Need to secure your web applications for SOC 2 or HIPAA but don't know where to start? Most automated web application security testing tools are expensive, complicated, or miss critical flaws. They spit out confusing reports full of false alarms, wasting your team's time.

Traditional penetration testing firms are the other extreme: slow and overpriced. You're stuck choosing between a cheap scanner that misses everything or a manual pentest that costs a fortune and takes weeks to schedule. This is a huge problem when you need an ASAP pentest for a compliance audit.

This guide cuts through the fluff. We'll show you the top tools and explain how to pair them with affordable penetration testing to find what scanners miss. At Affordable Pentesting, we deliver thorough, compliance-ready web app pentests in just a few days, starting at $3,999.

Manual Pentesting for Real Security

For organizations needing a deep, expert-driven assessment that automated tools can't provide, manual web application pentesting is the answer. This isn't just another scan; it's a hands-on evaluation by certified ethical hackers to uncover complex business logic flaws and critical vulnerabilities that scanners miss.

What makes this approach powerful is its focus on actionable intelligence. Instead of a noisy report, you get a clear analysis with practical steps to fix what matters. This is crucial for meeting SOC 2 penetration testing requirements, HIPAA, or ISO 27001. We combine expert manual testing with clear penetration testing pricing and fast turnarounds, giving you a real security audit without the high costs.

Our pentesters hold top certifications like OSCP, CEH, and CREST. We find what automated tools can't, like business logic errors, authentication bypasses, and complex injection attacks. This is the level of security testing required for a true security audit. Learn more about how to secure web applications to improve your defenses.

Visit Affordable Pentesting's Web App Pentesting Page

PortSwigger Burp Suite for Pros

PortSwigger’s Burp Suite is the go-to toolkit for security professionals. Its main feature is a proxy that lets testers intercept and mess with traffic between a browser and your application. This is essential for deep manual security testing.

It comes in two flavors: a Professional version for hands-on testers and an Enterprise version for automated scanning that plugs into development pipelines. While it's an industry-standard tool, it requires significant expertise to use effectively. It's what our expert pentesters use every day to find critical vulnerabilities.

Rapid7 InsightAppSec for Automation

Rapid7’s InsightAppSec is a cloud tool for automated Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST). It's designed to find vulnerabilities in live applications, simulating attacks without needing your source code. It’s a good option for teams that want a scalable, automated approach.

Its strength is testing modern, complex web apps. It integrates well with other tools, which is helpful for development teams. You can see how this works with other automated pentesting tools for streamlined security. The pricing is per application, which can get expensive if you have many apps to test.

Invicti for Enterprise Scanning

Invicti (once called Netsparker) is a big-league enterprise tool. It’s built for large companies that need to scan tons of web assets with minimal human effort. Its main selling point is "Proof-Based Scanning," which tries to verify vulnerabilities automatically to reduce false positives.

Invicti combines different scanning methods to get better coverage, which is useful for DevSecOps practices. It's a powerful but expensive solution focused on automation and scale, making it a better fit for large enterprises than for startups or SMBs needing affordable penetration testing.

Qualys Web Application Scanning

Qualys Web Application Scanning (WAS) is part of a larger security platform. If your company already uses Qualys for other security tasks, adding their web scanner can be an easy choice. It helps you find and scan all your web apps from one place.

The tool scans for common vulnerabilities and helps prioritize them. It’s a good fit for companies that want an all-in-one security dashboard. Pricing is quote-based, so it’s hard to know the cost upfront. You can learn more in this guide to web application scanning.

Tenable Web App Scanning

Like Qualys, Tenable’s Web App Scanning is an add-on for their existing security platform. If you already use Tenable for vulnerability management, this tool integrates smoothly. It provides a single view for both your infrastructure and web application risks.

Tenable WAS is a straightforward automated scanner that finds vulnerabilities in modern web apps. It’s a solid choice for existing Tenable customers who want to consolidate their security tools and simplify vendor management without needing a separate penetration testing service.

Detectify Uses Ethical Hackers

Detectify takes a different approach by combining automated scanning with knowledge from a community of elite ethical hackers. Its scanner is constantly updated with the latest real-world exploits found by this network. This helps find vulnerabilities faster.

The platform offers both surface monitoring to find forgotten assets and deep application scanning. This helps you secure not just the apps you know about, but also hidden ones. The pricing is public, which is a nice change, making it accessible for teams that need quick results.

Pentest-Tools for Quick Scans

Pentest-Tools.com is a browser-based platform with a collection of security tools. It's great for consultants or small teams who need quick results without a complicated setup. You can run scans for web apps, APIs, and network reconnaissance right from your browser.

The platform offers a free tier for basic scans and paid plans that unlock more powerful features. Its automation tools let you chain different scanners together, creating custom workflows. It’s a very efficient tool for teams focused on speed and value.

Intruder for Simplified Security

Intruder.io is a cloud scanner built for simplicity. It combines infrastructure monitoring with web app scanning, making it a versatile tool for teams needing to cover both. The goal is to make vulnerability management easy with a clean interface and proactive alerts.

The platform automates scans for new threats, helping teams stay ahead without a lot of manual work. It’s particularly well-suited for smaller security teams or companies that need a managed solution. Pentest pricing is based on how many targets you have, so it can scale with your needs.

StackHawk for Developer Workflows

StackHawk is a modern scanning tool designed for developers. It integrates directly into the software development lifecycle, allowing engineers to find and fix security issues before code goes live. This "shift-left" approach makes security a normal part of the development process.

Its pricing is based on the number of developers, not the number of scans, which encourages frequent testing. This makes it a great fit for teams practicing DevOps who want to embed security into their daily work. For MSPs looking for similar value, check out MSP pentesting.

OWASP ZAP is Free and Powerful

OWASP ZAP is a free, open-source tool from the Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP). It is one of the most popular free web application security testing tools in the world. It provides powerful automated scanning and a full set of tools for manual testing.

ZAP acts as a proxy to intercept and modify traffic, just like Burp Suite. It's ideal for developers and testers new to security because it's completely free. While it might need more setup than commercial tools, its feature set and zero cost make it an essential tool for any security professional.

AWS Marketplace for Easy Buying

AWS Marketplace isn't a single tool but a store where you can buy various security tools and services. It’s designed for companies in the AWS ecosystem to find and deploy software easily. Billing is consolidated into your regular AWS invoice, which simplifies procurement.

The marketplace is great for finding DAST products or specialized services without dealing with multiple vendors. While it's convenient, pricing isn't always public. It’s a good way to manage software spending if your organization is already heavily invested in AWS.

Get Affordable Pentesting That Works

Automated tools are a good first step, but they are not enough for compliance. To meet SOC 2, HIPAA, or ISO 27001 requirements, you need proof of in-depth testing that finds business logic flaws—the kind scanners always miss. This is where many companies get stuck, trapped between useless scans and overpriced traditional firms.

The best approach combines efficient automated scanning with the critical thinking of an experienced ethical hacker. This hybrid model gives you comprehensive coverage without destroying your budget. It’s how you pass a security audit and genuinely protect your application. An urgent penetration testing need for compliance doesn't have to mean overpaying.

You don't have to choose between speed, affordability, and quality. The right solution is a fast penetration testing service that uses tools intelligently and backs them with human expertise. For startups and businesses that need to satisfy SOC 2 pentesting requirements without the traditional six-figure price tag and month-long waits, there's a better way. Stop wasting money on tools that don't find real risks or firms that take too long.

Tired of worrying about compliance? Affordable Pentesting combines automated scanners with expert manual testing from our OSCP, CEH, and CREST certified professionals. Get a comprehensive, compliance-ready penetration test for a flat fee of $3,999. Visit our contact form on Affordable Pentesting to get a quote today.