AIMultiple vetted the top pentesting tools in the market based on their features, price, focus and popularity. See the links below for our reasoning.
When choosing a pentesting tool, users often consider the tools’:
- Integrations with SIEM and ticketing tools
- Deployment options such as on-prem or cloud
- Focus, such as web application, network, or database scanning
- Automated and manual testing capabilities
- OAuth 2.0 inegration
- Pricing
Pentesting tools comparison
Vendor | SIEM | Ticketing | Deployment | OAuth 2.0 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Splunk | Built-in, Jira, ServiceNow | On-Prem, Cloud, Hybrid | ✅ | |
PortSwigger Burp Suite | Built-in, Jira | On-Prem, Cloud, Hybrid | ❌ | |
OWASP ZAP | On-Prem | ✅ | ||
Tenable Nessus Professional | Splunk, IBM QRadar, McAfee ESM | Built-in, Jira, ServiceNow | On-Prem, Cloud, Hybrid | ❌ |
Metasploit Pro by Rapid 7 | InsightIDR | On-Prem, Cloud, Hybrid | ❌ |
*Ratings are based on B2B review platforms such as G2 and Capterra. Vendors are ranked according to their rankings except Invicti who is the sponsor of this article.
Selection Criteria
- 100+ employees
- Average rating of 4/5+
- Diverse pricing structures, with their prices listed publicly in the table.
Pricing and free trial availability
Vendor | Price | Free Trial |
|---|---|---|
Not shared publicly | ✅ | |
PortSwigger Burp Suite | From $2k to $250k per year depending on scan frequency and cloud vs on-prem deployment. Provides a free version. | ✅ |
Nmap | Open Source | Open Source |
OWASP ZAP (Zed Attack Proxy) | Open Source | Open Source |
Tenable Nessus | Tenable Nessus has 3 pricing edition(s), from $3,590 to $5,290 annually. | ✅ (7-day) |
Metasploit Pro by Rapid7 | Not shared publicly | ❌ |
SolarWinds Port Scanner | SolarWinds Engineering Toolset (Which include Port Scanner) starts at $1,585 | ✅ |
Pentesting tools review
Vendor | Rating* | Employees |
|---|---|---|
4.6 based on 203 reviews | 300 | |
PortSwigger Burp Suite | 4.7 based on 124 reviews | 190 |
Nmap | 4.7 based on 87 reviews | Community driven, non-profit foundation |
OWASP ZAP (Zed Attack Proxy) | 4.7 based on 11 reviews | Community driven, non-profit foundation |
Tenable Nessus | 4.6 based on 88 reviews | 2,100 |
Metasploit Pro by Rapid7 | 4.4 based on 94 reviews | 2,800 |
SolarWinds Port Scanner | – | 2,500 |
Key factors for buyers
- Specific Needs: Automated scanning vs. manual penetration testing prioritization.
- Budget: Commercial products vs. open-source alternatives.
- Integration: Compatibility with existing tools and workflows in your organization.
- Skill Level: Some tools require more technical expertise than others and are suitable for professionals.
- Regulatory Compliance: Certain tools might help in meeting specific industry compliance standards more effectively.
You can see how different tools deliver in these dimensions in their explanations below.
Top pentesting software analyzed
Invicti
Invicti emphasizes the automation of web application security by providing dynamic and interactive application security testing (DAST and IAST). A standout feature of Invicti is its Proof-Based Scanning™ technology, which automatically verifies detected vulnerabilities to reduce false positives and provides proof of exploitability, especially for vulnerabilities related to REST, SOAP, and GraphQL APIs.
It is designed for large enterprises and is scalable enough to handle extensive web applications and APIs across different environments. Users emphasize Invicti’s convenient features, especially its ability to verify access and SSL injection vulnerabilities and its compatibility with various security tools. 1
Pros
- Invicti enables web application vulnerability scans and has a straightforward user interface.
- Invicti provides detailed remediation guidance for vulnerabilities and supports complex web application architectures.
- The tool features low false positive/negative rates, script injection per request, and supportive customer service.
Cons
- Invicti’s licensing process tied to URLs is strict, making it difficult to retrieve licenses in case of errors.
- The software lacks support for 2FA or MFA applications and can slow down during web scanning processes for larger applications.
- Invicti’s high resource consumption can lead to system slowdowns.
Choose Invicti for Comprehensive Web Application Scanning
Portswigger Burp Suite Professional
Burp Suite Professional offers a combination of manual and automated testing tools, making it popular among security professionals who appreciate hands-on control over security testing.
It features an intercepting proxy that allows users to monitor and manipulate network traffic between the browser and the internet. Many reviewers have noted the solution’s simple setup, highlighting its easy and straightforward installation process. 2
Pros
- Burp Suite is recognized for its utility in security testing, with features like request interception, response manipulation, and extension installation.
- The tool is commended for its specific features such as Intruder and Repeater, which allow for repeated requests and an automatic scan feature that provides detailed reports with fewer false positives.
- Users appreciate the tool’s numerous extensions, easy setup and installation, proactive proxy mechanism, and the functionality of its active scan feature.
Cons
- Users find Burp Suite’s interface complex and challenging to master, requiring substantial study to understand all functionalities.
- The community version restricts certain features, nudges users to upgrade to the pro version, and excludes some basic features.
- Users report dissatisfaction with the reporting feature, issues with log separation, constant configuration changes for certain browsers, and a high number of false positives.
OWASP ZAP (Zed Attack Proxy)
As an OWASP project, ZAP is open-source and developed by the security community, making it highly accessible and community-driven. It includes an automated scanner that helps find security vulnerabilities in web applications during the development and testing phases. Users cite that OWASP ZAP is user-friendly for beginners.3
Additionally, it supports both active scanning, which attempts to exploit vulnerabilities, and passive scanning, which involves observing network traffic to identify issues.
Pros
- OWASP ZAP is completely free and open-source, making it an accessible tool for both individuals and organizations looking to perform web application security testing without licensing costs.
- The tool is designed with a simple and intuitive GUI, enabling users with varying levels of expertise to effectively identify vulnerabilities in web applications.
- OWASP ZAP benefits from an active community that contributes plugins, tutorials, and regular updates, ensuring the tool stays relevant and versatile.
Cons
- While suitable for small to medium-sized projects, OWASP ZAP may face performance challenges when scanning large, complex web applications.
- The reporting features are basic compared to some commercial alternatives, which may require users to perform additional analysis or formatting for client-facing reports.
- OWASP ZAP occasionally struggles to handle advanced frameworks, dynamic content, or single-page applications (SPAs) built with technologies like React or Angular, leading to incomplete vulnerability detection.
Tenable Nessus
Nessus is primarily known for its vulnerability scanning capabilities. It offers a wide range of plugins that automatically update to address the latest vulnerabilities, providing coverage across various devices and software. Users observe that the tool’s plugins are regularly updated to include the latest vulnerabilities and offer suggestions for remediation.4
Additionally, Nessus includes features for configuration auditing, compliance checking, and patch management, enhancing its utility to ensure adherence to industry standards and security best practices.
Pros
- Nessus is known for its extensive database of plugins, enabling detailed vulnerability assessments across a wide range of systems and devices.
- Supports a wide range of operating systems, devices, and applications, ensuring broad coverage.
- Easily integrates with security information and event management (SIEM) systems and other security tools for enhanced workflows.
Cons
- The Professional version of Nessus can be costly for smaller organizations or individual users.
- Scans can take a significant amount of time or strain network resources in large-scale environments.
- Nessus focuses on detection rather than exploitation, making it less suitable for full-fledged penetration testing.
Metasploit Pro by Rapid7
Metasploit Pro is a tool that prioritizes risks and demonstrates vulnerabilities through a closed-loop validation system. Additionally, it evaluates security awareness by conducting simulated phishing email campaigns. Metasploit specializes in creating and managing payloads that exploit vulnerabilities.
Metasploit Pro and the open-source Metasploit Framework should not be confused, as one is a paid pen-testing tool while the other is a free framework.
Pro Features that are not available in Metasploit Framework:
- Task Chains
- Social Engineering
- Vulnerability Validations
- GUI
- Quick Start Wizards
- Nexpose Integration
Metasploit Pro UI 5
Pros
- Metasploit contains a database of user-adjustable exploits and can connect to other security tools, aiding vulnerability testing.
- Metasploit provides pre-installed exploits in Kali Linux, offering accurate results for penetration testing and large scale exploit automation.
- Metasploit supports the creation of custom payloads, making it a versatile tool for penetration testing and vulnerability analysis.
Cons
- Users report Metasploit’s GUI as disappointing and its exploit database feature as sometimes outdated.
- There is a perceived risk of causing system damage or crashes, and some find the tool complex and intimidating.
- Users suggest need for more comprehensive documentation, improved error debugging, and enhanced compatibility with Windows.
Core & Differentiating Features of Pentesting Tools
Pentesting tools, DAST tools, and vulnerability scanning tools are adjacent to each other. We covered the core & differentiating features of each in the vulnerability scanning tools article. Refer to each link for the relevant section.
FAQ
Reference Links
Cem's work has been cited by leading global publications including Business Insider, Forbes, Washington Post, global firms like Deloitte, HPE and NGOs like World Economic Forum and supranational organizations like European Commission. You can see more reputable companies and resources that referenced AIMultiple.
Throughout his career, Cem served as a tech consultant, tech buyer and tech entrepreneur. He advised enterprises on their technology decisions at McKinsey & Company and Altman Solon for more than a decade. He also published a McKinsey report on digitalization.
He led technology strategy and procurement of a telco while reporting to the CEO. He has also led commercial growth of deep tech company Hypatos that reached a 7 digit annual recurring revenue and a 9 digit valuation from 0 within 2 years. Cem's work in Hypatos was covered by leading technology publications like TechCrunch and Business Insider.
Cem regularly speaks at international technology conferences. He graduated from Bogazici University as a computer engineer and holds an MBA from Columbia Business School.
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