SecurityTrails vs Shodan: API Comparison

Overview

SecurityTrails

DNS & Domain Intelligence for Security Research

SecurityTrails provides comprehensive DNS intelligence, passive DNS data, subdomain enumeration, and WHOIS history for security researchers and threat intelligence teams.

No current public free-tier terms

Shodan

Internet Exposure Search for Devices and Services

Shodan indexes internet-facing devices, banners, vulnerabilities, and exposed services, making it a strong complement to domain-focused threat tools.

Free account; academic Membership upgrade available

Pricing Comparison

Pricing	SecurityTrails	Shodan
Free Tier	No current public free-tier terms	Free account; academic Membership upgrade available
Paid Plans	Contact sales	$49 one-time Membership or $69/month Freelancer
Enterprise	Custom pricing	$1,099/month Corporate; enterprise custom
TLD Coverage	320M+ domains indexed	Full internet coverage

Feature Comparison

Feature	SecurityTrails	Shodan
Free Tier	Not Included	Limited
API Access	Included	Included
Bulk Operations	Included	Included
Real-time Data	Included	Included
WHOIS Data	Included	Limited
DNS Lookup	Included	Included
Domain Valuation	Not Included	Not Included
Brand Monitoring	Limited	Not Included
MCP/AI Integration	Not Included	Not Included

Which is Better?

Choose SecurityTrails if you need

Massive passive DNS database
Excellent subdomain enumeration
Historical WHOIS and DNS data

Choose Shodan if you need

Unmatched device discovery
Well-known vulnerability and exposure workflows
Strong API and alerting ecosystem

Consider DomScan Instead

DomScan offers the best of both worlds with comprehensive features and developer-friendly pricing.

✓ Free tier: 10,000 credits/month (no credit card)
✓ 1,100+ TLDs supported
✓ MCP integration for AI assistants
✓ Domain valuation, brand monitoring, OSINT

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