Top 10 API Security Testing Tools

API scanning tools or security testing tools are the best way to ensure that the APIs function as designed to offer adequate protection from harmful cyber attacks. However, the availability of many API security testing tools or API security scanning tools sometimes makes it challenging to pick the best one.

This blog explores the top API security scanning and testing tools available on the market, along with their importance and how they work.

Let's get started

What is an API Security Scanning Tool?

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An API security scanning tool is a software solution designed to identify and assess security vulnerabilities in Application Programming Interfaces (APIs). APIs are essential for enabling communication between different software systems, but they can also present significant security risks if not properly protected.

API scanning/security testing is the automated inspection of APIs to uncover vulnerabilities and security threats. This process involves analyzing each API endpoint to detect insecure configurations, misconfigurations, improper data handling, and other security flaws.

API scanning tools reduce security risks and facilitate proactive remediation by identifying vulnerabilities early in the development lifecycle. Given that APIs often handle sensitive data, breaches can lead to data theft, financial damage, and system compromise. Integrating API scanning tools into development and testing workflows ensures APIs are secure from the outset, minimizing security breaches and reducing remediation efforts.

Top 10 API Security Testing Tools

1. Akto - Comprehensive API Security and testing platform.

2. Cequence - API Security and Bot management solution.

3. APIsec - Automated API Security Testing Platform.

4. AppKnox - Mobile App Security Testing Solution.

5. BeSecure - Vulnerability Assessment and Management Tool.

6. 42Crunch - API Security scanning and testing tool.

7. Probely - Web Application and API vulnerability scanner.

8. Synopsys API Scanner - API Security scanning and testing tool.

9. IBM AppScan - Comprehensive Application security testing tool.

10. Postman – API development and testing tool with security features.

Here is the list of the top 10 API security scanning tools or API security testing tools that security engineers need to know about:

1. Akto

Akto ranks among the top API security testing platforms available today. The platform offers features such as API discovery and automated testing/scanning facilities. Akto analyzes data traffic robustly and runs various business logic tests to identify OWASP's 10 bugs. Its frictionless integration with platforms like AWS makes Akto an excellent choice.

Key Features

• Automatically discovers all APIs in the organization’s system.

• Conducts over 400 built-in security tests for vulnerabilities.

• Identifies and protects sensitive data exposed through APIs.

• Continuously monitors and manages the API security posture.

• Ensures robust authentication and authorization security.

• Seamlessly integrates into CI/CD pipelines for continuous testing.

Pricing

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Akto offers flexible pricing plans to accommodate various organizational needs:

• Free Plan: This plan is perfect for individuals or small teams looking to experiment with Akto's features or conduct light API security testing. It provides support for up to 25 API endpoints per month and allows 12,500 tests monthly. With limited scalability, this plan suits early-stage developers or organizations exploring API security without significant costs.

• Professional Plan: Targeted at growing businesses with moderate API security needs, this plan costs $490 per month. It accommodates up to 100 API endpoints and allows up to 200,000 tests per month. This tier includes features that help automate API security processes for mid-sized teams, offering a balance between affordability and functionality.

• Enterprise Plan: Designed for large-scale enterprises with complex and critical API security demands, this plan offers advanced customization options, enhanced scalability, and premium features. Although security engineers can request pricing for this plan, the plan is tailored to organizations that require extensive API testing capabilities and robust support.

2. Cequence

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Cequence Security is a specialized API security platform designed to detect and protect against various API threats. It stands out by leveraging machine learning and advanced analytics to identify API security risks and prevent malicious attacks. With Cequence, organizations can secure their APIs in real-time across diverse environments, including multi-cloud and on-premises infrastructures.

Key Features

• It uses behavioral analysis to detect anomalies and stop API abuse.

• Comprehensive protection against OWASP API Top 10 vulnerabilities.

• Scalable for enterprises and offers deep visibility into API traffic.

Pricing

Cequence Security does not publicly disclose specific pricing information for its Unified API Protection platform. The cost of its solutions can vary based on factors such as the organization's size, the number of APIs, and specific security requirements. To obtain detailed pricing tailored to organizational needs, contacting Cequence Security directly through its official website is recommended.

3. APIsec

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APIsec is another effective API security testing tool that offers automated services for extensive API analysis. Application security engineers can use the platform to discover, ingest, and analyze APIs, enabling the creation and execution of various custom attack scenarios against each application.

Key Features

• Supports both scheduled and manual API security tests, ensuring APIs are free from vulnerabilities.

• Tests various facets of an API, covering the OWASP API Top 10 and similar categories.

• Identifies security vulnerabilities early in the SDLC.

Pricing

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APIsec offers a range of pricing plans to accommodate various API security testing needs:

• Free Plan: This plan, designed by APIsec for single users, provides a cloud-only scanner with community support, allowing users to test their APIs at no cost.

• Pen Test Edition: APIsec has priced this plan at $325 per month for up to 100 endpoints. It includes a 30-day trial and offers features such as OWASP API Top 10 coverage, authenticated testing, and internal API scanning.

• Standard Plan: At $650 per month for up to 100 endpoints, this plan builds upon the Pen Test Edition by adding premium support and additional security testing capabilities.

• Pro Plan: For $2,600 per month for up to 100 endpoints, the Pro Plan includes all features of the Standard Plan, along with business logic testing, custom-branded reports, and integrations with CI/CD pipelines and API gateways.

4. AppKnox

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AppKnox offers a mobile-first approach to API security, focusing on identifying vulnerabilities within mobile applications and their APIs. Its easy-to-use interface allows even small security teams to conduct thorough vulnerability assessments without the need for complex configurations. AppKnox combines automated and manual API scanning techniques, providing detailed insights into security issues such as SQL injections, cross-site tracing, and command injections.

Key Features

• Supports automated and manual API vulnerability scanning.

• Identifies critical issues such as SQL injection, XSS, and command injection in HTTP requests.

• User-friendly dashboard with detailed vulnerability reports for rapid remediation.

Pricing

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Appknox offers flexible, usage-based pricing tailored to various organization’s needs. Their plans are categorized into Vulnerability Assessment (VA) and combined Vulnerability Assessment & Penetration Testing (VA+PT), each with distinct tiers:

• Essential Plan: Designed for teams initiating mobile application security, this plan provides a detailed assessment of a single app, including Static Application Security Testing (SAST), Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST), API Testing, and a comprehensive security report.

• Professional Plan: Ideal for organizations managing up to 20 apps, it involves all essential features, with added support for multiple teams and users, unlimited vulnerability assessments, role-based dashboards, scan analytics, and dedicated call and chat support.

• Enterprise Plan: Suited for businesses with extensive security requirements, this plan includes all Professional features, supporting a minimum of 20 mobile apps. The plan offers deployment options on private cloud or on-premise, customized white-labeled reports, integration with other platforms, and the addition of custom test cases with specified Service Level Agreements (SLAs).

5. BeSECURE

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BeSECURE by Beyond Security offers a comprehensive API security testing and vulnerability assessment solution. It is designed to help organizations continuously scan and assess their API ecosystem for potential threats.

With a focus on eliminating false positives and negatives, beSecure provides reliable, actionable results. The platform continuously monitors API traffic and helps prevent misconfigurations and security loopholes that attackers might exploit.

Key Features

• Provides excellent workflow capabilities for protecting APIs.

• Continuously scans network vulnerabilities in the organization's systems.

• Eliminates false positives and negatives for powerful API testing.

Pricing

Beyond Security does not publicly disclose specific pricing details for BeSECURE, as costs can vary based on factors like the size of the organization, the number of IP addresses to be scanned, deployment preferences (cloud-based, on-premises, or hybrid), and additional features required.

To obtain accurate and tailored pricing information, it's recommended to contact Beyond Security directly. They offer personalized quotes to align with an organization's specific security needs and infrastructure.

6. 42Crunch

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42Crunch, an API security scanning and security testing tool, helps to detect and test API vulnerabilities. Its key highlight is a robust API Security audit tool that primarily focuses on scanning and testing OpenAPI definition files.

The platform provides a comprehensive set of features for API security, including static analysis, dynamic testing, and runtime protection. Additionally, 42Crunch offers integration capabilities with popular development tools and CI/CD pipelines, making it easier for security teams to incorporate API security into their existing workflows.

Key Features

• Conducts a detailed API scan that automatically generates a report capturing several vulnerabilities, such as weak authentication mechanisms and data leakage.

• Offers dynamic API testing capabilities in addition to static analysis.

• Provides a comprehensive solution that applies to runtime protection and every step of the API lifecycle.

Pricing

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42Crunch offers a range of pricing plans tailored to different user needs:

• Free Plan: Designed for individual users, this plan provides up to 100 operation-level audits and 100 operation-level scans per month. This plan limits access to IDE integrations and excludes a platform account.

• Single User Plan: Aimed at individual users requiring higher usage limits, this plan offers up to 1,000 operation-level audits and 1,000 operation-level scans per month. Similar to the Free Plan, it operates through IDE access without a platform account.

• Teams Plan: Ideal for collaborative environments, this plan supports up to 25 users with unlimited quality, conformance, and security scans on up to 150 endpoints. It includes a platform account, enabling role-based sharing of APIs, and customizable security features.

• Enterprise Plan: Tailored for large organizations, this plan offers full flexibility on products and packages, starting from 20+ users and 250+ endpoints. It provides a dedicated platform account with customizable security audits, scans, and integration options.

7. Probely

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This API security testing tool helps to automate and scale security testing within software development and CI/CD (continuous integration, continuous development) pipelines. In addition to a user-friendly interface, the platform offers in-depth scanning capabilities.

Key Features

• Features an automated web API vulnerability scanner with robust API testing/scanning capabilities to detect several vulnerabilities.

• Provides advice on fixing vulnerabilities, allowing security engineers to solve various security issues.

• Offers powerful authentication support to quickly test and scan APIs.

Pricing

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Probely offers two primary pricing plans:

• Free Plan: Probely designs this plan for users who need basic security assessments. It includes all core features and allows for one target with up to five scan hours per month.

• Enterprise Plan: Tailored for organizations with more extensive security requirements, the Enterprise plan involves all features of the Free plan and adds advanced functionalities such as asset discovery, unlimited users, custom roles and permissions, internal target scanning via agents, integrations with tools like Slack and Jira, single sign-on (SSO), compliance reports, a dedicated account manager, and priority support. Probely customizes pricing for this plan based on specific organizational needs, and it encourages interested parties to contact Probely's sales team for a personalized quote.

8. Synopsys API Scanner

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Synopsys API Scanner is a powerful API security scanning and security testing tool that transforms how organizations build and deliver software. The tool aligns people, processes, and technology to address various software risks throughout different stages of the application lifecycle.

Key Features

• Maps out all paths and logic of an API, including parameters, endpoints, authentications, and specifications.

• Integrates seamlessly into the development process to provide secure and faster code.

• Manages application security, quality, and compliance risks at the speed the organization demands.

Pricing

Synopsys does not publicly disclose pricing details for these tools, as costs can vary based on factors like the size of the organization, specific requirements, and deployment preferences.

To obtain accurate and tailored pricing information, it's recommended to contact Synopsys' sales team directly through their official channels. They can provide a customized quote that aligns with the organization's needs.

9. IBM AppScan

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IBM AppScan is a comprehensive application security testing tool, known for its powerful API security testing capabilities. It is designed to automatically detect vulnerabilities in APIs, web applications, and mobile apps.

AppScan focuses on uncovering common vulnerabilities, including those listed in the OWASP API Top 10, and offers advanced scanning methods for both static and dynamic security testing. Its integration into development pipelines allows organizations to test their APIs during the entire software development lifecycle (SDLC), ensuring continuous security monitoring and early vulnerability detection.

Key Features

• Supports both static (SAST) and dynamic (DAST) API security testing to identify vulnerabilities.

• Detects and helps remediate OWASP Top 10 risks, including injection flaws, insecure authentication, and misconfigurations.

• Integrates seamlessly with CI/CD pipelines for continuous testing and security validation.

• Provides detailed reports with actionable insights for remediation, allowing security teams to prioritize issues based on risk levels.

Pricing

HCL AppScan, formerly known as IBM AppScan, offers a suite of application security testing solutions, including dynamic (DAST), static (SAST), interactive (IAST), and software composition analysis (SCA) tools. HCL AppScan does not publicly disclose pricing details, as costs can vary based on factors such as deployment model, specific modules required, and organizational needs.

To obtain accurate and tailored pricing information, it's recommended to contact HCL Software directly or request a quote through their official channels.

10. Postman

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Postman is primarily known as an API development tool, but its security testing capabilities have become increasingly robust. It allows developers and security teams to automate API testing with features like request automation, scripting, and dynamic variable handling. Postman can help identify security risks during API development by supporting integration into CI/CD pipelines, allowing for consistent and automated API testing throughout the lifecycle.

While Postman doesn't specialize in API security testing like some other tools, it offers enough flexibility for security and development teams to build custom security tests and validate the integrity of their APIs. It's ideal for developers who need both functional and security testing in a user-friendly environment.

Key Features

• Provides automated and customizable API testing.

• Supports integration with CI/CD pipelines for continuous testing.

• Ideal for functional API testing, but flexible enough to handle security testing scenarios.

Pricing

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Postman offers a range of pricing plans to accommodate various user needs:

• Free Plan: Postman designed the Free Plan for individuals or small teams of up to three members, providing essential API testing features at no cost.

• Basic Plan: At $14 per user per month (billed annually), this plan includes unlimited collaborators, cloud-based integrations, and increased limits on mock server and monitor requests.

• Professional Plan: Priced at $29 per user per month (billed annually), it offers private workspaces, role-based access control, and additional packages for larger teams.

• Enterprise Plan: For $49 per user per month (billed annually), this plan provides advanced security features, single sign-on (SSO), audit logs, and customer success support for organization-wide API development.

Importance of API Security Testing Tools

API security testing tools or API scanning tools have become essential in today's digital landscape, serving as critical components in protecting and validating API implementations. Here's why these tools are crucial for organizations:

1. Identifying Vulnerabilities

API security testing tools or API scanning tools play a pivotal role in uncovering weaknesses in APIs before malicious actors can exploit them. Common vulnerabilities include injection attacks, improper authentication mechanisms, misconfigured security headers, and sensitive data exposure.

These tools enable organizations to conduct comprehensive security assessments, pinpointing areas of concern. By proactively identifying and addressing vulnerabilities, organizations not only mitigate the risk of breaches but also strengthen the overall security of their systems.

2. Safeguarding Sensitive Data

APIs often handle highly sensitive information, including user credentials, payment details, and healthcare data. Security testing tools ensure that they robustly protect APIs against unauthorized access, interception, or breaches.

These tools help organizations identify weak points in data handling and storage processes by simulating attack scenarios and examining data flow. Industries such as finance, healthcare, and e-commerce particularly benefit, as maintaining the integrity and confidentiality of sensitive data is not only a best practice but often a regulatory requirement.

3. Ensuring Regulatory Compliance

Many organizations cannot negotiate compliance with data protection regulations such as GDPR, HIPAA, and PCI DSS. API scanning tools assist in aligning APIs with these regulatory frameworks by identifying gaps in security controls.

They provide actionable insights for addressing non-compliance issues, ensuring that APIs adhere to strict standards for data handling and protection. These tools power regular security audits, helping maintain compliance and minimize the risk of legal and financial penalties.

4. Streamlining Security With Automation

Modern API scanning tools or API security scanning tools leverage automation to streamline the testing process, making it faster and more efficient. These tools can integrate seamlessly into Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) pipelines, enabling developers and application security engineers to conduct regular security assessments throughout the development lifecycle. Automated testing reduces manual effort and accelerates the identification of vulnerabilities, ensuring that security is not an afterthought.

5. Building a Proactive Security Posture

Incorporating API security testing early in the development process fosters a proactive approach to risk management. These tools provide valuable insights into potential threats and allow development and security teams to implement necessary safeguards before APIs go live. A robust security posture not only minimizes the likelihood of breaches but also enhances user trust by demonstrating a commitment to protecting their data.

How Do API Security Testing Tools Work?

Understanding how API security testing tools function is crucial for implementing effective security measures. Let's explore the key components and processes that make these tools essential for protecting the APIs.

Understanding API Functionality

The foundation of API security testing lies in thoroughly understanding the API's functionality and its intended use cases. This involves delving into the API’s design, studying the documentation, and observing its expected behavior. This step ensures a clear baseline for testing by identifying how the API interacts with systems and users, setting the stage for targeted and effective testing strategies.

Creating a Testing Plan

With a clear understanding of the API’s functionality, the next step is to develop a thorough testing plan. This plan defines the specific tests to be conducted, with a strong focus on areas prone to vulnerabilities, such as authentication, authorization, data validation, and error handling. A well-structured plan ensures a systematic approach to uncovering potential security gaps while aligning with the API's operational goals.

Types of Testing Methods

API security testing employs several methodologies to identify vulnerabilities effectively.

• Static Application Security Testing (SAST) involves scrutinizing the API's source code without executing it. This method detects issues like insecure coding practices or logical errors that could lead to vulnerabilities.

• Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST), on the other hand, evaluates the API during runtime, simulating real-world attacks by sending various requests and analyzing responses to detect operational security flaws.

• Software Composition Analysis (SCA) scans third-party libraries and dependencies used in the API, identifying known vulnerabilities in the software stack.

• Interactive Application Security Testing (IAST) combines SAST and DAST by analyzing the source code while the API operates, providing insights into complex vulnerabilities that other methods might overlook.

Executing API Security Tests

The testing phase involves sending different requests—such as GET and POST—to the API endpoints. Security teams analyze the responses to detect anomalies, security flaws, or misconfigurations. This process helps identify issues like improper authentication, exposure of sensitive data, and other weaknesses that attackers might exploit.

Reporting and Remediation

After testing, API scanning tools generate detailed reports to highlight vulnerabilities and assess their potential impact on the API and associated systems. These reports guide developers and security teams in prioritizing and addressing critical issues. A clear and actionable remediation plan ensures that vulnerabilities are patched effectively, reducing the risk of exploitation.

Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) Integration

Incorporating API security testing tools or API scanning tools into CI/CD pipelines automates security assessments during development. This proactive approach ensures vulnerabilities are detected and addressed early in the lifecycle, minimizing costs and effort associated with late-stage fixes while fostering a culture of secure coding practices.

Ongoing monitoring

Modern tools offer continuous monitoring capabilities that allow organizations to keep their APIs secure post-deployment. By identifying new vulnerabilities stemming from code changes or evolving external threats, these tools help maintain robust API security over time, ensuring resilience against emerging risks.

What Features Should You Look for in an API Security Testing Tool?

When selecting an API security testing tool, it's crucial to find one that aligns closely with the organization's specific needs. A good API security testing tool or API security scanning tool should enable the efficient creation, execution, and management of comprehensive tests tailored to individual scenarios. Here are some key factors to consider when choosing an API security testing tool:

Ease of Use

The API Security testing tool should be user-friendly and intuitive, with a minimal learning curve, to ensure easy adoption by both the security and development teams. A well-designed interface with clear navigation and self-explanatory features can significantly reduce the time required for teams to become proficient with the tool.

Test Coverage

The tool should provide comprehensive test coverage, including checks for common API vulnerabilities, authentication issues, and data validation problems. It should be able to test various API endpoints, methods, and parameters to ensure a thorough security assessment.

Wide Protocol Support

The API security testing tool should be capable of supporting various API types, including REST, SOAP, and GraphQL, as well as common data formats like JSON and XML, to ensure compatibility with different API architectures and data structures.

Validation and Assertion

A robust API security testing tool should provide a reliable mechanism for validating API responses. This crucial feature involves verifying various aspects of the API's output, including status codes, data types, and expected behavior. By thoroughly examining these elements, the tool ensures that the API is functioning properly and returning accurate results.

Analysis and Reporting

The tool should be able to convert the abundant data generated by comprehensive testing into valuable insights by creating detailed test reports, logs, and visualizations that assist in analysis and issue resolution.

Extensibility and Customizability

The API security testing tool should provide options for customization as the product and requirements change. This can be accomplished through plugins, scripts, or custom code, allowing organizations to adjust the tool to their evolving needs.

How To Choose the Best API Security Testing Tool for Your Needs?

Selecting the right API security testing tool is crucial for maintaining robust API security. Here's a thorough guide to help application security engineers make an informed decision based on the organization's specific requirements:

1. Identify Your Security Requirements

The first step in selecting an API security tool is understanding the specific security requirements. Identify the types of APIs the organization uses, such as REST, SOAP, or GraphQL, to clearly define the scope of testing. Pinpoint the vulnerabilities organizations aim to mitigate, especially those highlighted in the OWASP Top 10, such as injection flaws or improper asset management.

2. Consider Integration and Compatibility

Compatibility with the existing development environment is critical when choosing an API security tool. The tool should integrate seamlessly with commonly used platforms and workflows, such as Postman or Burp Suite, to enhance efficiency.

Furthermore, evaluate how well the tool complements the API management solutions to ensure comprehensive security coverage across the API lifecycle. This alignment minimizes disruptions and streamlines the implementation process, allowing security teams to focus on effectively identifying and addressing vulnerabilities.

3. Analyze Cost vs. Budget

Balancing a tool's cost with its features and benefits is essential. Understand the pricing models offered by various tools, ranging from free or open-source options like ZAP to premium subscription-based solutions.

Perform a thorough cost-benefit analysis to determine if the tool’s capabilities, such as advanced threat detection or compliance reporting, justify the investment. Consider how these features reduce potential risks and enhance overall security to make an informed decision within the budget.

4. Review Vendor Reputation and Support

The tool vendor's reputation and the quality of support they provide are vital factors to consider. Investigate user reviews, testimonials, and case studies to gauge the tool’s real-world effectiveness.

Equally important is the availability of robust customer support, including resources like technical documentation, training materials, and timely updates. Reliable vendor support ensures that the security team can maximize the tool’s potential and address any issues promptly.

5. Conduct Trials or Demos

Before committing to a security tool, leverage trial versions or product demos offered by vendors to evaluate their suitability. Use this opportunity to test the tool’s usability, features, and functionality within the unique environment.

Assess how effectively it addresses the security needs, from detecting vulnerabilities to aligning with compliance requirements. A hands-on trial ensures application security engineers select a practical and efficient solution for their organization's API security challenges.

Final Thoughts

APIs can be an excellent way for security engineers today to give their users easy access to custom functionality in a tailored approach. However, APIs are prone to several common security vulnerabilities like traditional web applications.

Fortunately, several API security scanning and API security testing tools are available today to address this concern. This blog has shared some of the best API security scanning tools, such as Akto, to help organizations fight against cyber threats.

Akto is a powerful plug-and-play API scanning and testing platform that helps organizations secure their APIs in the development pipeline. It specializes in creating an inventory of APIs, detecting PII data leaks and misconfiguration, and continuously testing these APIs for business logic flaws like broken authentication with its extensive testing library.

To experience the benefits firsthand, book a demo with Akto today!

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