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Short answer: Shodan is a search engine that continuously scans the internet and indexes the services that devices expose — web servers, remote-access portals, databases, cameras, industrial equipment. For defenders, its main value is answering one question: what does the internet see when it looks at us? Security teams use it to find forgotten servers, misconfigured databases and devices that should never have been public. A one-time $49 Membership covers most small-team needs; subscriptions add large-scale monitoring and API use.
What Shodan shows
- Open ports and services on internet-facing IP addresses.
- Service banners, which often reveal software and versions.
- TLS certificate details, which help map an organization's domains.
- Known vulnerability tags for some exposed software.
- Historical data, showing how exposure changed over time.
Shodan's dashboard summarizes exposed services, countries and organizations for a search.
How defenders use it
Use | Why it matters |
|---|---|
Attack-surface discovery | Find internet-facing assets you didn't know about, including old test servers |
Exposure monitoring | Shodan Monitor alerts you when new ports or risky services appear on your IP ranges |
Vulnerability prioritization | Exposed systems running vulnerable versions should be patched first (vulnerability management guide) |
Third-party risk | Understand the visible exposure of suppliers (within legal and contractual limits) |
Home users | Check whether your router or cameras expose services publicly (home network checklist) |
Attackers use the same data to find targets, which is exactly why you should look first.
Plans and pricing
Plan | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
Free account | $0 | Limited searches and results |
Membership | $49 one-time (lifetime) | 100 query and 100 scan credits per month, more results, monitoring for a small number of IPs, basic API access |
Freelancer | $69/month | More query credits; monitoring for up to 5,120 IPs |
Small Business | $359/month | Monitoring for up to 65,536 IPs |
Corporate / Enterprise | $1,099/month / custom | Large-scale monitoring and data access |
Shodan frequently discounts Membership during promotions. Check the billing page for current prices.
Responsible use
Shodan's data is gathered from public scans, but what you do with it matters. Investigating systems you don't own or aren't authorized to assess can break laws and contracts. Use it to understand and reduce your own exposure.
Alternatives
- Censys: similar internet-wide scan data with a strong focus on attack-surface management.
- External attack-surface management (EASM) platforms: commercial tools that combine scan data with asset discovery and workflows.
- Your own scans: Nmap from an external network shows what's reachable on IPs you own.
Verdict
Shodan is one of the most useful tools for seeing your organization the way an attacker would. The $49 Membership is excellent value; set up Monitor on your IP ranges and treat every unexpected alert as a to-do item.
Frequently asked questions
Is Shodan legal to use?
Searching Shodan's index is legal. How you use the information matters — assess only systems you own or are authorized to test.
How much does Shodan cost?
A free account has limited access. Membership is a $49 one-time payment; subscriptions start at $69 per month.
What is Shodan Monitor?
A feature that watches your IP ranges and alerts you when new services or risky exposures appear.
Sources
- Shodan, Plans and billing
- Shodan, Platform overview (Shodan book)
The bottom line
