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Shodan vs Censys: catalog facts
Shodan	Censys
Freemium Free searches with a paid membership and API tiers for wider access.	Freemium Free basic search with paid plans for the full platform.
Web, Browser extension	Web
Searchable index of exposed devices and services worldwide Monitor feature alerts on changes to your own IP ranges	Searchable map of hosts, services and TLS certificates Attack surface and adversary investigation tooling
Most useful features require a paid membership Account required for meaningful searches	Full platform is enterprise-focused with paid plans Account required to use search
Hosted service, Browser extension	Hosted service
Closed source	Closed source
License not stated	License not stated
Account needed	Account needed
Needs internet	Needs internet
Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 23, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 23, 2026

Catalog facts only. Anything “not stated” is unconfirmed. Check full listings for details.