Security & Cybersecurity · head to head
Acunetix vs Burp Suite
Acunetix
Security & Cybersecurity
Web application security testing made easy
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
Burp Suite
Security & 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 aWS Marketplace lists Acunetix Online Premium, published by seller Invicti Security, at $7,000 per year for 5 targets under a 12 month contract, where a target is one fully qualified domain, website, web app, API or web service; 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.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Acunetix and Burp Suite actually diverge.
| Attribute | Acunetix | Burp Suite |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | On request | Free |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Platforms | Desktop, Web, Api | Desktop, Api |
| Founded | 2005 | 2004 |
Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Security & 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
- Vulnerability Scannernot Burp Suite
- Web Securitynot Burp Suite
- Dastnot 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
- AWS Marketplace lists Acunetix Online Premium, published by seller Invicti Security, at $7,000 per year for 5 targets under a 12 month contract, where a target is one fully qualified domain, website, web app, API or web service
- AWS Marketplace's Invicti listing shows Premium Support priced separately at $150,000 per year and Premium Support with Guided Success at $300,000 per year, on top of the base scanning licence
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 vulnerability scanner, web security, dast. Of those, vulnerability scanner and web security 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.