15 Best Web Application Scanning tools of 2023 [Reviewed]

Web application vulnerability scanners are automated tools designed to identify security weaknesses in web applications, and they are important for identifying and mitigating potential security risks before they can be exploited.

Below is a list of the top 15 Web Application Vulnerability Scanners.

Top Web Application Vulnerability Scanners

1. Astra’s Pentest
2. Qualys
3. Acunetix
4. Intruder
5. Veracode
6. Netsparker
7. Detectify
8. Rapid7
9. Tripwire IP360
10. Immuniweb
11. Wireshark
12. OpenVAS
13. Cobalt
14. WebInsect
15. Arachni

Why is Astra Vulnerability Scanner the Best Scanner?

• Runs 3500+ tests with weekly updated scanner rules
• Scans behind the login page
• Scan results are vetted by security experts to ensure zero false positives
• Integrates with your CI/CD tools to help you establish DevSecOps
• A dynamic vulnerability management dashboard to manage, monitor, assign, and update vulnerabilities from one place.
• Helps you stay compliant with SOC2, ISO27001, PCI-DSS, HIPAA, etc.
• Integrates with Slack and Jira for better workflow management
• Trusted by the brands you trust like Agora, Spicejet, Muthoot, Dream11, etc.

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Comparison Table of Best Web Application Scanning Tools

Here is a quick comparison of the 15 best web application scanning tools

The average data breach cost in 2021 was $ 4.24 million, up 10% from 2020. This cost includes the loss of business caused by the data breach, the cost of detecting and fixing the security issues that led to the breach, the cost of informing all the customers and rolling out the patches, and of course, the ensuing legal penalties.

A data breach is something that you would want to avoid at all costs. 

In this article, we will help you get familiar with some of the best web application security scanners and the various features offered by them. While we are at it, we will also refresh your knowledge of different types of web application vulnerability scanning, their benefits, and their importance. 

4 Features You Should Look For in a Web App Vulnerability Scanner

All web vulnerability scanners come with some similar offerings – automated scans for your systems, an interface to monitor the scans, a vulnerability scan report, and a bit of assistance in terms of remediating the vulnerabilities. 

1. The web app scanner should fit inside your CI/CD pipeline

The importance of this feature cannot be stressed enough. Integrating a web application vulnerability scanner in the CI/CD allows you to automate vulnerability scans whenever there is a code update to be sent. This works on top of the scheduled automated scans that keep happening regularly.

2. You should have one place to control it all from

Just any dashboard doesn’t work. You need a dashboard that truly taps into every step of the vulnerability management process. From that one place, you should be able to  

• Monitor the vulnerabilities  
• Update their statuses
• Assign them to team members
• Discuss them with security experts

3. The vulnerability reports should be truly actionable

A vulnerability scanning report is just a bunch of text on a pdf file that no one reads unless it is designed for easy interpretation and actionability. If a vulnerability scanner offers you risk scores along with video PoCs of the vulnerabilities, go ahead and grab that tool.

4. The web application vulnerability scanner should make compliance easier

Compliance audits are the stuff of nightmares if you are not prepared for it, well, preparing for it is no walk in the park either.

Look for a vulnerability scanning tool that runs compliance-specific scans for you and tells you exactly what you need to fix in order to be more prepared for a certain compliance audit. 

15 Web app vulnerability scanners to choose from

You know what to look for during your search for web application vulnerability scanners. We’ve made your task easier by bringing some of the best tools to your attention. Time to learn more about web application scanning tools.

1. Astra’s Pentest

As the name suggests this is more of a pentest product than just a vulnerability scanner but Astra’s Pentest does come with a solid web application scanning tool that you can buy as a separate product.

The DAST vulnerability scanner included in Astra’s Pentest checks all the boxes for being the perfect tool for scanning any web application. The best part is that they update the scanner rules every week helping you stay on top of the constantly evolving vulnerabilities. 

Features

• Scanner Capacity: Web and Mobile Applications, Cloud Infrastructure, API, and Networks
• Manual Pentest: Yes
• Accuracy: Zero False Positives Assured (Vetted Scans)
• Vulnerability Management:  Remediation Assistance, Detailed Reports, POC videos
• Compliance: GDPR, ISO 27001, HIPAA, PCI-DSS, SOC 2
• Price: Starts at $199/month

Astra Vulnerability Scanner

Astra’s DAST scanner uses NIST and OWASP methodologies to give a brief scan of your system.

The DAST scanner also provides continuous scanning facilities with its comprehensive scanner that is capable of conducting more the 3000 tests to find any and every hidden vulnerability.

It offers deep scans for web applications, APIs, networks, mobile applications, and cloud infrastructure at a cost.

Regular Penetration Tests

Astra Pentest also provides hacker-style automated and manual pentests which are performed by security experts. Continuous penetration tests help identify and exploit the vulnerabilities found through vulnerability scans. This helps organizations gain an in-depth understanding of how an actual hack would affect their systems, network, and data. 

Detailed Reports

Once the vulnerability scanning is completed a report is generated which includes the scope of testing, a list of vulnerabilities found, their details, and possible remediation measures. 

It also mentions its CVSS score and Astra goes a step further by providing customers with an actionable vulnerability risk score based on which critical vulnerabilities can be prioritized.

Intuitive Dashboard (CXO friendly)

Astra Pentest boasts a CXO-friendly dashboard that is super easy to navigate. It displays the vulnerabilities as and when they are found. 

Members of the development team can be added to the dashboard to collaborate with pentesters for quicker vulnerability resolution. 

The dashboard also offers the option to comment under each vulnerability so that the development team can clear queries quickly.

CI/CD Integrations

Astra offers CI/CD integration services for organizations. This helps companies move from DevOps To DevSecOps, thus giving more priority to security within every phase of a project’s development. It offers integrations with Slack, GitHub, and GitLab to name a few. 

Compliance-specific Scans

Astra offers the option to scan for specific compliances required by your organization. It provides a compliance-specific dashboard where you can opt for the specific compliance to scan for. 

Once the scan is complete the results reveal the areas of non-compliance. Compliance-specific scans provided by Astra include PCI-DSS, HIPAA, SOC2, ISO 27001, and GDPR. 

Remediation Support

Once vulnerability scanning with Astra is complete Astra also provides detailed steps for remediation based on risk prioritization. This is done with the aid of POC videos and collaboration within the vulnerability dashboard.

Astra’s Pentest is an easy-to-use self-served security testing tool that conducts 3000+ tests to ensure no vulnerability is left unchecked. Nevertheless, if you get stuck there is a team of experienced security professionals that can jump in to help you out.

Pros

• Continuous proactive security testing
• CI/CD integration
• Collaborative remediation with in-call assistance from security experts
• Scan behind logged-in pages
• Zero false positives
• Optimized pentest for single-page apps

Cons

• No free trial
• Minimal numbers of integration

2. Qualys

Qualys is a cloud-based vulnerability scanner that can work in a wide range of environments and is a scalable solution.

Features:

• Scanner Capacity: Web applications, cloud
• Manual Pentests: No
• Accuracy: False positives possible
• Scan Behind Logins: No
• Compliance: OWASP, ISO 27001, PCI-DSS, NIST
• Expert Remediation: Yes
• Price: Quote on Request 

Qualys maintains a large vulnerability database which helps the scanner stay relevant and current. You can use this tool to scan on-premise devices, cloud instances, IoT endpoints, etc.

• You can integrate the vulnerability scanner with the existing IT ticketing system to keep the remediation process simple.
• You can integrate the scanner with the Qualys continuous monitoring (CM) tool to keep an eye on your assets.
• The tool claims to be 99.999% accurate in its findings.

Pros

• Timely alerts and responses. 
• Well-designed and easy-to-navigate user interface. 
• Constant updates ensure the current security measures for the cloud environment. 

Cons

• Limited scheduling options. 
• Scans are not applicable to all applications.

3. Acunetix

This web application security scanner comes with a blend of DAST and IAST scanning and claims to detect more than 7000 vulnerabilities. Acunetix promises to detect 90% of the vulnerabilities by the time the scan is halfway done. 

• You can scan multiple environments at the same time with Acunetix
• It helps you prioritize the vulnerabilities according to the risks posed by them
• The tool minimizes false positives
• It is suitable for single-page applications and code-heavy sites.

Features:

• Scanner Capacity: Web applications
• Manual Pentests: No
• Accuracy: False positives possible
• Scan Behind Logins: Yes
• Compliance: OWASP, ISO 27001, PCI-DSS, NIST
• Expert Remediation: Yes
• Price: $4,495/website

Pros:

• Provides an inventory of assets. 
• Fully automated vulnerability scanner
• Optimizable for different platforms
• Easy to schedule scans.  
• Scans across environments.  

Cons:

• Difficult to add users
• The interface isn’t fresh
• Vulnerability PoCs are too complex

4. Intruder

This is a web application scanner that helps you monitor security risks across your stack. It is easy to use and covers a decent range of vulnerabilities. Intruder scans for misconfigurations, outdated or missing patches, SQLi, XSS, and all CVEs noted in the OWASP top 10.

Features: 

• Platform: Windows, Linux, macOS
• Scanner Capacity: Websites, servers, and cloud
• Manual pentest: No
• Accuracy:  False Positive Present
• Vulnerability management: No
• Compliance: SOC2, and ISO 27001 
• Price: $1958/ year

Intruder is a useful tool for testing your IT environment for security vulnerabilities and loopholes. The primary features include

• Get a bird’s-eye view of your application’s security posture
• Reducing the attack surface
• The report helps you with compliance questionnaires
• Reducing the gap between finding and fixing vulnerabilities

Pros

• Easy to navigate.
• Readily manageable alerts.

Cons

• No zero false positive assurance.
• Only has automated penetration testing service and not manual.
• Difficult to understand reports.

5. Veracode

Veracode is a major player in the Application Security Testing business and it offers three types of security testing – SAST, DAST, and Software composition analysis.

Features: 

• Scanner Capacity: Web applications
• Manual Pentest: Yes
• Accuracy: False positives possible
• Scan Behind Logins: Yes
• Vulnerability Management: Yes
• Compliance: NIST, PCI, OWASP, HIPAA, GDPR
• Price: Quote upon request

This tool is designed to cope with the speed of development that comes with DevOps. It allows you to scan hundreds of apps and APIs simultaneously. It’s a perfect solution for large enterprises.

• You get a less than 5% rate of false positives with Veracode
• You can find vulnerabilities in a running application
• The scan parameters are flexible
• You can use the interface to monitor scan results while other scans are running.

Pros 

• Offers DAST, SAST, and penetration testing services.
• Provides detailed and comprehensive reports.
• Provides automated remediation assistance.

Cons

• Zero false positives are not assured. 
• Could improve its user interface 
• Can be difficult for beginners. 

6. Netsparker

Netsparker is one of the leading web application scanners. It is easy to set up, integrates well with multiple workflows, and scans various web application types such as Web 2.0, HTML 5, and single-page apps. 

Features: 

• Scanner Capacity: Web applications and APIs
• Manual Pentest: No
• Accuracy: False Positives Possible
• Scan Behind Logins: No
• Vulnerability Management: Yes  
• Compliance: PCI-DSS, HIPAA, OWASP, ISO 27001
• Price: Quote on Request

Netsparker is a great choice for detecting SQLi, cross-site scripting, misconfigurations, and other web app vulnerabilities. Important features include

• Proof-based scanning – Netsparker produces proof of exploit to assure that there are no false positives
• Pre and post-scan automation makes it easier to set up the scanner
• It uses a REST API to help you integrate the scanner with all stages of the SDLC
• You get instant alerts for vulnerabilities found in mission-critical assets

Pros:

• Lot of options to select security policies from
• IAST enabled scans
• Zero false positives

Cons:

• No support for 2FA and MFA apps
• Slows down while scanning large applications 

7. Detectify

Detectify is a solid tool for vulnerability scanning and attack surface monitoring. It offers continuous vigilance over attack surfaces across platforms.

Features: 

• Scanner Capacity: Web application, APIs
• Manual Pentests: No
• Accuracy: False Positives Present
• Scan Behind Logins: No
• Compliance: No Compliance Scanning
• Expert Remediation: No
• Price: $89/month

Although it does not come with a pentest offering, as a standalone vulnerability scanner, Detectify performs quite well.

Though it’s not as loaded with features as Astra or Veracode, some useful features are

• Continuous attack surface monitoring
• Vulnerability management
• Automated scans

Pros:

• Easy to configure
• Excellent reports
• Chrome extension for login credentials

Cons:

• Expensive option
• Customers have faced issues with the interface
• Performance issues are reported by users

8. Rapid7 Nexpose

Nexpose by Rapid7 is an on-premises vulnerability management and scanner tool. It is a great choice for small and mid-sized companies.

Features: 

• Scanner Capacity: Web applications
• Manual Pentest: No
• Accuracy: False Positives Possible
• Scan Behind Logins: Yes
• Vulnerability Management: Yes  
• Compliance: No
• Price: $175/month

Nexpose takes risk scoring to a deeper level by scoring vulnerabilities on a scale of 1-1000 instead of 1-10. It gives the users a more nuanced idea about the age and exploitability of a vulnerability. However, a number of users have found this to be overkill.

Key features include

• Adaptive security
• Policy assessment
• Remediation reporting

Pros

• Great scanning abilities that help meet compliance requirements.
• Their services are easy to use and deploy.
• The services are scalable based on customer requirements.

Cons

• Scanned devices can only be removed manually. 
• Inadequate customer satisfaction. 

9. Tripwire IP360

IP360 by Tripwire is a powerful vulnerability scanning tool for networks.

Features:

• Scanner Capacity: Networks, and applications
• Manual Pentests: No
• Accuracy: False positives possible
• Scan Behind Logins: Yes
• Compliance: PCI-DSS, CIS, GDPR, HIPAA
• Expert Remediation: Yes
• Price: Quote on Request

It can scan a wide range of devices and programs running on a network and it also detects previously missed issues in on-premise devices, the cloud, and containers. It scores the vulnerabilities based on risk, ease of exploit, and impact.

Key features include

• Discovery and profiling of network assets
• Scalable architecture
• Risk scoring and prioritization

Pros

• Built-in NIST policy
• Has strong detection capabilities.
• Scalable architecture

Cons

• Does not provide good remediation services.
• Needs more integrations like Callico.

10. ImmuniWeb

ImmuniWeb is an expensive but effective vulnerability scanning tool specifically designed for DevOps teams.

Features:

• Scanner Capacity: web applications, mobile applications
• Manual Pentests: Yes
• Accuracy: Zero false positives
• Scan Behind Logins: Yes
• Compliance: PCI-DSS, GDPR
• Expert Remediation: Yes
• Pricing: $3955/ month

It has an AI-based vulnerability scanner and a discovery system that detects every vulnerability and provides accurate risk scores with supposedly zero false positives. Human pentesters work in tandem with machine learning-based tools to ensure accuracy.

Key features include

• Hackability scores
• Zero false positives
• Pentesting by Experts

11. Wireshark

Wireshark is an open-source network protocol analyzer with a free scanner and a bunch of useful features.

Features

• Platform: Unix, Windows. Needs libraries like Qt, GLib, & libpcap to run 
• Scanner Capacity: Captures live packet data from a network interface
• Manual pentest: Useful tool for pentesting
• Accuracy: Fairly accurate
• Vulnerability management: No
• Compliance: Indirectly relates to compliance reporting 
• Price: Free

It uses packet sniffing to assess network traffic and detect anomalies. It then determines whether the anomalies are attacks or errors and offers insights into the possible ways of fixing the issues.

Key features include

• Deep protocol inspection
• Live capture and offline analysis
• Multi-platform tool

Pros

• Capture live data packet from network interfaces and analyzes it in real-time
• Available for free

Cons

• It does not run from outside a network
• Cannot perform packet injection

12. OpenVAS

Open Vulnerability Assessment System or OpenVAS is a free vulnerability scanning tool maintained by Greenbone Networks. It has a paid version too, but we will talk about the free tool here.

Features:

• Scanner Capacity: web applications, network protocols
• Manual Pentests: No
• Accuracy: False positives possible
• Scan Behind Logins: Yes
• Compliance: No
• Expert Remediation: No
• Price: Open-source

It is powered by the security feed from over 50,000 tests and can be a very effective tool in the hands of expert security admins working in a Linux environment. OpenVAS has a significant learning curve and isn’t a plug-n-play tool like some others on the list.

Key features include

• Authenticated and unauthenticated testing
• Targeted scans
• Penetration testing

Pros

• Automated vulnerability scanning is quick and efficient
• Freely available network vulnerability scanning tool. 
• Constantly updated

Cons

• Could be difficult for beginners to make use of. 
• Automated causes false positives to appear. 

13. Cobalt

Cobalt is a PTaaS platform range of services related to web app and cloud security. Cobalt can help you with vulnerability management, and penetration testing.

Features:

• Scanner Capabilities: Cloud, web applications
• Accuracy: False positives possible
• Scan Behind Logins: Yes
• Compliance: PCI-DSS
• Integrations: Cisco, IBM, Splunk
• Expert Remediation: Yes
• Price: Quote Upon Request

They connect you with a pool of pentesters to help you get a snapshot of your security posture.

Key features include

• Penetration Testing as a Service
• Agile pentesting
• Pentest for compliance

Pros

• The highly scalable vulnerability scanning solution
• Provides vulnerability management, detection, and response.
• Accurate reporting that is easy to follow. 

Cons

• Can be slow when scanning. 
• Difficult to navigate for beginners. 
• Slightly on the expensive end. 
• No zero false positive assurance.

14. WebInspect

WebInspect is a developer-driven DAST platform that helps you imbibe security into the SDLC. You can use it to protect the integrity of your code and secure the software supply chain.

Features: 

• Scanner Capacity: websites, APIs
• Manual Pentest: No
• Accuracy: False positives possible
• Scan Behind Logins: Yes
• Vulnerability Management: No
• Compliance: No
• Price: Quote on demand

Other features include comprehensive API scan, CI/CD integration, and scalable scan orchestration and automation.

Pros

• Highly scalable solution
• Has a centralized dashboard. 

Cons

• Bulky and data-consuming DAST solution
• Not very user friendly

15. Arachni

Arachni is a modular web app pentest tool developed in Ruby. It is an open-source tool that can be used across Windows, Linux, and Mac. It is used by pentesters for testing web application security.

Features:

• Scanner Capacity: Web applications
• Manual Pentests: No
• Accuracy: False positives possible
• Scan Behind Logins: No
• Compliance: No
• Expert Remediation: No
• Price: Open-source 

Key features include

• Detects injections
• High-performance framework
• Helps uncover invalidated redirects

The above-mentioned list includes some of the best commercial and open-source web app scanners, so check them out, choose wisely, and get your web application secured.

Pros 

• Can detect various web application security vulnerabilities.
• XSS, injections, local file inclusion, remote file inclusion and more. 

Cons

• No advanced support
• No official updates since 2017

Benefits of Regular Web Application Vulnerability Scanning 

More than 50 new CVEs were reported every day in 2020. This goes on to show how fast the cyber threat landscape evolves. That is why web app vulnerability scans have to be a continuous endeavor and not a one-time exercise.

Maintain a strong security posture

Maintaining and managing a strong security posture is essential for every web application to ensure the safety of its users. Regular vulnerability scans ensure that the security loopholes are periodically detected and remediated.

Never send a vulnerable update

Thanks to the emergence of DevOps, applications are developed and updated with great speed. Integrating a web application vulnerability scanner with the CI/CD pipeline of an application ensures that each new update is scanned for vulnerabilities before it goes live. 

Stay compliance ready

Compliance with relevant security regulations is extremely important for businesses to compete in the market and to build trust among their customers. Regular vulnerability scanning ensures that the security controls required for passing a compliance audit are in place. A vulnerability scan is a significant part of every compliance readiness program.

Final thoughts

If there were one thing about vulnerability scanning that couldn’t be stressed enough that would be the importance of consistency and regularity. A vulnerability scan is not a one-off event, it is a continuous process. So, the easier it is to handle the tool and make it a part of the SDLC, the better.

It takes one vulnerability to ruin your perfectly running business, so, take good care of your application’s security, choose the right web application vulnerability scanner, and instill good security practices in your organization. Whenever in doubt, you can reach out to us. 

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