Host.io
vs
Shodan
Host.io vs Shodan
Domain API comparison
Overview
Which of these two providers fits my workload?
Host.io
Domain intelligence and technology detection API
Host.io focuses on technology fingerprints, related-domain discovery, DNS data, and web market intelligence rather than registrar workflows.
1,000 requests/monthShodan
Internet exposure search for devices and services
Shodan indexes internet-facing devices, banners, vulnerabilities, and exposed services, and complements domain-focused threat tools.
Free account; academic Membership upgrade availablePricing comparison
Watch out for: Credits, pages, requests, records, compute units, subscriptions, and browser-time blocks are not interchangeable.
| Pricing | Host.io | Shodan |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier | 1,000 requests/month | Free account; academic Membership upgrade available |
| Paid plans | $99/month for 10,000 requests | $49 one-time Membership or $69/month Freelancer |
| Enterprise | $999+/month for 500,000+ requests | $1,099/month Corporate; enterprise custom |
| How usage is billed | Credits, pages, requests, records, compute units, subscriptions, and browser-time blocks are not interchangeable. | Credits, pages, requests, records, compute units, subscriptions, and browser-time blocks are not interchangeable. |
Feature comparison
| Feature | Host.io | Shodan |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier | Limited | Limited |
| API access | Included | Included |
| Bulk operations | Included | Included |
| Real-time data | Included | Included |
| WHOIS data | Limited | Limited |
| DNS lookup | Included | Included |
| Domain valuation | Not included | Not included |
| Brand monitoring | Included | Not included |
| MCP/AI integration | Not included | Not included |
Which is better?
Choose Host.io if you need
- Technology stack detection
- Related domains discovery
Choose Shodan if you need
- Device and exposed-service discovery
- Vulnerability and exposure search
- API and alerting for exposure monitoring
Consider DomScan instead
Sources
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