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Security & Cybersecurity · head to head

Snyk vs Tenable Nessus

Snyk logo

Snyk

Security & Cybersecurity

Developer-first security platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Tenable Nessus logo

Tenable Nessus

Security & Cybersecurity

Network vulnerability scanner

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Snyk free plan has strict test limits across all modules: Open Source (200), Code (100), Infrastructure as Code (300), Container (100) tests per month; Tenable Nessus nessus Professional is $4,790 for one year, sold as an annual licence rather than a per scan or usage based fee
  • They diverge on capability: Snyk covers Open source security, Tenable Nessus covers Network scanning.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Snyk and Tenable Nessus actually diverge.

Attributes where Snyk and Tenable Nessus differ
AttributeSnykTenable Nessus
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
PlatformsWeb, CLI, IDE integrationsWindows, Linux, Macos, Cloud
Founded20152002

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Security & 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 Snyk

  • Open source security
  • Code security (SAST)
  • Container security
  • IaC security
  • License compliance
  • Fix PRs
  • Priority scoring
  • Developer IDE integration

Only in Tenable Nessus

  • Network scanning
  • Vulnerability detection
  • Configuration assessment
  • Malware detection
  • Compliance checking
  • Cloud security assessment
  • Mobile scanning
  • API access

Both cover

  • Jira
  • AWS
  • Azure
  • Google Cloud
  • SOC2 Type 2
  • ISO 27001

What people use each for

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

Snyk

  • Individual developers testing on free tier with limited monthly scansnot Tenable Nessus
  • Development teams using Team plan with increased test quotas and IDE integrationnot Tenable Nessus
  • Enterprises requiring unlimited testing via Enterprise plan with custom security rulesnot Tenable Nessus

Tenable Nessus

  • Vulnerability scanning of servers, network devices and web applicationsnot Snyk
  • Configuration and compliance auditing against hardening benchmarksnot Snyk
  • Point in time assessments by consultants and penetration testersnot Snyk

Where each one falls short

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

Snyk

  • Free plan has strict test limits across all modules: Open Source (200), Code (100), Infrastructure as Code (300), Container (100) tests per month
  • Free and Team plans count only contributing developers making commits within 90 days; public contributions do not count
  • Enterprise plan requires custom pricing and sales contact

Tenable Nessus

  • Nessus Professional is $4,790 for one year, sold as an annual licence rather than a per scan or usage based fee
  • Support beyond the base entitlement costs an extra $400 per year for Advanced Support with 24x365 phone and chat access
  • The on demand training course is a separate $275 purchase for a single person for one year
  • Multi year discounts require paying for two or three years up front

Pricing, plan by plan

Snyk

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Snyk review.

Tenable Nessus

Free
  • Nessus EssentialsFree
    • Up to 16 ips
    • Network scanning
    • Vulnerability assessment
  • Nessus Professional$2600/year
    • Unlimited targets
    • Enterprise features
    • Advanced analytics
  • Nessus Expert$5200/year
    • All Professional features
    • Cloud integration
    • Advanced reporting

Which should you pick?

Choose Snyk if

  • You need open source security.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, CLI, IDE integrations.
  • You also want code security (sast).
Snyk review

Choose Tenable Nessus if

  • You need network scanning.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, Linux, Macos, Cloud.
  • You also want vulnerability detection.
Tenable Nessus review

Questions people ask

Is Snyk or Tenable Nessus better?
Neither clearly leads. Snyk starts at Free and Tenable Nessus at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Snyk or Tenable Nessus?
Snyk starts at Free and Tenable Nessus at Free.
Does Snyk or Tenable Nessus run on more platforms?
Snyk runs on Web, CLI, IDE integrations. Tenable Nessus runs on Windows, Linux, Macos, Cloud.
Can I use Snyk for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Snyk best used for?
Snyk is most often used for individual developers testing on free tier with limited monthly scans, development teams using team plan with increased test quotas and ide integration, enterprises requiring unlimited testing via enterprise plan with custom security rules. Of those, individual developers testing on free tier with limited monthly scans and development teams using team plan with increased test quotas and ide integration are not what Tenable Nessus is typically brought in for.
What can Snyk do that Tenable Nessus cannot?
Snyk covers Open source security, Code security (SAST), Container security, IaC security. Tenable Nessus covers Network scanning, Vulnerability detection, Configuration assessment, Malware detection. Both handle Jira, AWS, Azure, Google Cloud.
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