← All website monitoring tools
Nikto
Long-running open-source web server scanner — checks 6,700+ dangerous files and outdated software.
Free tier: fully free, open-source (GPL)
What it does well
- Scans for a large, well-established database of 6,700+ known dangerous files/CGIs.
- Completely free and open-source (GPL) with no paid tiers or feature restrictions.
- Lightweight and scriptable, making it easy to integrate into automated testing workflows.
Where it falls short
- Self-hosted and command-line only, with no managed service or graphical interface.
- Generates 'noisy' scans that are easily detectable by firewalls and IDS/IPS systems.
- Lacks sophisticated understanding of modern JavaScript-heavy single-page applications (SPAs).
Alternatives to Nikto
OWASP ZAP
freeMost popular free open-source DAST scanner — active/passive web scanning, intercepting proxy, CI/CD integration.
Template-driven fast scanner — community templates cover thousands of CVEs. Free CLI, paid managed cloud.
Pentest-Tools.com
freemiumOnline toolkit of 25+ pentest scanners (web, network, recon) — paid plans from $93/mo with unlimited scans.
Nmap
freeStandard network discovery + port/service scanner — universal first step for any audit.