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15 Best Web Application Penetration Testing Tools In 2023

Tool Shortlist

Here are the top 10 web application penetration testing tools I’d like to highlight out of the 15 I cover in this article:

  1. 1. New Relic — Best for real-time performance monitoring
  2. 2. AppTrana — Best fully managed web application firewall (WAF) solution
  3. 3. Gobuster — Best for developers
  4. 4. Amass — Best for external asset discovery
  5. 5. Burp Suite — provides a passive scan feature
  6. 6. Metasploit — Automate manual tests and streamline your process
  7. 7. Wireshark — Network protocol analyzer that is fully open source, and tracks your network and traffic for cyber security
  8. 8. NMap — Lightweight solution to web application penetration testing
  9. 9. Core Impact — Best for replicating multi-staged attacks
  10. 10. Invicti — Configure pre-set scan profiles for less experienced users

As the internet and World Wide Web continue to expand and evolve, it has become increasingly common for cyber attacks to occur within web and mobile applications. Testing the durability of your web application's cyber security has never been more crucial. 

In this article, I will cover some of the best web application penetration testing tools so you can complete your application's security testing, ensuring that your application is ready to withstand any attack.

Comparison Criteria

What do I look for when I select the best web application penetration testing tools? Here’s a summary of my evaluation criteria: 

  1. User Interface (UI): I look for a clean and organized user interface that any pen tester will find easy to use.
  2. Usability: I look for features that offer complete test coverage of your web applications.
  3. Integrations: I look for tools that integrate with project management tools and other penetration testing tools.
  4. Value for Pricing: I look for the tools with the most expansive features for the best price.

Web Application Penetration Testing Tools: Key Features

  1. Detection and exploitation: The tool must be able to detect vulnerabilities and exploit them.
  2. Results reports: The tool must deliver detailed results reports of executed scans and tests.
  3. Cross platform and device testing: The tool must cover testing across various operating systems and devices.

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Overviews Of The 15 Best Web Application Penetration Testing Tools

Here’s a brief description of each web application penetration testing tool to showcase each tool’s best use case, some noteworthy features, and screenshots to give a snapshot of the user interface.

1

New Relic

Best for real-time performance monitoring

New Relic is a real-time monitoring tool that's designed to help you keep an eye on your app's performance, find out where the bottlenecks are, and fix them before they become a problem.

The platform includes real-time performance monitoring that lets you see exactly how an app is performing in real time so you can spot any issues as they happen and fix them straight away. It also includes detailed analytics, which allow you to drill down into an app's performance data to find out exactly what's going on. And it's all presented in a really easy-to-understand way.

Key features include backend monitoring, Kubernetes monitoring, mobile monitoring, model performance monitoring, infrastructure monitoring, log management, error tracking, network monitoring, vulnerability management, and browser monitoring. 

Integrations include over 500 apps, like AWS, Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure; CI/CD tools like Jenkins, CircleCI, and Travis CI; communication tools like Slack and PagerDuty; and other monitoring and analytics tools like Grafana, Datadog, and Splunk. It also has an API you can use to build custom integrations.

New Relic costs from $49/user/month and offers a free plan for 1 user and 100 GB/month of data ingest.

This is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.
4.3 411

Free version available

From $49/user/month

2

AppTrana

Best fully managed web application firewall (WAF) solution

AppTrana is a web application firewall (WAF) used for penetration testing, behavioral-based DDoS protection, mitigating bot attacks, and defending against the OWASP top 10 vulnerabilities. AppTrana is employed by security-conscious companies across myriad industries, such as Axis Bank, Jet Aviation, Niva Health Insurance, and TRL Transport. 

AppTrana is a fully managed security solution, which means that their web security expert team takes on the analyzing and updating of security policies so you don't have to. Higher-level accounts will get a named account manager to assist them; the highest subscription level comes with quarterly service reviews (highly recommended!). 

Key features include unlimited application security scanning, manual pen-testing of applications, managed CDN, false positive monitoring, custom SSL certificates, and risk-based API Protection. Their website is packed full of detailed feature explanations as well as a blog, learning center, whitepapers, infographics, and datasheets, so I highly recommend you take a look around for yourself. 

AppTrana costs from $99/month/app and comes with a free 14-day trial. 

This is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.
4.7 4

14-day free trial

$99/month/app

3

Gobuster

Best for developers

Gobuster is a penetration testing tool that is accessible via Github, which allows you to conduct scanning across your web application, and brute force your URIs, DNS subdomains and Virtual Host names on target web servers which allows you to identify unprotected scripts and old configuration files.

Gobuster is hosted on GitHub and can be installed using your terminal. The tool provides the ability to conduct recon tests, which allows you to delve into the depths of your web application and detect vulnerabilities. The tool then provides a thorough report so you can review your code effectively.

Gobuster is fully open source and free to use.

4

Amass

Best for external asset discovery

Amass is a penetration testing tool that allows you to perform network mapping of cyber attack surfaces, known as Attack Surface Management (ASM). This feature provides continuous monitoring of your changing attack surface, allowing you to ensure your application is covered for various cyber attacks. The tool also provides reporting of the results of these penetration tests.

Amass provides features such as external asset discovery, which allows you to identify and locate active and inactive assets that are unknown to your organization. With the feature, you can monitor the security of your application round-the-clock, and improve your team’s vulnerability management.

Amass is fully open source and free to use.

5

Burp Suite

provides a passive scan feature

Burp Suite is a penetration testing tool that allows you to improve your cyber security protocols with the use of a fully fleshed out toolkit. The tool boasts an array of features such as the Burp Intruder which allows you to automate customized cyber attacks against your applications, and Burp Repeater which allows you to manipulate and reissue individual HTTP requests manually.

Burp Scanner also has a passive scanning feature, which allows you to divide the checks performed into active and passive checks. This allows you to set the targets and scopes, and cover areas that are easily missed. The tool also allows you to conduct active scans, ensuring that the entirety of your application is covered.

Burp Suite integrates with tools such as Jenkins and TeamCity.

The cost of Burp Suite starts at $6,995 per year. The tool also offers a free trial.

Free Trial

Starts at $6,995/ year

6

Metasploit

Automate manual tests and streamline your process

Metasploit is a web application penetration testing tool that identifies system weaknesses and attempts to exploit them, allowing you to isolate and demonstrate the weakness, and allow for remediations. The tool also works across multiple computer systems such as Windows, Linux and Mac OS X, and can be used across devices.

Metasploit provides the ability to automate manual tests and exploits, allowing you to minimize your team’s time spent on creating manual tests and scans. The tool boasts a large exploit database with new additions regularly, and is extremely intuitive, making it easy for you and your team to implement. Metaspolit also has a large community support system.

Metasploit integrates with tools such as Kali Linux and Dradis.

The cost of Metasploit starts at $2,000 per year. The tool also offers a free version.

Free plan available

Pricing available upon request

7

Wireshark

Network protocol analyzer that is fully open source, and tracks your network and traffic for cyber security

Wireshark is a powerful open source network packet sniffer equipped for the deep inspection of hundreds of different protocols, with more being added all the time. Wireshark runs on multiple platforms, including Windows, macOS, Linux, Solaris, NetBSD, FreeBSD, and many others.Wireshark can read live data from Ethernet, IEEE 802.11, PPP/HDLC, ATM, Bluetooth, USB, Token Ring, Frame Relay, FDDI, and others in a wide range of file formats. Data can easily be exported, compressed and decompressed for offline analysis, and the platform also has a user-friendly built-in network protocol debugging environment.Wireshark integrates with a wide range of tools, including network software emulators like GNS3.Wireshark is open source and free to use.

Free To Use

8

NMap

Lightweight solution to web application penetration testing

NMap is a web application penetration testing tool that offers a comprehensive platform, allowing you to execute penetration tests and scan your network for vulnerabilities within your applications to the full extent. The tool allows you to configure your port ranges, IPs and protocols to your own needs, and also allows for scanning of multiple IPs for open ports.

NMap boasts a lightweight application that is easy to start up, which is ideal for a team that has less experienced members. The tool’s organized user interface allows you and your team to easily navigate your penetration tests and reporting, and runs on all operating systems and binary packages are available for Mac OS X, Windows and Linux.

NMap is fully open source and free to use.

9

Core Impact

Best for replicating multi-staged attacks

Core Impact is a comprehensive web application penetration testing tool that allows you to exploit weaknesses in the security of your applications, and increase productivity. The tool provides an easy and clean user interface, as well as the ability to execute rapid penetration tests. This allows you to discover, test and report more efficiently.

Core Impact provides a feature for replicating multi-staged attacks, which allows you to pivot your pen tests across various systems, devices and applications. The feature allows you to configure various tests and execute them all at once. Another feature of Core Impact is the ability to install an agent on the server through SSH and SMB, making white box testing more effective.

The cost of Core Impact starts at $9,450 USD per year for the Basic package. The tool also offers a free trial.

Free Trial

Starts at $9,450 USD/year for the Basic package

10

Invicti

Configure pre-set scan profiles for less experienced users

Invicti is an automated security testing tool that allows you and your organization to secure all your web applications and reduce the risk of a cyber attack. Invicti is easy to configure, allows you to scan your websites and web applications for security flaws, and generates results reports. The tool also provides a technology dashboard that shows information about software versions used in your applications.

Invicti allows you to configure pre-set scan profiles, making it easy for anyone in your team to run scans and penetration tests. The feature is entirely customizable so you can set your scan profiles up in a way that is best for your web application. Invicti also has a 24/7 responsive support team.

Inviciti integrates with tools such as Bugzilla, BitBucket and Asana.

Invicti provides customized pricing upon request.

Available upon request

Need expert help selecting the right Application Testing Software?

We’ve joined up with the software comparison platform Crozdesk.com to assist you in finding the right software. Crozdesk’s Testing Software advisors can create a personalized shortlist of software solutions with unbiased recommendations to help you identify the solutions that best suit your business’s needs. Through our partnership you get free access to their bespoke software selection advice, removing both time and hassle from the research process.

It only takes a minute to submit your requirements and they will give you a quick call at no cost or commitment. Based on your needs you’ll receive customized software shortlists listing the best-fitting solutions from their team of software advisors (via phone or email). They can even connect you with your selected vendor choices along with community negotiated discounts. To get started, please complete the form below:

The Best Web Application Penetration Testing Tools Summary

Tool Free Option Price
1
New Relic

Best for real-time performance monitoring

Free version available

From $49/user/month Visit Website
2
AppTrana

Best fully managed web application firewall (WAF) solution

14-day free trial

$99/month/app Visit Website
3
Gobuster

Best for developers

Not available

Visit Website
4
Amass

Best for external asset discovery

Not available

Visit Website
5
Burp Suite

provides a passive scan feature

Free Trial

Starts at $6,995/ year Visit Website
6
Metasploit

Automate manual tests and streamline your process

Free plan available

Pricing available upon request Visit Website
7
Wireshark

Network protocol analyzer that is fully open source, and tracks your network and traffic for cyber security

Free To Use

Visit Website
8
NMap

Lightweight solution to web application penetration testing

Not available

Visit Website
9
Core Impact

Best for replicating multi-staged attacks

Free Trial

Starts at $9,450 USD/year for the Basic package Visit Website
10
Invicti

Configure pre-set scan profiles for less experienced users

Not available

Available upon request Visit Website

Other Options

Here are a few more that didn’t make the top list.

  1. Wireshark - a network protocol analyzer that is fully open source, and tracks your network and traffic for cyber security
  2. John the Ripper - a penetration testing tool and password cracker which allows you to test the strength of your passwords
  3. Medusa - an application-based penetration and data testing tool that allows you to execute pen tests for the data and signal integrity of your applications
  4. Wfuzz - a penetration testing tool specifically for brute-forcing your web applications
  5. SQLMap - an open-source penetration testing tool specifically for detecting and exploiting SQL injection flaws

What Are The Top Penetration Testing Techniques?

There are various aspects of penetration testing that you can use to execute successful security testing.

Black Box Test

Black box pentesting examines the functionality of an application without the need to delve into its internal structures, and can be applied to any stage of software testing.

White Box Test

While black box testing examines the functionality at a high level, white box testing tests the internal structures of a web application including its code, infrastructure and integrations with external platforms.

Network Service Penetration Testing

A network service penetration test identifies security vulnerabilities in your network. The test simulates malicious cases to evaluate the network's cyber security.

Web Application Penetration Testing

A web application penetration test, or pen test, simulates a cyber attack on your web application to identify vulnerabilities in your web application. It is often used to expand a web application's firewall.

Wireless Penetration Testing

Wireless penetration testing identifies and examines connections between all operating devices on one business wifi network.

Social Engineering Penetration Testing

Social engineering penetration testing is the attempt of typical social engineering scams on a business and its employees to determine the level of vulnerability of the organization.

Physical Penetration Testing

Physical penetration testing are tests that attempt to compromise the security of physical barriers such as locks, sensors, intrusion alarms and motion detectors.

Other App Testing Software Reviews

You might also want to consider:

The Takeaway

Penetration testing is a sure way to test the strength of your application security, and the penetration testing tools above could help streamline your processes and reduce the time spent on it while maintaining good quality results. I hope this article helped you decide which tool is right for you and your team so you are better able to manage your cyber security.

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By Jess Charlton

My name is Jess, and I am a writer and Digital Marketing Technician specializing in quality assurance testing of Content Management Systems for corporations. My expertise lies in frontend and backend software testing using a variety of QA testing tools. Find me on LinkedIn.

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