scanner will automatically crawl periodically and test web applications to discover potential vulnerabilities, including cross-site scripting (XSS) and SQL injection. The consistent testing equips the automated service to generate consistent results, lessen false positives, and offer the ability to scale to protect thousands of websites effortlessly.

Qualys Web Application Scanning is bundled with different scanning technology to carefully scan websites for malware infections and will send notifications to website owners to assist in preventing blacklisting and brand reputation damage. As digital transformation takes place in various organizations, Qualys WAS gives organizations the ability to track and document their web app security status through its interactive reporting capabilities.

Qualys WAS empowers organizations to remediate any web application vulnerabilities quickly. Some of the key tools offered are:

Deep Scanning: All apps and APIs on your internal network and public cloud are covered by Qualys WAS deep scanning to show you any visible vulnerabilities.
DevSec Ops Tool: Detect security issues in your code while still in app development stages and generate comprehensive reports.
Comprehensive Discovery: Discover and catalog new and unknown web apps in your network.
Malware Detection: Scan a website, identify vulnerabilities, and receive alerts to any infections.

Benefits of Qualys Web Application Scanning

Qualys Web Application Scanning offers many benefits, including:

Quick Deployment: Requires no infrastructure or software to upkeep.
Effortless Scalability: Effortlessly launch a deep scan and protect thousands of websites.
Centralized Management: Manage and mend all web app vulnerabilities through a single interface.
Excellent Integration Capabilities: Integrates with Qualys Web App Firewall (WAF) for a single-click virtual patching of found vulnerabilities.
Respond to Threats Immediately: Qualys Continuous Monitoring offers the user a hands-free service by automatically launching scanning and sending notifications of a potential threat.
Cost-effective Solution: Data is analyzed in real time as Qualys WAS is an end-to-end solution; this helps avoid costs associated with managing multiple security vendors.

Reviews from Real Users

Qualys Web Application Scanning stands out among its competitors for a variety of reasons. Two of those reasons are its progressive scan and quick detection of vulnerabilities.

P.K., a senior software developer at a tech vendor, writes, "The feature that I have found most valuable is the progressive scan. It is good. It's done in 24 hours."

Nagaraj S., lead cybersecurity engineer at a tech service company, notes, "I have found the detection of vulnerabilities tool thorough with good results and the graphical display output to be wonderful and full of colors. It allows many types of outputs, such as bar and chart previews."

Qualys

Sample Customers

Joomla!, Digicure, Team Random, Credit Suisse, Samsung, Air New Zealand

BskyB, Cartagena, ClearPoint Learning Systems, Connect Group, du, Fortrex Technologies, HBOR, HDI, Highlights for Children, The Lithuanian State Enterprise Centre of Registers, City of Miami Beach, Microsoft, MidlandHR, MSCI Inc., Northern Arizona University, Ofgem, Olympus Europa, PhoneFactor, RTL Nederland, ThousandEyes, VGZ Organisatie B.V.

Buyer's Guide

Acunetix vs. Qualys Web Application Scanning

December 2025

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