Top 10 Best Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST) Platforms in 2025

Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST) platforms are critical tools for modern enterprise security teams to identify vulnerabilities in web applications during runtime.

As organizations scale up digital transformation and cloud-native adoption, robust DAST solutions ensure critical assets remain protected from evolving attacker techniques.

This guide evaluates the top 10 leading DAST platforms for 2025 based on reliability, accuracy, scalability, integration features, and overall value for enterprise security operations.

DAST remains a vital security testing method for DevSecOps pipelines, providing automated vulnerability assessment across web, API, and microservices stacks.

With constant updates to attack methods, only the best DAST solutions help businesses stay resilient by offering accurate detection, minimal false positives, developer-enablement, and ease of use.

This article will help decision-makers select the optimal dynamic app security platform to fit technology requirements and risk tolerances for 2025.

Why Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST) Platforms 2025

Security can no longer be reactive organizations must embed security automation at every stage of web application development.

DAST platforms offer continuous, automated testing against real-world attack scenarios, which is essential for shutting down vulnerabilities before they’re exploited in production.

The platforms reviewed below were selected based on technical performance, integration capabilities, accuracy of findings, developer workflow support, and scalability for cloud-native and hybrid architectures.

Our ranking considers hands-on results, industry trends, and user feedback, delivering a trusted resource for CISOs, AppSec teams, and security architects focused on reducing web application risk in 2025.

Comparison Table: Top 10 Best Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST) Platforms 2025

Platform (Official Site)	Proof-Based Scanning	CI/CD Integration	API Security	Cloud / SaaS	Developer Workflow
Invicti	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Acunetix	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Burp Suite	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
OWASP	❌ No	✅ Yes	Limited	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Rapid7 InsightAppSec	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Checkmarx	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Qualys	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Detectify	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Tenable	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
StackHawk	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes

1. Invicti

Why We Picked It

Invicti has solidified its place as a top enterprise DAST platform through a proof-based scanning engine that virtually eliminates false positives, providing definitive, actionable risk results.

The platform excels at identifying exploitable vulnerabilities, making it highly suitable for organizations with complex cloud-native and multi-app portfolios.

Invicti offers scalable architecture, allowing hundreds or thousands of simultaneous asset scans, central policy management, and automated workflows, which are crucial for businesses with evolving security needs.

The tool is praised for rapid integration into modern DevOps pipelines and its ability to tackle both legacy and cutting-edge web technologies.

Specifications

Invicti’s platform operates as a cloud-based and on-premises solution, facilitating hybrid deployments for enterprises with various compliance needs.

It supports Windows and Linux environments, with APIs for automation and integrations across popular DevSecOps toolchains.

Features

Invicti delivers proof-based vulnerability validation, AI-driven risk scoring, and full integration with CI/CD pipelines like Jenkins and Azure DevOps.

Workflow tools include customizable scan policies, asset and vulnerability management, and support for complex authentication scenarios.

Reason to Buy

Invicti is ideal for organizations requiring high-assurance, actionable results and scalable coverage across large application estates.

Its ability to confirm real risks, extensive integration capability, and developer-centric remediation guidance speed up vulnerability resolution without sacrificing coverage depth.

Pros

• Extremely low false positives
• Advanced API and container scanning capabilities
• Deep DevOps/CI/CD integration
• Proof-based exploit validation
• Scalable for enterprises

Cons

• Cost may be high for smaller teams
• Complex initial setup for large environments

✅ Best For: Enterprises demanding proof-based DAST, extensive coverage, seamless CI/CD integration, and rapid developer enablement.

🔗 Try Invicti here → "Invicti Official Website"

2. Acunetix

Why We Picked It

Acunetix continues to lead in DAST through user-centric innovation, providing an easy-to-use UI, advanced crawling for both web and APIs, and a focus on minimizing false positives.

Its scheduled and on-demand scans fit DevSecOps pipelines, while continuous updates ensure coverage for emerging vulnerabilities.

The tool is favored for insightful vulnerability reports broken down by developer role, and flexible integrations with ticketing and collaboration tools.

Acunetix’s spidering and deep scanning unearth hard-to-find vulnerabilities in both multi-page and single-page applications.

Specifications

Acunetix supports scanning across Windows, Linux, and cloud instances. Its scanner detects a broad spectrum of vulnerabilities including XSS, SQL injection, SSRF, and misconfigurations.

The tool automates report generation for various funnel points (Board, Developer, Compliance) and can scan multiple targets in parallel.

Features

Key capabilities include fast and accurate scanning for both web apps and APIs, continuous scanning for vulnerabilities, advanced crawling, detailed and customizable reports, granular control over scans, prioritization, and seamless ticketing workflow integration.

Reason to Buy

Acunetix is ideal for organizations seeking depth and breadth in automated web security testing, especially those requiring granular scan tuning, comprehensive vulnerability detection, and streamlined reporting for cross-functional teams.

Pros

• Straightforward operation and UI
• Fewer false positives
• Robust vulnerability classification
• Broad authentication and crawling support
• Flexible deployment

Cons

• Slower scan speeds on very large apps
• Limited manual tuning for advanced use cases

✅ Best For: SMBs and enterprises needing an easy yet comprehensive DAST, especially for agile developer teams.

🔗 Try Acunetix here → "Acunetix Official Website"

3. Burp Suite Enterprise

Why We Picked It

Burp Suite Enterprise—now Burp Suite DAST remains the gold standard for organizations requiring automated, scalable web vulnerability detection built on trusted Burp technology.

By leveraging PortSwigger’s years of pentesting expertise, it combines deep, reliable scanning logic with an automated engine designed for integration with CI/CD and modern DevSecOps practices.

Enterprise teams benefit from dashboarding with real-time asset visibility, customizable scan scheduling across large web portfolios, and out-of-the-box integration for continuous security in agile workflows.

PortSwigger’s commitment to research-driven updates means its vulnerability coverage and scanning heuristics stay ahead of the latest threats.

Specifications

Burp Suite Enterprise operates as a web service with browser-based dashboard access, supporting Windows and Linux server deployments.

The platform integrates seamlessly with DevOps toolchains, enabling automated or scheduled scanning based on code push, build events, or custom logic. Its API allows integration with custom workflows or SCM tools.

Features

Automated scheduled scans, parallel asset scanning, out-of-the-box DevOps integration, customizable reporting, scalable architecture, real-time dashboard visibility, and role-based access controls.

Reason to Buy

Designed for enterprises seeking a reliable, automated DAST that naturally extends the manual testing power of Burp Suite Professional with minimal configuration effort and full developer workflow integration.

Pros

• Proven scanning engine
• Powerful automation
• Great dashboard visibility
• Comprehensive integration support
• Flexible scheduling

Cons

• Cost can be significant for smaller orgs
• Requires initial infrastructure for on-prem deployment

✅ Best For: Mature security and development teams wanting scalable DAST automation and deep integration.

🔗 Try Burp Suite Enterprise here → "Burp Suite Enterprise Official Website"

4. OWASP

Why We Picked It

OWASP ZAP is the world’s leading free, open-source DAST tool.

Backed by a massive security community, it is continuously updated with advanced scanning, flexible plugin support, and a growing set of automation capabilities.

ZAP is beloved by startups and security professionals for its accessibility, extensibility, and ability to cover the basics of web vulnerability detection with no major licensing cost.

Ethical hackers and penetration testers use ZAP to replicate real-world attacks in a controlled environment, and it fits seamlessly into developer pipelines with automation hooks.

Specifications

OWASP ZAP is platform-agnostic (Windows, Linux, macOS), installable as desktop or Docker container, and scriptable via API.

It supports both active and passive scanning, custom scan policies, manual and automated workflows, and easy integration into CI/CD via command line tools.

Features

Automated and manual scanning, customizable scan policies, comprehensive plugin marketplace, API and WebSocket support, spidering/crawling, extensible interface.

Reason to Buy

It’s free, widely adopted, and suitable for DevSecOps pipelines, penetration testing, and security research without commercial constraints.

Pros

• Free and open source
• Very extensible
• Good developer and community support
• Easy for beginners and pros
• Flexible deployment

Cons

• No commercial warranty/support
• Some advanced DAST features require plugins or manual tuning

✅ Best For: Security teams and developers seeking a robust, free DAST for research, training, or supplementing commercial tools.

🔗 Try OWASP ZAP here → "OWASP ZAP Official Website"

5. Rapid7

Why We Picked It

Rapid7 InsightAppSec is praised for unifying DAST into a broader vulnerability management ecosystem and offering excellent dashboard customization, risk prioritization, and developer workflow integration.

The platform integrates cloud-native scanning with intuitive management interfaces, delivering power and flexibility for security teams handling varied application environments.

Automated scheduling, cloud-based deployment, and strong DevOps alignment enable implementation at scale.

InsightAppSec supports customization through attack templates while simplifying operations for busy AppSec teams.

Specifications

Rapid7 InsightAppSec is delivered as a SaaS platform, with APIs for automation, integration into DevOps workflows, and full dashboard visualizations.

Scan scheduling covers daily, weekly, and event-based triggers, with coverage for API scanning and common web frameworks.

Features

Cloud-based scanning, customizable attack templates, workflow integrations, dashboarding, vulnerability management, developer remediation support, compliance-ready reporting.

Reason to Buy

It’s a smart option for large organizations or security teams that need robust, cloud-first vulnerability management with comprehensive coverage and analytics.

Pros

• Easy SaaS onboarding
• Deep dashboard customization
• Reliable vulnerability correlation
• Integrated with incident response
• Good for multi-app environments

Cons

• Can be slower for complex scans
• Limited automated API discovery

✅ Best For: Enterprises seeking end-to-end DAST in the cloud with next-level analytics.

🔗 Try Rapid7 InsightAppSec here → "Rapid7 InsightAppSec Official Website"

6. Checkmarx

Why We Picked It

Checkmarx DAST stands out with its unified platform approach merging SAST, SCA, and DAST within a single ecosystem for holistic visibility across security risks.

This powerful combination empowers organizations to identify runtime and source code risks, making it a leader among large enterprises.

Checkmarx’s extensive CI/CD support, educational resources, and best-in-class compliance reporting are major factors driving adoption among regulated industries.

Checkmarx’s DAST capabilities include deep API analysis, advanced orchestration, and consolidated reporting.

Specifications

As a unified security platform, Checkmarx DAST operates on cloud and on-prem, with integrations into source repositories, CI/CD pipelines, and SCM tools.

It features API, infrastructure as code, and open source component scanning, giving security teams an aggregated threat landscape.

Features

Unified SAST, SCA, and DAST integration, robust compliance reporting, API security, CI/CD automation, educational resources for developers, business logic testing.

Reason to Buy

The platform is perfect for organizations seeking “shift-left” security, unified threat detection, and regulatory compliance at scale.

Pros

• Unified platform (DAST/SAST/SCA)
• Extensive compliance reporting
• Enterprise-centric dashboards
• API and business logic testing
• Developer resources

Cons

• Steep learning curve
• Complex configuration for non-enterprise orgs

✅ Best For: Regulated enterprises seeking consolidated AppSec risk management and compliance.

🔗 Try Checkmarx DAST here → "Checkmarx DAST Official Website"

7. Qualys

Why We Picked It

Qualys WAS (Web Application Scanning) sits at the heart of Qualys’s broader cloud security platform, enabling consistent, high-performance web application and API vulnerability scanning.

Known for excellent coverage of standards and regulatory requirements, Qualys WAS features rapid scanning, a user-friendly dashboard, and seamless integration with asset management and IT operations tools.

TruRisk scoring assists teams with prioritization, while scalable deployment options address complex hybrid enterprise environments.

Qualys is an industry-recognized leader, trusted for its reliable reporting, proactive threat intelligence, and automated patch management integration.

Specifications

Delivered via cloud or hybrid, Qualys WAS integrates with infrastructure, cloud, and container environments.

The platform supports automated scanning, asset tagging, customizable dashboards, compliance reporting, and patch management.

Features

Comprehensive web and API scanning, custom dashboards, threat intelligence, asset tagging, patch management integration, compliance alignments, prioritized findings with TruRisk.

Reason to Buy

Best suited for organizations with broad regulatory needs, multi-cloud assets, and the desire for a single-pane AppSec management approach.

Pros

• Cloud-native scalability
• Excellent compliance support
• Customizable dashboards
• Integration with broader Qualys tools
• Proactive threat intelligence

Cons

• Configuration may overwhelm smaller teams
• Scan speeds can vary

✅ Best For: Large and regulated organizations seeking mature, scalable DAST integrated with enterprise security operations.

🔗 Try Qualys WAS here → "Qualys WAS Official Website"

8. Detectify

Why We Picked It

Detectify sets itself apart by combining dynamic scanning with attack surface management, leveraging a continually updated vulnerability engine powered by a global community of ethical hackers.

Its 100% payload-driven approach minimizes noisy findings, delivering high-confidence vulnerability proof and agile integration for modern pipelines.

Detectify’s focus on automation, scalability, and developer usability makes it a compelling solution for fast-moving tech companies and security teams.

The platform’s unique discovery logic uncovers both documented and “shadow” assets, adapting scan coverage as environments change.

Detectify is cloud-based, with simple onboarding and seamless API integration. Automated reporting helps focus resources on real risks, and the platform’s exposure management capabilities align with modern business needs.

Specifications

Cloud-native, SaaS architecture, with simple connector-driven onboarding for multi-cloud environments.

Detectify requires minimal user configuration, and provides comprehensive scans using automated payload testing.

Features

Continuous automated scanning, dynamic payload-based discovery, external attack surface management, comprehensive reporting, easy onboarding, developer workflow integration.

Full API support is included, with workflow integrations into ticketing, notification, and CI/CD pipelines.

Reason to Buy

Recommended for organizations needing rapid time-to-value, lightweight onboarding, external asset discovery, and coverage driven by real-world attack insights.

Pros

• Easy cloud deployment
• Payload-based vulnerability testing
• Attack surface discovery
• Automated reporting
• High developer usability

Cons

• Limited advanced configuration options
• Basic support for some API protocols

✅ Best For: Fast-scaling tech firms and SaaS providers seeking continuous, automated DAST and asset management.

🔗 Try Detectify here → "Detectify Official Website"

9. Tenable

Why We Picked It

Tenable WAS is trusted for its unified vulnerability management, supporting seamless, automated DAST across cloud and on-prem environments.

The tool offers rapid scanning, simple configuration, and integrated dashboards that tie web, cloud, and IT security data together.

Tenable’s approach simplifies security workflow management, enabling organizations to monitor their security posture at a glance while leveraging support for the latest attack techniques.

The platform’s flexible deployment and integration options suit companies at every maturity level, while FedRAMP authorization makes WAS a solid choice for government and regulated industries.

Specifications

Tenable WAS runs as a SaaS or on-prem solution with fully integrated dashboards, customizable workflows, and broad scanning capability across web, API, and cloud assets.

Intuitive setup allows quick onboarding, and its vulnerability findings can be managed alongside other Tenable offerings.

Features

Unified management, quick scan setup, customizable dashboards, on-prem/cloud deployment, regular threat updates, CI/CD integration, automated scheduling.

Reason to Buy

Best for organizations seeking straightforward, integrated, and scalable DAST capabilities within the well-established Tenable ecosystem.

Pros

• Unified with IT/cloud security
• Fast setup and scanning
• Custom dashboards
• Broad deployment options
• Well-respected brand

Cons

• Deep tuning requires add-ons
• SaaS pricing can scale up quickly

✅ Best For: Security teams seeking integration with IT/cloud security and straightforward DAST operations.

🔗 Try Tenable Web App Scanning here → "Tenable WAS Official Website"

10. StackHawk

Why We Picked It

StackHawk is a modern, developer-first DAST solution built for CI/CD pipelines, integrating testing directly into the code delivery process.

Its philosophy empowering developers to own security enables rapid feedback, actionable results, and minimal disruption to agile development.

StackHawk is ideal for engineering teams embracing automation and requiring shift-left vulnerability detection, supporting modern APIs and microservices.

StackHawk’s powerful workflow integrations, automated test triggers, and actionable recommendations bridge the gap between security and development.

Specifications

Delivered as a cloud service with lightweight CLI for local and CI/CD testing. YAML-based scan configuration supports versioning and automation.

Deep API (REST, GraphQL) scanning, custom test policies, and tight GitHub/GitLab/Slack integrations are standard.

Features

CLI and pipeline automation, API and web scanning, shift-left feedback, in-line developer guidance, continuous reporting, configuration-as-code, modern dashboard insights.

Reason to Buy

Best for dev teams wanting fast iteration, automated validation, and actionable remediation guidance tightly coupled with delivery pipelines.

Pros

• Developer-first UX
• Fast setup and automation
• Detailed API scanning
• Easy configuration-as-code
• Developer community support

Cons

• Feature set may lag large enterprise tools
• Less visibility for traditional security ops

✅ Best For: Agile engineering teams, DevOps practitioners, and cloud-native organizations seeking DAST automation in CI/CD.

🔗 Try StackHawk here → "StackHawk Official Website"

Conclusion

Selecting the right DAST platform is key to modern cybersecurity, closing security gaps as applications evolve in complexity.

Each tool on this list excels along different axes some prioritize depth and breadth of detection, others focus on developer usability, while a few specialize in compliance and scale.

Whether for agile startups, large enterprises, or highly regulated sectors, 2025’s top DAST solutions will empower organizations to reduce risk, meet regulatory goals, and enable faster, safer software delivery.

For enduring security, prioritize platforms with low false positives, seamless pipeline integration, and developer-friendly workflows.

Invest in solutions matching your app portfolio’s growth and changing attack surfaces DAST that works for your business, not against it.