Scanverra vs. Mozilla Observatory
Mozilla Observatory, now the MDN HTTP Observatory, is a free, well-respected scanner focused on HTTP security headers. Scanverra's security scan covers headers too, as one part of a broader check. We build Scanverra, so read this with that in mind; the honest answer is that both are worth running, for different reasons.
| Feature | Scanverra | Mozilla Observatory |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free plan; Pro $19/mo | Free |
| Free usage | 5 Security scans/mo free; website audits unlimited | Unlimited, no account |
| HTTP security header grading Observatory explains each header in a little more depth | Yes | Yes |
| Cookie flag checks | Yes | No |
| TLS certificate and protocol checks Observatory dropped TLS checks when it moved to MDN in 2024 | Yes | No |
| DNS and email security records | Yes | No |
| Exposed files and CSRF gaps | Yes | No |
| Performance, SEO and accessibility in the same platform | Yes | No |
| Scheduled re-scans and alerts | Pro, Team and Enterprise plans | No |
Where Mozilla Observatory is the better choice
For a fast, trustworthy check of your security headers specifically, Observatory is hard to fault. It grades CSP, HSTS and related headers, explains each one in plain language and links to MDN's documentation for the fix. There is no account, no usage limit, and it has Mozilla's long track record behind it. When it moved to MDN in 2024 it narrowed its focus to HTTP headers, which keeps it simple and quick. As a second opinion before something sensitive goes live, it is an excellent free choice.
Where Scanverra is the better choice
Observatory's scope is deliberately narrow. Scanverra's security scan covers the same header ground plus cookie flags, TLS certificate and protocol setup, DNS and email security records, exposed files, and common CSRF gaps in a single scan, with fixes written for your stack. It sits on the same platform as performance, SEO, accessibility, browser and code scanning, so security is one more result on a dashboard you already use, and paid plans add scheduled re-scans with alerts when something regresses.
Which should you use?
They are not mutually exclusive, and running both costs a few minutes. Use Scanverra as the continuous, all-in-one check, and Observatory as a focused second opinion on headers. For TLS in depth, a dedicated tool such as SSL Labs still goes further than either; see Scanverra vs. SSL Labs. Once you know what is missing, the missing security headers fix guide has copy-paste configuration for common servers.
Perguntas frequentes
Yes. It moved to MDN in 2024 and is now called the MDN HTTP Observatory. It remains free and focuses on HTTP security headers.
For a broader security check, yes: Scanverra covers headers plus cookies, TLS, DNS and email records, exposed files and CSRF gaps, with fixes and monitoring. For a quick, focused header grade, Observatory is a good free second opinion.
Running both is free and takes minutes. Many teams use Scanverra as the ongoing check and Observatory as a second opinion on headers before launches.
Related reading
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