SecurityHeaders.com Shut Down Its API — Here Are the Best Alternatives (2026)

Abhishek Patel — Sun, 10 May 2026 17:13:08 +0000

SecurityHeaders.com was the go-to tool for checking HTTP security headers. In April 2026, it shut down its public API, leaving pentesters and developers without their primary automated scanning option. This guide covers the best alternatives and why WebAudit.in is the strongest replacement for developers and security professionals.

What Was SecurityHeaders.com?

SecurityHeaders.com, built by Scott Helme, was a free online scanner that graded websites on the quality of their HTTP security headers. It became a standard reference — consultants used it in client reports, developers checked it before launch, and pentesters cited its grades in findings.

The site's real value was its API. For a low monthly fee, you could integrate it into CI/CD pipelines and generate data at scale. That API was shut down in April 2026, making automated workflows that depended on it immediately non-functional. If your scripts or CI pipelines call the SecurityHeaders.com API, they are now silently failing. You need a replacement.

What to Look for in an Alternative

Not all scanners are equal. Before choosing a replacement, consider these criteria:

Headers checked: At minimum you want CSP, HSTS, X-Frame-Options, X-Content-Type-Options, Referrer-Policy, and Permissions-Policy.
TLS and DNS: HTTP headers are only part of the picture. A good alternative also checks certificate expiry, TLS version, SPF, DMARC, and DKIM.
PDF export: If you write client reports, you need a branded PDF you can attach to a deliverable.
Pricing & Flexibility: Do they force you into a monthly subscription just for a single report? Do they charge foreign transaction fees?

Comparison: Best SecurityHeaders Alternatives

Tool	Free scan	PDF (free tier)	API (free tier)	Pricing	No account needed	Full results on free tier
WebAudit.in	✓	✗ Pro only	✗ Pro only	₹499/mo (IN) / $7/mo (Intl) ₹99 / $2 One-Time	✓ Yes	~ Partial
SiteSecurityScore	✓	~ 3/mo	~ 10 calls/mo	$7/mo (USD only)	✗ Account required	~ Partial
ImmuniWeb	~ Limited	✗	✗	Enterprise only	✗ Account required	~ Limited

Why WebAudit.in Is the Best Alternative

1. The "One-Time Scan" Advantage (No Subscriptions)
Nobody else in the market is doing this. For one-off client engagements where a monthly subscription makes no sense, WebAudit.in offers a ₹99 (~$2) one-time scan. You pay once and instantly get a full Pro-level PDF report with all fix recommendations included. No account, no subscription trap, no recurring charge.

2. No account needed — instant results
Paste a URL, get a grade. No signup, no onboarding flow. Results appear in under 2 seconds covering HTTP headers, TLS certificates, and DNS email security.

3. Built for Speed: 29 Concurrent Checks
Security scanning usually means sitting at a loading screen. I wanted WebAudit.in to feel instant. The backend engine runs 29 distinct security evaluations in a single pass. Instead of sequential requests, the core engine uses a ThreadPoolExecutor to run the HTTP fetch, DNS resolution (probing 12 DKIM selectors), and TLS handshake in parallel.

4. PDF reports your clients can read
The single biggest gap left by SecurityHeaders for professional use was the absence of a downloadable report. WebAudit.in Pro generates a full branded PDF containing the security grade, all header findings with fix recommendations, TLS details, and DNS analysis.

5. Localized Pricing (Zero Forex Fees)
WebAudit.in Pro is priced at ₹499/month for India (billed in INR) or $7/month internationally. There is no currency conversion or international transaction fee for Indian users. Teams handling multiple clients can use the Agency tier to monitor up to 25 domains with automated weekly PDF delivery.

Migrating from SecurityHeaders.com API

If you had scripts calling the old API, the WebAudit.in API uses the exact same conceptual model — POST a URL, get back a grade and per-header findings.