Tenable Nessus alternatives: 2 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Nov 1, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Tenable Nessus: free licence lasts 30 days and covers only 5 IPs, and professional costs thousands per year. We ranked 2 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Tenable Nessus, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. ZAP currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#	App	Pricing	Open source	Platforms	Verified facts	Score
1	ZAP	Open source	Yes	Windows, macOS, Linux	4 of 4	62.6
2	Burp Suite	Free plan + paid	No	Windows, macOS, Linux	7 of 7	59.6

1. ZAPTop pick
Best for: Developers and AppSec teams who want free automated web scanning, including in CI
Open sourceWindows, macOS, Linux
62.6
score / 100
Why switch from Tenable Nessus
Free and open source, a better fit if you mainly scan web applications.
Pros
Free and open source, with the automated scanner included
Docker images and automation framework for CI pipelines
Add-on marketplace extends it
Cons
Interface is dated and busier than Burp or Caido
Windows and Linux builds need Java 17 or newer installed
Releases are unsigned, so operating systems show warnings on install
Visit ZAP Details and reviews
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.387
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 ZAP a good Tenable Nessus alternative?
Verified facts
4 of 4 verified
Price
Free and open source
Checked Oct 30, 2026zaproxy.org(opens source in a new tab)
License
Apache-2.0
Checked Oct 30, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
Platforms
Windows, Linux, macOS, Docker
Checked Oct 30, 2026zaproxy.org(opens source in a new tab)
Requirements
Java 17+ on Windows and Linux
Checked Oct 30, 2026zaproxy.org(opens source in a new tab)
2. Burp Suite
Best for: Pentesters and bug bounty hunters doing hands-on web application testing
Free plan + paidWindows, macOS, Linux
59.6
score / 100
Why switch from Tenable Nessus
The standard for hands-on web app testing, with an automated scanner in Pro.
Pros
Industry-standard proxy, Repeater and Intruder workflow
Free Community Edition for learning and manual testing
Large extension library and free training from PortSwigger
Cons
The scanner and full-speed Intruder require the paid Professional licence
Community Edition can't save projects
Java-based UI can be heavy on memory during big tests
Visit Burp Suite Details and reviews
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.377
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 Burp Suite a good Tenable Nessus alternative?
Verified facts
7 of 7 verified
Free edition
Community Edition
Checked Oct 29, 2026portswigger.net(opens source in a new tab)
Pro-only features
Project files, full Intruder, vulnerability scanner
Checked Oct 29, 2026portswigger.net(opens source in a new tab)
Billing
Yearly licence terms
Checked Oct 29, 2026portswigger.net(opens source in a new tab)
Owner
PortSwigger Ltd
Checked Oct 29, 2026portswigger.net(opens source in a new tab)
Starting price
$499 (Burp Suite Professional)
Checked Nov 1, 2026portswigger.net(opens source in a new tab)
Free plan
Yes, Community Edition
Checked Nov 1, 2026portswigger.net(opens source in a new tab)
Free trial
Yes (Professional)
Checked Nov 1, 2026portswigger.net(opens source in a new tab)