10 Best OWASP ZAP Alternatives And Competitors

Read this review and comparison of the top OWASP ZAP Alternatives with features, ratings, and pricing to select the best OWASP ZAP Competitor:

As far as Open-Source security testing solutions go, there aren’t many that share the popularity that OWASP ZAP enjoys. OWASP ZAP, also known as Zed Attack Proxy, is an open-source penetration testing tool that is currently being maintained by the Open Web Application Security Project.

It is a flexible and extensible solution exclusively designed to assess web applications for vulnerabilities.

The platform features a good interface and is simple to use. It facilitates automatic scanning and generates reports that become ultimately useful in patching identified vulnerabilities. The solution is also highly scalable. Being free to use is perhaps what makes it more appealing to businesses or developers who can’t afford other rather expensive alternatives.

OWASP ZAP Alternatives Review

However, the tool isn’t infallible. In fact, it is severely lacking in features that security teams expect from their vulnerability management platforms today. It also doesn’t fare well when identifying false positives. Fortunately, OWASP ZAP isn’t the only solution out there that can guarantee excellent application security.

In this article, we will look at tools that offer near-perfect vulnerability management solutions to their users. Based on popular customer receptions and our own experience with each of them, we will introduce you to the best OWASP Zap Alternatives the market offers today.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q #1) Is OWASP ZAP a DAST tool?

Answer: Yes, OWASP ZAP is a decent dynamic application security tester that is also open-source and free to use. As a dynamic application security tester, OWASP ZAP analyzes an application from the outside-in to detect vulnerabilities it may possess.

The platform is one of the more popular black-box security testing being widely used in the industry today, which is also known for its penetration testing feature.

Q #2) Is OWASP ZAP legal?

Answer: Yes, it is completely safe and legal to use as long as you are using it to perform passive scans. Active scanning can be dangerous as it might modify, delete or create new data. Active scanning is especially illegal and may attract penalties if you are performing them on an application you don’t have any authorized access to.

Q #3) Is OWASP ZAP free?

Answer: OWASP ZAP is an open-source web application scanner that is absolutely free to use. In fact, it is one of its defining characteristics and can be attributed to the appeal it enjoys among security teams and developers even today. Its free nature means the tool isn’t exactly flawless.

For instance, people using the tool have often complained about a high number of false positives being detected. It is wise to use this tool along with any of the tools we have listed in this tutorial.

Also Read =>> Comprehensive review of OWASP ZAP tool

Q #4) How do I run a ZAP scan?

Answer: Running a ZAP scan is simple. All you have to do is follow the below steps:

• Launch ZAP and click the ‘Quick Start’ tab on your workspace window.
• Now click the large button – ‘Automated Scan’.
• You will see a text box referred to as ‘URL to Attack’. Simply paste the URL you want to simulate an attack on.
• Click ‘Attack’ after pasting and your scan will begin.

Q #5) What is AJAX Spider in ZAP?

Answer: Ajax Spider is an add-on designed for crawlers known as Crawljax. The add-on can allow OWASP ZAP to crawl web applications that are written in AJAX. Developers use AJAX Spider only if they have to run scans on applications exclusively written in AJAX.

List of the Top OWASP ZAP Alternatives

Find the most popular OWASP ZAP Competitors listed below:

1. Invicti (formerly Netsparker)
2. Acunetix
3. Intruder
4. Burp Suite
5. Veracode
6. Arachni
7. W3AF
8. Qualys Web Application scanning
9. Micro Focus Fortify WebInspect
10. HCL AppScan
11. Checkmarx

Comparing Some of the Best OWASP ZAP Competitors

Name	Best For	Fees	Ratings
Invicti (formerly Netsparker)	Dynamic and Interactive Application Security Testing	Contact for Quote
Acunetix	Detect over 7000 different vulnerabilities	Contact for Quote
Intruder	Delivering comprehensive and accurate results.	Starts at $113/month
Burp Suite	Easy Configuration and scheduled scanning	Free plan available, Professional Edition - $399. Enterprise Edition with three Plans - $5595 per year for the Starter plan, $11,580 per year for Grow plan, $23550 per year for Accelerate plan.
Veracode	Dynamic and Static Application Security Testing	Contact for Quote
Arachni	Free and Public Source Security Scanner	Free

Best OWASP ZAP Alternatives review:

#1) Invicti (formerly Netsparker)

Best for Dynamic and Interactive Application Security Testing

Invicti helps you assess complex web applications, services, and APIs for vulnerabilities that are otherwise easy to miss. The platform features an advanced web crawler, which allows it to discover all web assets on your network, regardless of whether they are hidden or lost.

It can identify more vulnerabilities than many of its contemporaries because of the combined dynamic and interactive approach to security testing.

It comes with an intuitive visual dashboard that gives security teams a holistic snapshot of all scan activities, identified assets, and vulnerabilities. The tool combines behavioral and signature-based scanning to identify security threats in an accurate and fast manner.

You also get detailed reports on the identified weakness, which can be leveraged to take appropriate remedial actions.

We like Invicti’s ‘Proof Based Scanning’ feature as it verifies all identified vulnerabilities in a read-only, open environment, thus reducing false positives. It is very easy to manage user permissions or automatically create and assign vulnerabilities to specific security teams using Invicti’s dashboard.

Invicti integrates seamlessly with the most current systems your enterprise might be employing. These include third-party tools like Jira, GitLab, GitHub, etc. Furthermore, Invicti is especially useful if you want to catch vulnerabilities early in the SDLC.

The tool is ideal for developers as it provides them with valuable feedback, which can write better, more secure codes with little to no errors.

Features:

• Advanced web crawling
• IAST + DAST scanning
• Detailed documentation on detected vulnerability
• Proof based scanning
• Seamless third-party tool integrations

Verdict: Invicti is an intuitive web application scanner that allows you to build automated security into every step of your SDLC. The platform is an ideal choice for developers who want to catch vulnerabilities early in the SDLC or would like to write secure codes while building software.

Unlike OWASP ZAP, Invicti takes a combined dynamic and interactive security testing approach to accurately identify more vulnerabilities as quickly as possible.

Price: Contact for quote

#2) Acunetix

Best for detecting over 7000 different vulnerabilities.

Acunetix allows you to scan complex web applications, services, and APIs with lightning-fast scans that do not overload the server. Unlike OWASP ZAP, this platform is easy to configure and does not waste your time on lengthy setups. You can deploy and start scanning to secure all your web assets with just a few clicks.

The platform can detect over 7000 different types of vulnerabilities. These include SQL injections, XSS, exposed databases, weak passwords, and more. It is also accurate in identifying these weaknesses, as it verifies them for false positives before reporting only confirmed vulnerabilities.

It also classifies identified vulnerabilities automatically based on how severe a threat they pose to your network.

Featuring an ‘Advanced Macro Recording’ technology, it is also easier to perform scans on complex multi-level forms and password-protected areas with Acunetix. It also generates excellent technical and compliance reports that are easy to read even by non-technical employees of your team. The platform integrates seamlessly with current CI/CD tracking systems.

Acunetix also allows you to schedule and prioritize scans automatically at a specified date and time. Full and Incremental scans can be scheduled to initiate automatically on a daily or weekly basis as per your preference.

Features:

• Advanced macro recording.
• Automatic vulnerability verification.
• Automatic classification of vulnerabilities based on risk.
• Schedule and prioritize scans.
• Generate detailed technical and compliance reports.

Verdict: Acunetix features a powerful web application security scanner that can perform fast scans to secure all web assets on your network from vulnerabilities. The platform can detect over 7000 different types of vulnerabilities and is very easy to run and set up.

It’s a fully automated solution that will schedule and prioritize scans at your command. It is definitely one of the better alternatives we have to OWASP ZAP today.

Price: Contact for quote

#3) Intruder

Best for Delivering comprehensive and accurate results.

With leading scanning engines under the hood, Intruder’s scanner provides the same level of security enjoyed by banks and government agencies worldwide. Trusted by over 2,500 companies, it has been designed with speed, versatility and simplicity in mind.

The process of vulnerability management can easily be regulated through Intruder’s intuitive and user-friendly UI. You can integrate the scanner with your CI/CD tools to manage vulnerabilities without changing the usual workflow of their business.

Reports can prove compliance and certification with SOC2 and ISO 27001 as vulnerabilities are detected.

Features:

• Runs over 140,000 checks including SQL Injections, XSS, & OWASP top 10.
• Makes it easy to pass security compliance such as ISO 27001 and SOC2.
• Scan new builds automatically with the help of modern CI tools including Jenkins.
• Integrate with AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, Teams, Slack and Jira.

Verdict: Intruder provides comprehensive scanning capabilities and features. It is a versatile and powerful tool that can scan web applications and APIs for a wide range of weaknesses. If you’re looking for a solution that will keep your business safe and is easy to use, look no further, Intruder has you covered.

Price: Free 14-day trial for Pro plan, transparent and flexible pricing, monthly or annual billing available. The plans are as follows:

• Essential: $113/month
• Pro: $182/month
• Custom plan also available

#4) Burp Suite

Best for easy configurations and scheduled scanning.

Burp Suite is easy to set up and run with a scanning system that can perform continuous, automated scans across thousands of applications on your network with just a few clicks. Scans can be scheduled to run on a daily or weekly basis as per your preference. Scans can also be run concurrently with Burp Suite with its Agent-Led scanning feature.

The platform features a centralized visual dashboard that aside from presenting key metrics, also allows you to manage user permissions and send scan reports by email. Perhaps the most compelling aspect of Burp Suite is its utilization of DAST, SAST, IAST, and SCA application security testing methods. The tool can detect critical bugs and also report little to no false positives.

Features:

• Utilization of almost all Application Security Testing methods.
• Schedule concurrent and recurring scans.
• Intuitive visual dashboard.
• Manage user access roles.

Verdict: Burp Suite is an enterprise-enabled web application security scanner that is easy to configure and deploy. It features an intuitive dashboard that presents key metrics and also performs other valuable tasks.

However, it is ultimately the combination of multiple application security testing methods that makes it one of the best OWASP ZAP alternatives in the market today.

Price – Free plan is available, Professional Edition – $399. Enterprise Edition with three Plans – $5595 per year for the Starter plan, $11,580 per year for Grow plan, $23550 per year for Accelerate plan.

Website: Burp Suite

#5) Veracode

Best for SAST and DAST.

Veracode provides a powerful online application vulnerability scanner that employs dynamic and static application security testing methods to accurately identify vulnerabilities. This is a tool ideal for developers who want to build security into every step of their SDLC. It is also great for performing continuous, recurring scans to detect new vulnerabilities before an attacker can.

Like all decent application scanners, Veracode also features a visual dashboard that presents key metrics in an easy-to-understand manner. Veracode comes with the ‘Software Composition Analysis’ feature, which can be employed to identify open-source vulnerabilities with utmost accuracy.

Features:

• DAST + SAST application security testing.
• Software composition analysis.
• Centralized visual dashboard.
• Comprehensive report generation with key insights.

Verdict: There is a lot to admire in Veracode’s online application scanner. Its combination of static and dynamic application security testing makes it capable of identifying almost all types of vulnerabilities accurately. It can be deployed to perform continuous scans that secure all your assets 24/7 and 365 days a year.

Price: Contact for quote

Website: Veracode

#6) Arachni

Best for free and public source.

Built with the Ruby framework, Arachni is a full-featured, free-to-use web application scanner that can accurately identify vulnerabilities for most modern web applications. It can be deployed to perform a variety of security assessments to secure web applications.

Depending on the use case, it can function as a simple command-line utility scanner, a high-performance grid of scanners, and a multi-scan, multi-user web collaboration platform. The platform also supports scans for complicated web applications that utilize technology, such as HTML5, JavaScript, AJAX, and DOM manipulation.

Features:

• Free and public-source.
• Supports scans on complex web application technologies.
• Easy to deploy.
• Highly customizes.

Verdict: Arachni is an absolutely free-to-use application security scanner that can perform thorough scans on complex web applications, regardless of what framework they were built with. Its results are almost always accurate. It is definitely a suitable alternative to OWASP ZAP for developers.

Price: Free

Website: Arachni

#7) W3AF

Best for open-source vulnerability detection.

W3AF is another open-source web application scanner that can accurately identify over 200 vulnerabilities. These include both known and some new vulnerabilities that are being discovered every day. With a platform developed using Python, W3AF creates a framework to help discover and exploit vulnerabilities in your web application.

The platform comes with both a graphical and console user interface. One can initiate the scanning process with just a few clicks using profiles that are already pre-defined within W3AF’s system.

Features:

• Graphical and console UI.
• Detect over 200 vulnerabilities.
• Predefined profiles.
• Developed using Python.

Verdict: W3AF features an impressive graphical and console UI, which makes running scans or assessing key scan metrics simple. The platform can identify the most commonly known vulnerabilities like SQL injections, misconfiguration, and XSS, among others. It is also accurate in its ability to identify these weaknesses.

Price: Free

Website: W3AF

#8) Qualys WAS

Best for automatic web asset cataloging.

Qualys is an effective cloud-based application scanner that can secure all your web assets by identifying vulnerabilities like SQL injections, XSS, weak passwords, and more. The platform covers every corner of your network to detect all types of assets, regardless of whether they are hidden or lost. The platform supports complex, authenticated, and progressive scans.

Qualys is also capable of testing IoT services and mobile APIs for vulnerabilities with programmatic scanning of SOAP and REST API services. The platform is also useful for detecting malware infections as well. It can identify and report zero-day security threats with the help of behavioral analysis. The reports it generates are detailed and easy to read.

Features:

• Comprehensive full network discovery.
• Automatic catalog applications.
• Supports Authenticated, Progressive and Complex Scans.
• Supports IoT service mobile API scanning.

Verdict: Qualys is an intuitive cloud-based solution for application security scanning. It crawls through every corner of your network to secure all types of assets it might harbor. The platform supports progressive, complex, and authenticated scanning. However, what really makes it stand out is its ability to test IoT services and mobile APIs for security threats.

Price: Contact for quote

Website: Qualys WAS

#9) Fortify On-Demand

Best for multiple Application Security Testing offerings.

Fortify On-Demand is a cloud-based solution that allows you to secure all types of applications from vulnerabilities. It is a rare provider that offers mobile, dynamic, interactive, and static application security testing. The platform also provides a machine learning platform that can automatically verify vulnerabilities for false positives.

This advanced application security provider is perhaps best suited for developers. It helps developers build security into every step of their software’s development lifecycle. It assists them with insightful feedback, which can write secure codes.

Features:

• MAST+SAST+DAST+IAST
• Pre-Production security testing
• Automatic vulnerability verification
• Detailed reports generation

Verdict: Fortify On-Demand shines because it is one of a handful of providers that offer multiple security testing methods to their clients. The platform is ideal for developers, helping them find and patch vulnerabilities throughout a software’s development lifecycle. Its rapid feedback also becomes useful in helping developers write secure codes with little to no room for vulnerabilities to thrive.

Price: Contact for quote

Website: Micro Focus Fortify On-Demand

#10) HCL AppScan

Best for provision for open-source, static, dynamic and interactive application security testing

HCL AppScan offers a wide range of tools that all specialize in the detection and remediation of vulnerabilities. It caters to all business needs and requirements by offering tools that facilitate open-source, static, dynamic, and interactive application security testing. As such, developers can use the tool to build applications devoid of vulnerabilities.

It uses comprehensive reports to share its findings with security teams and developers. The reports contain actionable insights that describe the severity of a detected threat and methods that would be appropriate to fix them before an attacker can exploit them.

Features:

• Continuous, automated scan.
• Full Network Asset discovery.
• Detailed report generation.
• Intuitive visual dashboard.

Verdict: HCL AppScan’s wider suite of security testing tools naturally makes it a superior alternative to OWASP ZAP. It can discover, monitor, and remedy security threats in a quick, accurate, and efficient manner. HCL AppScan caters to all types of security needs that businesses and developers might have.

Price: Contact for quote

Website: HCL AppScan

#11) Checkmarx

Best for Application Security Testing for developers.

Checkmarx allows developers to build automated application security within their development workflow. The platform can run thousands of scans per day to detect vulnerabilities with pinpoint accuracy. In fact, developers can initiate automated scans with a single click once Checkmarx has been deployed.

Checkmarx also provides developers with risk insights much earlier in the development process, thus allowing them to instantly take remedial actions before the software is ready to launch. You also get comprehensive metrics and analytics, all presented via a visual dashboard to track the status of application vulnerability.

Features:

• Seamless Integration into CI/CD.
• Perform automated, continuous scans.
• Provides instant risk insights.
• Centralized visual dashboard.

Verdict: Checkmarx is a solution designed to keep the needs and requirements of developers in mind. The tool can perform automated scans on software while it still under development. As such, it can accurately identify vulnerabilities and fix them without slowing down the development process. We recommend this to software developers only.

Price: Contact for quote

Website: Checkmarx

Conclusion

For free, open-source vulnerability management solutions, OWASP ZAP is definitely a top-tier platform. It features a decent UI and performs a decent job of finding known and unknown vulnerabilities. It is arguably one of the more popular dynamic application security testing tools that are also free to use.

However, it isn’t without its flaws. Some users might have a tough time in its deployment. The fact that it reports way too many false positives also doesn’t help. Hence, it is wiser to be aware of tools that can compensate for OWASP ZAP’s obvious shortcomings. That is exactly what we hope to accomplish by recommending 10 tools that we believe are some of the best OWASP ZAP alternatives available in the market today.

Further Reading =>> Hands-on Acunetix Web Vulnerability Scanner Review

As for our recommendation, if you are looking for a powerful web application scanner that takes a combined dynamic and interactive approach to scanning and essentially eliminates false positives, then look no further than Invicti. You can also try Acunetix, which also does a great job of reducing false positives while being easy to configure and use.

Research Process:

• We spent 11 hours researching and writing this article so you can have summarized and insightful information on which OWASP ZAP Alternatives will best suit you.
• Total OWASP ZAP Alternatives researched – 20
• Total OWASP ZAP Alternatives shortlisted – 10