GACS vs VirusTotal

Google-owned multi-engine file and URL scanner. Honest, factual comparison — last updated July 2026.

VirusTotal founded 2004

Pricing: Free · Paid Enterprise API

GACS: Free, no ads

Feature	GACS	VirusTotal
Primary purpose	Consumer scam detection	Malware / file analysis
Website / URL check	Yes	Yes (90+ engines)
File / hash analysis	No	Yes (specialty)
Crypto wallet check	Yes	No
Phone number check	Yes	No
Median response time	~4 seconds	~30 seconds
Public API (no key, no ads)	Yes	Free tier with key
Real-time scam alerts feed	Yes	No
Browser extension	Yes	Limited

Where VirusTotal shines

Best-in-class file and malware analysis pipeline.
Massive enterprise security ecosystem and integrations.

Where GACS shines

Faster on everyday URL / wallet / phone checks (~4 s vs ~30 s).
Designed for the question 'is this a scam?', not 'is this file malicious?'
Free public API with no key, no ad layer, no enterprise gating.

The honest verdict

VirusTotal is the right tool for files, hashes and targeted attacks. GACS is the right tool for everyday scam checks on websites, wallets, phones and social handles — they're complementary and both worth bookmarking.

All trademarks belong to their respective owners. Information based on each provider's public website at time of writing. Spot something out of date? Tell us.