- DAST scanners in one table
- Eleven scanners for running apps
- Where to begin with dynamic testing
- Why misconfiguration is a DAST job
- Automated scanning versus manual testing
- Checks before you sign with a DAST vendor
- Clues your live app needs testing
- My plain advice on testing the running app
- Frequently asked questions
The best DAST tools test a running web app or API from the outside, the way an attacker would, to find flaws such as broken access control and security misconfiguration. Some are free and open source, while others are commercial platforms with automated pentesting and AI agents. Eleven options follow in no particular order.
Your code can pass every review and still be exposed once it's deployed. A missing header, an admin page left open or an API that trusts the wrong user only shows up when the app is live, which is why testing the running app matters.
The eleven DAST tools below are listed alphabetically and in no particular order, and every description comes from the vendor's own website, read this week. For the manual side of testing, my roundup of penetration testing tools covers the kit testers use by hand.
DAST scanners in one table
I checked the free plan column on each tool's own website, as of Oct 2026. Yes means the site names a free plan, a free version, a free allowance or an open source version. Trial only means a time-limited trial. Not stated means the pages I read named neither, even where there's a button inviting you to start for free, so check the vendor's page before you sign up.
| Tool | Type | Good for | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Astra DAST | Scanner for CI/CD pipelines | Engineering teams scanning in CI/CD | Not stated |
| Beagle Security | Web app and API penetration testing | Smaller teams wanting automated pen tests | Trial only |
| Bright Security | Application security testing platform | Testing AI-written code as it ships | Not stated |
| Burp Suite DAST | Web app scanner from PortSwigger | Scaling scans across many sites | Not stated |
| Escape | AI offensive security platform | Replacing legacy scanners with AI agents | Not stated |
| Invicti | Web application and API security platform | Enterprises with large web portfolios | Not stated |
| Pentest-Tools.com | Pentesting and scanning toolkit | Consultants running many scans | Yes |
| ProjectDiscovery | Exposure management with open source tools | Teams who like open source scanners | Yes |
| Rapid7 InsightAppSec | Dynamic application security testing | Teams already using Rapid7 tools | Not stated |
| StackHawk | App security testing in the dev loop | Testing apps built with AI agents | Not stated |
| ZAP | Free and open source web app scanner | A free starting point | Yes |
Eleven scanners for running apps
Astra DAST
Best for: Engineering teams who want a modern DAST scanner that runs in the CI/CD pipeline and checks apps on every release.
Beagle Security
Best for: Smaller SaaS and fintech teams who want automated web app and API penetration testing, starting on a 14-day free trial.
Bright Security
Best for: Teams using AI coding tools who want testing built into every phase of development, so new code is checked before it ships.
Burp Suite DAST
Best for: Security teams who want CI-driven scanning at scale, with the separate free Community Edition kept for manual testing work.
Escape
Best for: Engineering teams who want AI agents that discover, test and help fix issues, in place of legacy scanners and manual processes.
Invicti
Best for: Enterprises that want web application and API security testing, with SAST and open source checks available from the same vendor.
Pentest-Tools.com
Best for: Consultants and small security teams who want automated pentesting and continuous monitoring, with a free light version to try first.
ProjectDiscovery
Best for: Security teams who want open source scanners such as Nuclei, with templates, plus a platform for triage and remediation as well.
Rapid7 InsightAppSec
Best for: Existing customers of this security vendor who want DAST in the same place as their other security data.
StackHawk
Best for: Developer teams who want their running app tested inside the coding agent loop, with results showing what is exploitable.
ZAP
Best for: Anyone who wants a free, open source web app scanner with a big community behind it before spending on a commercial tool.
Where to begin with dynamic testing
- A free, open source starting point: ZAP or ProjectDiscovery.
- Consultants and small security teams: Pentest-Tools.com or Beagle Security.
- Scanning in the CI/CD pipeline: Astra DAST or StackHawk.
- Enterprises with large web portfolios: Invicti, Burp Suite DAST or Rapid7 InsightAppSec.
- AI agents in place of legacy scanners: Escape or Bright Security.
Why misconfiguration is a DAST job
The OWASP Foundation's Top 10:2025 puts Broken Access Control at A01 and Security Misconfiguration at A02. Both are about how the live app behaves: who can reach which page, and how the server, headers and settings are set up.
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Those problems often aren't visible in source code at all, which is why testing the running app catches what a code scanner misses. Run DAST against a staging copy that matches production settings, or you'll be testing the wrong thing.
Automated scanning versus manual testing
Automated DAST runs the same checks every time, on every release, without anyone remembering to do it. It's how you catch the obvious mistakes quickly and keep catching them.
Manual testing finds the business logic flaws a scanner can't reason about, such as a discount applied twice or one customer seeing another's order. Most teams need both, with the scanner running constantly and people testing the risky features.
DAST tests the running app, while our static code analysis roundup covers the code level approach.
Checks before you sign with a DAST vendor
- Can it log in and test pages behind authentication?
- Does it test APIs as well as web pages?
- How does it avoid damaging live data during a scan?
- Can it run on every deploy in our pipeline?
- How are findings verified before they reach developers?
- Does it map results to the OWASP Top 10?
Scanning beyond web apps is covered in our vulnerability scanner roundup.
Clues your live app needs testing
- Security testing happens once a year. Scan every release.
- You've added APIs quickly. Test them from outside.
- A customer asked for a pentest report. Keep regular evidence.
- Settings differ between servers. Check each one live.
Do you make a DAST or web app security scanner? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
My plain advice on testing the running app
Start with a free scanner against a test copy of your site, so you know what basic findings look like before you talk to vendors. You'll ask much better questions in the demo.
Then decide who'll act on the results. A scanner nobody reads is a false comfort, and the wider habits in my guide to securing and protecting your website matter just as much as the tool.
Frequently asked questions
What does DAST stand for?
DAST stands for dynamic application security testing: testing a running application from the outside to find security flaws.
Are there free DAST tools?
Yes. Some scanners in this list are free and open source, and one commercial toolkit offers a free light version.
What does DAST find that SAST misses?
Problems in the running app, such as security misconfiguration and access control flaws that aren't visible in the source code.
What are the top two risks in the OWASP Top 10:2025?
A01 is Broken Access Control and A02 is Security Misconfiguration.
Can DAST test APIs?
Many DAST tools test APIs as well as web pages, so check API support with each vendor.
Should DAST run against production?
Run it against a staging copy that mirrors production first, then agree carefully what can be scanned live.
