Rapid7 vs Clone Systems
Vulnerability management, web app scanning and penetration testing compared with transparent online pricing.
Rapid7 is a major security platform vendor known for InsightVM, InsightAppSec, Metasploit, and 24/7 managed detection and response. Clone Systems is a PCI Approved Scanning Vendor since 2007 that puts PCI ASV scanning, vulnerability scanning, web application scanning, and automated penetration testing in one platform you can buy online. This page compares the two on features and published pricing, using only what each company publishes about its own products.
Where Rapid7 is strong
Rapid7 covers a lot of ground: vulnerability management, web app scanning, a SIEM, managed detection and response, threat intelligence with dark web monitoring, and human penetration testing services. It is a PCI Approved Scanning Vendor and owns Metasploit, the best-known exploitation framework. Enterprises that want scanning, SIEM, and a managed SOC from a single vendor are its natural fit.
Where Clone Systems is different
- Published prices you can buy at. Every Clone Systems package has a listed price and an online checkout. Rapid7 publishes starting prices but sells through sales or the AWS Marketplace; there is no cart.
- Automated penetration testing as a product. Clone Systems sells automated external and internal pen tests from $1,995 per 30 days, run from our platform. Rapid7's automated option is Metasploit Pro, a tool you license and run yourself, priced on request.
- PCI ASV scanning at small-business prices. Clone Systems ASV scanning starts at $185 a year for one IP. Rapid7's PCI ASV service is quote only.
- Web app scanning at a fraction of the cost. Clone Systems covers 10 apps for $5,995 a year. Rapid7 InsightAppSec is $175 per app per month billed annually, or $21,000 a year for the same 10 apps.
- Private AI remediation. The Clone Systems AI assistant runs in our own data center and sends nothing to outside AI providers. Rapid7 offers AI-written risk summaries; its public materials do not state where the AI runs.
Feature comparison
| Capability | Clone Systems | Rapid7 |
|---|---|---|
| PCI Approved Scanning Vendor | (quote only) | |
| External vulnerability scanning | ||
| Internal network scanning | ||
| Agent-based scanning | ||
| Authenticated web app scanning | ||
| Automated external pen testing | Limited (Metasploit Pro, self-run) | |
| Automated internal pen testing | Limited (Metasploit Pro, self-run) | |
| Managed penetration testing | ||
| AI remediation assistant | ||
| AI hosted in vendor's own data center | Not stated | |
| Published prices with online checkout | Starting prices only; no cart | |
| Dark web monitoring |
Published pricing, side by side
| Module | Clone Systems | Rapid7 |
|---|---|---|
| PCI ASV scanning | $185/yr (1 IP), $625 (10), $1,575 (25) | Quote only |
| Internal + external scanning, about 128 assets | $1,095/yr internal (128 IPs) + $595/yr external (10 IPs) = $1,690 | InsightVM $3,840 for 12 months (up to 128 assets; AWS Marketplace listing) |
| Internal scanning, about 500 assets | $1,495/yr (512 IPs) | InsightVM from $1.62 per asset per month, about $9,720/yr for 500 assets (Rapid7 pricing page) |
| Authenticated web app scanning, 10 apps | $5,995/yr | InsightAppSec $175 per app per month billed annually = $21,000/yr |
| Authenticated web app scanning, 50 apps | $14,995/yr | InsightAppSec = $105,000/yr at the same rate |
| Automated pen testing | External from $1,995, internal from $2,995 (30 days) | Metasploit Pro, quote only |
Prices as published by each vendor, checked September 21, 2026. Rapid7 figures are from Rapid7's pricing pages and its AWS Marketplace listing. Vendors count scope differently (IPs, assets, apps), so matched sizes are approximate.
Who should choose which
Choose Rapid7 if you want scanning, a SIEM, and a 24/7 managed SOC from one enterprise vendor, or your team already runs Metasploit.
Choose Clone Systems if you want to see the price and buy today, need a PCI ASV scan for a small or mid-size scope, want automated pen testing run for you rather than a tool to operate, or need web app scanning across many applications without an enterprise budget.
PCI ASV scanning: how the process compares
Both companies are on the PCI SSC list of Approved Scanning Vendors (Rapid7 is listed as "Rapid7 PCI ASV"; Clone Systems as "Clone Guard PCI"). The difference is in how the scanning is delivered and how you buy it.
- Buying. Rapid7's external and PCI/ASV scanning runs through its External Scanning Service, a Rapid7-managed scan engine that is an add-on to InsightVM; Rapid7's documentation directs customers to their Customer Success Advisor to add it. Clone Systems PCI ASV scanning is bought online at $185, $625, or $1,575 a year, with portal access created automatically when payment goes through.
- What you run. Rapid7's External Scanning Service pairs with your InsightVM Security Console, so you need an InsightVM deployment to use it. Clone Systems is a hosted portal with nothing to install.
- Reviews and exceptions. Clone Systems reviews false positives and compensating controls submitted in the portal within 24 hours, and approved exceptions stay attached to future scans. Rapid7's public documentation does not publish an exception turnaround for its ASV service.
- Rescans and attestation. Clone Systems includes unlimited rescans until you pass on every plan and issues the Attestation of Scan Compliance (AoSC) after each passing scan.
Switching from Rapid7 to Clone Systems
ASV scans are external, so there is no console to migrate. Export the list of public IPs and domains in your PCI scope from InsightVM, along with any exceptions that were accepted last quarter, since you can submit them again in the Clone Systems portal. Buy the plan that matches your IP count, run your first scan the same day, fix or dispute anything that fails, and rescan until you pass. Keep your current ASV coverage active until you have a passing AoSC from Clone Systems for the quarter so there is no gap. If you use InsightVM for internal scanning, you can keep it; Clone Systems also sells internal scanning from $1,095 a year for 128 IPs if you want both from one vendor.
Frequently asked questions
Process details are taken from each vendor's public documentation and the PCI SSC ASV list, checked September 28, 2026.
Rapid7, InsightVM, InsightAppSec, and Metasploit are trademarks of Rapid7, Inc. Clone Systems is not affiliated with Rapid7. Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we will update it.