Price checkPer seat
VMDR Essentials$50/user/moVMDR Enterprise$1000/user/mo
See all 2 plans
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Qualys VMDR costs $50 to $1K per user/month as of March 2026, with 2 plans available. Plans: VMDR Essentials at $50/user/month, and VMDR Enterprise at $1000/user/month. Pricing depends on your chosen tier, contract length, and negotiated discounts.

Use the interactive pricing calculator to estimate your exact cost based on team size and requirements.

  • Free tier: No free tier available

Qualys VMDR offers 2 pricing tiers: VMDR Essentials, VMDR Enterprise. Paid plans include VMDR Essentials at $50/per month (estimated), VMDR Enterprise at $1000/per year (estimated for 500+ assets). The VMDR Enterprise plan is large enterprises requiring comprehensive vmdr with advanced threat detection, automated response, and extensive compliance support across global infrastructures.

Compared to other vulnerability management software, Qualys VMDR is positioned at the premium price point.

  • Median contract: $12,000/yr from 0 purchases
  • Average negotiated discount: 92%
  • 4 documented hidden costs beyond list price
  • Contracts auto-renew — Not specified - renewal invoice issues can cause service interruption
Last verified: | Sources: 10 pricing pages and reviews

How much does Qualys VMDR cost?

Qualys VMDR pricing ranges from $50 to $1000/user/month across 2 plans. Plans include VMDR Essentials at $50/user/month, VMDR Enterprise at $1000/user/month.

Qualys VMDR Pricing Overview

Qualys VMDR has 2 pricing plans ranging from $50 to $1,000/user/month. The VMDR Essentials plan costs $50/user/month, best for organizations seeking comprehensive vulnerability assessment with cloud-based deployment and basic threat detection. The VMDR Enterprise plan costs $1,000/user/month, best for large enterprises requiring comprehensive vmdr with advanced threat detection, automated response, and extensive compliance support across global infrastructures.

Qualys VMDR contracts auto-renew, with a Typically annual minimum commitment.

The median Qualys VMDR customer pays $12,000/year, with an average 92% discount available through negotiation.

There are at least 4 documented hidden costs beyond Qualys VMDR's list price, including implementation, training, and add-on fees.

This pricing was last verified in January 29, 2026 from 10 independent sources.

Visit Qualys VMDR Pricing
Qualys VMDR (Vulnerability Management, Detection, and Response) is a cloud-based security platform that unifies vulnerability management, threat detection, and incident response in a single solution. The platform provides continuous visibility across global hybrid IT environments, automatically detects and prioritizes critical vulnerabilities, and enables rapid response through integrated threat intelligence and automated workflows. Built on the Qualys Cloud Platform, VMDR leverages a global network of cloud sensors to deliver real-time vulnerability data, asset inventory, and attack surface visibility. Organizations use Qualys VMDR to shift from periodic scanning to continuous assessment and from manual prioritization to AI-driven risk-based remediation.

How Qualys VMDR Pricing Compares

Compare Qualys VMDR pricing against top alternatives in Vulnerability Management.

CrowdStrike Falcon Spotlight $0-$0/user/mo View pricing → Microsoft Defender Vulnerability Management $2.0-$3.0/user/mo View pricing → Rapid7 InsightVM $1.62-$26.25/user/mo View pricing →

All Qualys VMDR Plans & Pricing

Plan Monthly Annual Best For
VMDR Essentials assets: Priced per asset (100-500 typical starting range)scans: Unlimited scanning within asset count $50 /per month (estimated) $49.67 /per year (estimated)Save 1% Organizations seeking comprehensive vulnerability assessment with cloud-based deployment and basic threat detection
VMDR Enterprise assets: 500+ assets (enterprise pricing)scans: Unlimited continuous scanning $1000 /per year (estimated for 500+ assets) $1000 /per year (estimated for 500+ assets) Large enterprises requiring comprehensive VMDR with advanced threat detection, automated response, and extensive compliance support across global infrastructures
View all features by plan

VMDR Essentials

  • Cloud-based vulnerability scanning
  • Asset discovery and inventory
  • Vulnerability detection and assessment
  • Patch management integration
  • Basic compliance reporting
  • TruRisk scoring for prioritization
  • Threat intelligence feeds
  • Web-based dashboard and reporting
  • API access
  • Standard cloud sensors
  • Email notifications
  • Standard support

VMDR Enterprise

  • Everything in VMDR Essentials
  • Advanced threat detection and response
  • Real-time vulnerability correlation
  • Automated remediation workflows
  • Executive dashboards and analytics
  • Multi-cloud and container security
  • Active threat hunting capabilities
  • Advanced compliance frameworks (PCI, HIPAA, NIST, etc.)
  • Integration with SIEM, SOAR, and ITSM
  • Virtual patching capabilities
  • Certificate and SSL/TLS assessment
  • Custom reporting and analytics
  • Premium support with dedicated CSM
  • Advanced API and automation
See Qualys VMDR Plans & Sign Up

Compare Qualys VMDR vs Alternatives

Before committing to Qualys VMDR, compare pricing with these 3 alternatives in the same category.

VSCrowdStrike Falcon Spotlight
Free

Organizations using CrowdStrike Falcon for endpoint protection seeking integrated vulnerability management without traditional scanning overhead

Compare pricing
VSMicrosoft Defender Vulnerability Management
From $2.0/user/mo

Organizations new to Microsoft Defender or using Defender for Endpoint P1 or Microsoft 365 E3 seeking comprehensive vulnerability management

Compare pricing
VSRapid7 InsightVM
From $1.62/user/mo

Mid-market to enterprise organizations requiring modern, continuous vulnerability management with unlimited scanning and comprehensive asset coverage

Compare pricing

All Qualys VMDR alternatives & migration guides

What Companies Actually Pay for Qualys VMDR

The median Qualys VMDR buyer pays $12,000/year based on 0 verified purchase transactions, with an average 92% savings through negotiation.

What companies actually pay $12,000/yr Median across 0 purchases
92% avg. savings
with negotiation
Review scores
Top pricing complaints
Expensive pricing for internal VM scanningAggressive sales tactics and persistent follow-up callsPoor MSP pricing model and account structureTechnical support quality issues
Source: Vendr buyer database — median calculated from 0 real purchase transactions. Savings figure reflects negotiated discounts reported by buyers.
Visit Qualys VMDR Pricing

Qualys VMDR Year 1 Total Cost by Company Size

Real deployment costs including licenses, implementation, training, and admin — not just the sticker price.

Starter Kit (2017 pricing - may be outdated) $2,000 Year 1 total

Entry-level deployment with scanner and initial scan capacity

Reddit discussion from 2017

How Qualys VMDR Pricing Compares

Software Starting Price Top Price
Qualys VMDR $50/user/month $1000/user/month
CrowdStrike Falcon Spotlight $7.5/user/month $11.17/user/month
Microsoft Defender Vulnerability Management $2/user/month $3/user/month
Rapid7 InsightVM $1.62/user/month $26.25/user/month
Tenable Vulnerability Management $290/user/month $1667/user/month

Browse all Vulnerability Management pricing →

4 Qualys VMDR Hidden Costs Beyond the List Price

Beyond the listed price, Qualys VMDR has at least 4 documented hidden costs that can significantly increase total cost of ownership.

Watch for 4 hidden costs
  • Patch Management Separate License 15-25% of license costs
    medium 1 source
    Reddit "Patch Management is a separately paid for solution."
  • TotalCloud QLU-Based Licensing Complexity 10-20% of license costs
    medium 2 sources
    Reddit "They don't do flat rate pricing anymore based on connector counts."
    Reddit "pricing for ETM is based on IP counts (like with VMDR) and Resource counts (like with TotalCloud)."
  • Third-Party Integration Fees in ETM 10-15% of license costs
    medium 1 source
    Reddit "You only pay per-asset fees (IP and/or resource count) when bringing in findings from third-party tools (Tenable, Rapid7, Microsoft Defender, etc.) for those same assets."
  • Per-Scanner Deployment Costs for MSPs 20-30% of license costs
    high 1 source
    Reddit "Qualys really don't seem to be setup for MSP's. They expect you to pay per client individually which seams to be a nightmare to manage"
Tip

Ask your Qualys VMDR sales rep about these costs upfront. Getting them in writing before signing can save you from surprise charges later.

Full hidden costs breakdown →

Intelligence sourced from 2 independent sources
Reddit User discussions Vendr Verified buyer transactions
Key claims include inline source attribution. Data verified against multiple independent sources. 12 source citations total.

Qualys VMDR Contract Terms

Qualys VMDR contracts auto-renew. Changes require Not specified - renewal invoice issues can cause service interruption. These terms are sourced from verified buyer experiences.

Contract Terms
Auto-Renewal Yes
Cancellation Notice Not specified - renewal invoice issues can cause service interruption
Minimum Commitment Typically annual
Mid-Term Downgrade Not allowed
Payment Terms Annual upfront typical
Price Escalation 100% renewal fee reported (though this is from 2014 and may be outdated)
Based on 2 verified sources

How to Negotiate Qualys VMDR Pricing

Qualys VMDR contracts are negotiable — buyers save an average of 92% off list price. These 4 tactics are sourced from real buyer experiences and procurement specialists.

Negotiation Playbook 4 tactics
Competitive Pressure high success

Qualys pricing is strict until they're about to lose a deal. Get quotes from Tenable and Rapid7 to create competitive pressure, as Qualys sales will become more flexible when facing direct competition.

Reddit: 'They're pricing is really strict until they're going to lose' (2024-05-26)
Use Security VARs medium success

Work with security Value-Added Resellers (VARs) to get competitive quotes rather than going direct. VARs can often negotiate better pricing through volume relationships.

Reddit: 'Maybe check pricing through a security VAR for a competitive quote' (2020-11-04)
Volume Commitment medium success

Commit to higher asset counts or multi-year terms to unlock volume discounts. Users report getting volume discounts, though specific percentages vary.

Reddit: 'we get volume discount' (2018-08-18)
Compare Total Cost of Ownership medium success

When negotiating, emphasize that competitors like Tenable don't charge for additional scanners or policy compliance modules. Use this to negotiate bundled pricing.

Reddit: 'Tenable also doesn't charge for scanners... Tenable also gives away compliance where Qualys charges for that too' (2021-04-20)
High success Medium Low / difficult

Full negotiation guide →

Qualys VMDR Pricing FAQ

01 How much does Qualys VMDR cost?

Pricing varies by plan. Check the official pricing page for current rates.

02 Does Qualys VMDR have a free tier?

Check the pricing section above for free tier availability.

03 What are the main features of Qualys VMDR?

Key features include the items listed in the pricing tiers above.

04 Is Qualys VMDR worth the price?

Value depends on your specific needs and use case. Compare features across plans.

05 Is Qualys expensive compared to competitors?

Qualys is generally considered premium-priced, especially for internal VM scanning. Users describe the pricing as 'insane' for enterprise-focused deployments, though some note it's competitive with Tenable and Rapid7. The VMDR Essentials plan starts at $50/user/month, while VMDR Enterprise is $1,000/month with custom pricing. Qualys is 'worth the money' for enterprise-grade features, but pricing is 'strict until they're about to lose' a deal.

06 Does Qualys offer MSP-friendly pricing?

Qualys has struggled with MSP pricing models. Earlier reports (2017) indicated they expect per-client individual payment which is 'a nightmare to manage' for MSPs. However, some MSPs successfully use Qualys by deploying scanners on client hypervisors with cloud-based management. Check with Qualys sales for current MSP program details.

07 What's included in VMDR versus what costs extra?

Base VMDR includes vulnerability scanning and detection. Patch Management is a separately paid solution. TotalCloud uses QLU-based licensing for additional resource counts. ETM (Enterprise Threat Management) has no additional cost if only aggregating Qualys data, but you pay per-asset fees when ingesting third-party tool findings from Tenable, Rapid7, or Microsoft Defender.

08 How does Qualys QLU licensing work?

Qualys shifted from flat connector-based pricing to QLU (Qualys Units) licensing for TotalCloud. You assess various parameters (virtual machines, containers, serverless functions, cloud resources) and multiply by factors to calculate required QLUs. This resource-based model can make costs less predictable as your environment scales.

09 Does Qualys have aggressive sales tactics?

Multiple users report persistent sales follow-up. One user described being 'called daily for over a month' after demoing the product, with calls continuing even after explicitly declining. Sales representatives may log multiple contact numbers and continue outreach across channels.

Is this pricing incorrect? — we verify and update within 24 hours.