DomainOptic vs SecurityHeaders.com: Honest Comparison (2026)
Published January 29, 2026 - 7 min read
TL;DR: SecurityHeaders.com is the best tool if you only need HTTP security header analysis. DomainOptic is better if you want a comprehensive security overview covering SSL, DNS, headers, blacklists, and secret scanning in one scan. Both are free with no signup.
Quick Comparison
| Feature |
DomainOptic |
SecurityHeaders.com |
| Security Headers Check |
Yes |
Yes (more detailed) |
| SSL/TLS Certificate Check |
Yes |
No |
| DNS Health Check |
Yes |
No |
| Email Auth (SPF/DKIM/DMARC) |
Yes |
No |
| Blacklist Check |
Yes |
No |
| Secret/API Key Scanner |
Yes |
No |
| Signup Required |
No |
No |
| Price |
Free |
Free |
About SecurityHeaders.com
SecurityHeaders.com was created by Scott Helme, a well-known security researcher. It launched in 2015 and has become the go-to tool for checking HTTP security headers. The tool is simple, fast, and does one thing extremely well.
When you scan a site, SecurityHeaders checks for:
- Content-Security-Policy (CSP)
- Strict-Transport-Security (HSTS)
- X-Content-Type-Options
- X-Frame-Options
- X-XSS-Protection (deprecated but still checked)
- Referrer-Policy
- Permissions-Policy
It then gives you a letter grade (A+ through F) and explains what each missing header does. The explanations are excellent for learning.
About DomainOptic
DomainOptic is an all-in-one website security audit tool. We built it because we were tired of running multiple tools to check one website: SSL Labs for certificates, SecurityHeaders for headers, MXToolbox for DNS, then manually checking for exposed API keys.
A single DomainOptic scan checks:
- SSL certificate status and expiration
- DNS health and configuration
- Email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC)
- Security headers (with letter grade)
- Blacklist status across multiple databases
- Exposed secrets in JavaScript (API keys, tokens)
When to Use SecurityHeaders.com
SecurityHeaders.com is the better choice when:
- You only need header analysis: If your SSL and DNS are fine and you just want to improve your headers, SecurityHeaders gives you focused, detailed feedback.
- You want to learn about headers: Scott Helme's explanations of what each header does and why it matters are genuinely educational.
- You want the simplest possible interface: Enter URL, get grade, see results. Nothing else to distract you.
When to Use DomainOptic
DomainOptic is the better choice when:
- You want a complete security overview: One scan covers SSL, DNS, headers, blacklists, and exposed secrets.
- You need to check email authentication: SPF, DKIM, and DMARC are now required by Gmail and Yahoo for bulk senders. SecurityHeaders doesn't check these.
- You're worried about exposed API keys: Our Secret Scanner checks your JavaScript for leaked credentials. This is a blind spot for most security tools.
- You want to monitor multiple domains: DomainOptic offers free low-frequency monitoring alerts (with a free account).
Honest Assessment: Where SecurityHeaders Wins
We built DomainOptic, but we'll be honest about where SecurityHeaders.com is better:
- Header-specific depth: SecurityHeaders has been focused on headers for years. The analysis is mature and thorough.
- Educational content: The linked explanations help you understand why each header matters, not just whether you have it.
- Simplicity: Sometimes you really do just want to check headers. SecurityHeaders doesn't make you scroll past other information.
- Track record: It's been around since 2015 and is trusted by the security community.
Honest Assessment: Where DomainOptic Wins
- Comprehensive coverage: SSL, DNS, headers, blacklists, and secrets in one scan.
- Secret scanning: Most security tools completely ignore JavaScript. We check for exposed AWS, Stripe, OpenAI, and other API keys.
- Email authentication: SPF, DKIM, DMARC checks matter more than ever in 2026.
- Single workflow: One tool instead of four separate scanners.
Can You Use Both?
Yes, and many people do. A reasonable workflow:
- Run DomainOptic for a complete overview of your security posture
- If you get a low headers grade, use SecurityHeaders.com for detailed guidance on fixing each header
The tools complement each other. SecurityHeaders goes deeper on headers; DomainOptic goes wider on overall security.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between DomainOptic and SecurityHeaders.com?
SecurityHeaders.com focuses exclusively on HTTP security headers and gives them a letter grade. DomainOptic is an all-in-one scanner that checks headers plus SSL certificates, DNS health, email authentication, blacklist status, and exposed secrets in JavaScript.
Which is better: DomainOptic or SecurityHeaders.com?
It depends on your needs. SecurityHeaders.com is better if you only care about HTTP headers and want the most detailed header analysis. DomainOptic is better if you want a comprehensive security overview covering SSL, DNS, headers, and secret scanning in one scan.
Is SecurityHeaders.com free?
Yes, SecurityHeaders.com is completely free with no signup required. DomainOptic is also free with no signup required for basic scans.
Does SecurityHeaders.com check for exposed API keys?
No, SecurityHeaders.com only checks HTTP security headers. DomainOptic includes a Secret Scanner that detects exposed API keys (AWS, Stripe, OpenAI, etc.) in your public JavaScript files.
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