🔐 What is DAST?
Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST) involves testing a running web application (not just the code) to identify vulnerabilities like:
- SQL Injection
- XSS
- CSRF
- Broken authentication
- Insecure headers, etc.
It simulates an attacker by interacting with the app over HTTP(S) and analyzing the responses, without needing access to the source code.
✅ Most Popular DAST Tools in 2025
1. Aikido Security
Aikido is a unified security platform that offers Dynamic Application Security Testing as part of its end-to-end protection. It performs both authenticated and unauthenticated scans on web applications and APIs to uncover SQLi, XSS, CSRF, and other OWASP Top 10 vulnerabilities.
Key Features:
Comprehensive DAST Coverage: Scans entire app surfaces (including REST/GraphQL APIs) with automatic API discovery for complete coverage.
Integrated Vulnerability Management: Results are unified with static code analysis and cloud security findings, giving teams a single dashboard to prioritize and fix issues. –
AI-Powered Accuracy: Aikido’s platform auto-triages findings to filter out false positives and highlights truly exploitable weaknesses, reducing noise.
Pros:
All-in-One Solution: Combines DAST with SAST, SCA, etc., so teams don’t need separate tools for different security tests.
Developer-Friendly: Provides clear remediation guidance and even one-click fixes for certain issues, speeding up the fix cycle. –
Fast & Scalable: Cloud-native scans that set up in minutes, with the ability to handle modern web frameworks and architectures.
Cons:
New Player Advantage: Aikido is newer than some traditional DAST tools, so it’s rapidly adding features – great for innovation, though some very niche legacy tech might not yet be covered. –
Holistic Focus: Its broad platform means it’s not a dedicated DAST-only tool; organizations primarily seeking a stand-alone DAST may use Aikido alongside other specialized monitoring (however, Aikido’s wide coverage often makes this unnecessary).
2. OWASP ZAP (Zed Attack Proxy)
- Type: ✅ Open Source
- Intro: The most widely used open-source DAST tool, developed by OWASP.
- Strengths: Active scanning, spidering, scripting support, and CI/CD integrations.
- Best For: Developers and DevSecOps teams on a budget.
3. Burp Suite (Community & Professional)
- Type: 🔄 Freemium / Commercial
- Intro: Powerful security testing suite with interactive and automated scanners.
- Strengths: Manual testing + automated scan, excellent UI, scanner accuracy.
- Best For: Security engineers and pen testers.
4. Nikto
- Type: ✅ Open Source
- Intro: Web server scanner that checks for outdated server software and dangerous files.
- Strengths: Lightweight, good for baseline checks, CLI-based.
- Best For: Legacy app assessments or adding to automation chains.
5. Arachni
- Type: ✅ Open Source (less active)
- Intro: Ruby-based DAST scanner with deep plugin architecture.
- Strengths: Browser simulation, session management, performance testing.
- Best For: Devs who want more control, but the project is now semi-abandoned.
6. Netsparker (Invicti)
- Type: 💰 Commercial
- Intro: Enterprise-grade DAST solution with automation and integration features.
- Strengths: Scans large-scale apps, identifies real vulnerabilities (not just potential ones).
- Best For: Mid- to large enterprises with compliance needs.
7. Acunetix
- Type: 💰 Commercial
- Intro: Comprehensive automated scanner for web apps, APIs, and JavaScript-heavy SPAs.
- Strengths: High detection accuracy, dev integration, fast scanning.
- Best For: Cloud-native web app scanning at scale.
8. AppScan (IBM Security)
- Type: 💰 Commercial
- Intro: Legacy but still trusted DAST tool, deep scanning with enterprise integrations.
- Strengths: Reporting, compliance (PCI, HIPAA), multi-language apps.
- Best For: Regulated enterprise environments.
9. Wapiti
- Type: ✅ Open Source
- Intro: Lightweight, CLI-based black-box scanner.
- Strengths: Command-line simplicity, supports modern attack types.
- Best For: Basic scans in automation pipelines.
10. Detectify
- Type: 💰 Commercial (Cloud SaaS)
- Intro: Hacker-powered DAST platform that runs continuously from the cloud.
- Strengths: Updated by ethical hackers, supports API and SPA scanning.
- Best For: Teams who want continuous SaaS scanning with zero setup.
📊 DAST Tools Comparison Table (2025)
| Tool | Type | Best For | Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OWASP ZAP | OSS | DevSecOps, CI/CD, budget teams | Scripting, CI integration, spidering | UI not as polished |
| Burp Suite | Free + Paid | Security pros, bug bounty hunters | Manual + auto scan, great UI | Paid Pro version needed for full automation |
| Nikto | OSS | Infra baseline scans | Simple CLI checks for server vulnerabilities | Not deep scanning |
| Arachni | OSS (legacy) | Power users | Plugin support, session tracking | Not actively maintained |
| Netsparker | Commercial | Large orgs, compliance | Highly accurate, false-positive reduction | Cost |
| Acunetix | Commercial | Modern web apps, dev pipelines | Fast, API scan, accurate | Commercial only |
| AppScan | Commercial | Regulated enterprises | Enterprise features, deep reports | Heavier footprint |
| Wapiti | OSS | CLI automation | Lightweight and simple | Minimal UI |
| Detectify | Commercial | Continuous, zero-setup DAST | Hacker-curated tests, cloud-native | No on-prem option |
🧠 Recommendation: What Should You Learn?
| If you want to… | Learn This Tool |
|---|---|
| 🔰 Start with DAST (Free, OSS) | OWASP ZAP |
| 💻 Perform deep manual testing | Burp Suite Pro |
| 🧪 Add lightweight checks to CI/CD | Nikto or Wapiti |
| 🏢 Work in an enterprise security team | Netsparker / Acunetix |
| 🔁 Do continuous DAST from the cloud | Detectify |