Shodan vs WHOISJSON - Domain API Comparison

Overview

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.

Limited web access

WHOISJSON

WHOIS, DNS, SSL, and availability API with a lightweight free plan

WHOISJSON packages WHOIS, DNS, SSL certificate, and availability lookups into a lightweight API for teams that need practical lookup coverage without enterprise overhead.

Free plan available

Pricing Comparison

Pricing	Shodan	WHOISJSON
Free Tier	Limited web access	Free plan available
Paid Plans	Membership $49 one-time, subscriptions from $69/month	From $10/month
Enterprise	Corporate and enterprise plans	Higher-volume plans available
TLD Coverage	Full internet coverage	1,500+ TLDs

Feature Comparison

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

Which is Better?

Choose Shodan if you need

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

Choose WHOISJSON if you need

Covers WHOIS, DNS, SSL, and availability in one API
Simple entry pricing and low-friction onboarding
Useful free tier for early testing and prototypes

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)
✓ 1,500+ TLDs supported
✓ MCP integration for AI assistants
✓ Domain valuation, brand monitoring, OSINT

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