Qualys VMDR vs Tanium comparison

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Qualys VMDR

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Jan 18, 2026

Qualys VMDR and Tanium compete in the vulnerability management category. Qualys VMDR appears to have the upper hand in features and deployment flexibility, whereas Tanium leads in customer service and real-time risk assessments.

Features: Qualys VMDR is recognized for continuous monitoring, asset management, and policy compliance. It effectively simplifies deployment without physical machine configuration. Tanium excels in inventory management, distribution capabilities, and real-time risk assessments, providing a robust set of features valued by users.

Room For Improvement: Qualys VMDR needs to enhance its reporting functionality and interface, and reduce false positives. Users seek better integrations. Tanium faces criticism for high false-positive threats in intelligence data and scalability issues, with both products challenged by customer support responsiveness.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Qualys VMDR offers flexibility across environments but can be complex for smaller firms, receiving mixed customer service reviews with some delays experienced. Tanium provides straightforward deployment for on-premises use and is praised for prompt customer service and satisfactory technical support.

Pricing and ROI: Qualys VMDR is viewed as expensive but feature-rich, offering substantial ROI, especially for larger organizations. Its pricing can be negotiable. Tanium is also costly with high licensing fees, yet provides good value due to comprehensive features that reduce operational management time, offering a notable ROI.

To learn more, read our detailed Qualys VMDR vs. Tanium Report (Updated: December 2025).

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Qualys VMDR vs. Tanium

December 2025

Helped 881,707 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:

Categories and Ranking

Qualys VMDR

Ranking in Vulnerability Management

3rd

Average Rating

8.4

Reviews Sentiment

7.0

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

IT Asset Management (3rd), Configuration Management Databases (3rd), Container Security (9th), Risk-Based Vulnerability Management (1st)

Tanium

Ranking in Vulnerability Management

24th

Average Rating

7.8

Reviews Sentiment

6.4

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Server Monitoring (3rd), Endpoint Protection Platform (EPP) (20th), Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) (21st), Unified Endpoint Management (UEM) (5th)

Mindshare comparison

As of February 2026, in the Vulnerability Management category, the mindshare of Qualys VMDR is 5.0%, down from 9.2% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Tanium is 1.9%, down from 2.3% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Vulnerability Management Market Share Distribution
Product	Market Share (%)
Qualys VMDR	5.0%
Tanium	1.9%
Other	93.1%

Vulnerability Management

Featured Reviews

Vaibhav Ghule

Soc Lead & Edr Administration at Persistent Systems

Continuous risk-based monitoring has strengthened incident response and vulnerability prioritization

I haven't explored Qualys VMDR's vulnerability lifecycle automation yet. One of my analysts mentioned that queries lack grouping operators in Qualys VMDR. From my experience, I would appreciate improvements in the query options in Qualys VMDR, specifically in the query-building process where I would need more features and operators. Additionally, we have been facing issues with Qualys on the cloud level. We cannot download the configuration profile from the cloud agent, and it is showing a pending action for download. During 2025, we noticed outages of Qualys a couple of times. I want to mention that there is an issue with receiving timely RCA deliveries. While this is not necessarily about the tool, it relates to support. The support has not been very responsive, and we are receiving RCAs a little delayed whenever we raise support cases or communicate with the TAMs. Additionally, the UI has a slight latency, which I and my team have experienced. They have also reported this latency issue when navigating through different pages.

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Vignesh K

Infra Vulnarability Manager at Rezilyens

Immediate results in patching promptly address vulnerabilities

When working with Tanium, there are some older devices that haven't been patched for a long time, and certain patches are not included in Tanium. I have to search outside to download patches, create bundles, and then perform the task. It would be easier if Tanium provided the patches directly. Some other brands provide the patch with a direct download link, which facilitates the process. Also, I feel that if there were more detailed documents and remediations readily available online for troubleshooting, especially more up-to-date information, it would be beneficial. Currently, some resources online are very out-of-date.

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Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"It's very configurable to adjust impact to systems."

"The solution is easy to use."

"There are many features. Its reliability, ease of installation, ease of use, and the richness of the information provided are the most valuable features."

"Qualys VM is very stable."

"The process of defining and discovering scans is organized efficiently."

"Great web application security for scanning."

"It gives a very good overview of the inventory assessment process, and it can be accessed across our company because it's a global tool."

"It is very easy to use and there are lots of options. We can usually easily go through it and all of the things we want to configure, and we can configure everything to our specifications very easily."

More Qualys VMDR pros

"I find the inventory and compliance features of Tanium to be the most impressive."

"I like the fact that you can create patching campaigns depending on the area of your network that you want to address first. I like the ability it has to make several campaigns that work in parallel."

"Tanium’s best features include support for any Windows, Linux, or Mac endpoint, regardless of where it is, and the ability to do IT operations and security operations."

"The solution's technical support is very responsive."

"Tanium is a very good product and I would rate it eight or nine out of ten."

"I like the tool's incident response and security patching."

"For incident response tasks, all these tasks can get done in minutes with minimal disruption to the end-user."

"I would say Tanium is the best tool for vulnerability management."

More Tanium pros

Cons

"It would be nice to have an all-in-one solution that was automated and could handle the scanning and reports as well as the patching and updating."

"The reporting and dashboards could improve in Qualys VM. However, they have improved since the previous versions."

"Its integration with ServiceNow and other similar products is complicated and can be improved. It should also have virtual batching. They should support more standards and compliance requirements and more customizations. For policy compliance, they can add the standards required by the countries in the Middle East. Each country generates its own standards and frameworks, and those frameworks should be there in all products, not only in Qualys. The market here is huge, especially in the cybersecurity field. Qatar has a framework for Qatar 2022, and each and every company in the public or private sector has to follow the Qatar 2022 framework."

"They're still evolving their platform in terms of reporting capabilities."

"There were some issues later with Qualys VMDR regarding security, specifically with numerous false positive reports."

"It's too early for me to say if there is any room for improvement since we're in the first couple of months of using this solution."

"It's not very user-friendly at times and requires in-depth understanding. So, a layman or someone new to Qualys won't be able to easily understand it. You need education to use the solution."

"If anything, I would like to see the user interface modernized a bit more."

More Qualys VMDR cons

"Tanium required local admin or root rights on Mac devices, which did not comply with our security policies. This made the solution less suitable for our restrictive environment."

"The main issues are the network connection because different customers have issues with their networks. It's difficult implementing this type of solution because the network is the main feature in the architecture for these types of solutions. Tanium could improve by creating some network optimization."

"The solution lacks mobility."

"It is not really additional functions, or the features that are needed, rather the complexity would be reduced based on the number of modules required to put together a comprehensive operational security and risk compliance model."

"The solution needs to improve the reporting and tracking capabilities."

"The solution can give a lot of false positives."

"Tanium’s scalability could be improved."

"The most painful thing is the interface. It's a bit unclear sometimes."

More Tanium cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"There are no additional fees in addition to the standard licensing fees."

"The solution is expensive."

"I used to work there, so I never paid for the product. As an employee, we get a lifetime license for personal use, and that's what I'm using. It is a comprehensive platform, so there is a lot more to it. There could be other solutions that are probably a little bit cheaper, but it depends on what people need. Different people have different needs. It offers many things on the same platform. If you add all the things up, it should be cheaper, but I have not done any analysis specifically."

"An annual license for a single scanner costs around $3,000."

"The tool's pricing is expensive and I would rate the pricing a seven out of ten."

"Qualys VM is reasonably priced."

"They have recently changed the pricing model, which is now better than it was before."

"Qualys VM is quite expensive. It's a subscription-based license, and it's yearly. Right now, it's open for me, and I don't have any limitations or caps on the licenses. They are seeing if the product is viable for 4500 users. I can add as much as I want, and at the end of the subscription, they'll let me know how many licenses were actually used and bill me accordingly. On a scale from one to five, I would give their pricing a three. It's still expensive."

More Qualys VMDR pricing and cost advice

"The solution is expensive but it's a good investment."

"It is higher than some competitors in the market."

"It's an expensive solution. It would be nice if the cost were lower."

"The product's pricing differs from region to region depending on negotiations and the number of endpoints."

"The solution offers value for money."

"There is an annual license required to use this solution."

"Tanium is a more expensive solution in Latin America than some of the competitors, such as BigFix."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

16%

Computer Software Company

10%

Manufacturing Company

Government

Financial Services Firm

15%

Government

10%

Manufacturing Company

Computer Software Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	20
Midsize Enterprise	12
Large Enterprise	70

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	6
Midsize Enterprise	3
Large Enterprise	11

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Qualys VMDR?

I like that we have many scanners and channels that don't overload. It helps us scan and track easily. Also, the tagging system is good for tagging. We can still use QualysAgent task ID tools even ...

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Qualys VMDR?

My experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing shows that we can consider both time and money saved.

What needs improvement with Qualys VMDR?

What needs improvement with Tanium?

While there is always room for improvement, I am pleased with Tanium.

What is your primary use case for Tanium?

The primary use case for Tanium ( /products/tanium-reviews ) is compliance, patching, and inventory as part of the core functions.

What advice do you have for others considering Tanium?

For smaller companies, Tanium is quite a big investment, and one needs to have a considerable setup to make it economically viable. I would recommend it to others with a similar use case. The solut...

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Product Reports

Download Qualys VMDR product report

Qualys VMDR

January 2026

Download Tanium product report

January 2026

Also Known As

Qualys VM, QualysGuard VM, Qualys Asset Inventory, Qualys Container Security

Tanium Inc Cloud, Tanium XEM

Overview

Vulnerability Management, Detection, and Response (VMDR) is a cornerstone product of the Qualys TruRisk Platform and a global leader in the enterprise-grade vulnerability management (VM) vendor space. With VMDR, enterprises are empowered with visibility and insight into cyber risk exposure - making it easy to prioritize vulnerabilities, assets, or groups of assets based on business risk. Security teams can take action to mitigate risk, helping the business measure their actual risk exposure over time.

Qualys VMDR offers an all-inclusive risk-based vulnerability management solution to prioritize vulnerabilities and assets based on risk and business criticality. VMDR seamlessly integrates with configuration management databases (CMDB), Qualys Patch Management, Custom Assessment and Remediation (CAR), Qualys TotalCloud and other Qualys and non-Qualys solutions to facilitate vulnerability detection and remediation across the entire enterprise.

With VMDR, users are empowered with actionable risk insights that translate vulnerabilities and exploits into optimized remediation actions based on business impact. Qualys customers can now aggregate and orchestrate data from the Qualys Threat Library, 25+ threat intelligence feeds, and third-party security and IT solutions, empowering organizations to measure, communicate, and eliminate risk across on-premises, hybrid, and cloud environments.

Qualys

Tanium offers robust endpoint protection, patching, and inventory management, consolidating the functions of tools like BigFix with capabilities in incident response, network security, and cloud or on-premise deployments.

Known for real-time capabilities, Tanium provides detailed analytics, security features, and device management. Users benefit from quick implementation, real-time updates, and patching campaigns. Despite its strengths, integration and custom plugin expansion remain areas to improve, along with data visualization and network optimization. Reporting enhancements and user training could advance its usability, and some UI elements may require updates for clarity and security.

What are the essential features of Tanium?

Detailed Analytics: Provides actionable insights for better decision-making.
Security Capabilities: Offers strong defense measures against threats.
Real-Time Queries: Facilitates immediate information access.
Patch Management: Streamlines software updates across devices.
Device Management: Efficiently handles comprehensive inventory and monitoring tasks.

What benefits should users expect?

Ease of Use: Simplifies complex IT tasks.
Scalability: Adapts to growing IT infrastructure needs.
Integration Flexibility: Merges with existing systems effortlessly.
Real-Time Updates: Ensures current data availability for informed actions.

Tanium's deployment spans industries focusing on endpoint protection and compliance, ensuring reliable device and server management in settings where safety and quick adaptation are critical. Organizations use it for application deployment, compliance checks, and integrating it as an EDR solution, enhancing overall security and operational efficiencies.

Sample Customers

Agrokor Group, American Specialty Health, American State Bank, Arval, Life:), Axway, Bank of the West, Blueport Commerce, BSkyB, Brinks, CaixaBank, Cartagena, Catholic Health System, CEC Bank, Cegedim, CIGNA, Clickability, Colby-Sawyer College, Commercial Bank of Dubai, University of Utah, eBay Inc., ING Singapore, National Theatre, OTP Bank, Sodexo, WebEx

JPMorgan Chase, eBay, Amazon, US Bank, MetLife, pwc, Cerner, Delphi, MGM Grand, New York Life