A free SSL Labs alternative that checks headers and CVEs too
Qualys SSL Labs is the best tool available for grading a server's TLS/SSL configuration in depth. If you want an authoritative letter grade for your TLS setup, use it. It is free, thorough, and needs no signup.
But TLS is only half of what sits at your site's front door. SSL Labs does not check your HTTP security headers, does not fingerprint your stack for known vulnerabilities, and does not tell you how to fix anything it finds. SecureMonk covers those three things. It scans TLS, security headers, and known CVEs in one report, gives you a single 0-100 score, and explains each fix in plain language. Free, no signup, results in seconds.
SSL Labs vs SecureMonk
| Capability | Qualys SSL Labs | SecureMonk |
|---|---|---|
| TLS / SSL configuration | Yes, deep grade (A+ to F) | Yes, scored, with fixes |
| HTTP security headers (CSP, X-Frame-Options, etc.) | No | Yes, full header suite |
| Technology fingerprint and known CVEs | No | Yes, vulnerability scan |
| Plain-language remediation for each finding | No | Yes |
| Single 0-100 score across TLS and headers | TLS grade only | Yes, unified score |
| AI assistant to explain findings | No | Yes, Ask Monk |
| Free, no signup | Yes | Yes |
When to use which
Use SSL Labs when you need the deepest TLS grade you can get. It simulates handshakes across dozens of clients, digs through cipher and certificate-chain detail, and hands you a letter grade people recognize.
Use SecureMonk when you want a wider check with fixes attached. You get TLS, the full set of HTTP security headers (Content-Security-Policy, Strict-Transport-Security, X-Frame-Options, X-Content-Type-Options and more), and a technology fingerprint matched against known CVEs, in a single 0-100 score with specific remediation for each finding. It covers what securityheaders.com and an SSL test would each tell you separately, in one report, plus an AI assistant that answers questions about the results.
You can use both. Plenty of teams run SSL Labs for the definitive TLS letter grade and SecureMonk for the headers, vulnerability, and fix guidance it does not cover.
What SecureMonk checks
- TLS / SSL: protocol versions, cipher suites, certificate validity and chain, HSTS. See TLS cipher suites explained.
- HTTP security headers: the full suite, scored and explained. See the four headers worth fighting for.
- Vulnerabilities: technology fingerprinting matched against known CVEs and public exploit data.
- A single 0-100 score with plain-language fixes for every finding. See how the score works.
Common questions
Is SecureMonk really free? Yes. No account, no payment, no trial. Enter a URL and you get the full report.
Does it replace SSL Labs? Not for TLS depth. SSL Labs still goes deeper on TLS alone. What it replaces is the habit of running SSL Labs, then securityheaders.com, then a separate CVE check. SecureMonk does all three at once and tells you how to fix what it finds.
Do I need to install anything? No. Enter any public URL and it scans the live endpoint.