AWS GuardDuty costs $35/mo.
These cost $0.
1 free alternatives to AWS GuardDuty, checked for license, recent activity and real adoption. Each one tells you the catch, so you can switch with your eyes open.
The top-rated free, open-source replacement for AWS GuardDuty is ProjectDiscovery (Open Source Open Source). Switching a 5-person team saves up to $2,100/year compared to AWS GuardDuty's $35/mo subscription.
The catch: Community-driven open source project without dedicated enterprise SLAs.
AWS GuardDuty vs Free Alternatives
Quick side-by-side comparison · $0/mo vs $35/mo
| Alternative | Type | License | Where It Runs | Stars | Head-to-Head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ProjectDiscovery | open source | Open Source | Local | ★ 32.7k | AWS GuardDuty vs ProjectDiscovery → |
The picks
1 open source · ranked by fit
- 01
ProjectDiscovery
open sourceOpen SourceLocal32.7knov 2026Monitor infrastructure for exploitable vulnerabilities with real-time detection, automated workflows, and zero false positives.
The catch vs AWS GuardDutyCommunity-driven open source project without dedicated enterprise SLAs.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- desktopcross-platformone-click install
- install
- Clone https://github.com/projectdiscovery/nuclei or deploy with Docker Compose
- setup
- Download the native package or installer for your operating system.
- your data
- All application data lives locally on your own machine.
- checked
- 2026-11-07
AWS GuardDuty Head-to-Head Comparisons (2027)
Side-by-side trade-off breakdowns · 1 free alternatives
Frequently Asked Questions
Direct answers · AWS GuardDuty open-source replacements
What is the best free alternative to AWS GuardDuty?+
The top free alternative to AWS GuardDuty is ProjectDiscovery (open source, Open Source). Monitor infrastructure for exploitable vulnerabilities with real-time detection, automated workflows, and zero false positives.
How much does switching from AWS GuardDuty to a free alternative save?+
AWS GuardDuty starts at $35/month per seat ($420/year). Switching a 5-person team to a free alternative like ProjectDiscovery saves $2,100 per year in software subscription fees.
Should I vibe-code or build my own AWS GuardDuty clone from scratch?+
Our build verdict for AWS GuardDuty is NO (use a free alternative, save the tokens). Instead of paying recurring SaaS fees for AWS GuardDuty or rebuilding it from scratch, deploy one of the 1 battle-tested open-source alternatives like ProjectDiscovery.
What is the catch when switching from AWS GuardDuty to ProjectDiscovery?+
Community-driven open source project without dedicated enterprise SLAs.
