Top 10 Application Security Tools: Features & Pricing
The global application security market was valued at USD 10.65 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 42.09 billion by 2033, with a 18.8% CAGR, driven by surging attacks on web and mobile applications, cloud-native adoption, and regulatory requirements, including the EU Cyber Resilience Act.1
When evaluating application security tools, security teams typically consider:
- Testing methodology coverage: DAST, SAST, IAST, SCA and whether tools support all four or specialize in one
- Deployment options: on-premises, cloud, hybrid
- CI/CD integration: native support for GitHub Actions, GitLab CI, Jenkins, Azure DevOps
- AI and ASPM capabilities: platform consolidation, automated triage, agentic fix generation
- Regulatory alignment: OWASP Top 10, EU CRA, PCI DSS, HIPAA, SOC 2
See leading application security tools and identify the best ones for your use case:
Comparison of top application security tools
*Reviews are based on Capterra and G2. Sponsors with links are listed at the top. Then, the remaining products are sorted based on their number of B2B reviews.
**Employee numbers are from LinkedIn
***NowSecure only provides mobile application security
****Based on the technical reviewer’s experience. Within each vendor’s section, we outlined our rationale for this selection.
Vendor selection criteria:
- 100+ employees.
- More than 20 reviews on B2B review platforms.
Modern application security tools often provide a comprehensive suite of security features within a single package, integrating multiple types of security testing and protection capabilities. Scroll to the bottom of the article to see the types of application security tools.
Differentiating features
To understand why these features are important, check the definitions and significance of these differentiating features.
Top application security tools analyzed
PortSwigger Burp Suite: Best for pentesting
Burp Suite is a web security testing platform that combines automated and manual DAST with Out-of-Band Application Security Testing (OAST) to detect server-side vulnerabilities that don’t generate visible responses. It is available in three editions: Community (free), Professional, and Enterprise, as well as a standalone DAST CI/CD driver.
Burp Suite’s 2026 release added Organizer collections with encrypted secure-sharing links enabling proof-of-concept traffic to be shared between testers without manual workarounds, a split request/response view in Intruder for faster attack result review, and a search bar in Proxy HTTP history. 2
Burp Suite Professional is priced at $475 per user per year. Burp Suite Enterprise pricing scales by target. Community Edition is free with no feature time limits.
Pros
- Widely used by penetration testers; strong community of extensions via the BApp Store
- Manual testing capabilities and scanner work alongside each other in the same session
- Lower false positive rate than several automated-only alternatives, per user reviews
Cons
- Interface complexity makes initial setup harder for users without prior pentesting experience
- Memory consumption during large scans has been reported as significant
NowSecure: Best for mobile application testing
NowSecure is a Mobile App Risk Management (MARM) platform covering DAST, SAST, IAST, API security, and privacy testing for iOS and Android applications. It is the only tool in this list built specifically for mobile, not a web AppSec product with a mobile add-on.
NowSecure launched AI-Navigator, which automates authentication workflows during mobile DAST using a vision-based LLM that reads the device screen and navigates login flows without brittle scripts. This addresses a historically significant limitation of mobile security testing: unauthenticated scans miss up to 95% of a mobile app’s attack surface, as most sensitive data handling occurs behind login screens.3
Pros
- Automated authenticated DAST at scale previously required manual configuration per app
- Covers OWASP MASVS, NIAP, ADA MASA, GDPR, CCPA, and HIPAA compliance testing in a single platform
- Real-device testing environment; credentials never leave the NowSecure platform or interact with third-party AI models
Cons
- Enterprise-only pricing; not suitable for individual developers or small teams
- iOS support for AI-Navigator is in development as of Q1 2026; Android only at launch
GitLab
GitLab is a DevSecOps platform with security scanning embedded directly in the CI/CD pipeline. Security testing runs as standard pipeline jobs, and findings appear in merge requests, the pipeline security tab, and a project-level vulnerability report keeping developers in the same workflow rather than sending results to a separate dashboard.
GitLab’s security suite covers SAST, DAST, dependency scanning, container scanning, API security testing, secret detection, fuzz testing, and compliance management. Coverage depth varies by tier.
SAST: GitLab Advanced SAST (Ultimate tier) uses multi-core scanning enabled by default and provides two AI capabilities for customers with GitLab Duo Enterprise. First, AI-powered false-positive detection automatically analyzes Critical and High-severity SAST findings and assigns a confidence score, reducing manual triage time. Second, Agentic SAST Vulnerability Resolution automatically generates merge requests with context-aware code fixes for High- and Critical-severity vulnerabilities using multi-shot reasoning.4
DAST: The legacy proxy-based DAST analyzer was removed in GitLab 17.3 (breaking change). DAST v5 uses a browser-based approach throughout, executing JavaScript, following client-side routing, and handling token-based authentication. It supports React, Vue, Angular, and other SPA frameworks. REST, GraphQL, and SOAP API testing are supported.5 Teams migrating from the proxy-based analyzer should follow GitLab’s published migration guides.
Pros
- Zero external tool configuration for teams already on GitLab; security scanning enabled with a single CI template
- Vulnerability findings appear inline in merge requests, enabling developer review without context switching
- Agentic fix generation (Ultimate + Duo) reduces remediation time for High and Critical SAST findings
Cons
- Full security feature set requires GitLab Ultimate, which is priced significantly above the Free and Premium tiers
- Advanced AI features (agentic fix, false positive detection) additionally require the Duo Enterprise add-on
- GitLab DAST lacks business logic testing and proof-based scanning available in dedicated DAST platforms
SonarQube: Best for code quality inspection
SonarQube is an open-source SAST platform for continuous code quality inspection, scanning source code for bugs, code smells, and security vulnerabilities across 30+ programming languages. It offers a free Community edition and paid Developer, Enterprise, and Data Center editions.
SonarQube’s primary use case is static code analysis integrated into the development workflow, identifying security and quality issues at the point of code commit. It is not a DAST or runtime testing tool. For teams that need runtime vulnerability confirmation, SonarQube should be paired with a DAST tool rather than used as a standalone security solution.
Pros
- Users argue that the tool is suitable for static code analysis, detecting bugs, vulnerabilities, and code smells. Users also say that the custom rules feature is helpful for advanced users.
Cons
- Some users argue that SonarQube can be complex and challenging to configure.
Indusface WAS
Indusface WAS (Web Application Scanning) is a DAST and WAF platform that identifies vulnerabilities in web applications in real time. The suite combines automated vulnerability scanning with a cloud-based Web Application Firewall, giving security teams both detection and runtime protection on a single platform.
The tool discovers external web assets domains, subdomains, IP addresses, mobile applications, and data centers, and provides an inventory of the organization’s external-facing attack surface. It also detects malware infections and unauthorized changes to applications.
Pros
- Users commend the tools for their prompt support and swift response times, also noting the team’s expertise and effectiveness.
Cons
- Some users suggest improvements to make the portal’s user interface more user-friendly and informative, pointing out that the current design appears outdated.
Contrast Assess
Contrast Assess is an Interactive Application Security Testing (IAST) tool. Unlike DAST (which tests from the outside) or SAST (which analyzes code statically), IAST embeds an agent within the running application to instrument data flows in real time during functional testing or normal operation.
This instrumentation gives Contrast Assess visibility into libraries, frameworks, custom code, configuration details, runtime control flow, HTTP interactions, and backend connections, simultaneously producing findings with accurate code-level location data that DAST tools typically cannot provide.
Pros
- Real-time vulnerability identification during functional testing without requiring separate security test runs
- Accurate code-level location for findings, reducing time spent tracing vulnerabilities to their source
Cons
- Third-party library CVE details could be more comprehensive, per user reviews
Checkmarx DAST
Checkmarx One is a cloud-native application security platform that integrates SAST, DAST, SCA, API security, IaC scanning, and ASPM through a single interface. Enterprises choose Checkmarx when they need precise, configurable static analysis across large code repositories with customizable rules for internal coding conventions.
Checkmarx DAST includes the ZAP engine, following Checkmarx’s September 2024 partnership with ZAP’s core team, to cover authentication bypasses, business logic flaws, and server misconfigurations in running applications.6 “ZAP Has Joined Forces With Checkmarx” zaproxy.org, Sep 24 2024. https://www.zaproxy.org/blog/2024-09-24-zap-has-joined-forces-with-checkmarx/[/efn_note] ZAP 2.17.0 shipped December 2025.
Checkmarx explicitly markets its DAST capability as addressing vulnerabilities introduced by AI-generated code, detecting undocumented behaviors and misunderstood authorization logic that emerge only at runtime.
Pros
- Highly configurable SAST engine; custom rules reduce false positives in large or complex codebases
- SAST + DAST correlation in a unified dashboard reduces time spent cross-referencing scan output
- ZAP integration brings the world’s most widely deployed DAST engine into the Checkmarx enterprise offering
Cons
- Some users report CI/CD pipeline integration complexity during initial setup
- Enterprise pricing is custom; not suited for small teams or individual developers
HCL AppScan
HCL AppScan is an AI-powered application security testing suite covering SAST, DAST, IAST, SCA, and API security. Products within the suite include AppScan on Cloud, AppScan 360°, AppScan Standard, AppScan Source, and AppScan Enterprise, giving deployment flexibility across cloud and on-premises environments.
AppScan integrates with CI/CD pipelines and supports regulatory compliance reporting. The AppScan Extension Framework allows teams to customize functionality for their environments.
Pros
- Users have praised HCL AppScan for its prompt response to feature requests, developer-friendly interface, and efficient vulnerability detection and severity grading capabilities.
Cons
- Users have expressed concerns about HCL AppScan, citing areas that need improvement, such as the dashboard interface, limited integration with specific container technologies, difficulties in CI/CD integration, and scalability issues arising from licensing restrictions.
Veracode
Veracode is an application security platform offering SAST, DAST, SCA, and manual penetration testing delivered as a cloud-based service. It is one of the longest-established enterprise AppSec platforms and is frequently used by organizations with regulated SDLC requirements in finance, healthcare, and government.
Veracode’s governance model is designed for centralized enforcement, allowing security leaders to apply consistent policies across hundreds of development teams. Veracode Fix, its AI remediation feature, generates code-level fix suggestions directly in the developer’s IDE based on the vulnerability context and surrounding code.
Pros
- Mature compliance reporting (GDPR, PCI, SOC 2, HIPAA) with audit-ready output
- Veracode Fix reduces manual remediation effort for SAST findings
- Strong CI/CD integration; SAST scans can be triggered directly from pipeline events
Cons
- False positive remediation requires involvement from the Veracode admin team in some cases, adding friction to the developer workflow
- UI has been described as less modern compared to newer entrants to the market
Differentiating features of application security tools and their importance
Web Application Firewall (WAF): WAFs filter HTTP traffic between web applications and the internet, blocking common exploits, such as SQL injection, XSS, and CSRF, before they reach the application. Some application security platforms include WAF functionality alongside scanning (e.g., Indusface WAS); others integrate with external WAF products.
On-premises deployment: Required by organizations with data sovereignty constraints, regulated data environments, or compliance frameworks that prohibit external data processing. On-prem deployment gives security teams full control over scan data and tooling configuration.
SQL injection and XSS detection: These remain the two most exploited vulnerability classes in web applications. Tools vary significantly in detection accuracy and false positive rates for both. Proof-based scanning (Invicti, Acunetix) confirms exploitability before reporting; signature-based tools may produce a higher volume of unverified findings.
CI/CD pipeline integration: In 2026, security scanning that cannot run continuously in pipelines is increasingly impractical. Key evaluation criteria: Does the tool support GitHub Actions, GitLab CI, Jenkins, and Azure DevOps? Does it produce findings fast enough for developer feedback loops? Does it support SARIF output for aggregation into ASPM platforms?
SIEM integration: Connecting application security tools to SIEM systems (Splunk, Microsoft Sentinel, IBM QRadar) enables correlation of application-layer threats with network and infrastructure events. Look for pre-built connectors rather than custom log forwarding.
Ticketing tool integrations: Automated ticket creation in Jira, ServiceNow, or Azure Boards reduces the gap between finding identification and developer remediation. Platforms with bidirectional sync (e.g., auto-closing tickets when a vulnerability is fixed and verified) reduce manual overhead.
OAuth 2.0/Authentication support: DAST tools that cannot handle authenticated sessions miss the majority of an application’s attack surface. Evaluate whether tools support OAuth 2.0, MFA, SSO, OIDC, and session token refresh, not just basic form-based login.
FAQ
Application Security refers to the process and practices of protecting applications from threats and vulnerabilities throughout their lifecycle. This includes securing software code, designs, and deployments against malicious attacks, as well as ensuring data integrity.
With the increasing reliance on software applications for business and personal use, vulnerabilities in applications can lead to data breaches, financial loss, and damage to reputation. Application Security helps in mitigating these risks by identifying and addressing security weaknesses.
Common threats include SQL Injection, Cross-Site Scripting (XSS), Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF), security misconfigurations, and unsecured APIs, among others.
Ensuring application security involves multiple steps, including conducting regular security assessments and penetration testing. Implementing secure coding practices. Keeping software and dependencies up-to-date. Using security tools like Web Application Firewalls (WAF) and security scanners. Educating developers about security best practices.
A Web Application Firewall (WAF) is a security solution that filters and monitors HTTP traffic between a web application and the Internet. It helps protect web applications by blocking harmful traffic and preventing attacks.
Encryption enhances application security by converting data into a coded format during transmission or while it is stored, making it unreadable to unauthorized users. This ensures data confidentiality and integrity.
Authentication verifies the identity of a user accessing the application, while Authorization determines what resources a user can access. Together, they ensure that only legitimate users can access and perform actions within the application.
Yes, several standards and frameworks guide application security practices, such as the Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP) Top Ten, the SANS Top 25, and the ISO/IEC 27001 standard for information security management.
Application security tools split across three broad categories:
Testing tools (SAST, DAST, IAST, SCA) identify vulnerabilities at different stages of the SDLC and using different methodologies. No single approach catches all vulnerability types; mature programs combine at minimum SAST and DAST, with SCA as a baseline for open-source risk.
Protection tools (WAF, RASP) provide runtime defenses that block or detect attacks against deployed applications. They complement testing tools but do not replace the need for vulnerability remediation.
Posture management tools (ASPM) consolidate findings from multiple testing tools, apply contextual prioritization, and automate remediation tracking. In 2026, ASPM is emerging as the coordination layer across otherwise fragmented AppSec toolsets.
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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