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Cybersecurity · head to head

Acunetix vs Burp Suite

Acunetix logo

Acunetix

Cybersecurity

Web application security testing made easy

From
On request
Rated
-
Burp Suite logo

Burp Suite

Cybersecurity

The leading toolkit for web security testing

From
Free
Rated
-

The short version

  • Only Burp Suite has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Acunetix pricing available by quote only; no transparent pricing published online; Burp Suite the automated vulnerability scanner is Professional only, at $499; the free Community edition is manual tools
  • They diverge on capability: Acunetix covers DAST scanning, Burp Suite covers Web vulnerability scanner.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Acunetix and Burp Suite actually diverge.

Attributes where Acunetix and Burp Suite differ
AttributeAcunetixBurp Suite
Starting priceOn requestFree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsDesktop, Web, ApiDesktop, Api
Founded20052004

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Cybersecurity).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Acunetix

  • DAST scanning
  • IAST technology
  • AcuSensor
  • JavaScript security
  • SQL injection testing
  • XSS detection
  • OWASP Top 10
  • API security testing

Only in Burp Suite

  • Web vulnerability scanner
  • Proxy interceptor
  • Intruder
  • Repeater
  • Sequencer
  • Decoder
  • Comparer
  • Logger

Both cover

  • Jenkins
  • GitHub
  • GitLab
  • On-premise deployment

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Acunetix

  • Scanning web applications for security vulnerabilitiesnot Burp Suite
  • Testing APIs for exploitable weaknesses and threatsnot Burp Suite
  • Automating dynamic application security testing (DAST)not Burp Suite
  • Finding and validating security issues in production environmentsnot Burp Suite

Burp Suite

  • Manual web application penetration testing through an intercepting proxynot Acunetix
  • Automated scanning for web vulnerabilities on the Professional editionnot Acunetix
  • Extending testing with community-built BApp extensionsnot Acunetix
  • Enterprise-wide dynamic scanning through Burp DASTnot Acunetix

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Acunetix

  • Pricing available by quote only; no transparent pricing published online
  • Requires per-application licenses for comprehensive coverage
  • Scanning speed and feature depth depend on subscription tier
  • Advanced features like API security testing may require higher-tier plans

Burp Suite

  • The automated vulnerability scanner is Professional only, at $499; the free Community edition is manual tools
  • BApp Store extensions require the Professional edition
  • DAST and the agentic testing product are separate enterprise offerings with no published price
  • Professional is licensed per user per year rather than perpetually

Pricing, plan by plan

Acunetix

On request
  • StandardFree
    • Single user
    • 5 targets
    • Scheduled scans
  • PremiumFree
    • Multiple users
    • Unlimited targets
    • CI/CD integration
  • Acunetix 360Free
    • Enterprise features
    • SDLC integration
    • Custom workflows

Burp Suite

Free
  • Community EditionFree
    • Essential manual tools
    • Proxy
    • Repeater
  • Professional$449/year
    • All Community features
    • Burp Scanner
    • Advanced manual tools
  • Enterprise$6995/year
    • CI/CD integration
    • Scheduled scans
    • Role-based access

Which should you pick?

Choose Acunetix if

  • You need dast scanning.
  • You work on Desktop, Web, Api.
  • You also want iast technology.

Choose Burp Suite if

  • You need web vulnerability scanner.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Desktop, Api.
  • You also want proxy interceptor.

Questions people ask

Is Acunetix or Burp Suite better?
Neither clearly leads. Acunetix starts at On request and Burp Suite at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Acunetix or Burp Suite?
Burp Suite has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Acunetix and Free for Burp Suite.
Does Acunetix or Burp Suite run on more platforms?
Acunetix runs on Desktop, Web, Api. Burp Suite runs on Desktop, Api.
Can I use Burp Suite for free?
Yes. Burp Suite has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Acunetix starts at On request.
What is Acunetix best used for?
Acunetix is most often used for scanning web applications for security vulnerabilities, testing apis for exploitable weaknesses and threats, automating dynamic application security testing (dast), finding and validating security issues in production environments. Of those, scanning web applications for security vulnerabilities and testing apis for exploitable weaknesses and threats are not what Burp Suite is typically brought in for.
What can Acunetix do that Burp Suite cannot?
Acunetix covers DAST scanning, IAST technology, AcuSensor, JavaScript security. Burp Suite covers Web vulnerability scanner, Proxy interceptor, Intruder, Repeater. Both handle Jenkins, GitHub, GitLab, On-premise deployment.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Acunetix: How much does Invicti (formerly Acunetix) cost?

Invicti pricing is available by quote based on your organization's needs, application count, and required features. The platform offers 8x faster scanning compared to competitors and detects 99.98% of exploitable vulnerabilities. Contact Invicti sales for a custom pricing proposal.

Source
Burp Suite: Does Burp Suite offer a free version?

Yes, Burp Suite Community Edition is available free and supports manual testing. The page does not provide specific details on additional paid editions or their pricing.

Source
Burp Suite: What features are available in the free edition?

Burp Suite Community Edition supports manual security testing, though specific feature limitations compared to paid editions are not detailed on this page. Visit individual product pages for detailed tier comparisons.

Source
Burp Suite: Are paid versions of Burp Suite available?

Yes, PortSwigger offers Burp Suite Professional and Burp Suite DAST as paid products, though specific pricing and feature details are not available on the main product page.

Source
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