HostedScan Alternative
Panoptic Scans Versus HostedScan
Simple, Affordable
Vulnerability Scanning
Panoptic Scans focuses on clarity over complexity with affordable pricing, practical context, and compliance-ready vulnerability reports.
Comparison
Panoptic Scans vs HostedScan
HostedScan is an established vulnerability scanning platform that bundles open-source tools into a managed service. Panoptic Scans uses the same underlying scanners, while adding detailed attack narratives, a modern interface, and transparent pricing designed to make enterprise-grade security accessible to teams of any size.
Why Choose Panoptic Scans?
1. Context-Rich Attack Narratives
Panoptic Scans provides detailed attack narratives that explain how each vulnerability can be exploited, giving your team actionable intelligence to prioritize remediation effectively.
2. Transparent & Affordable Pricing
Start scanning for just $25/month with no hidden fees or complicated tiers. Panoptic Scans offers straightforward plans that scale with your needs - not your budget constraints.
3. Modern, Intuitive Interface
A clean, streamlined dashboard designed for clarity. Security teams, compliance managers, and MSPs can navigate findings, run scans, and generate reports without a steep learning curve.
4. Compliance-Ready Reports
Purpose-built reports aligned with SOC 2, HIPAA, and other compliance frameworks. Export as PDF, CSV, or HTML - ready for auditors, executives, and stakeholders without additional formatting.
5. 100% Cloud-Native, Zero Setup
No agents to install, no infrastructure to maintain. Sign up, add your targets, and start scanning in minutes. Panoptic Scans handles everything in the cloud so you can focus on fixing vulnerabilities.
6. Industry-Trusted Open-Source Scanners
Powered by the same open-source engines - OpenVAS, ZAP, Nmap, and Nuclei - but orchestrated through an intelligent platform that delivers context and clarity alongside raw findings.
Features
Feature Comparison
See how Panoptic Scans stacks up against HostedScan across the features that matter most.
| Feature | Panoptic Scans | HostedScan |
|---|---|---|
| Detailed Attack Narratives |
Context-rich narratives explaining how each vulnerability can be exploited
|
Standard scanner output without narrative context
|
| Network Vulnerability Scanning |
OpenVAS & Nuclei powered scanning (external & internal)
|
OpenVAS & Nuclei powered scanning
|
| Web Application Scanning |
ZAP powered DAST scanning (unauthenticated & authenticated)
|
ZAP powered scanning
|
| Port Scanning |
Nmap powered port discovery
|
Nmap powered port discovery
|
| Pricing Transparency |
Plans from $25/month
|
Free tier available, paid plans from $89/month
|
| User Interface |
Modern, streamlined and beginner-friendly
|
Functional but more developer-oriented
|
| Compliance Reports (SOC 2, HIPAA) |
Audit-ready PDF, CSV, and HTML exports
|
SOC 2 and ISO 27001 reports available
|
| Cloud-Native Platform |
Cloud-native with optional self-hosted internal scanning
|
Cloud-based with optional internal scanning agent
|
| Onboarding Speed |
Scan within minutes of signing up
|
Quick setup with free tier
|
| Open-Source Scanner Integration |
OpenVAS, ZAP, Nmap, Nuclei
|
OpenVAS, ZAP, Nmap, Nuclei, SSLyze
|
| REST API |
Full REST API for automation
|
REST API and webhooks
|
| Scheduled & Continuous Scanning |
Automated scheduling with notifications
|
Continuous and scheduled scanning
|
Key Advantages
What Sets Panoptic Scans Apart
Attack Narratives
Go beyond raw scan output. Panoptic Scans explains how vulnerabilities can be chained and exploited, helping your team prioritize what actually matters.
Better Value
Enterprise-grade vulnerability scanning starting at $25/month.
Compliance Ready
Generate audit-ready reports for SOC 2, HIPAA, and other frameworks. Structured, professional, and exportable in multiple formats.
Use Cases
Vulnerability Management for Every Team
External & Internal Vulnerability Scanning
Monitor your perimeter and internal infrastructure with continuous vulnerability assessments powered by OpenVAS, Nuclei, and Nmap. Scan external systems from the cloud, or internal networks via a self-hosted script.
Learn more →Web Application Security
DAST scanning with OWASP ZAP to identify XSS, SQL injection, and other web application vulnerabilities. Supports both unauthenticated and authenticated scans to test content behind login pages.
Learn more →SOC 2 Compliance Scanning
Meet your SOC 2 network vulnerability scanning requirements with automated, audit-ready reports covering both external and internal infrastructure.
Learn more →Attack Surface Monitoring
Keep track of your expanding attack surface with continuous monitoring of domains, IPs, and exposed services.
Learn more →MSP & MSSP Solutions
Manage vulnerability scanning across multiple clients with scalable, affordable plans designed for managed service providers.
Learn more →Vanta Integration
Seamlessly connect Panoptic Scans with Vanta to automate your compliance evidence collection and vulnerability management.
Learn more →Ready to Try Panoptic Scans?
HostedScan is a solid vulnerability scanning platform. But if you need deeper vulnerability context, attack narratives that explain the "how" behind each finding, and pricing that works for teams of all sizes, Panoptic Scans is your next-generation alternative. Start scanning in minutes with a free trial - no credit card required.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Panoptic Scans a good alternative to HostedScan?
Yes. Panoptic Scans uses the same industry-trusted open-source scanners (OpenVAS, ZAP, Nmap, Nuclei) as HostedScan, but adds detailed attack narratives, a more intuitive interface, and transparent pricing starting at $25/month. It's ideal for teams that need powerful, supported vulnerability scanning without enterprise-grade pricing.
What scanners does Panoptic Scans use?
Panoptic Scans leverages OpenVAS for network vulnerability scanning (both external and internal), ZAP for web application testing with unauthenticated and authenticated DAST, Nmap for port discovery and service detection, and Nuclei for fast, template-based vulnerability detection. External scans are managed in the cloud, while internal network scans are available via a lightweight self-hosted script.
How does pricing compare between Panoptic Scans and HostedScan?
Panoptic Scans starts at $25/month with all core scanning capabilities included. HostedScan offers a limited free tier with paid plans starting at $89/month. For teams looking for full-featured vulnerability management at a lower price point, Panoptic Scans offers excellent value.
Can I use Panoptic Scans for SOC 2 compliance?
Absolutely. Panoptic Scans generates audit-ready vulnerability reports that satisfy SOC 2 network vulnerability scanning requirements for both external and internal infrastructure. Reports can be exported as PDF, CSV, or HTML and shared directly with auditors.
What are attack narratives and why do they matter?
Attack narratives are detailed explanations of how a vulnerability could be exploited in a real-world attack. Unlike standard scanner output that simply lists CVEs and severity scores, attack narratives help security teams understand the actual risk and prioritize remediation based on exploitability.