Cybersecurity · head to head
Nessus vs Splunk Enterprise Security
Nessus
Cybersecurity
The most trusted vulnerability assessment solution
- From
- $4790/year
- Rated
- -
Splunk Enterprise Security
Cybersecurity
The platform for operational intelligence
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Nessus nessus Professional is $4,790 for one year, with no free or low cost commercial tier; Splunk Enterprise Security splunk Enterprise Security is licensed separately from the Splunk platform, so a SIEM deployment needs both
- They diverge on capability: Nessus covers Vulnerability scanning, Splunk Enterprise Security covers Security monitoring.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Nessus and Splunk Enterprise Security actually diverge.
| Attribute | Nessus | Splunk Enterprise Security |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $4790/year | On request |
| Platforms | Desktop, Api | Web, Api |
| Founded | 2002 | 2003 |
Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Cybersecurity).
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 Splunk Enterprise Security
- Security monitoring
- Incident review
- Risk-based alerting
- Threat intelligence
- Investigation workbench
- MITRE ATT&CK mapping
- Automated response
- Compliance reporting
Both cover
- ServiceNow
- AWS
- Azure
- Google Cloud
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Nessus
- Vulnerability scanning for individual practitionersnot Splunk Enterprise Security
- Enterprise vulnerability managementnot Splunk Enterprise Security
- Web application security assessmentsnot Splunk Enterprise Security
Splunk Enterprise Security
- Running a security operations centre on Splunk indexed log datanot Nessus
- Correlation searches, risk based alerting and incident investigationnot Nessus
- Compliance reporting from pooled security telemetrynot 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
Splunk Enterprise Security
- Splunk Enterprise Security is licensed separately from the Splunk platform, so a SIEM deployment needs both
- Splunk publishes no rate for Enterprise Security and directs buyers to contact a pricing expert
- UEBA, SOAR and automated threat analysis require the Premier edition rather than Essentials
- The platform underneath can be billed by ingest volume, workload or activity, so the total cost depends on a pricing model chosen at contract time rather than a list price
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
Splunk Enterprise Security
On request- Workload PricingFree
- Pay per compute
- Flexible scaling
- All features
- Ingest PricingFree
- Pay per GB ingested
- Predictable costs
- All features
- Entity PricingFree
- Pay per monitored entity
- Security focused
- All features
Which should you pick?
Choose Nessus if
- You need vulnerability scanning.
- You work on Desktop, Api.
- You also want configuration auditing.
Choose Splunk Enterprise Security if
- You need security monitoring.
- You work on Web, Api.
- You also want incident review.
Questions people ask
- Is Nessus or Splunk Enterprise Security better?
- Neither clearly leads. Nessus starts at $4790/year and Splunk Enterprise Security at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Nessus or Splunk Enterprise Security?
- Nessus starts at $4790/year and Splunk Enterprise Security at On request.
- Does Nessus or Splunk Enterprise Security run on more platforms?
- Nessus runs on Desktop, Api. Splunk Enterprise Security runs on Web, Api.
- 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 Splunk Enterprise Security is typically brought in for.
- What can Nessus do that Splunk Enterprise Security cannot?
- Nessus covers Vulnerability scanning, Configuration auditing, Malware detection, Web application scanning. Splunk Enterprise Security covers Security monitoring, Incident review, Risk-based alerting, Threat intelligence. Both handle ServiceNow, AWS, Azure, Google Cloud.
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.
SourceSplunk Enterprise Security: How much does Splunk Enterprise Security cost?
Splunk Enterprise Security pricing is not published. The product is available in Essentials Edition with threat detection, investigation, and response capabilities, and Premier Edition with UEBA, SOAR, and Automated Threat Analysis. Customers must contact Splunk sales for pricing quotes on either edition.
SourceNessus: 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.
SourceSplunk Enterprise Security: What editions of Splunk Enterprise Security are available?
Splunk Enterprise Security offers Essentials Edition with threat detection, investigation, and response capabilities, and Premier Edition which adds UEBA (User and Entity Behavior Analytics), SOAR (Security Orchestration, Automation and Response), and Automated Threat Analysis.
SourceNessus: 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.
SourceRelated pages
More on Splunk Enterprise Security
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