Qualys vs Clone Systems
Enterprise vulnerability management compared with PCI ASV scanning, published pricing and penetration testing you can buy online.
Qualys is one of the largest names in vulnerability management, built for enterprise security teams managing thousands of assets. Clone Systems is a PCI Approved Scanning Vendor since 2007 that puts PCI ASV scanning, vulnerability scanning, web application scanning, and automated penetration testing in one platform you can buy online. This page compares the two on features and published pricing, using only what each company publishes about its own products.
Where Qualys is strong
Qualys VMDR is a mature enterprise platform with broad coverage: cloud agents, network scanners, passive sensors, patching (FixIT), and endpoint protection (ProtectIT). It is a PCI Approved Scanning Vendor. Large organizations with dedicated security teams, complex cloud estates, and procurement processes built around enterprise contracts are its natural customers.
Where Clone Systems is different
- Buy online, scan today. Every Clone Systems package has a published price and an online checkout. Qualys publishes fixed prices only through the AWS Marketplace; its own site quotes on request.
- Automated penetration testing in the same cart. Clone Systems sells automated external and internal pen tests from $1,995 per 30 days. Qualys offers exploit validation (TruConfirm) inside VMDR, which Qualys itself describes as validation rather than a penetration test.
- Managed penetration testing by our own engineers. Human-led testing scoped per environment. We found no equivalent service in Qualys's public materials.
- Private AI remediation. The Clone Systems AI assistant runs in our own data center and sends nothing to outside AI providers. Qualys offers AI assistants; its public materials do not state where the AI runs.
- Built for smaller scopes too. PCI ASV scanning starts at $185 a year for one IP. Qualys's smallest published VMDR package covers 128 hosts.
Feature comparison
| Capability | Clone Systems | Qualys |
|---|---|---|
| PCI Approved Scanning Vendor | ||
| External vulnerability scanning | ||
| Internal network scanning | ||
| Agent-based scanning | ||
| Authenticated web app scanning | ||
| Automated external pen testing | Limited (exploit validation) | |
| Automated internal pen testing | Limited (exploit validation) | |
| Managed penetration testing | ||
| AI remediation assistant | ||
| AI hosted in vendor's own data center | Not stated | |
| Published prices with online checkout | AWS Marketplace only | |
| Patch management | ||
| Endpoint anti-malware |
Published pricing, side by side
| Module | Clone Systems | Qualys |
|---|---|---|
| PCI ASV scanning | $185/yr (1 IP), $625 (10), $1,575 (25) | Quote only |
| Internal + external scanning, about 128 hosts | $1,095/yr internal (128 IPs) + $595/yr external (10 IPs) = $1,690 | VMDR $596/month = $7,152/yr (128 hosts, includes agents; AWS Marketplace listing) |
| Internal scanning, about 2,048 hosts | $2,295/yr | VMDR $3,719/month = $44,628/yr (AWS Marketplace listing) |
| Agent-based scanning, 100 to 128 endpoints | $3,995/yr (100 agents) | Included in VMDR at $7,152/yr (128 hosts) |
| Authenticated web app scanning | $5,995/yr (10 apps) | Quote only |
| Automated pen testing | External from $1,995, internal from $2,995 (30 days) | No comparable package |
Prices as published by each vendor, checked September 21, 2026. Qualys figures are 1-month AWS Marketplace contract rates; Qualys states 12-month contracts save up to 17%. Vendors count scope differently (IPs, hosts, assets), so matched sizes are approximate.
Who should choose which
Choose Qualys if you run a large security team, need patching and endpoint protection in the same console, and buy through enterprise procurement or AWS commitments.
Choose Clone Systems if you need a PCI ASV scan now, want vulnerability scanning and pen testing without a sales cycle, or want bank-grade scanning priced for a normal business. You can buy today and scan today.
Qualys is a trademark of Qualys, Inc. Clone Systems is not affiliated with Qualys. Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we will update it.