The best application security testing (AST) tools of 2025

In today's digital environment, where cyber threats evolve at a breakneck pace, application security is no longer an option, but a critical necessity for businesses. Every line of code deployed without thorough review represents a potential gateway for vulnerabilities that can compromise sensitive data, disrupt operations, and damage corporate reputation.

This is why application security testing tools (AST, for its acronym in English) have become fundamental elements within the software development life cycle. The main objective of these tools is to identify vulnerabilities and protect data and systems. Adopting such technologies not only responds to a technical requirement but also represents a strategic decision aligned with business continuity and digital resilience.

If you're unsure about the software you need for your new project or business, don't worry. Throughout this article, we will review the best options available within application security testing tools (AST).

Why your company should hire an application security testing tool

Hiring an application security testing solution is not just an investment in technology, but a strategic measure to protect the digital core of your company.

These solutions enable the early, automated, and systematic detection and remediation of security flaws, which not only improve software quality but also reduce the cost associated with fixing errors at later stages.

AST tools provide coverage for different layers of security, from static code analysis (SAST) to dynamic testing (DAST) and software composition analysis (SCA), enabling development and security teams to work collaboratively in an increasingly necessary DevSecOps environment.

Additionally, AST tools not only identify security issues but also enable security to be integrated from the early stages of development. This translates to less work, fewer interruptions, and greater agility when deploying secure products to the market.

In business environments where development speed is key to competitiveness, having such software allows teams not to choose between speed and product integrity.

Customers, investors, and partners are increasingly valuing companies that take cybersecurity seriously, especially in regulated sectors such as finance, healthcare, and technology. Having a secure development environment not only prevents costly incidents but also becomes a competitive advantage and a strong selling point. Application security protects the customer relationship and ensures uninterrupted business operations, strengthening trust and business continuity.

What characteristics should a good application security testing tool have

Given the wide range of application security testing solutions on the market, it is essential to know what criteria to consider when evaluating and selecting the most appropriate tool for your company.

Not all solutions are the same, and a wrong choice can result in incomplete analyses, constant false positives, or poor integration with development workflows. Therefore, understanding the key characteristics that an AST tool must meet is essential to ensure effective implementation aligned with the business's security and productivity objectives.

It is also crucial to consider the continuous maintenance of security throughout the software development lifecycle, encompassing phases such as design, development, implementation, and updates, to manage vulnerabilities proactively.

A good application security testing tool should have:

• Comprehensive analysis coverage: Support for multiple types of testing such as SAST (static analysis), DAST (dynamic analysis), IAST (interactive analysis), and SCA (software composition analysis).
• Easy integration with the development cycle (CI/CD): Ability to integrate with DevOps tools like Jenkins, GitLab, Azure DevOps, etc., allowing automation of tests at all stages of development.
• High accuracy with low false positive rates: A good analysis engine should provide reliable results to avoid overwhelming the team with irrelevant alerts.
• Frequent updates and a robust vulnerability database: It should have an up-to-date system that recognizes both known and emerging threats.
• Intuitive interface and ease of use: User experience is crucial for facilitating adoption among developers and security teams.
• Customization and scalability capabilities: It should adapt to the needs of small, medium, or large companies and grow in tandem with the organization.
• Quality support and documentation: Access to efficient technical support, clear guides, and an active community can make a significant difference during implementation and continuous use.
• Regulatory compliance and reporting generation: It should help align developments with standards such as OWASP Top 10, ISO/IEC 27001, PCI-DSS, among others, and facilitate the generation of reports for audits or presentations to stakeholders.

Comparative table of the best application security testing tools

1. Veracode

Veracode is a cloud-based application security platform that offers static application security testing (SAST), dynamic application security testing (DAST), and software composition analysis (SCA).

It stands out for its seamless integration with development tools and its focus on regulatory compliance. Additionally, it provides continuous monitoring capabilities for real-time detection of threats and vulnerabilities, helping to maintain constant protection of applications.

Regarding the cons, false positives can become a problem for security teams, as they can affect the accuracy and efficiency in detection and remediation processes.

We recommend its use for large enterprises that require a comprehensive application security solution with strict regulatory compliance and support for multiple languages and environments.

Main functions of Veracode

• Static and dynamic code analysis.
• Software composition analysis (SCA).
• Integration with CI/CD tools.
• Detailed reports and tracking of security policies.
• Online training for developers.

Pros and cons of Veracode

Plans and pricing of Veracode

The price of Veracode is approximately €11,000 per year, depending on the company's size and needs. Among its plans are:

• Basic plan: Includes static analysis (SAST) and software composition analysis (SCA).
• Advanced plans May include dynamic analysis (DAST), integration with development tools, developer training, and premium support.

2. Checkmarx One

Checkmarx One is a unified application security platform that combines SAST, DAST, IAST, and SCA. It is designed to integrate into the development lifecycle and provide a comprehensive view of software security.

Additionally, Checkmarx One helps protect confidential information throughout the development cycle, ensuring that sensitive data such as passwords and API keys is safeguarded against unauthorized access.

We recommend this option for medium- to large-sized companies seeking a comprehensive application security solution with deep integration into their development processes and regulatory compliance requirements.

Main features of Checkmarx One

• Static and dynamic code analysis.
• Interactive software composition analysis.
• Integration with development and CI/CD tools.
• Customizable reports and security policy management.
• Support for multiple programming languages.

Pros and cons of Checkmarx One

Plans and pricing of Checkmarx One

The price range of Checkmarx One is approximately €27,600 to over €82,800, depending on the selected modules and additional services. Among the optional add-ons, we find:

• API Security: ~€250 per license/year.
• IaC (KICS): ~€220 per license/year.
• AI Protection: ~€110 per license/year.
• Codebashing (training): ~€320 per license/year.

3. SonarQube (Enterprise Edition)

SonarQube is a static code analysis tool that helps detect bugs, vulnerabilities, and code smells. The Enterprise Edition offers advanced features, including branch and pull request analysis, and integrates easily into CI/CD pipelines.

Additionally, SonarQube facilitates the application of fundamental security and quality principles, such as confidentiality, integrity, and availability, ensuring that software development adheres to best practices from the outset.

Its use is intended for companies looking to improve code quality and detect vulnerabilities from the early stages of development, especially those with multiple teams and projects.

Main features of SonarQube (Enterprise Edition)

• Static analysis of source code.
• Integration with CI/CD tools.
• Branch and pull request analysis.
• Support for multiple programming languages.
• Detailed code quality reports.

Pros and cons of SonarQube (Enterprise Edition)

Plans and pricing of SonarQube (Enterprise Edition)

SonarQube offers rates ranging from 0 to 125,000 € per year, depending on the chosen rates and the size of your company. The available plans are as follows:

• Community Edition: Free. Includes support for popular languages and basic analysis.
• Developer Edition: ~150 € per year. Adds integration with IDEs and branch analysis.
• Enterprise Edition: ~19,300 € per year. Includes advanced analysis, support for multiple projects, and enterprise features.
• Data Center Edition: ~125,000 € per year. Designed for organizations with high availability and scalability needs. 

4. Burp Suite Professional

Burp Suite Professional is a dynamic web application analysis tool mainly used by testers and security teams. Among its standout features, Burp Suite enables injection testing, including SQL injection, cookie and session management analysis, as well as session security evaluations. Additionally, it is particularly useful in penetration testing for identifying and exploiting security flaws.

We recommend Burp Suite Professional to security teams and testers who conduct manual audits of web applications, as it provides a flexible and powerful tool for identifying vulnerabilities.

Main Features of Burp Suite Professional

• Automatic vulnerability scanning.
• Manual tools like Repeater, Intruder, and Decoder.
• Intercepting and modifying HTTP/S traffic.
• Extensions and customization via Burp Extender.
• Detailed reports of findings.

Pros and Cons of Burp Suite Professional

Plans and Pricing of Burp Suite Professional

The prices for Burp Suite are approximately €420 per user per year for the Professional edition. Below are the approximate prices according to the plans:

• Starter (5 scanning agents): ~€6,400 per year.
• Grow (20 scanning agents): ~€13,300 per year.
• Accelerate (50+ scanning agents): ~€27,000 per year.

5. Snyk

Snyk is a security platform focused on developers that offers software composition analysis (SCA), static application security testing (SAST), and container analysis. It easily integrates into development and CI/CD environments.

Additionally, Snyk enables the identification and management of vulnerabilities in third-party components and open-source code, helping to assess the risks associated with external dependencies within the software supply chain.

Its ideal use case is for startups and development teams looking to integrate security into their workflow from the early stages, especially those that extensively use open source and containers.

Main Features of Snyk

• Dependency and vulnerability analysis in open source code.
• Static analysis of source code.
• Container analysis and infrastructure as code configuration.
• Integration with repositories and CI/CD tools.
• Reporting and tracking of vulnerabilities.

Pros and Cons of Snyk

Plans and Pricing of Snyk

Snyk has both a free plan and paid plans, with a price range starting at approximately 90 € per developer per month. Below we detail all of its plans:

• Free: Free. Includes limited testing for open source code, containers, IaC, and Snyk Code.
• Team: Starting from ~90 € per developer/month. Includes unlimited testing and additional features such as license compliance and integration with Jira.
• Enterprise: Custom pricing. Offers advanced functionalities, including a rich API, detailed reporting, security policy management, and support for local container registries.

6. Fortify (Micro Focus)

Fortify is an application security solution that offers static and dynamic analysis, as well as software composition analysis. It is designed to integrate into enterprise environments and comply with security regulations.

Fortify protects complex enterprise systems against threats and vulnerabilities, ensuring the integrity of critical technological infrastructures. Therefore, we recommend Fortify for large corporations with high regulatory compliance requirements and the need for a comprehensive application security solution.

Key Features of Fortify

• Static and dynamic code analysis.
• Software composition analysis.
• Integration with development and CI/CD tools.
• Detailed reports and security policy monitoring.
• Support for multiple languages and platforms.

Pros and Cons of Fortify

Plans and Pricing of Fortify

The prices for Fortify are approximately €23,000 per year, varying depending on the company's size and needs. These are the available plans:

• Fortify Static Code Analyzer (SCA): Includes static code analysis.
• Fortify WebInspect: Includes dynamic analysis of web applications.
• Fortify Software Security Center: Centralized platform for managing application security.

7. Acunetix

Acunetix is a dynamic web application analysis tool that detects a wide range of vulnerabilities. It allows analyzing the security of any website and its pages against attackers. It offers automated scans and integrates with development and issue tracking tools.

Its use is intended for small and medium-sized enterprises that need an effective and automated solution to scan and secure their web applications.

Main features of Acunetix

• Automatic scanning of web applications.
• Detection of more than 7,000 vulnerabilities.
• Integration with CI/CD tools and issue tracking.
• Detailed reports and remediation recommendations.
• Support for multiple web technologies.

Pros and cons of Acunetix

Plans and pricing of Acunetix

Acunetix prices are approximately €4,200 per year, depending on the features and support required. These are the available plans:

• Standard: Designed for small businesses.
• Premium: Includes additional features such as integration with development tools and support for multiple users.
• Acunetix 360: Enterprise solution with advanced functionalities and support for large organizations.

What AST applications have we ruled out? 3 do not make the cut

Although the market for application security testing tools (AST) is broad and diverse, not all options meet the high-quality, scalable, and effective standards required by today's business environments.

Furthermore, the choice of the right tool also depends on the type of tester, as each tester may require specific functionalities depending on whether they conduct DAST, SAST, or other techniques to identify vulnerabilities in systems and web applications.

In this article, we have prioritized solutions that offer a high degree of precision, solid enterprise support, regular updates, and seamless integration with modern DevSecOps workflows. For this reason, some popular tools have been excluded from the main analysis.

OWASP ZAP (Zed Attack Proxy)

While it is a very useful free and open-source solution for learning environments or small tests, it lacks the robustness, scalability, and advanced functionalities required in business contexts.

Wapiti

This is another open-source tool that, although it meets basic scanning functions, falls short compared to commercial solutions that offer advanced automation, professional support, and constant updates.

AppScan Standard (by IBM)

After analyzing this option, we have decided to forego AppScan Standard in favor of more modern alternatives, such as Checkmarx or Veracode. Although it was a reference in the industry for many years, its evolution has been slower compared to other platforms, both in terms of user experience and integration capabilities with agile development environments.

These tools remain valid in certain contexts, but in a strict high-level comparison, they do not meet the standard currently demanded by companies with advanced security needs.

Can AI replace application security testing tools?

Artificial intelligence has revolutionized the field of cybersecurity, including application security testing tools (AST), by providing capabilities such as pattern detection, reduction of false positives, and automation of repetitive tasks.

Thanks to machine learning algorithms, these tools can identify vulnerabilities more quickly and accurately, anticipate certain emerging risks, and facilitate decision-making for development and security teams.

In this sense, AI acts as a catalyst that enhances the effectiveness and efficiency of existing security solutions.

However, AI cannot completely replace traditional application security tools or human judgment. AST tools are specifically designed to comply with regulations, conduct in-depth static and dynamic analysis, and integrate into complex development environments.

AI cannot replace these processes or evaluate the specific context of each application with the same precision and responsibility as a well-configured and maintained solution by professionals. Moreover, expert oversight in security remains essential to interpret results and make informed decisions, as their experience enables the maximization of the tools' effectiveness and ensures appropriate analysis in complex environments.

Therefore, more than an alternative, artificial intelligence should be understood as a complement that reinforces the value of AST tools, rather than a comprehensive substitute.

Which AST tool is best for each type of company?

In summary, we offer a selection of protection tools, along with the type of company that can best utilize them.

For example, a technology startup that needs to integrate security into its DevOps workflow may opt for Snyk to detect vulnerabilities in real-time, while a large corporation with high regulatory burdens might choose Veracode to meet compliance standards.

These are our recommendations based on your type of company:

• Large corporations with high regulatory burdens: Veracode, Fortify
• DevOps teams and technology startups: Snyk, SonarQube
• Companies focused on web security: Burp Suite, Acunetix
• Organizations seeking an educational or training approach: Checkmarx with Codebashing
• Companies prioritizing static analysis with customization: Checkmarx One, SonarQube Enterprise

The best application security testing tools you can hire

Throughout this article, we have analyzed in depth what Application Security Testing (AST) tools are, why they are essential for any company developing software, and what characteristics they must have to be truly effective.

We have also compared the best options on the market, highlighting their strengths, functionalities, updated prices, and ideal use cases. The conclusion is clear: there is no single perfect solution, but there are tools that fit better depending on the size, sector, and needs of each company.

Ultimately, the choice of the ideal tool depends on the particular context of each company. Factors such as the size of the development team, the type of applications being built, the level of maturity in cybersecurity, and the available budget are determining.

Even within the same organization, it can be useful to combine several tools that complement each other to cover different aspects of the software life cycle.

That is why the best recommendation is to start with a realistic assessment of your needs and resources, and then conduct pilot tests or demos using the most appropriate tools.

Additionally, it is essential to stay alert to news and trends in cybersecurity, as being informed about the latest developments and relevant events allows adapting the application protection strategy against new threats and vulnerabilities.

Investing in security from the development stage not only protects your users and clients but also enhances your brand reputation and reduces costs associated with critical vulnerabilities. Choosing wisely today is anticipating tomorrow's risks.