Masscan
7.2#2 in port scanner softwareFree planFree planLinuxmacOSSelf-hostedWindows
VisitMasscan vs Nmap
What both publish
| Fact | Masscan | Nmap |
|---|---|---|
| Integrations | The project describes PF_RING DNA support for high-speed packet transmission and says Masscan can use PF_RING ZC when the adapter name indicates it. | For OEM integration, the project recommends running Nmap and parsing its XML-formatted output, and also permits other approaches such as parsing normal output or processing its data files. |
| Notable limitation | Masscan requires users to specify ports and accepts IP addresses or simple ranges rather than DNS names as targets. | The project says Nmap is not a comprehensive vulnerability scanner, although NSE can perform vulnerability checks. |
| Platforms | Linux is the primary target; the code also runs on Windows and macOS, and the README gives build instructions for FreeBSD. | Official binary packages are listed for Windows, macOS, and Linux, and the project also provides source code for other operating systems. |
| Purpose | Masscan is an Internet-scale TCP port scanner designed for wide-range scanning of many machines. | Nmap is a free and open-source utility for network discovery and security auditing. |
| Scanning | It supports arbitrary port and address ranges and asynchronous transmission. | Nmap supports TCP and UDP port scanning, OS detection, version detection, and ping sweeps. |
Masscan plans
- FreeFree
- MasscanFree
Nmap plans
- Nmap free end-user licenseFree
- Nmap OEM Small/Startup Company Redistribution License (quarterly term)$9,980 a month
- Nmap OEM Mid-Sized Company Redistribution License (quarterly term)$13,980 a month
- Nmap OEM Enterprise Redistribution License (quarterly term)$17,980 a month
- Nmap OEM Small/Startup Company Redistribution License (perpetual)$59,980, paid once
- Nmap OEM Mid-Sized Company Redistribution License (perpetual)$89,980, paid once
Pick Masscan if…
Masscan is aimed at users scanning many machines over broad IP ranges. Its target and port requirements make it important to plan scan inputs explicitly.
Pick Nmap if…
Nmap suits network administrators who need host and service discovery, scan comparisons, or uptime monitoring. It can also help users who want scriptable network tasks and can work with the access requirements of their chosen scans.