# CyCognito EASM Platform vs Shodan: side-by-side comparison (2026)

[CyCognito EASM Platform](https://cybersectools.com/tools/cycognito-easm-platform) is a commercial [external attack surface management](https://cybersectools.com/categories/external-asm) solution by [CyCognito](https://cybersectools.com/companies/cycognito). [Shodan](https://cybersectools.com/tools/shodan) is a free [external attack surface management](https://cybersectools.com/categories/external-asm) solution. Features, integrations, deployment and the company behind each one, side by side.

## Our take

What our shortlists say about the one we picked.

### [CyCognito EASM Platform](https://cybersectools.com/tools/cycognito-easm-platform)

Best for: Teams wanting discovery plus active testing

It earns a place because discovery and active testing come in one product, so findings arrive already checked and not as a raw asset list. That suits mid-market and enterprise teams that want proof before they assign work. Testing live assets needs their owners on board, so settle scan cadence and scope before you turn it on.

From [Best Attack Surface Management Solutions for Business](https://cybersectools.com/shortlists/best-attack-surface-solutions), Fall 2026.

Reviewed by [Nika (Nikoloz) Kokhreidze](https://cybersectools.com/about).

Need the answer fast? [Best Attack Surface Management Solutions for Business](https://cybersectools.com/shortlists/best-attack-surface-solutions) picks Palo Alto Networks Cortex Xpanse, Microsoft Defender EASM, Mandiant Attack Surface Management and 4 more.

## Side-by-side comparison

| | CyCognito EASM Platform | Shodan |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Commercial | Free |
| Category | External Attack Surface Management | External Attack Surface Management |
| Verified | No | No |
| Deployment type | Cloud | Cloud |
| Company size fit | Mid-Market, Enterprise | SMB, Mid-Market, Enterprise |
| Company | CyCognito | – |
| Headquarters | – | – |

### Use cases and capabilities

| | CyCognito EASM Platform | Shodan |
|---|---|---|
| Network Discovery | Yes | – |
| Inventory | Yes | – |
| Shadow AI | Yes | – |
| Vulnerability Prioritization | Yes | – |
| Continuous Testing | Yes | – |
| Security Validation | Yes | – |
| Attack Paths | Yes | – |
| Reconnaissance | Yes | – |
| OWASP | Yes | – |
| Visibility | Yes | – |
| Network Monitoring | – | Yes |

### Core features

**CyCognito EASM Platform**

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

**Shodan**

No features listed.

### Integrations

**CyCognito EASM Platform**

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

**Shodan**

No integrations listed.

## Which one fits you

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

- [Shodan](https://cybersectools.com/tools/shodan) fits if you are a small business and you need a free product.

## CyCognito EASM Platform vs Shodan FAQ

Common questions when comparing CyCognito EASM Platform vs Shodan for external attack surface management.

### What is the difference between CyCognito EASM Platform and Shodan?

**CyCognito EASM Platform**: EASM platform that discovers, attributes, and actively validates external assets and risks. Built by CyCognito.

**Shodan**: A search engine for the Internet of Things (IoT) that discovers and monitors devices connected to the internet.

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

### Is CyCognito EASM Platform a good alternative to Shodan?

Often, yes. CyCognito EASM Platform and Shodan are both External Attack Surface Management products. Key differences: CyCognito EASM Platform is Commercial while Shodan is Free. Use the table above to see where features, deployment and company size fit differ.

## Related comparisons

- [CyCognito EASM Platform vs Attaxion](https://cybersectools.com/compare/attaxion-vs-cycognito-easm-platform)
- [CyCognito EASM Platform vs Vulneri ASM](https://cybersectools.com/compare/cycognito-easm-platform-vs-vulneri-asm-attack-surface-management)
- [CyCognito EASM Platform vs Cylana EASM](https://cybersectools.com/compare/cycognito-easm-platform-vs-cylana-easm)
- [Shodan vs Attaxion](https://cybersectools.com/compare/attaxion-vs-shodan)
- [Shodan vs Vulneri ASM](https://cybersectools.com/compare/shodan-vs-vulneri-asm-attack-surface-management)
- [Shodan vs Cylana EASM](https://cybersectools.com/compare/cylana-easm-vs-shodan)

## Alternatives to each

- [See all CyCognito EASM Platform alternatives](https://cybersectools.com/alternatives/cycognito-easm-platform)
- [See all Shodan alternatives](https://cybersectools.com/alternatives/shodan)

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Source: https://cybersectools.com/compare/cycognito-easm-platform-vs-shodan

For AI agents: each product above has its own Markdown page (add .md to its URL, for example https://cybersectools.com/tools/cycognito-easm-platform.md). Every CybersecTools shortlist is listed at https://cybersectools.com/shortlists.md.

More on CyCognito EASM Platform and Shodan: 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