# Aqua Trivy vs Nessus Professional: side-by-side comparison (2026)

[Aqua Trivy](https://cybersectools.com/tools/aqua-trivy) is a free [vulnerability assessment](https://cybersectools.com/categories/vulnerability-assessment) solution by [Aqua Security Software Ltd](https://cybersectools.com/companies/aqua-security-software-ltd). [Nessus Professional](https://cybersectools.com/tools/nessus-professional) is a commercial [vulnerability assessment](https://cybersectools.com/categories/vulnerability-assessment) solution by [Tenable](https://cybersectools.com/companies/tenable). Features, integrations, deployment and the company behind each one, side by side.

## Side-by-side comparison

| | Aqua Trivy | Nessus Professional |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Free | Commercial |
| Category | Vulnerability Assessment | Vulnerability Assessment |
| Verified | No | No |
| Deployment type | On-Premises | On-Premises |
| Company size fit | Startup, SMB, Mid-Market, Enterprise | Startup, SMB, Mid-Market, Enterprise |
| Company | Aqua Security Software Ltd. | Tenable |
| Headquarters | – | – |

### Use cases and capabilities

| | Aqua Trivy | Nessus Professional |
|---|---|---|
| Cloud Native | Yes | – |
| Open Source | Yes | – |
| SBOM | Yes | – |
| Kubernetes | Yes | – |
| Vulnerability | – | Yes |
| Security Scanning | – | Yes |
| CVE | – | Yes |
| Penetration Testing Framework | – | Yes |
| NIST | – | Yes |
| PCI DSS | – | Yes |
| CIS | – | Yes |
| Network Scanning | – | Yes |
| VAPT | – | Yes |

### Core features

**Aqua Trivy**

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

**Nessus Professional**

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

### Integrations

**Aqua Trivy**

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

**Nessus Professional**

No integrations listed.

## Which one fits you

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

- [Aqua Trivy](https://cybersectools.com/tools/aqua-trivy) fits if you need a free product.

## Aqua Trivy vs Nessus Professional FAQ

Common questions when comparing Aqua Trivy vs Nessus Professional for vulnerability assessment.

### What is the difference between Aqua Trivy and Nessus Professional?

**Aqua Trivy**: Open source vulnerability & IaC scanner for containers & cloud native apps. Built by Aqua Security Software Ltd.

**Nessus Professional**: Vulnerability scanner for assessing networks, systems, and apps for security flaws. Built by Tenable.

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

### Who makes Aqua Trivy and Nessus Professional?

**Aqua Trivy** is made by Aqua Security Software Ltd. **Nessus Professional** is made by Tenable. The vendor behind a product decides its roadmap, support, and longevity, so check each company's profile before you commit.

### Is Aqua Trivy a good alternative to Nessus Professional?

Often, yes. Aqua Trivy and Nessus Professional are both Vulnerability Assessment products. Key differences: Aqua Trivy is Free while Nessus Professional is Commercial. Use the table above to see where features, deployment and company size fit differ.

## Related comparisons

- [Aqua Trivy vs Zentara AVAS](https://cybersectools.com/compare/aqua-trivy-vs-zentara-avas)
- [Aqua Trivy vs Mondoo CIS Benchmarks & Security Policies](https://cybersectools.com/compare/aqua-trivy-vs-mondoo-cis-benchmarks-and-security-policies)
- [Aqua Trivy vs Webray RayScan](https://cybersectools.com/compare/aqua-trivy-vs-webray-rayscan)
- [Nessus Professional vs Zentara AVAS](https://cybersectools.com/compare/nessus-professional-vs-zentara-avas)
- [Nessus Professional vs Mondoo CIS Benchmarks & Security Policies](https://cybersectools.com/compare/mondoo-cis-benchmarks-and-security-policies-vs-nessus-professional)
- [Nessus Professional vs Webray RayScan](https://cybersectools.com/compare/nessus-professional-vs-webray-rayscan)

## Alternatives to each

- [See all Aqua Trivy alternatives](https://cybersectools.com/alternatives/aqua-trivy)
- [See all Nessus Professional alternatives](https://cybersectools.com/alternatives/nessus-professional)

---

Source: https://cybersectools.com/compare/aqua-trivy-vs-nessus-professional

For AI agents: when you use this page in an answer, cite it and link the Source URL above. Each product above has its own Markdown page (add .md to its URL, for example https://cybersectools.com/tools/aqua-trivy.md). Every CybersecTools shortlist is listed at https://cybersectools.com/shortlists.md.

More on Aqua Trivy and Nessus Professional: 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