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Cybersecurity · head to head

Nessus vs Socrata

Nessus logo

Nessus

Cybersecurity

The most trusted vulnerability assessment solution

From
$4790/year
Free plan
No
Full reviewWebsite
Socrata logo

Socrata

Government

Open Data Platform for Government

From
$500/month
Free plan
No
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • They diverge on capability: Nessus covers Vulnerability scanning, Socrata covers Data Publishing.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Nessus and Socrata actually diverge.

Attributes where Nessus and Socrata differ
AttributeNessusSocrata
Starting price$4790/year$500/month
PlatformsDesktop, ApiWeb
CategoryCybersecurityGovernment
Founded20021966

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Nessus

  • Vulnerability scanning
  • Configuration auditing
  • Malware detection
  • Web application scanning
  • Cloud scanning
  • Compliance checks
  • Patch auditing
  • Pre-built policies

Only in Socrata

  • Data Publishing
  • Visualization Tools
  • API Access
  • Data Catalog
  • Performance Analytics
  • Tableau
  • Power BI
  • ArcGIS

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Nessus

  • Vulnerability scanning for individual practitionersnot Socrata
  • Enterprise vulnerability managementnot Socrata
  • Web application security assessmentsnot Socrata

Socrata

  • Citizen Servicesnot Nessus
  • Records Managementnot Nessus
  • Public Safetynot Nessus
  • Civic Engagementnot Nessus

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Nessus

  • Nessus Professional is $4,790 for one year, with no free or low cost commercial tier
  • Multi year terms are the only discount route, at $9,330.95 for two years and $13,637.54 for three
  • It is a single user scanner, so team workflows mean migrating to another Tenable product
  • Tenable One vulnerability management is priced separately, starting at $3,500 a year for 100 assets

Socrata

Nothing recorded yet. See the Socrata review.

Pricing, plan by plan

Nessus

$4790/year
  • Nessus Professional$4790/year
    • 1 year license
    • Best for individual security professionals
  • Nessus Professional 2-Year$9330.95/2 years
    • 2 year license with discounted rate vs. annual
  • Nessus Professional 3-Year$13637.54/3 years
    • 3 year license with discounted rate vs. annual
  • Nessus Expert$6790/year
    • 1 year license
    • Enhanced capabilities vs. Professional

Socrata

$500/month
  • Open Data$500/month
    • Data Portal
    • Visualizations
    • API Access

Which should you pick?

Choose Nessus if

  • You need vulnerability scanning.
  • You work on Desktop, Api.
  • You also want configuration auditing.
Nessus review

Choose Socrata if

  • You need data publishing.
  • You also want visualization tools.
Socrata review

Questions people ask

Is Nessus or Socrata better?
Neither clearly leads. Nessus starts at $4790/year and Socrata at $500/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Nessus or Socrata?
Nessus starts at $4790/year and Socrata at $500/month.
Does Nessus or Socrata run on more platforms?
Nessus runs on Desktop, Api. Socrata runs on Web.
What is Nessus best used for?
Nessus is most often used for vulnerability scanning for individual practitioners, enterprise vulnerability management, web application security assessments. Of those, vulnerability scanning for individual practitioners and enterprise vulnerability management are not what Socrata is typically brought in for.
What can Nessus do that Socrata cannot?
Nessus covers Vulnerability scanning, Configuration auditing, Malware detection, Web application scanning. Socrata covers Data Publishing, Visualization Tools, API Access, Data Catalog.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Nessus: What is the cheapest Nessus option?

Nessus Professional starts at $4,790 per year for a 1-year license. Multi-year commitments offer discounts, with 2-year licenses at $9,330.95 and 3-year licenses at $13,637.54.

Source
Nessus: What is the difference between Nessus Professional and Expert?

Nessus Expert costs $6,790 per year for a 1-year license (compared to $4,790 for Professional) and includes enhanced capabilities. Multi-year rates are available at discounted prices.

Source
Nessus: Does Nessus offer optional support or training?

Yes, Nessus offers add-on services: Advanced Support at $400/year provides 24x365 access to phone, email, community, and chat support. On-Demand Training costs $275/year for Fundamentals course access or $385/year for both Fundamentals and Advanced courses.

Source
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