A simpler, more private alternative to VirusTotal
VirusTotal shares every file you upload with 70+ vendors. AttachmentScanner doesn't. Scan files for malware via a clean REST API, with predictable pricing and no surprises.
Why developers switch from VirusTotal
Your files stay private
Every file uploaded to VirusTotal is stored permanently and shared with their 70+ antivirus partners. Premium users can search and download any file ever submitted. With AttachmentScanner, your files are scanned and that's it. No sharing, no public corpus, no risk of confidential data leaking.
Built for developers, not analysts
VirusTotal returns results from 70+ engines, often contradicting each other. Great for threat researchers, confusing for automated pipelines. AttachmentScanner gives you a clean JSON response with a clear result you can act on.
Predictable pricing
VirusTotal's free tier prohibits commercial use entirely. Their paid API starts at $5,000/year with opaque enterprise pricing beyond that. AttachmentScanner starts at $99/month with clear, published plans.
GDPR-friendly, multi-region
VirusTotal ships your files to dozens of vendors across unknown jurisdictions. AttachmentScanner lets you scan in the U.S., Europe, or Asia-Pacific, keeping data where your compliance requirements need it.
How they compare
| VirusTotal | AttachmentScanner | |
|---|---|---|
| Files kept private | Shared with 70+ vendors | Never shared |
| Commercial use | Free tier prohibits it | All plans |
| Pricing | From $5,000/year | From $99/month |
| Clear API response | 70+ engine results | Single clear result |
| Choose scan region | No control | US, EU, Asia-Pacific |
| Webhook callbacks | Premium only | All plans |
See the difference
Scan a file in one request
curl -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_TOKEN" \
-d "url=https://example.com/uploads/document.pdf" \
-XPOST https://us.attachmentscanner.com/v1.0/scansGet a clear result
{
"id": "5a82a0c2-4443-4...",
"status": "ok",
"matches": []
}No 70-engine matrix to parse. View full documentation →
Common use cases
SaaS file upload scanning
Your users upload files to your app. You need to scan them before storing or processing. VirusTotal's free tier can't be used commercially, and sharing your users' files with 70+ vendors is a liability. AttachmentScanner scans privately via a simple API call.
Email attachment scanning
Scan inbound email attachments automatically as part of your mail pipeline. AttachmentScanner handles high-volume automated scanning without the rate limits that make VirusTotal's free API impractical.
Compliance-driven environments
If you're in a regulated industry (finance, healthcare, government), sending files to VirusTotal's shared corpus may violate your data handling obligations. AttachmentScanner keeps files within your chosen region and never shares them.
CI/CD and build artifact scanning
Integrate malware scanning into your deployment pipeline. Scan build outputs, dependencies, or user-generated content automatically with predictable throughput and pricing.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use AttachmentScanner commercially?
Yes, all plans include commercial use. VirusTotal's free tier explicitly prohibits commercial use, and their community API has strict rate limits that make it impractical for production workloads.
Does AttachmentScanner share my files with third parties?
No. Your files are scanned by our engines and deleted immediately after scanning. Nothing is shared, stored, or made available to anyone. VirusTotal stores every file permanently and makes them available to premium subscribers.
How does pricing compare to the VirusTotal API?
VirusTotal's paid API starts at $5,000/year. In 2026, Google integrated VirusTotal into Google Threat Intelligence, with reports of prices increasing up to 4x for some tiers. AttachmentScanner starts at $99/month with transparent, published pricing on every plan.
What scan engines does AttachmentScanner use?
AttachmentScanner uses multiple commercial antivirus engines to scan files. Rather than returning 70+ individual verdicts like VirusTotal, we combine results into a single clear response your code can act on.
Can I choose where my files are scanned?
Yes. AttachmentScanner operates scanning clusters in the U.S. (us-east-1), Europe (eu-west-1), and Asia-Pacific (ap-southeast-2). Your files never leave the region you choose, which is essential for GDPR and data residency compliance.
How long does it take to integrate?
Most developers are scanning files within minutes. The API is a single HTTPS endpoint — send a file or URL, get a JSON response. We have code examples in 8 languages.
Ready to switch?
Start scanning files in minutes. No file sharing, no opaque pricing, no 70-engine confusion.
Start your free trialNo credit card required.