DefectDojo vs Qualys Exposure Management comparison

Why PeerSpot?

DefectDojo and Qualys are both solutions in the Vulnerability Management category. DefectDojo is ranked #55, while Qualys is ranked #2 with an average rating of 8.5. DefectDojo holds a 0.7% mindshare in VM, compared to Qualys’s 4.0% mindshare. Additionally, 100% of DefectDojo users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 95% of Qualys users who would recommend it.

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Aug 13, 2026

Qualys VMDR and DefectDojo are products in the cybersecurity space focusing on vulnerability management. Qualys VMDR has the upper hand with its comprehensive platform approach and automated features, appealing to businesses looking for complete solutions.

Features: Qualys VMDR stands out with all-in-one vulnerability scanning and management, offering automated patching and robust insights. DefectDojo excels with open-source flexibility, strong integrations, and data import capability, ideal for technical teams requiring customized workflows.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Qualys VMDR offers a cloud-based deployment model with extensive support, making it accessible for organizations with limited IT resources. DefectDojo, based on an open-source framework, demands more technical involvement, suited for teams experienced with on-premises or private cloud deployments.

Pricing and ROI: Qualys VMDR involves a higher setup cost due to its comprehensive infrastructure, offering a return from enhanced workflows over time. DefectDojo's open-source licensing requires minimal initial investment, appealing to budget-conscious teams, though customization can lead to long-term expenses. Environments focused on cost-effectiveness may find better ROI with DefectDojo, whereas large-scale operations could benefit from Qualys' optimized processes.

To learn more, read our detailed Vulnerability Management Report (Updated: October 2026).

Buyer's Guide

Vulnerability Management

October 2026

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Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Categories and Ranking

Qualys TotalCloud

Mindshare comparison

As of November 2026, in the Vulnerability Management category, the mindshare of Qualys TotalCloud is 1.2%, up from 1.0% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of DefectDojo is 0.7%, down from 0.8% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Qualys Exposure Management is 4.0%, down from 6.6% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Vulnerability Management Mindshare Distribution
Product	Mindshare (%)
Qualys Exposure Management	4.0%
Qualys TotalCloud	1.2%
DefectDojo	0.7%
Other	94.1%

Vulnerability Management

Featured Reviews

reviewer2859021

Sr Security Engineer at a tech vendor with 5,001-10,000 employees

Risk-based triage has transformed container security and now prioritizes high-impact threats

The best features Qualys TotalCloud offers currently include managing cloud infrastructure and container security while facing major challenges such as alert fatigue. Traditional vulnerability scanners flag hundreds of CVEs on short-lived Kubernetes containers, some of which have no internet exposure or are gone before we can even triage them. I leverage Qualys TotalCloud to move beyond static CVSS. I use it to implement runtime exposure, correlation risk reprioritization, and shift-left integration. This notifies developers to fix a base image upstream rather than patching live ephemeral instances. In my work with cloud and container security, the biggest operational hurdle was alert fatigue. I use Qualys to shift left from static CVSS severity to context-aware risk prioritization. I correlated raw vulnerability data with real-time risk factors such as public network exposure, active runtime execution, or overly permissive IAM roles. This allows us to immediately drop the priority of isolated containers and escalate lower-severity CVEs that sit on an exposed, high-risk path. We can map these findings directly back to our CI/CD pipelines so developers can patch the root base images upstream. We have drastically cut down the signal-to-noise ratio, saved a lot of manual hours doing triage work, and ensured engineering effort goes directly towards high-impact risk reduction.

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reviewer2267097

Integration and Solution Architect at a government with 501-1,000 employees

Easy to use with efficient vulnerability reporting and team collaboration

Use case, so all the reports from GitLeaks, DefectDojo, GitLeaks or dependency check or Trivy, they make reports, and we send this report to DefectDojo to have CVMs, Central Vulnerability Management. DefectDojo is Central Vulnerability Management. If you have a dashboard to set, we have…

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Ajay Paul

System Engineer at a outsourcing company with 10,001+ employees

Vulnerability management has prioritized high‑risk patching and simplified bulk system reporting

The primary issue is with the reporting functionality. Even though we fix vulnerabilities, the reports do not reflect the changes immediately. Sometimes we need to manually run a script to scan the systems before Qualys Enterprise TruRisk Management will update the scan results. The main issue is the reporting delay, and sometimes the Qualys Enterprise TruRisk Management agent will not scan the system, which means we do not receive accurate reports in a timely manner. Additionally, there are many metrics for calculating vulnerabilities, such as the Qualys ID, severity scores, CVSS scores, and other metrics. The abundance of information can be confusing. These two aspects are the most significant negatives I have experienced with this tool.

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Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Pros

"Qualys TotalCloud's most valuable feature is its agent versatility."

"The agent and agentless scanning in TotalCloud, particularly the FlexScan method, is incredibly valuable. With traditional scanning approaches, we had to give IP ranges and whitelist IPs. All that is now simplified. FlexScan requires minimal intervention, and after configuration, it automatically collects data and performs necessary scans."

"I appreciate TotalCloud's real-time protection and remediation features. The remediation options include automated one-click remedies and custom changes that help manage vulnerabilities efficiently."

"Qualys TotalCloud has helped us view our risk structure, vulnerabilities, and security posture."

"Qualys TotalCloud is an excellent platform, and the beauty of the platform is that we can get all the vulnerabilities, see all the reports in a single dashboard, view them segregated, and easily learn about critical, high, and medium findings with appropriately provided remediation steps."

"My experience with using TruRisk to mitigate noise from raw CVEs has been extremely effective."

"TruRisk Insights is the most important innovation they've released this year."

"With TotalCloud, we can scan through the API. If we are not able to deploy cloud agents on the machine, we can use the API."

More Qualys TotalCloud pros

"With the pipeline of detection and DefectDojo, we are able to see the real vulnerabilities, and we fix them."

"The best features of Qualys VMDR are its patch management capabilities and the ability to mitigate vulnerabilities automatically."

"Qualys VM has improved the way the organization functions."

"It gives a very good overview of the inventory assessment process, and it can be accessed across our company because it's a global tool."

"If you are comparing Nexpose and Qualys, I would prefer Qualys."

"The initial setup is straightforward."

"This is one of the best products I have worked with so far."

"Qualys VMDR has positively impacted my organization by reducing vulnerability exposure time through faster detection and patching, and it has improved compliance reporting with accurate and up-to-date data."

"Risk-based prioritization is a new feature with Qualys Enterprise TruRisk Management, and overall, the vulnerability posture of our organization has improved significantly."

More Qualys Exposure Management pros

Cons

"Regarding technical support from Qualys, they respond, but the response time can be too long. Sometimes we need to wait weeks for solutions to simple questions."

"The areas in the solution that have room for improvement include the UI/UX design, which should be improved, and they should integrate more artificial intelligence into the product."

"Qualys's ticketing system can be confusing when assigning tasks to individuals, and support could be improved by offering instant call solutions with engineers in addition to ticket replies."

"Qualys' customer service provides quality answers, but the response time is long, even though it is within the SLA."

"It is already perfect, but they can bring some newer dashboards and customization options for the dashboard. It would be great to be able to include on-prem assets on the dashboard."

"We would like to see Windows-based sensors available in Qualys, as this would make the platform more versatile and support a broader range of environments."

"The downside is only in container security, but it has not been a long time since they introduced these models."

"The onboarding process is a bit difficult. In the initial phase, it is very difficult to understand the features, what the dashboard contains, and what criteria they are using."

More Qualys TotalCloud cons

"We need something to notify the team responsible for a product when vulnerabilities are found."

"Qualys doesn't have its own tool to deploy the agents all at once, so we need to use third-party tools such as BigFix or something else to deploy the agents, which is my main concern and should be fixed by the Qualys team."

"Qualys Enterprise TruRisk Management is a big platform, and the initial deployment is tedious."

"Qualys VM could improve by having more skilled support personnel."

"It would be nice to have an all-in-one solution that was automated and could handle the scanning and reports as well as the patching and updating."

"The reporting and the GUI need improvements. Tenable dominated in these two areas: reporting and graphical user interface."

"Second, the remedies provided by Qualys Enterprise TruRisk Management are sometimes not useful most of the time. In that case, we need to troubleshoot or find out the remedies by ourselves."

"What we have found is that the solution is not closely tied with the patch management. It is okay with newer ones, like Windows 10 machines; it gives the correct patch. But for Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008, it does not give us the correct patch so we have to manually identify the patches. This is a major problem."

"I have used the support from Qualys Container Security and they could improve their knowledge."

More Qualys Exposure Management cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The pricing is comparable. It is built into our other product, so I cannot piecemeal it. It is a part of our subscription."

"Qualys TotalCloud is expensive."

"Qualys TotalCloud offers competitive pricing given its comprehensive suite of features, including integration, assessment, remediation, and detection capabilities, all within a single platform."

"The pricing for TotalCloud is attractive and competitive in the market. Given the features, especially the dashboard, I have no concerns regarding pricing."

"I am not sure about the pricing. From what I understand, it is a bit on the higher side, but I do not have the exact numbers."

"Qualys TotalCloud is expensive, but it offers a premier solution with no headaches."

"Qualys TotalCloud offers good pricing that is affordable and competitive with the market. Our partnership also provides us with additional benefits."

"As a middle management member, I do not have direct pricing knowledge, but based on the knowledge from our meetings, its pricing is competitive."

More Qualys TotalCloud pricing and cost advice

Information not available

"It's very expensive, especially if you want to use multiple modules of Qualys."

"Qualys Virtual Scanner Appliance isn't expensive right now. But the price for their product bundles could be better."

"They have recently changed the pricing model, which is now better than it was before."

"We have an annual contract for Qualys VMDR. I believe it's for either two years or five years."

"It is different for every company, but for us, it's every three years."

"The tool's pricing is expensive and I would rate the pricing a seven out of ten."

"I used to work there, so I never paid for the product. As an employee, we get a lifetime license for personal use, and that's what I'm using. It is a comprehensive platform, so there is a lot more to it. There could be other solutions that are probably a little bit cheaper, but it depends on what people need. Different people have different needs. It offers many things on the same platform. If you add all the things up, it should be cheaper, but I have not done any analysis specifically."

"Usually every implementation is different and the quote is in function of number of assets."

More Qualys Exposure Management pricing and cost advice

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Comms Service Provider

18%

Outsourcing Company

11%

Manufacturing Company

11%

Financial Services Firm

10%

Comms Service Provider

14%

Financial Services Firm

11%

Construction Company

Manufacturing Company

Financial Services Firm

13%

Outsourcing Company

Comms Service Provider

Manufacturing Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	16
Midsize Enterprise	11
Large Enterprise	38

No data available

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	21
Midsize Enterprise	12
Large Enterprise	75

Questions from the Community

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Qualys TotalCloud?

We purchased Qualys TotalCloud for GCP and Azure as well. It is comparatively better than others regarding pricing. T...

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What needs improvement with Qualys TotalCloud?

I am unsure about how Qualys TotalCloud can be improved. I do not have anything else to add about the needed improvem...

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What is your primary use case for Qualys TotalCloud?

My main use case for Qualys TotalCloud is telemetry, although I am unsure about the specifics. A quick specific examp...

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What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Qualys VMDR?

My experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing shows that we can consider both time and money saved.

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What needs improvement with Qualys VMDR?

I haven't explored Qualys VMDR's vulnerability lifecycle automation yet. One of my analysts mentioned that queries la...

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What advice do you have for others considering Qualys VMDR?

I have some understanding about PeerSpot, and I have visited the website. PeerSpot is similar to TrustRadius. It take...

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Comparisons

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Compared 14% of the time

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Compared 12% of the time

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Compared 12% of the time

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Compared 12% of the time

Microsoft Defender for Cloud vs DefectDojo

Compared 2% of the time

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Compared 3% of the time

Rapid7 Metasploit vs Qualys Exposure Management

Compared 3% of the time

Wiz vs Qualys Exposure Management

Compared 2% of the time

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Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Qualys TotalCloud

October 2026

Download Qualys TotalCloud product report

Buyer's Guide

Vulnerability Management

October 2026

Download DefectDojo product report

Buyer's Guide

Qualys Exposure Management

October 2026

Download Qualys Exposure Management product report

Also Known As

Qualys TotalCloud with FlexScan

No data available

Qualys VM, QualysGuard VM, Qualys Asset Inventory, Qualys Container Security

Overview

Qualys TotalCloud enhances security posture across cloud environments with continuous monitoring, vulnerability management, and risk visualization, ensuring efficient threat assessment and automated remediation for improved cyber risk reduction.

Qualys TotalCloud offers a robust suite of security tools essential for organizations managing multi-cloud infrastructures. By integrating cloud accounts and automating workflows, it supports AWS, Azure, and GCP, offering comprehensive vulnerability management and zero-day detection. The platform's user-friendly design, combined with its extensive risk management and unified threat assessment capabilities, enables organizations to prioritize and remediate vulnerabilities effectively. TruRisk Insights provides clear insights on cyber risks, while the automation options streamline patch management and scanning processes. API integration across IaaS and SaaS environments further enhances resource allocation efficiency and saves time, addressing misconfigurations across cloud environments.

What are the most important features of Qualys TotalCloud?

Accurate Vulnerability Reports: Delivers precise and actionable insights for risk mitigation.
Zero-Day Detection: Identifies and addresses zero-day vulnerabilities proactively.
Unified Threat Assessment: Offers comprehensive evaluation of threats across the environment.
Extensive Risk Management: Manages risks effectively with advanced insights and prioritization.
Continuous Monitoring: Provides non-stop surveillance for vulnerabilities and threats.
Cloud-Native Automation: Streamlines processes and reduces manual efforts using automation.
FlexScan for Internet-Facing VMs: Scans external VMs efficiently to detect vulnerabilities.
Dashboard Risk Visualization: Clear visualization helps prioritize vulnerabilities.

What benefits and ROI should users look for?

Improved Security Posture: Enhances threat detection and response across clouds.
Time Savings: Automation reduces time spent on manual vulnerability management.
Resource Efficiency: Better allocation of resources through streamlined workflows.
Enhanced Risk Prioritization: Focus on critical vulnerabilities for effective mitigation.
Integrated Cloud Accounts: Facilitates seamless cloud management and security.

Qualys TotalCloud is deployed in sectors needing rigorous vulnerability management, such as finance and healthcare. Companies utilize it to secure multi-cloud environments like AWS, Azure, and GCP, focus on compliance, and integrate security into CI/CD pipelines to detect and remedy threats pre-deployment.

Qualys

DefectDojo is an open-source application vulnerability management tool designed for organizations aiming to enhance their security posture with a streamlined workflow for managing security findings.

DefectDojo supports security teams by facilitating the tracking, managing, and mitigation of vulnerabilities. It centralizes security findings, integrates with different tools, and automates security metrics reporting. Its automation capabilities reduce manual effort, making it indispensable for teams handling large volumes of vulnerabilities. While highly functional, some user feedback suggests there’s room for improvement in documentation and user interface.

What are DefectDojo's most important features?

Integration Capability: Seamlessly integrates with numerous security assessment tools to consolidate security findings.
Automation: Automates repetitive tasks like report generation and metrics calculation to save time.
Scalability: Handles large datasets efficiently, suitable for complex IT environments.
Customizable: Offers customization options for workflows and settings to match specific requirements.

What benefits or ROI should users look for in reviews?

Improved Efficiency: Streamlined processes enhance team productivity and speed up vulnerability management.
Enhanced Security: Comprehensive tracking and reporting improve the security posture of organizations.
Cost-Effective: Open-source nature minimizes costs compared to proprietary solutions.
Time-Saving: Reduces manual input with automated features, allowing teams to focus on high-priority tasks.

DefectDojo is commonly adopted in industries prioritizing cybersecurity, such as finance, healthcare, and technology, where it is utilized to manage ongoing security assessments and track external threats. Its ability to integrate with specialized tools makes it suitable for environments requiring robust security measures.

DefectDojo

Qualys VMDR is a comprehensive cybersecurity tool offering vulnerability management, patch management, and continuous monitoring with real-time asset discovery. It delivers scalable, cloud-based solutions that enhance security operations without additional infrastructure.

Qualys VMDR provides a robust platform for enterprise security, integrating vulnerability management, compliance, and asset inventory for full visibility across cloud and on-premises environments. It features a comprehensive dashboard with threat intelligence-driven prioritization and remediation capabilities. Users benefit from accurate assessments via agent-based scanning and appreciate the intuitive, customizable scanning and reporting interface. However, there's room for improvement in false positive reduction, UI simplification, and integration capabilities, along with enhancements in asset management for large-scale deployments and the vulnerability database. Enhancing technical support speed, patch management, compliance standards, and inter-module navigation would further enrich user experience.

What are the key features of Qualys VMDR?

Vulnerability Management: Identifies and manages security vulnerabilities across environments.
Patch Management: Ensures systems are updated with the latest patches.
Continuous Monitoring: Offers real-time insights into security posture.
Asset Discovery: Provides up-to-date asset inventory and visibility.
Threat Intelligence: Enhances prioritization and remediation processes.
Customizable Dashboard: Facilitates easier scanning and reporting through an intuitive interface.

What benefits can users expect when evaluating Qualys VMDR?

Scalability: Cloud-based deployment offers easy, cost-effective expansion.
Accurate Assessment: Agent-based scanning keeps security data current.
Enhanced Security Operations: Comprehensive features streamline vulnerability management.
Advanced Reporting: Facilitates detailed insights for better security decision-making.

Qualys VMDR is widely used in industries needing stringent security and compliance measures, offering comprehensive vulnerability and compliance management. It is deployed to secure web applications, servers, and crucial assets, supporting a wide range of sectors by ensuring policy adherence and vulnerability tracking through its powerful cloud platform.

Qualys

Sample Customers

Information Not Available

Agrokor Group, American Specialty Health, American State Bank, Arval, Life:), Axway, Bank of the West, Blueport Commerce, BSkyB, Brinks, CaixaBank, Cartagena, Catholic Health System, CEC Bank, Cegedim, CIGNA, Clickability, Colby-Sawyer College, Commercial Bank of Dubai, University of Utah, eBay Inc., ING Singapore, National Theatre, OTP Bank, Sodexo, WebEx

Buyer's Guide

Vulnerability Management

October 2026

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