# Acalvio ShadowPlex vs Heralding: side-by-side comparison (2026)

[Acalvio ShadowPlex](https://cybersectools.com/tools/acalvio-shadowplex) is a commercial [honeypots & deception](https://cybersectools.com/categories/honeypots) solution by [Acalvio Technologies](https://cybersectools.com/companies/acalvio-technologies). [Heralding](https://cybersectools.com/tools/heralding) is a free [honeypots & deception](https://cybersectools.com/categories/honeypots) solution. Features, integrations, deployment and the company behind each one, side by side.

## Side-by-side comparison

| | Acalvio ShadowPlex | Heralding |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Commercial | Free |
| Category | Honeypots & Deception | Honeypots & Deception |
| Verified | No | No |
| Deployment type | Hybrid | On-Premises |
| Company size fit | Mid-Market, Enterprise | Startup, SMB, Mid-Market, Enterprise |
| GitHub stars | – | 388 |
| Last commit | – | Feb 2024 |
| Company | Acalvio Technologies | – |
| Headquarters | – | – |

### Use cases and capabilities

| | Acalvio ShadowPlex | Heralding |
|---|---|---|
| Reconnaissance | Yes | – |
| STIX | Yes | – |
| Attack Detection | Yes | – |
| SSH | – | Yes |
| VNC | – | Yes |
| Telnet | – | Yes |
| SMTP | – | Yes |

### Core features

**Acalvio ShadowPlex**

10 features listed. Sign in on the page to see them.

**Heralding**

No features listed.

### Integrations

**Acalvio ShadowPlex**

4 integrations listed. Sign in on the page to see them.

**Heralding**

No integrations listed.

## Which one fits you

Based on what each listing shows: deployment, company size, price and open source.

- [Acalvio ShadowPlex](https://cybersectools.com/tools/acalvio-shadowplex) fits if you need both cloud and on-premises options.
- [Heralding](https://cybersectools.com/tools/heralding) fits if you need to run it on your own servers, you are a startup or a small business, you need a free product and you want an open-source product.

## Acalvio ShadowPlex vs Heralding FAQ

Common questions when comparing Acalvio ShadowPlex vs Heralding for honeypots & deception.

### What is the difference between Acalvio ShadowPlex and Heralding?

**Acalvio ShadowPlex**: Deception platform using external-facing decoys for threat intel & recon detection. Built by Acalvio Technologies.

**Heralding**: A simple honeypot that collects credentials across various protocols.

The table above shows where their features, integrations, deployment and company size fit differ.

### Who makes Acalvio ShadowPlex and Heralding?

**Acalvio ShadowPlex** is made by Acalvio Technologies. **Heralding** is open-source with 388 GitHub stars. The vendor behind a product decides its roadmap, support, and longevity, so check each company's profile before you commit.

### Is Acalvio ShadowPlex a good alternative to Heralding?

Often, yes. Acalvio ShadowPlex and Heralding are both Honeypots & Deception products. Key differences: Acalvio ShadowPlex is Commercial while Heralding is Free, Heralding is open-source. Use the table above to see where features, deployment and company size fit differ.

## Related comparisons

- [Acalvio ShadowPlex vs Trapster](https://cybersectools.com/compare/acalvio-shadowplex-vs-trapster)
- [Acalvio ShadowPlex vs CatchProbe SmartDeceptive](https://cybersectools.com/compare/acalvio-shadowplex-vs-catchprobe-smartdeceptive)
- [Acalvio ShadowPlex vs PacketViper Deception360](https://cybersectools.com/compare/acalvio-shadowplex-vs-packetviper-deception360)
- [Heralding vs Trapster](https://cybersectools.com/compare/heralding-vs-trapster)
- [Heralding vs CatchProbe SmartDeceptive](https://cybersectools.com/compare/catchprobe-smartdeceptive-vs-heralding)
- [Heralding vs PacketViper Deception360](https://cybersectools.com/compare/heralding-vs-packetviper-deception360)

## Alternatives to each

- [See all Acalvio ShadowPlex alternatives](https://cybersectools.com/alternatives/acalvio-shadowplex)
- [See all Heralding alternatives](https://cybersectools.com/alternatives/heralding)

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Source: https://cybersectools.com/compare/acalvio-shadowplex-vs-heralding

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More on Acalvio ShadowPlex and Heralding: funding, momentum, hiring and news, plus the full product and company record, are available through the Mandos MCP Server (paid plans), which connects to AI assistants: https://mandos.io/mcp?utm_source=cybersectools.com&utm_medium=compare-md