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Shodan alternatives: 1 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Nov 1, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Shodan: requires learning its filter syntax to get useful results, and filters, bulk downloads and scans consume paid credits. We ranked 1 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Shodan, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Censys currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Censys logoCensysFree plan + paidNoWeb3 of 366.5
  1. Censys logo

    1. CensysTop pick

    Best for: Security teams that need Internet-wide host and certificate data plus attack surface management

    Free plan + paidWeb

    66.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from Shodan

    Larger enterprise platform with frequent scans, certificate data and attack surface management.

    Pros

    • Broad data covering hosts, ports, certificates, websites and DNS
    • Attack surface management and threat hunting built on the same data
    • API access included on all plans

    Cons

    • Free account covers only basic visibility into standard ports
    • Credit-based billing makes costs harder to predict
    • Larger plans go through sales demos
    Visit Censys Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.3100
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Censys a good Shodan alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    Free plan
    Yes (basic visibility)
    Checked Nov 1, 2026censys.com(opens source in a new tab)
    API
    Included on all plans
    Checked Nov 1, 2026censys.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Data covered
    IPs, ports, certificates, websites, DNS
    Checked Nov 1, 2026censys.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best Shodan alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Censys logo

Best Shodan alternative for most people

Censys

Larger enterprise platform with frequent scans, certificate data and attack surface management.

Censys logo

Best Shodan alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Censys

Larger enterprise platform with frequent scans, certificate data and attack surface management.

Censys logo

Best Shodan alternative for working in the browser

Censys

Larger enterprise platform with frequent scans, certificate data and attack surface management.

Shodan alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Shodan?

Censys ranks first right now. Larger enterprise platform with frequent scans, certificate data and attack surface management.

Is there a free alternative to Shodan?

Yes. Censys (free plan + paid) has a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Shodan?

None of the 1 alternatives in this list is open source.

Why do people switch from Shodan?

The complaints we hear most: requires learning its filter syntax to get useful results; filters, bulk downloads and scans consume paid credits; website blocks many automated requests, making some info hard to reach.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces Shodan, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.