Best Web Application Security Scanners in 2026
Updated
In short: Nuclei is ranked #1 of 31 as of 7 October 2026, ahead of OWASP ZAP and Wapiti. The best-ranked option with a free plan is OWASP ZAP. The lowest first paid tier on this page is ImmuniWeb at €49.58/mo.
Choosing a web application scanner starts with the parts of an application you need to assess and the reports you need to review. Compared on API scanning, authenticated scans, and JavaScript crawling, the entries differ in the scan coverage they indicate. Scheduled scans and compliance reports add further considerations for ongoing assessment and documentation. Deployment options and target limits can affect operational fit, while free plans and paid-from pricing help frame cost. Nuclei, OWASP ZAP, and Wapiti are among the tools covered, with Beagle Security and Qualys External Attack Surface Management also represented.
31 web application security scanners ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
7 of the 25 here have a free tier you can use, 0 have open-source code on record, and 0 have full bars: free, open, on most of your devices and documented.
| # | App | Signal | Free tier | Open code | Devices | From | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NucleiWindows · Mac · Linux · Self-hosted | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | Free | 6.6 | |
| 2 | OWASP ZAPWindows · Mac · Linux · Self-hosted · API | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | Free | 6.5 | |
| 3 | WapitiWindows · Mac · Linux · Self-hosted · API | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | Free | 6.5 | |
| 4 | Beagle SecurityWeb · API | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | $99/mo | 6.4 | |
| 5 | Detectify Surface MonitoringWeb · API | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | €208.33/mo | 6.4 | |
| 6 | Qualys External Attack Surface ManagementWeb · Linux · API | Two bars | — | 2 of 6 | — | 6.4 | |
| 7 | ZeroThreatWeb · API | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | $100/mo | 6.4 | |
| 8 | ImmuniWebWeb · Android · iPhone · API | Two bars | — | — | 3 of 6 | €49.58/mo | 5.6 |
| 9 | Pentest-Tools.com API ScannerWeb · Mac · Linux · API | Two bars | — | — | 3 of 6 | $95/mo | 5.6 |
| 10 | Burp Suite DASTWeb · Windows · Linux · Self-hosted · API | Two bars | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 5.5 |
| 11 | VegaWindows · Mac · Linux | Two bars | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 5.5 |
| 12 | BreachLock DASTWeb · API · Extension | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | $416.67/mo | 5.4 |
| 13 | EscapeWeb · API | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.4 |
| 14 | Rapid7 Surface CommandWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · API | Two bars | — | — | 4 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 15 | Tenable One Attack Surface ManagementWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux | Two bars | — | — | 4 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 16 | Astra SecurityWeb · API | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | $58.25/mo | 5.1 |
| 17 | Holm Security Cloud SecurityWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 18 | MaxPatrol SIEMWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 19 | OpenText Fortify DASTWeb · Linux | No signal | — | — | 2 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 20 | VAddyWeb · Mac · Linux · Self-hosted · API | Two bars | — | — | 3 of 6 | ¥19,800/mo | 5.1 |
| 21 | AppCheckWeb · Self-hosted · API | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.0 |
| 22 | BlacklockWeb · API · Extension | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | $85/mo | 5.0 |
| 23 | FortiDASTWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.0 |
| 24 | InvictiWeb · Self-hosted · API | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.0 |
| 25 | XBOWWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 4.9 |
Compare all 25 in a table
| # | App | Score | Free plan | From | Free plan | Paid from | Deployment | Authenticated scans |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nuclei | 6.6 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | on-premise | Yes |
| 2 | OWASP ZAP | 6.5 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 3 | Wapiti | 6.5 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | on-premise | Yes |
| 4 | Beagle Security | 6.4 | Free plan | $99/mo | Yes | — | — | — |
| 5 | Detectify Surface Monitoring | 6.4 | Free plan | €208.33/mo | No | — | — | — |
| 6 | Qualys External Attack Surface Management | 6.4 | No | — | No | — | — | — |
| 7 | ZeroThreat | 6.4 | Free plan | $100/mo | Yes | — | hybrid | Yes |
| 8 | ImmuniWeb | 5.6 | No | €49.58/mo | Yes | — | hybrid | Yes |
| 9 | Pentest-Tools.com API Scanner | 5.6 | No | $95/mo | Yes | — | cloud | Yes |
| 10 | Burp Suite DAST | 5.5 | No | — | — | — | — | — |
| 11 | Vega | 5.5 | No | — | Yes | — | on-premise | Yes |
| 12 | BreachLock DAST | 5.4 | No | $416.67/mo | — | — | cloud | Yes |
| 13 | Escape | 5.4 | No | — | — | — | hybrid | Yes |
| 14 | Rapid7 Surface Command | 5.2 | No | — | No | — | — | — |
| 15 | Tenable One Attack Surface Management | 5.2 | No | — | No | — | — | — |
| 16 | Astra Security | 5.1 | No | $58.25/mo | Yes | — | cloud | Yes |
| 17 | Holm Security Cloud Security | 5.1 | No | — | No | — | — | — |
| 18 | MaxPatrol SIEM | 5.1 | No | — | — | — | on-premise | Yes |
| 19 | OpenText Fortify DAST | 5.1 | No | — | — | — | — | — |
| 20 | VAddy | 5.1 | No | ¥19,800/mo | No | — | — | — |
| 21 | AppCheck | 5.0 | No | — | No | — | hybrid | Yes |
| 22 | Blacklock | 5.0 | No | $85/mo | No | — | cloud | Yes |
| 23 | FortiDAST | 5.0 | No | — | — | — | — | — |
| 24 | Invicti | 5.0 | No | — | No | — | — | — |
| 25 | XBOW | 4.9 | No | — | — | — | — | — |
Is your app on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored, and a sponsored row is labelled as paid.
Questions about this list
Which web application security scanner is ranked first on Freedom251?
Nuclei is ranked #1 of 31 with a score of 6.6. OWASP ZAP is second and Wapiti third.
How many of these have a free plan?
6 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, ImmuniWeb has the lowest first paid tier we found: €49.58/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked free-and-open first: a usable free tier and open-source code, then the platforms it runs on and its documentation.