Shodan is the world's first search engine for internet-connected devices — indexing servers, routers, IoT devices, industrial control systems, and any device with an internet-facing port. Security researchers, penetration testers, and IT teams use Shodan to discover exposed assets, identify vulnerabilities in internet-facing infrastructure, and monitor an organization's attack surface. Shodan's continuous scanning of the global internet provides real-time visibility into what devices are exposed and what services they are running.
Shodan
Search engine for internet-connected devices and security research
Best for: Security professionals doing OSINT and attack surface discovery
- Free plan
4.6/5 ratingEditorial score 88/100shodan.io
The editorial note
What to know about Shodan
Is it right for you?
Who Shodan suits
Choose it if
- Security professionals doing OSINT and attack surface discovery
Look elsewhere if
- Non-security users or those without authorization to test systems
What you get
Key features
- Device discovery
- CVE search
- Alert monitoring
- API access
- Reports
Works with
Integrations4
The trade-off
Pros and cons
Pros
- Unique Internet-wide visibility
- API for automation
- Security research gold
- Regular updates
Cons
- Requires security knowledge
- Can be misused
- Paid plan for full access
Quick read
At a glance
- Category
- Cybersecurity & Privacy
- Pricing model
- Freemium
- Free plan
- Available
- Free trial
- Not listed
- Website
- shodan.io
The verdict
Our take on Shodan
Shodan is indispensable for security professionals doing external attack surface assessments and OSINT.
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