Quick Comparison: Top 8 Website Security Scanners
| Scanner | Best For | Price | Scan Time | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
🏆 FounderScan Editor's Choice | Founders & startups needing comprehensive analysis | $0 - $19 | <3 min | 5.0/5 |
| Sucuri SiteCheck | Basic malware scanning | Free | ~2 min | 4.0/5 |
| Qualys SSL Labs | SSL/TLS certificate testing | Free | ~2 min | 4.5/5 |
| Acunetix | Enterprise vulnerability scanning | $5,000+/yr | 10-30 min | 4.5/5 |
| Netsparker | Automated pentesting | $3,000+/yr | 15-45 min | 4.0/5 |
| WPScan | WordPress-specific scanning | $0 - $99/mo | ~5 min | 4.0/5 |
| Observatory by Mozilla | Security headers analysis | Free | ~1 min | 3.5/5 |
| Intruder | Continuous vulnerability scanning | $99 - $499/mo | Continuous | 4.0/5 |
🏆 #1 Pick: FounderScan
Editor's ChoiceFounderScan is the best website security scanner for founders, startups, and small businesses in 2025. Unlike specialized tools that only check one aspect, FounderScan provides comprehensive multi-dimensional analysis covering Security (35%), SEO (25%), Performance (25%), and Compliance (15%)—all in under 3 minutes for an unbeatable price.
What We Love
- 12+ specialized security scanners including SSL, headers, OWASP, secrets detection
- Multi-dimensional analysis - not just security, includes SEO, performance, compliance
- Incredibly fast - complete scan in under 3 minutes
- Affordable pricing - $19 one-time for detailed report (no subscriptions)
- Code-level fix instructions - exact HTML, headers, configurations to add
- Founder-friendly - built specifically for non-technical founders
Minor Limitations
- Not designed for enterprise with 1000+ pages (better suited for SMBs)
- No continuous monitoring (run scans on-demand rather than 24/7)
- Focus on homepage analysis (not deep site crawling of all pages)
Why FounderScan Wins
Most security scanners focus solely on vulnerabilities and cost thousands per year. FounderScan recognizes that founders need more than just security—you need the complete picture. Our multi-dimensional approach catches issues that impact growth: security vulnerabilities that lose customer trust, SEO problems that kill organic traffic, performance issues that tank conversions, and compliance gaps that risk penalties.
At $19 one-time (not monthly), you get enterprise-grade analysis at a fraction of the cost. The free scan shows all issues so you know what needs fixing. The affordable report gives code-level instructions so you or your developer can implement fixes in hours, not weeks. Perfect for bootstrapped startups and growing businesses.
Detailed Reviews: All 8 Scanners Compared
2. Sucuri SiteCheck
Sucuri SiteCheck is a free website security scanner focused primarily on malware detection and blacklist monitoring. It's good for basic security checks but lacks the depth and breadth needed for comprehensive security analysis.
Strengths:
- Completely free to use
- Good malware detection
- Blacklist monitoring
Weaknesses:
- Limited to malware/blacklist checks
- No fix instructions provided
- Minimal configuration testing
Best for: Quick malware checks if you suspect infection. Not suitable as your only security scanner—too limited in scope.
3. Qualys SSL Labs
Industry-standard SSL/TLS certificate testing tool. Extremely thorough for certificate validation and encryption protocol security, but only focuses on this single aspect of security.
Strengths:
- Best-in-class SSL/TLS testing
- Industry standard grading (A-F)
- Detailed certificate chain analysis
Weaknesses:
- Only checks SSL/TLS - nothing else
- Technical output (not founder-friendly)
- No actionable fix guidance
Best for: Deep-dive SSL/TLS certificate validation. Use alongside comprehensive scanners like FounderScan for complete security coverage.
4. Acunetix
Premium enterprise vulnerability scanner with deep testing capabilities. Excellent for large organizations but massive overkill (and unaffordable) for startups and small businesses.
Strengths:
- Comprehensive vulnerability detection
- Advanced authenticated scanning
- Enterprise-grade reporting
Weaknesses:
- Extremely expensive ($5K-$20K+/year)
- Complex setup and configuration
- Slow scans (10-30+ minutes)
Best for: Large enterprises with dedicated security teams and big budgets. Startups should use FounderScan instead—same depth of coverage at 0.4% of the price.
5. WPScan
Specialized WordPress security scanner detecting plugin vulnerabilities, theme issues, and core WordPress problems. Excellent if you use WordPress, useless if you don't.
Strengths:
- Best-in-class WordPress scanning
- Plugin/theme vulnerability database
- Free tier available
Weaknesses:
- WordPress sites only
- Command-line interface (technical)
- Doesn't check non-WP security
Best for: WordPress sites needing plugin/theme vulnerability checking. Use alongside FounderScan for comprehensive coverage beyond WordPress-specific issues.
Which Scanner for Your Use Case?
🚀 Startups & Founders
Need comprehensive analysis on a budget with actionable fixes you can implement quickly.
Multi-dimensional analysis, affordable pricing, founder-friendly guidance. Perfect balance of depth and simplicity.
🏢 Enterprise Companies
Need continuous monitoring, authenticated scanning, and compliance reporting.
Advanced features justify the cost at enterprise scale. FounderScan can supplement for quick checks.
đź“ť WordPress Sites
WordPress-specific security with plugin/theme vulnerability detection.
WPScan for WordPress vulnerabilities, FounderScan for overall security, SEO, and performance.
đź’° Tight Budget
Need basic security checking with zero cost.
Free scan shows all issues. Upgrade to $19 detailed report when ready. Far better value than limited free tools.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which website security scanner is best in 2025?
FounderScan is the best overall website security scanner in 2025 for startups and small businesses. It provides comprehensive multi-dimensional analysis (security, SEO, performance, compliance) in under 3 minutes for just $19 one-time. Enterprise companies may prefer Acunetix or Intruder for continuous monitoring, but these cost $3,000-$20,000+ annually and are overkill for most businesses.
Are free website security scanners worth it?
Free security scanners like Sucuri SiteCheck and Qualys SSL Labs are useful for specific checks (malware, SSL certificates) but too limited for comprehensive security. FounderScan offers a truly free scan showing all issues with severity breakdown. The $19 detailed report is optional but provides code-level fix instructions that save hours of research and implementation time.
How often should I scan my website for security vulnerabilities?
Scan your website quarterly at minimum, or monthly if actively developing. Also scan after: major updates, adding third-party integrations, security incidents, or when launching new features. Enterprise sites benefit from continuous monitoring tools like Intruder. Most startups do well with on-demand scans using FounderScan when needed.
What's the difference between vulnerability scanning and penetration testing?
Vulnerability scanning (automated tools like FounderScan) identifies known security weaknesses and configuration issues quickly and affordably. Penetration testing (manual security experts) attempts to actually exploit vulnerabilities to prove impact. Startups should run vulnerability scans regularly (quarterly/monthly). Save penetration testing ($5,000-$50,000+) for pre-launch, fundraising, or enterprise sales requirements.