# Greenbone OPENVAS BASIC vs Nessus Professional: side-by-side comparison (2026)

[Greenbone OPENVAS BASIC](https://cybersectools.com/tools/greenbone-openvas-basic) is a commercial [vulnerability assessment](https://cybersectools.com/categories/vulnerability-assessment) solution by [Greenbone AG](https://cybersectools.com/companies/greenbone-ag). [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

| | Greenbone OPENVAS BASIC | Nessus Professional |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Commercial | Commercial |
| Category | Vulnerability Assessment | Vulnerability Assessment |
| Verified | No | No |
| Deployment type | On-Premises | On-Premises |
| Company size fit | Startup, SMB | Startup, SMB, Mid-Market, Enterprise |
| Company | Greenbone AG | Tenable |
| Headquarters | – | – |

### Use cases and capabilities

| | Greenbone OPENVAS BASIC | Nessus Professional |
|---|---|---|
| Active Directory | 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

**Greenbone OPENVAS BASIC**

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

**Nessus Professional**

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

### Integrations

**Greenbone OPENVAS BASIC**

3 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.

- [Nessus Professional](https://cybersectools.com/tools/nessus-professional) fits if you are a mid-market company or an enterprise.

## Greenbone OPENVAS BASIC vs Nessus Professional FAQ

Common questions when comparing Greenbone OPENVAS BASIC vs Nessus Professional for vulnerability assessment.

### What is the difference between Greenbone OPENVAS BASIC and Nessus Professional?

**Greenbone OPENVAS BASIC**: Entry-level vulnerability management solution for small and medium businesses. Built by Greenbone AG.

**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 Greenbone OPENVAS BASIC and Nessus Professional?

**Greenbone OPENVAS BASIC** is made by Greenbone AG. **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 Greenbone OPENVAS BASIC a good alternative to Nessus Professional?

Often, yes. Greenbone OPENVAS BASIC and Nessus Professional are both Vulnerability Assessment products. Use the table above to see where features, deployment and company size fit differ.

## Related comparisons

- [Greenbone OPENVAS BASIC vs Webray RayScan](https://cybersectools.com/compare/greenbone-openvas-basic-vs-webray-rayscan)
- [Greenbone OPENVAS BASIC vs Zentara AVAS](https://cybersectools.com/compare/greenbone-openvas-basic-vs-zentara-avas)
- [Greenbone OPENVAS BASIC vs Positive Technologies XSpider PRO](https://cybersectools.com/compare/greenbone-openvas-basic-vs-positive-technologies-xspider-pro)
- [Nessus Professional vs Webray RayScan](https://cybersectools.com/compare/nessus-professional-vs-webray-rayscan)
- [Nessus Professional vs Zentara AVAS](https://cybersectools.com/compare/nessus-professional-vs-zentara-avas)
- [Nessus Professional vs Positive Technologies XSpider PRO](https://cybersectools.com/compare/nessus-professional-vs-positive-technologies-xspider-pro)

## Alternatives to each

- [See all Greenbone OPENVAS BASIC alternatives](https://cybersectools.com/alternatives/greenbone-openvas-basic)
- [See all Nessus Professional alternatives](https://cybersectools.com/alternatives/nessus-professional)

---

Source: https://cybersectools.com/compare/greenbone-openvas-basic-vs-nessus-professional

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

More on Greenbone OPENVAS BASIC 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