OWASP ZAP vs Pentest-Tools.com API Scanner

OWASP ZAP is a web application scanner and proxy for security testing. Its tools include active and passive scanning, a spider, alerts, and scan policies. ZAP’s Automation Framework uses YAML plans to coordinate jobs such as scanning, spidering, API imports, and report generation. It can import OpenAPI, GraphQL, SOAP, and Postman definitions through jobs or add-ons. GitHub Actions are available for baseline, full, and API scans via Docker-packaged scans, and the project publishes Docker images, including a minimal image for CI. Add-ons come from an online Marketplace and are generally installed or removed without restarting ZAP. The software is free and open source, with a free plan at free. It supports Linux, macOS, Windows, API use, and self-hosted deployment. Windows and Linux installers require Java 17 or later; the macOS installer includes Java 17. ZAP says it can support only its latest full release, and current releases are unsigned, though checksums are provided.

Pentest-Tools.com API Scanner is a cloud service for assessing APIs and detecting vulnerabilities such as SQL injection, SSRF, local file inclusion, code injection, and request URL override. It supports REST and GraphQL APIs, Postman Collections, and OpenAPI 2 and 3 specifications in YAML, YML, or JSON. Authenticated scans can use request headers, including Basic Authorization and JWT tokens. Reports include risk summaries, vulnerability evidence, remediation advice, and a list of more than 40 tests; export options vary by plan and include PDF, HTML, CSV, XLSX, or editable DOCX. Listed integrations include Jira, Slack, Microsoft Teams, Discord, webhooks, Nucleus, Vanta, Burp Suite, AWS, Azure Marketplace, GitHub Actions, and a REST API. A free plan is available. Paid plans start at $95 per month; API scanning is limited in NetSec and included in WebNetSec. The seven-day full-scanner trial requires a business email and card, and costs nothing if canceled before day eight. The company says customer data is encrypted at rest and in transit, and reports are deleted 30 days after generation.