URLScans vs urlscan.io
Compare two popular link scanners: URLScans (free) and urlscan.io (paid). Choose the best urlscan tool for your needs. Both let you scan url and detect threats—here is how they differ.
Try the URLScans workflow
Paste a URL to get a clear risk verdict, detection reasons, and redirect information. The scanner checks the link remotely, so you do not need to open a potentially dangerous page.
| Feature | URLScans | urlscan.io |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier | Limited (50 private/day) | |
| Link scanner for web | Unlimited | Public scans |
| API | Free key, 1K/mo | Paid from ~$5k/yr |
| Phishing detection | ||
| Typosquatting | — | |
| Scan this link — instant |
Choose URLScans if you want
- • Free unlimited link scanning
- • A free urlscan tool with no signup
- • To scan url instantly via web or API
- • Typosquatting and phishing detection
Choose urlscan.io if you need
- • Sandbox / headless browser analysis
- • Multi-country, multi-user-agent scans
- • Brand tracking and threat hunting
The tools serve different investigation depths
URLScans is built for a fast answer to “is this link safe?” It combines threat feeds, domain and certificate signals, redirect analysis, typosquatting checks, and phishing heuristics into a verdict with readable reasons.
urlscan.io is better suited to analysts who need a browser-sandbox record with requests, page resources, screenshots, and infrastructure pivots. Choose based on the evidence you need rather than treating the products as identical scanners.
FAQ
- Is URLScans really free?
- Yes. URLScans is a completely free link scanner. Scan unlimited URLs with no signup—unlike urlscan.io's paid plans. Use our urlscan tool to scan this link anytime.
- Can I scan url via API?
- Both tools offer APIs. URLScans gives free API keys (1,000 scans/month). urlscan.io's free tier limits private scans to 50/day. URLScans is better if you need a free url scaner for automation.
Also see: URLScans vs URLert · URLScans vs CyScan · Best URL Scanning Tools