PatchVex vs SecurityHeaders.com
This comparison is objective. Where SecurityHeaders.com does something better, we say so.
SecurityHeaders.com is a free, widely used tool that grades HTTP security headers from A+ to F. It's a solid quick-check — paste a URL, get a letter grade and a list of missing headers. PatchVex's web scanner covers security headers too, but goes significantly broader.
This comparison is objective. If SecurityHeaders does something better, we say so.
Where SecurityHeaders.com wins
- Faster to use for a pure header check — no other information to process
- The A–F grading system is immediately understandable and shareable with non-technical stakeholders
- Has been around longer and is more widely recognized in security communities
- No account or context — single URL input, instant grade
Where PatchVex wins
- Detects secret exposure: OpenAI API keys, AWS credentials, and other sensitive values in HTTP responses
- Checks TLS configuration, certificate validity, and cipher suite quality
- Validates cookie attributes (HttpOnly, Secure, SameSite) for every Set-Cookie header
- Detects CORS misconfigurations beyond just the presence of headers
- Identifies publicly accessible cloud storage (AWS S3, GCP, Azure Blob) referenced in responses
- Provides fix guidance specific to your framework — not just "add this header"
- Generates a shareable security report suitable for security reviews
Bottom line
If you want a fast header grade to share with your team, SecurityHeaders.com is excellent. If you want a comprehensive pre-launch security check that covers headers, TLS, cookies, secrets, CORS, and cloud exposure — PatchVex covers more ground.
Both are free. Use SecurityHeaders for a quick pulse check. Use PatchVex before a release or security review.