Guides, Comparisons & Alternatives
Explore our library of application security guides, head-to-head tool comparisons, and alternatives roundups. Practical advice from 10+ years in the field.
Guides
49 in-depth guides on AppSec topics
Vulnerability Management Lifecycle
The complete vulnerability management lifecycle for application security. Covers discovery, triage, prioritization, remediation, verification, and continuous improvement — with tools at each stage.
Terraform Security Scanning
How to catch Terraform misconfigurations before they reach production. Covers Checkov, KICS, tfsec, and Trivy for IaC scanning with CI/CD pipeline examples.
Software Supply Chain Attacks
Real-world supply chain attack methods — dependency confusion, typosquatting, compromised maintainers, and build pipeline poisoning. How each works and how to prevent them.
Shift Left Security
What shift-left security means in practice. How to move security testing earlier in the SDLC — from IDE plugins and pre-commit hooks to CI/CD scanning and developer training.
SCA in CI/CD
How to add Software Composition Analysis to your CI/CD pipeline. Step-by-step setup with Dependabot, Renovate, Trivy, and Snyk — from zero to automated dependency management.
Reducing SAST False Positives
How to cut SAST false positive rates without sacrificing security coverage. Covers tuning rules, writing custom queries, incremental scanning, and combining SAST with IAST.
Prompt Injection Attacks
How prompt injection attacks work, real-world examples, and prevention techniques. Covers direct injection, indirect injection, jailbreaks, and the tools that detect them.
OWASP MASVS & MASTG
Practical guide to OWASP MASVS verification levels and MASTG testing procedures. Map each requirement to tools and testing techniques for iOS and Android apps.
Open-Source SAST Tools
Every open-source SAST tool worth using in 2026. Covers Semgrep, SonarQube CE, CodeQL, Bandit, Brakeman, and more — with language support, CI/CD integration, and real performance data.
Open-Source License Compliance
A developer-friendly guide to open-source license types, compliance requirements, and how SCA tools automate license risk detection. Covers GPL, MIT, Apache, copyleft risks.
Mobile App Penetration Testing
Step-by-step methodology for mobile app penetration testing. Covers reconnaissance, static analysis, dynamic testing, network interception, and reporting for iOS and Android.
Mobile API Security
How to secure the APIs that power mobile applications. Covers authentication, certificate pinning, token management, API abuse prevention, and common mobile API attack patterns.
LLM Red Teaming
A practical guide to red teaming LLM-powered applications. Covers attack techniques, evaluation frameworks, automated testing tools, and how to build an LLM security testing program.
Kubernetes Security Hardening
How to secure Kubernetes clusters using CIS Benchmarks, pod security standards, network policies, RBAC, and runtime monitoring. Practical steps, not just theory.
iOS vs Android Security Testing
Key differences between iOS and Android security testing. Covers app sandboxing, jailbreak vs root, binary protections, and platform-specific tools for each.
IAST vs DAST
IAST instruments running applications to find vulnerabilities with code-level context. DAST tests from the outside. Compare detection capabilities, false positive rates, and when to use each.
How to Implement DevSecOps
A phased roadmap for implementing DevSecOps in your organization. Covers tool selection, pipeline integration, developer enablement, metrics, and scaling across teams.
Free DAST Tools
Open-source and free DAST tools for web application security testing. Covers ZAP, Nuclei, Nikto, Wapiti, and others — with scan capabilities, API support, and CI/CD integration guides.
CSPM vs CNAPP
CSPM monitors cloud misconfigurations. CNAPP covers misconfigurations plus workloads, identities, and containers. Here's when you need each and how to decide.
Container Image Security
How to build and maintain secure container images. Covers base image selection, vulnerability scanning in CI/CD, image hardening, registry security, and supply chain integrity.
Building a Security Champions Program
How to build and run a security champions program that scales AppSec across engineering teams. Covers selection, training, incentives, responsibilities, and measuring success.
AppSec Metrics That Matter
Which application security metrics actually measure risk reduction. Covers MTTR, vulnerability escape rate, scan coverage, fix rate, and how to build a dashboard that tells the truth.
AppSec Compliance Mapping
How application security tools and practices map to major compliance frameworks. Covers SOC 2, PCI DSS, HIPAA, and ISO 27001 requirements with tool recommendations for each control.
Application Security Checklist
A 50-point application security checklist covering code security, dependency management, infrastructure, authentication, API security, and CI/CD pipeline hardening.
API Security Testing
How to test APIs for security vulnerabilities. Covers the OWASP API Top 10, authentication testing, authorization testing (BOLA/IDOR), rate limiting, and the tools that automate it.
AI-Generated Code Security
How to handle the security risks of AI-generated code. Covers what Copilot and Cursor get wrong, how SAST tools catch AI-introduced vulnerabilities, and policies for safe AI coding.
What is SBOM?
Learn what a Software Bill of Materials is, why regulations now require it, how CycloneDX and SPDX compare, and which tools generate SBOMs effectively.
What is Mobile Application Security Testing?
Learn how mobile security testing tools find vulnerabilities in iOS and Android apps. Covers static, dynamic, and behavioral analysis, OWASP Mobile Top 10, top tools, and practical advice.
What is IAST?
Learn how IAST tools find vulnerabilities by instrumenting running applications from the inside. Covers how runtime agents work, IAST in CI/CD, top tools, and practical advice.
What is IaC Security?
Learn how IaC security tools find misconfigurations in Terraform, CloudFormation, and Kubernetes before deployment. Covers how IaC scanning works, common misconfigurations, top tools, and practical advice.
What is CNAPP?
Learn what CNAPP is, how Cloud-Native Application Protection Platforms unify CSPM, CWPP, and CIEM, and which tools lead the market in 2026.
What is ASPM?
Learn what ASPM is, why it matters, and how Application Security Posture Management unifies your AppSec tools into a single risk-prioritized view across the entire SDLC.
What is API Security?
Learn how API security tools discover, test, and protect APIs from exploitation. Covers OWASP API Security Top 10, types of API security testing, top tools, and practical advice.
What is AI Security?
Learn how AI security tools protect LLM applications from prompt injection, jailbreaks, and model attacks. Covers OWASP Top 10 for LLMs, AI red teaming, guardrails, and practical advice for securing AI systems.
SAST vs SCA
Understand the key differences between SAST and SCA, what each tool analyzes, and why modern development teams need both to cover their security blind spots.
RASP vs WAF
Understand the key differences between RASP and WAF, how each protects web applications, and when to use runtime application self-protection versus a web application firewall.
What is SCA?
Learn how SCA tools find vulnerabilities in open-source dependencies, ensure license compliance, and protect against supply chain attacks. Top tools and practical guidance included.
What is SAST?
Learn how SAST tools find vulnerabilities in source code before your application runs. Covers how static analysis works, where it fits in CI/CD, top tools, and practical advice.
What is RASP?
Learn how RASP tools protect applications from attacks in real-time by running inside the application runtime. Covers RASP vs WAF, deployment, top tools, and practical guidance.
What is DAST?
Learn how DAST tools find vulnerabilities by testing running web applications from the outside. Covers how dynamic scanning works, DAST in CI/CD, top tools, and practical advice.
State of Open-Source AppSec Tools
Data-driven analysis of 140 AppSec tools: open-source vs. commercial split, GitHub star rankings, category trends, and license distribution.
Secure SDLC
Maps SAST, DAST, SCA, IAST, RASP, and ASPM tools to each SDLC phase. Includes integration points, maturity model, and tool recommendations.
SAST vs DAST vs IAST
A detailed comparison of SAST, DAST, and IAST application security testing methods. Learn how each works, where it fits in your SDLC, and which to choose for your team.
OWASP Top 10
Maps every OWASP Top 10 vulnerability to the AppSec tool categories and specific tools that detect it. Coverage matrix included.
How We Evaluate AppSec Tools: Our Methodology
How AppSec Santa selects, evaluates, and updates 129+ application security tools across 10 categories. Our process, criteria, and conflict of interest policy.
Application Security Tool Pricing Guide
Real pricing data for SAST, DAST, SCA, and ASPM tools. Compare costs per developer, per app, and per scan across 140+ AppSec tools.
CandyShop: Security Tool Benchmark Results
Real scan results from 15+ security tools tested against intentionally vulnerable applications. Compare SAST, DAST, SCA, and container scanners with actual data.
How to Build an AppSec Program on a Budget
A practical guide to building application security from scratch using free and open-source tools. Includes implementation order, CI/CD integration examples, and when to upgrade to commercial options.
DAST Benchmark Project
Test your applications with multiple DAST tools and receive a comparative benchmark report to select the most suitable tool with confidence.
Comparisons
35 head-to-head tool matchups
Sonatype vs Snyk
Sonatype Lifecycle blocks vulnerable components at download with its repository firewall. Snyk Open Source finds and auto-fixes vulnerabilities already in your code. Compare their SCA approaches, vulnerability intelligence, and remediation strategies.
Snyk vs SonarQube
Snyk Open Source and SonarQube solve different problems. Compare their approaches to dependency scanning, code analysis, vulnerability detection, and which fits your security needs.
Trivy vs Snyk Container
Trivy vs Snyk Container for container image scanning. Compare vulnerability detection, ecosystem support, CI/CD integration, and the trade-offs between open source and commercial tooling.
SonarQube vs Checkmarx
SonarQube vs Checkmarx for static application security testing. Compare code quality vs security focus, language support, deployment options, and pricing.
Snyk vs Mend
Snyk Open Source vs Mend SCA for software composition analysis. Compare vulnerability databases, fix automation, license compliance, reachability analysis, and pricing.
Semgrep vs Snyk Code
Semgrep vs Snyk Code for static application security testing. Compare rule engines, custom rule flexibility, AI features, IDE integration, and pricing.
Salt Security vs 42Crunch
Salt Security vs 42Crunch for API security. Compare runtime protection vs shift-left API auditing, API discovery, attack detection, spec enforcement, compliance, and when to choose each.
OX Security vs Apiiro
OX Security vs Apiiro for Application Security Posture Management. Compare supply chain protection, risk analysis, pipeline security, and enterprise ASPM capabilities.
NowSecure vs MobSF
NowSecure vs MobSF for mobile app security testing. Compare static and dynamic analysis, iOS and Android coverage, compliance features, CI/CD integration, and when to choose each tool.
Escape vs StackHawk
Escape vs StackHawk for API security testing. Compare API discovery methods, testing depth, CI/CD integration, and pricing for two modern DAST tools built for APIs.
Contrast Protect vs Imperva RASP
Contrast Protect vs Imperva RASP for runtime application protection. Compare instrumentation approach, language support, WAF integration, false positive handling, and when to choose each RASP solution.
Contrast Assess vs Seeker
Contrast Assess vs Seeker IAST for runtime application security testing. Compare detection accuracy, language support, compliance features, CI/CD integration, and when to choose each IAST tool.
Checkov vs KICS
Checkov and KICS are both open-source IaC security scanners backed by major AppSec vendors. Compare their policy libraries, IaC framework coverage, custom policy approaches, and where each tool wins for infrastructure as code security.
Checkmarx vs Snyk
Checkmarx vs Snyk for application security. Compare SAST, SCA, platform capabilities, enterprise features, developer experience, and pricing for two market leaders.
Black Duck vs Snyk
Black Duck vs Snyk Open Source for software composition analysis. Compare enterprise features, vulnerability detection, license compliance, SBOM generation, and pricing.
Trivy vs Grype
Trivy vs Grype for container and dependency vulnerability scanning. Compare scope, risk scoring, SBOM support, CI/CD integration, and when to choose each.
StackHawk vs ZAP
StackHawk vs OWASP ZAP for dynamic application security testing. Compare CI/CD integration, API scanning, pricing, configuration, and developer workflow.
SonarQube vs Semgrep
SonarQube vs Semgrep for static analysis. Compare language support, rule systems, CI/CD integration, pricing, and when to choose each tool.
Snyk vs Dependabot
Snyk Open Source vs GitHub Dependabot for dependency security. Compare vulnerability databases, automated fix PRs, pricing, and platform support.
Snyk Code vs SonarQube
Snyk Code and SonarQube take different approaches to static analysis. Compare AI fix suggestions, code quality gates, language support, and pricing to choose the right SAST tool for your team.
Snyk Code vs Checkmarx
Snyk Code vs Checkmarx SAST comparison. Compare scanning depth, IDE integration, AI fix suggestions, pricing, and enterprise features for static analysis.
Semgrep vs CodeQL
Semgrep vs GitHub CodeQL for static analysis. Compare rule syntax, scanning speed, language support, CI/CD integration, and custom rule authoring.
Nuclei vs Nikto
Nuclei vs Nikto vulnerability scanner comparison. Compare template-based scanning, server checks, speed, extensibility, and CI/CD integration.
Mend SCA vs Snyk
Mend SCA vs Snyk for software composition analysis. Compare auto-remediation, vulnerability databases, reachability analysis, pricing, and when to choose each.
Invicti vs Burp Suite
Invicti vs Burp Suite for dynamic application security testing. Compare proof-based scanning, manual testing tools, CI/CD integration, pricing, and when to choose each.
Invicti vs Acunetix
Invicti and Acunetix are owned by the same parent company but serve different markets. Compare features, pricing, deployment, and scanning capabilities to decide which DAST tool fits your team.
Garak vs Promptfoo
Garak vs Promptfoo for LLM red teaming and security testing. Compare probe libraries, provider support, attack strategies, reporting, and when to choose each.
Fortify vs Veracode
Fortify and Veracode are both Gartner Leaders in application security testing. Compare source code vs binary analysis, deployment options, language coverage, and AI features to choose the right enterprise SAST tool.
Endor Labs vs Snyk
Endor Labs vs Snyk for software composition analysis. Compare reachability analysis, noise reduction, vulnerability databases, language support, and when to choose each.
Dependabot vs Renovate
Dependabot vs Renovate for automated dependency updates. Compare platform support, package managers, configuration, grouping, and automerge features.
Checkov vs Trivy
Checkov and Trivy are the two most popular open-source tools for IaC security scanning. Compare their policy coverage, IaC framework support, and where each tool excels for infrastructure as code security.
Checkmarx vs Veracode
Checkmarx and Veracode are both Gartner Leaders in application security testing. Compare their SAST approaches, platform capabilities, deployment options, and which fits your enterprise needs.
Checkmarx vs Fortify
Detailed comparison of Checkmarx and Fortify for enterprise SAST. Feature-by-feature breakdown, pricing insights, and when to choose each tool.
Burp Suite vs ZAP
Burp Suite vs OWASP ZAP for web application security testing. Compare scanning accuracy, pricing, CI/CD integration, and extensibility.
Aikido vs Snyk
Aikido Security vs Snyk for application security. Compare all-in-one ASPM with best-of-breed SCA — features, noise reduction, pricing, and when to choose each.
Alternatives
21 tool alternatives roundups
Salt Security Alternatives
Looking for Salt Security alternatives? Compare the top API security platforms including 42Crunch, Wallarm, Akamai API Security, Cequence, APIsec, and more.
NowSecure Alternatives
Looking for NowSecure alternatives? Compare the best mobile security testing tools including MobSF, Appknox, Oversecured, Data Theorem, and more.
Mend Alternatives
Looking for Mend alternatives? Compare the best SCA tools including Snyk, Black Duck, Dependabot, Socket, FOSSA, Endor Labs, and more.
Lakera Alternatives
Looking for Lakera Guard alternatives? Compare the best AI security tools including Promptfoo, Garak, LLM Guard, NeMo Guardrails, HiddenLayer, Protect AI Guardian, and PyRIT.
Invicti Alternatives
Looking for Invicti alternatives? Compare the best DAST tools including Burp Suite, OWASP ZAP, Nuclei, Qualys WAS, StackHawk, Escape, and more.
HCL AppScan Alternatives
Looking for HCL AppScan alternatives? Compare the best application security tools including Checkmarx, Fortify, Snyk, Semgrep, Veracode, SonarQube, and more.
GitGuardian Alternatives
Looking for GitGuardian alternatives? Compare the best secrets detection tools including TruffleHog, Gitleaks, GitHub Secret Scanning, Cycode, and more.
Endor Labs Alternatives
Looking for Endor Labs alternatives? Compare the best SCA tools including Snyk, Socket, Black Duck, FOSSA, Mend, Dependabot, and more.
Contrast Security Alternatives
Looking for Contrast Security alternatives? Compare the best IAST and RASP tools including Semgrep, Snyk Code, Checkmarx, Fortify, HCL AppScan, and more.
Checkov Alternatives
Looking for Checkov alternatives? Compare the best IaC security scanners including Trivy, KICS, Terrascan, Snyk IaC, Kubescape, and tfsec.
Aikido Alternatives
Looking for Aikido alternatives? Compare the best AppSec platforms including Snyk, Semgrep, SonarQube, Cycode, ArmorCode, and more.
ZAP Alternatives
Looking for ZAP alternatives? Compare the best DAST tools including Burp Suite, Nuclei, Invicti, StackHawk, and more.
Veracode Alternatives
Looking for Veracode alternatives? Compare the best SAST tools including Checkmarx, Semgrep, SonarQube, Snyk Code, Fortify, and more.
SonarQube Alternatives
Looking for SonarQube alternatives? Compare the best SAST tools including Semgrep, Snyk Code, CodeQL, Checkmarx, and more.
Snyk Alternatives
Looking for Snyk alternatives? Compare the best SCA tools including Grype, OWASP Dependency-Check, Dependabot, Black Duck, and more.
Semgrep Alternatives
Looking for Semgrep alternatives? Compare the best SAST tools including SonarQube, Snyk Code, CodeQL, Checkmarx, and more.
Fortify Alternatives
Looking for Fortify alternatives? Compare the best SAST tools including Checkmarx, Semgrep, Coverity, Snyk Code, and more.
Dependabot Alternatives
Looking for Dependabot alternatives? Compare the best SCA tools including Renovate, Snyk, Grype, Socket, and more.
Checkmarx Alternatives
Looking for Checkmarx alternatives? Compare the best SAST tools including Veracode, Semgrep, SonarQube, Snyk Code, Fortify, and more.
Burp Suite Alternatives
Looking for Burp Suite alternatives? Compare the best DAST tools including ZAP, Nuclei, Acunetix, Invicti, StackHawk, and more.
Acunetix Alternatives
Looking for Acunetix alternatives? Compare the best DAST tools including Invicti, Burp Suite, ZAP, Nuclei, and more.