Independent vulnerability assessment research
Nessus Professional vs Expert: Edition Comparison
Compare Professional and Expert by scanning scope, assessment workflow and buyer needs.
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Edition comparison
| Capability | Professional | Expert |
|---|---|---|
| Vulnerability and compliance scanning | Included | Included |
| Web application scanning (DAST) | Not included | Included, subject to licensing limits |
| External attack surface scanning | Not included | Included, subject to licensing limits |
| Infrastructure as code scanning | Not included | Included |
Edition capabilities are documented in the Tenable licensing guide. Check the current license agreement before purchase.
Which should you choose?
Choose Professional when your recurring work centers on traditional IT vulnerability and configuration assessment. Evaluate Expert when web applications, externally exposed domains or infrastructure-as-code checks are a material part of the assignment.
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Primary technical references: Tenable licensing documentation · Tenable Nessus product information. Editorial review: October 2026.