Nmap (Network Mapper) is the industry-standard open-source network scanning tool used by security professionals, system administrators, and penetration testers worldwide to discover hosts, services, operating systems, and vulnerabilities across networks. With powerful scripting capabilities via NSE (Nmap Scripting Engine), Nmap can perform everything from simple port scans to complex vulnerability detection. It is a fundamental tool in every cybersecurity professional's toolkit and is used in authorized network assessments, firewall testing, and security auditing.
Open-source network scanner for security auditing
Best for: Security professionals and network administrators doing security audits
- Free plan
4.8/5 ratingEditorial score 94/100nmap.org
The editorial note
What to know about Nmap
Is it right for you?
Who Nmap suits
Choose it if
- Security professionals and network administrators doing security audits
Look elsewhere if
- Non-technical users needing a simple security scanning interface
What you get
Key features
- Port scanning
- OS detection
- Service version detection
- NSE scripting
- Network inventory
Works with
Integrations5
The trade-off
Pros and cons
Pros
- Free and open source
- Industry standard
- Powerful scripting engine
- Cross-platform
Cons
- Command-line interface
- Steep learning curve
- Results require expertise to interpret
Quick read
At a glance
- Category
- Cybersecurity & Privacy
- Pricing model
- Free
- Free plan
- Available
- Free trial
- Not listed
- Website
- nmap.org
The verdict
Our take on Nmap
Nmap is the gold standard for network security scanning, used by security professionals worldwide.
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