Brandwave

How popular isNmap?

In September 2026, people searched for Nmap by name about 165,000 times worldwide, a 17.9% decrease from the previous year. These searches made up 16.2% of all global penetration testing platform searches, placing Nmap second out of 11 platforms. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about penetration testing platforms, Nmap appeared in three of the five answers and was the sixth most recommended of the 11.

Search and AI answers in September 2026

Nmap is the second most searched of 11 competitors and the sixth most recommended in AI answers.

  1. Kali LinuxShare of searches 54.1%Mentioned in 3 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 2nd
  2. NmapShare of searches 16.2%Mentioned in 3 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 6th
  3. Burp SuiteShare of searches 13.3%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 1st
  4. ZAPShare of searches 5.1%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 4th
  5. TenableShare of searches 4.9%Mentioned in 3 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 5th

+6 more

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Top penetration testing platforms in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Nmap was mentioned in three out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. Nmap is the sixth most recommended of the 11.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Burp Suite1st
  2. Kali Linux2nd
  3. Metasploit3rd
  4. ZAP4th
  5. Tenable5th
  6. Nmap6th
  7. Horizon3.ai7th
  8. Pentera8th
  9. Intruder9th
  10. Cobalt10th
  11. +1 more

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • Burp Suite5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • ZAP5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Metasploit4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Kali Linux3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Nmap3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Tenable3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Pentera2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Horizon3.ai2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Cobalt1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Intruder1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers

+1 more

See every answer about penetration testing platforms

5 answers

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 21, 2026.

Which penetration testing platforms compete with Nmap?

Nmap against penetration testing platforms worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for Kali Linux, Nmap, Burp Suite, ZAP, Tenable, Metasploit. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthKali LinuxNmapBurp SuiteZAPTenableMetasploitPenteraHorizon3.aiAstra SecurityCobaltIntruder
Oct 202555.2%16.5%11.1%4.3%6.1%5%1%0.41%0.24%0.2%0.06%
Nov 202552.1%15.6%12.8%5%7%5.7%0.96%0.39%0.27%0.18%0.05%
Dec 202553.9%16.2%13.2%4.2%5.9%4.9%0.81%0.35%0.28%0.14%0.05%
Jan 202653.6%16.1%13.2%4.2%5.9%4.8%1.2%0.43%0.28%0.16%0.05%
Feb 202653.8%16.1%13.2%4.2%5.9%4.8%1%0.43%0.28%0.15%0.05%
Mar 202651.3%18.7%12.6%4.9%5.6%4.6%1.2%0.55%0.34%0.15%0.06%
Apr 202653.2%15.9%13%5%5.8%4.8%1%0.64%0.35%0.17%0.05%
May 202648.7%17.8%14.6%4.6%6.5%5.4%1.1%0.72%0.39%0.16%0.06%
Jun 202652.3%15.7%12.8%6%5.8%4.7%1.2%0.87%0.42%0.18%0.06%
Jul 202651.1%18.7%12.5%4.8%5.6%4.6%1.2%0.85%0.41%0.17%0.05%
Aug 202656%16.8%11.2%4.3%5%4.1%1%0.88%0.37%0.15%0.04%
Sep 202654.1%16.2%13.3%5.1%4.9%4%1%0.92%0.35%0.16%0.04%

  1. 1.Kali Linux

    54.1%

    Held 1st. 550K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -2 points.

  2. 2.Nmap

    16.2%

    Held 2nd. 165K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -0.6 points.

  3. 3.Burp Suite

    13.3%

    Held 3rd. 135K estimated branded searches, +22.7% vs prior month. Share +2.1 points.

  4. 4.ZAP

    5.1%

    Moved from 5th to 4th. 51.9K estimated branded searches, +22.4% vs prior month. Share +0.8 points.

  5. 5.Tenable

    4.9%

    Moved from 4th to 5th. 49.5K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -0.2 points.

  6. 6.Metasploit

    4%

    Held 6th. 40.5K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -0.1 points.

  7. 7.Pentera

    1%

    Held 7th. 10.2K estimated branded searches, -0.1% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

  8. 8.Horizon3.ai

    0.92%

    Held 8th. 9.4K estimated branded searches, +8.9% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

  9. 9.Astra Security

    0.35%

    Held 9th. 3.6K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

  10. 10.Cobalt

    0.16%

    Held 10th. 1.6K estimated branded searches, +11.2% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

  11. 11.Intruder

    0.04%

    Held 11th. 440 estimated branded searches, +12.8% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

Compare popularity between Nmap and its closest rivals

Every comparison with Nmap

10 comparisons

How has branded search demand for Nmap changed worldwide over the last 12 months?

2 findings
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for Nmap worldwide fell from 201K to 165K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Nmap’s share of searches among penetration testing platforms worldwide peaked at 18.7% in March 2026 and was lowest at 15.6% in November 2025.

How did search popularity change for penetration testing platforms worldwide in September 2026?

6 changes

  1. In September 2026, ZAP overtook Tenable to rank 4th among penetration testing platforms worldwide, with 5.1% of the searches.

  2. In September 2026, Burp Suite gained share of searches among penetration testing platforms worldwide, from 11.2% to 13.3%.

  3. In September 2026, Kali Linux lost share of searches among penetration testing platforms worldwide, from 56% to 54.1%.

  4. In September 2026, Nmap lost share of searches among penetration testing platforms worldwide, from 16.8% to 16.2%.

  5. Tenable’s share of searches among penetration testing platforms worldwide has lost ground for 3 months in a row, from 5.8% to 4.9% in September 2026.

  6. Metasploit’s share of searches among penetration testing platforms worldwide has lost ground for 3 months in a row, from 4.7% to 4% in September 2026.

How are Nmap’s branded searches counted?

1 search term

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Nmap’s name. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for this branded term can be used to understand whether interest in the brand is growing, holding steady, or fading.

  • nmap

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How the Brand Demand Index is measured

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