The Qualys WAS alternative
If you are looking for a Qualys WAS alternative, the biggest practical difference is how you buy and run it. Qualys Web Application Scanning is part of a broader enterprise platform with quote-based procurement. OnScanner is self-serve: point it at a target you own, get a live consolidated report in one pass, and automate it over a REST API or MCP server, with 40+ privacy checks, email and TLS posture, and opt-in AI Findings. Here is an honest, source-linked comparison.
Prefer a straight side-by-side? See the full OnScanner vs Qualys Web Application Scanning (WAS) comparison.
TL;DR
Choose OnScanner when you want enterprise-grade scanning you can start today: live, never-cached scans with safe exploit verification and zero-day heuristics, EPSS and CISA KEV prioritization, deep technology and end-of-life detection, and 40+ privacy and tracker checks with email, TLS and WAF posture. Turn on AI Findings and it writes the executive summary, ranks your Top Risks, chains findings into MITRE ATT&CK attack paths, drafts remediation, and generates SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR, PCI-DSS and HIPAA compliance reports. Free tier and a hosted MCP server included.
Qualys Web Application Scanning (WAS) is a great choice when you are standardizing on a platform suite: governed scanning across large application portfolios, integration with the wider Qualys stack, and formal procurement and support processes.
Feature comparison
Verified against public product pages on 2026-07-02. Cells marked "Not listed" mean the capability is not described on the vendor's public docs as of that date, not that it is impossible.
| Capability | OnScanner | Qualys Web Application Scanning (WAS) |
|---|---|---|
| External (unauthenticated) scanning | YesThe anonymous attacker's view, no agents | YesCloud-based DAST with discovery scans ('information gathered checks only') and vulnerability scans (XSS, SQL injection checks) |
| Authenticated scanning | YesScan behind login with credentials | YesForm-based, server-based (Basic, Digest, NTLM), OAuth2 (all four grant types), and Selenium-script authentication via Qualys… |
| Privacy, tracker & consent scanning | Yes40+ categories incl. fingerprinting | PartialNo cookie/tracker/consent-behavior scanning listed, but WAS detects PII exposure and collection points: 'PII exposure and web… |
| CVE intelligence (EPSS & CISA KEV) | YesCVE/CPE matching with EPSS + KEV context | YesTruRisk scoring factors in CVSS/EPSS, CISA KEV, and EOLand 'CISA KEV (Known… |
| Active exploit verification | YesSafe, non-destructive, in-band probes | Not listed*Not listed on public docs as of 2026-07-02 |
| Patch-status & end-of-life detection | YesVendor/distro patch data + EOL flags | Partial'End of Life & End of Service for software, operating systems, or hardware' is an explicit TruRisk scoring factor at the… |
| Email security (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) | Yes | Not listed*Not listed on public WAS docs as of 2026-07-02c feature set on any page… |
| WAF detection | Yes | Not listed*Not listed on public docs as of 2026-07-02 |
| Continuous monitoring | YesScheduled scans + change detection | Yes'We recommend you schedule your scans to run automatically (daily, weekly, monthly)' |
| REST API | Yes | YesDedicated WAS API with a published user guide covering launching scans, retrieving scan status/results, and downloading… |
| MCP server for AI agents | YesHosted: mcp.onscanner.com | NoNo first-party MCP server listed on Qualys public pages as of 2026-07-02 |
| AI analysis, remediation & compliance reports | YesOpt-in AI Findings + AI Compliance (SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR, PCI-DSS, HIPAA) | Not listed* |
| Transparent self-serve pricing | YesFree tier; Professional $60/mo | NoLive vendor pricing page lists no dollar amounts |
Why teams pick OnScanner
- Enterprise-grade coverage without the procurement cycle: fully automated specialist engines run in parallel on every scan, self-serve from a free tier.
- Every scan is live and never cached, with safe active exploitation probes that verify what is actually exploitable and zero-day heuristics that flag unknown vulnerabilities before a CVE exists.
- Deep technology detection with patch-status and end-of-life flags, so you know exactly what is running and what is out of support.
- Exploit-aware prioritization: CVE and CPE matching enriched with EPSS scores and the CISA KEV catalog, so you fix what attackers actually use.
- Opt-in AI Findings: an executive summary, ranked Top Risks, and clear per-finding explanations with remediation your developers can act on.
- Vulnerability chaining: AI Findings links related results into real attack paths mapped to the MITRE ATT&CK kill chain.
- AI Compliance reports on demand: SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR, PCI-DSS and HIPAA assessments generated from your scan results.
- 40+ privacy, tracker, fingerprinting and consent checks plus email (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), TLS and WAF posture in the same pass.
- Continuous monitoring with scheduled scans and 24/7 change detection, plus a REST API and hosted MCP server on every plan, free tier included.
When Qualys Web Application Scanning (WAS) fits
- You need authenticated scanning for complex login flows: form, Basic/Digest/NTLM, OAuth2, and Selenium-scripted logins including SSO and TOTP.
- You want web app findings unified with the wider Qualys platform: TruRisk prioritization blends CVSS, EPSS, CISA KEV, asset criticality and business context.
- You need add-on modules such as web malware detection, PII exposure detection, and API security test signatures.
The difference in one line: OnScanner delivers a live consolidated report in minutes, self-serve from a free tier, with privacy checks and opt-in AI compliance reports and no procurement cycle.
Pricing
OnScanner is self-serve with a free Starter tier and Professional at $60 per month. Qualys Web Application Scanning (WAS): custom (Quote-based subscription priced by Cloud Platform apps selected, number of IPs, web applications, and user licenses; no self-serve checkout Verified 2026-07-02.)
Frequently asked questions
Is OnScanner a good Qualys WAS alternative?
If you want capable scanning you can start today without procurement, yes. OnScanner is self-serve with a free Starter tier, and covers security plus 40+ privacy checks, email and TLS posture, and CVE intelligence with EPSS and CISA KEV in one live pass, with a REST API and hosted MCP server for automation.
How is OnScanner different from Qualys WAS?
Qualys WAS is part of a large platform with quote-based pricing. OnScanner is self-serve with transparent pricing and a free tier, returns a consolidated live report in one pass, and adds privacy and tracker scanning, email posture, and opt-in AI compliance reports (SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR, PCI-DSS, HIPAA).
Can I try OnScanner without a sales call?
Yes. OnScanner has a free Starter tier and self-serve signup, so you can scan a target you own and see a full consolidated report before talking to anyone, rather than going through quote-based enterprise procurement.
Does OnScanner support scheduled and automated scanning?
Yes. OnScanner runs its specialist engines on every scan, supports scheduled scanning and continuous monitoring, and exposes a REST API and hosted MCP server so you can automate scans across targets and wire results into agents and workflows.
Sources
Every Qualys Web Application Scanning (WAS) fact above was checked against these public pages on 2026-07-02. If something has changed since, tell us at support@onscanner.com and we will correct it.
- Qualys WAS pricing
- Qualys WAS product page
- Qualys TotalAppSec
- Qualys WAS analyst story
- WAS authentication basics docs (Qualys)
- WAS scanning basics docs (Qualys)
- TruRisk in WAS post (Qualys blog)
- AI-powered API security in WAS post (Qualys blog)
- MCP servers and shadow AI post (Qualys blog)
- Community Qualys MCP server (GitHub)
- Qualys WAS API user guide (PDF)
See what OnScanner finds on your site
Live, never-cached security and privacy scanning: OWASP Top 10, CVE intelligence with EPSS and KEV, 40+ privacy checks, REST API and MCP server. Free Starter tier, no sales call.