The Most Popular Penetration Testing Tools in 2023: 30+ Products to Support Your Pentesting Efforts this Year

Penetration testing is a crucial part of cybersecurity and involves finding and exploiting vulnerabilities in networks, apps, and systems before the bad actors can. There are many tools available on the market to assist pentesters, making it challenging to choose the best one. This article summarizes 32 popular penetration testing tools available in 2023, grouped into four categories: Scanners, Exploitation Tools, Penetration Testing Tools, and Reporting Platforms. Scanners, including vulnerability scanners and web app scanners, are automated systems that search for vulnerabilities in an organization’s infrastructure and programs. Exploitation tools are used to exploit flaws found by scanners, pentesting tools simulate attacks on computer systems and networks in order to identify vulnerabilities and weaknesses that could be exploited by real attackers, and reporting tools generate detailed reports on the results of penetration testing. 

Now let’s dissect 32 of the most popular penetration testing tools of 2023.

PlexTrac

PlexTrac is the premier penetration test reporting, collaboration, and management platform. PlexTrac improves efficiency and effectiveness so much so that ROI reported from PlexTrac users shows a 5X return on investment in one year, a 30 percent increase in efficiency, a 65 percent shorter reporting cycle, and a 20 percent time savings on engagements.

Category

Reporting Platform

Key Features of PlexTrac

• Access controls/permissions
• Activity dashboard
• Finding status tracking
• Alerts/notifications
• Asset tracking
• Asset/finding tagging
• Audit management
• Content management
• Artifact/evidence management
• Client portal
• Custom templating

Pricing

There are several elements that impact pricing, such as the number of users required, the deployment preferences, the desired modules, and the need for professional services regarding custom templates and reports. Interested users can contact the company on their website.

Background and Location

Dan DeCloss is the founder of PlexTrac. He has over 15 years of experience in cybersecurity, working in private sector consulting, including as principal consultant in penetration testing at Veracode. PlexTrac was founded in 2016 and is located at 816 West Bannock Street, Ste. 400 Boise, USA.

Nessus

Nessus is a proprietary comprehensive vulnerability scanner, designed to identify security issues on computers and networks. It is developed and maintained by Tenable Network Security and currently prides itself as the most trusted vulnerability assessment solution now featuring Infrastructure as Code (IaC) and External Attack Surface Assessment.

Category

Scanner

Key Features of Nessus

• High-speed asset discovery configuration auditing
• Target profiling
• Vulnerability identification
• Malware detection
• Sensitive data discovery
• Patch management
• Continuous monitoring

Pricing

The cost of Nessus for one year is $3,644.25, for two years is $7,106.29 with a savings of $182.21, and for three years is $10,386.11 with a savings of $546.64. The Advanced Support option, which includes 24×365 access to phone, email, community, and chat support, is priced at $430.

Background and Location

Renaud Deraison is the founder of Nessus and co-founded Tenable Network in 2002. His original creation, Nessus, was founded in 1998. Tenable Network has its headquarters in Columbia, Maryland, USA.

Burp Suite

Burp Suite is proficient in automated dynamic scanning, securing one’s entire web portfolio, integrating security with development, and freeing up time for appsec to perform more tasks.

Portswigger, the company behind Burp Suite, offers several different versions: Burp Suite Enterprise Edition, an enterprise-enabled dynamic web vulnerability scanner; Dastardly, from Burp Suite, a free and lightweight web application security scanning tool for CI/CD; Burp Suite Professional, the world’s top penetration testing toolkit; and Burp Suite Community Edition, the version most appropriate for someone just starting out in web security testing.

Category

Scanner

Key Features of Burp

• Manual application penetration testing features
• Advanced/custom automated attacks
• Automated scanning for vulnerabilities
• Productivity tools
• Extensions
• Interception proxy
• Spidering and Scanning

Pricing 

Burp Suite Professional is available for $449.

Background and Location

Dafydd Stuttard wrote the first version of Burp. Burp is now registered under the company, Portswigger, with its registered address at 6 Booths Park, Chelford Road, Knutsford, UK.

Nmap

Nmap is a free and open-source network exploration and security auditing tool used for network discovery, management, and security auditing.

Category

Scanner

Key Features of Nmap

• Host discovery
• Port scanning
• Version detection
• TCP/IP stack fingerprinting
• Scriptable interaction with the target

Pricing

Nmap is a free and open-source tool. However, it also has 12 pricing edition(s), from $7,980 to $98,980, if you intend to use the tool in a for-profit manner.

Background and Location

Nmap was founded by Gordon Lyon (also known as Fyodor Vaskovich). The Nmap project doesn’t have a physical location as it is a collaborative effort of a global community of developers and contributors who work remotely from different parts of the world.

Kali Linux

Kali Linux is a Debian-based Linux distribution designed for digital forensics and penetration testing. It is considered by many as the advanced penetration testing distribution and comes with a range of tools for ethical hacking and cybersecurity assessments.

Category

Penetration Testing Tool

Key Features of Kali Linux

• ARMEL and ARMHF support
• Multi-language support
• Full customization of Kali ISO
• Live USB boot
• Kali NetHunter
• Over 600 penetration testing tools pre-installed
• Developed in a secure environment

Pricing

Kali Linux is a free and open-source OS. 

Background and Location

Kali Linux was created by the security company Offensive Security and first released in 2013. Offensive Security is based in Wilmington, Delaware, USA. Kali’s predecessor was the BackTrack Linux distribution first released in 2006. 

Invicti

Invicti is an automated application security testing tool designed to help organizations to secure thousands of websites and dramatically reduce the risk of attack.

Category

Scanner

Key Features of Invicti

• Dynamic application security testing (DAST).
• Interactive application security testing (IAST) to continuously scan for web assets
• Supply chain testing or software composition analysis (SCA)
• Manual scanning tools
• Integrate with web application firewalls

Pricing

The pricing model charges per target site and allows unlimited users, roles, and privileges. Invicti doesn’t publicly disclose their pricing. The cost can vary based on the deployment method and additional tools selected.

Background and Location

Invicti was founded in 2018 by Ferruh Mavituna who brought together Webapp, Netsparker, and Websecurity platform, Acunetix. Invicti is located in Austin, TX.

Cobalt Strike

Cobalt Strike is a commercial, full-featured, penetration testing software used by security professionals to simulate advanced attacks and evaluate an organization’s security posture. It’s also a key part of Fortra’s comprehensive cybersecurity portfolio.

Category

Exploitation Tool

Key Features of Cobalt Strike

• Browser pivoting
• Spear phishing
• Attack packages
• Covert communication
• Post exploitation
• Reconnaissance
• Reporting and logging

Pricing

A new Cobalt Strike license costs $5,900 per user, per year.

Background and Location

Cobalt Strike was created by Raphael Mudge and his company Strategic Cyber LLC. The company is located in the United States but the exact location is undisclosed. The software was first released in 2011. Cobalt Strike was acquired by Forta.

Checkmarx

Checkmarx is a software security company that provides a comprehensive platform for code analysis and application security testing, helping organizations identify and remediate vulnerabilities in their software applications.

Category

Scanner

Key Features of Checkmarx

• Static application security testing
• software composition analysis
• Secure apis during development
• Dynamic application security testing
• Secure infrastructure as code
• Scan results correlation

Pricing

Checkmarx has not provided pricing information for their product. Contact Checkmarx to obtain current pricing.

Background and Location

Checkmarx was founded in 2006 by Amit Ashbel and Erez Gerlich, and its headquarters are located in Tel Aviv, Israel.

Core Security

Core Security by HelpSystems, which was recently acquired by Fortra, is a cybersecurity company providing solutions for vulnerability management, threat detection, and incident response. The company offers a range of products and services to help organizations secure their networks and protect against cyber threats.

Category

Exploitation Tool

Key Features of Core Security

• Vulnerability management
• Penetration testing
• Threat detection and response
• Identity and access management
• Compliance and risk management

Pricing

Core Security’s basic plan is $9,450 user/year while the pro plan is $12,600 user/year. For enterprise plans, users can request a quote from the company.

Background and Location

Core Security was founded in 2001 by a group of security experts and is located in the United States, with headquarters in Boston, Massachusetts.

BlindSPOT

BlindSPOT, from OnDefend is a service empowerment tool that assists teams in simulating attack activity consistently, collaborating with client blue teams, and providing visibility into the effectiveness of their security controls.

Category

Penetration Testing Tool

Key Features of BlindSPOT

• C2 Frameworks
• Custom payloads
• Breach & attack simulations
• Fast customer deployment
• Incident response services
• Saas & on prem options
• Easy partner onboarding

Pricing 

BlindSPOT has not provided pricing information for their product. Interested users can contact BlindSPOT at contact@ondefend.com, to obtain current pricing.

Background and Location

Chris Freedman is the Co-founder and CEO of OnDefend, a national cybersecurity firm founded in 2015 with its corporate headquarters in Jacksonville, Florida.

Qualys

Qualys is a software company that provides cloud-based quality management solutions to help organizations manage compliance, quality, and risk processes — from prevention to detection to response!

Category

Scanner

Key feature of Qualys

• Continuous monitoring
• Vulnerability management
• Policy compliance
• Vulnerability Identification
• PCI compliance
• Security assessment questionnaire, web application scanning
• web application firewall

Pricing 

Qualys has not made its pricing information public. Pricing depends on the user’s selection of Cloud Platform Apps, the number of network addresses (IPs), web applications, and user licenses. Interested users can contact the company at 1 (800) 745-4355.

Background and Location

Qualys was founded in 1999 by Philippe Courtot as one of the first SaaS security companies. They are headquartered in Redwood City, California, USA.

HCL AppScan

HCL AppScan is a vulnerability assessment and management tool that helps organizations identify and fix security vulnerabilities in their web and mobile applications. It uses automated and manual testing techniques to identify security risks and provides remediation guidance to improve application security.

Category

Scanner

Key Features of HCL AppScan

• In-depth, integrated application security solution.
• Improved visibility through integration.
• Reduce time and effort with Intelligent Finding Analytics (IFA)
• Security best practices through centralized management.
• Advanced reporting, governance and compliance capabilities.

Pricing

The pricing for HCL AppScan may vary based on the specific needs and requirements of an organization. To get a more accurate pricing estimate, it is recommended that one contacts HCL directly or request a quote through their website.

Background and Location

HCL AppScan was originally developed by the company named “AppScan, Inc.” which was founded in 1996. Later on, in 2011, HCL Technologies acquired AppScan, Inc. HCL Technologies is an Indian multinational technology company with headquarters in Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India.

Nexpose

Nexpose is a vulnerability management software by Rapid7 that helps organizations identify, assess and prioritize security threats across their digital assets. It provides actionable insights to remediate vulnerabilities and improve overall security posture.

Category

Scanner

Key Features of Nexpose

• Vulnerability scanning and assessment
• Asset discovery and management
• Threat prioritization
• Reporting and data visualization
• Integrated remediation guidance and workflow
• Integration with other Rapid7 security tools and solutions

Pricing 

The pricing for Nexpose by Rapid7 is not publicly available and can vary based on the specific needs and requirements of the customer. It is best to contact Rapid7 sales for more information on pricing.

Background and Location

Rapid7 was founded in 2000 while Nexpose was founded by HD Moore in 2005. The company is located in Boston, Massachusetts, United States.

Nipper

Nipper is a vulnerability scanner and auditing tool that analyzes network devices’ configurations to identify security risks and misconfigurations. It helps organizations maintain secure networks by providing detailed reports on potential security weaknesses.

Category

Scanner

Key Features of Nipper

• Configuration analysis for network devices such as routers, switches, and firewalls
• Identification of security risks and vulnerabilities
• Detailed reports on potential security weaknesses and misconfigurations
• Compliance checking against industry standards such as PCI-DSS
• Support for multiple network device platforms including Cisco, Juniper, and CheckPoint

Pricing

The pricing for Nipper vulnerability scanner is not publicly disclosed and may vary depending on the specific needs and requirements of the customer. Contacting the vendor directly or visiting their website for a quote is the best way to get an accurate pricing estimate.

Background and Location

Nipper was founded by Mark Stanislav and is currently located in Austin, Texas, USA. The exact founding date of the company is not publicly disclosed.

Pentera

Pentera is a cybersecurity company that provides technology solutions for data protection, identity management, and threat detection. The platform is adept at automating testing across all attack surface layers by safely emulating insider and outsider attacks.

Category

Penetration Testing Tool

Key Features of Pentera

• Identity and access management (IAM)
• Automated offensive security testing
• Continuous assessment
• Data loss prevention (DLP)
• Threat detection and response
• Compliance management
• API security

Pricing

Pricing for Pentera is not publicly available as it is typically customized for each customer based on their specific needs and the size of their organization. It is best to contact Pentera directly for more information on pricing and to receive a quote.

Background and Location

Arik Liberzon founded Pentera in 2015 together with serial entrepreneur, Arik Faingold. Pentera’s headquarters is located at Em Ha’Moshavot 94, Petah Tikva, Israel.

SCYTHE

SCYTHE provides an advanced attack emulation platform for the enterprise and cybersecurity consulting market aimed at automating the process of searching for vulnerabilities in websites and web applications. It helps security researchers quickly identify security flaws and potential risks in target systems.

Category

Penetration Testing Tool

Key Features of SCYTHE 

• Breach and attack simulation
• Continuous assessment
• Multi-threaded scanning for increased efficiency
• A large and constantly updated database of vulnerabilities and exploits
• Easy-to-use graphical user interface
• Ability to integrate with other tools and platforms for enhanced functionality
• Custom scripting support for advanced users

Pricing

Pricing for SCYTHE is not publicly available as it is typically customized for each customer based on their specific needs and the size of their organization. Contact SCYTHE directly for more information on pricing and to receive a quote.

Background and Location

SCYTHE was developed in 2017 by a cybersecurity company based in Arlington, Virginia, USA.

OpenVAS

OpenVAS is an open-source vulnerability scanner that helps to identify potential security threats in networks and applications. It uses a database of known vulnerabilities and security checks to scan for potential issues and provides detailed reports for remediation.

Category

Scanner

Key Features of OpenVAS

• Open-source and free
• Regularly updated vulnerability database
• Multi-platform support (Windows, macOS, Linux)
• Distributed scanning
• Asset discovery
• Vulnerability identification
• Detailed reporting
• Plug-in architecture for custom security checks
• User management and access control

Pricing

OpenVAS is open-source software, which means it is free to use and distribute. There are no licensing costs or fees associated with using OpenVAS. However, users may need to invest in hardware, software, and support services if they want to set up and run an instance of OpenVAS themselves. Alternatively, commercial companies may offer OpenVAS-based services or support, and these may be subject to fees or charges.

Background and Location

OpenVAS was founded by the German company Greenbone Networks GmbH. The company was established in 2007 and is based in Meerbusch, Germany.

NodeZero

NodeZero is a security-focused Linux distribution based on the popular Ubuntu Linux distribution. It comes pre-installed with a range of security tools, including network and vulnerability scanners, forensics tools, and intrusion detection systems. The goal of NodeZero is to provide a single, easy-to-use platform for penetration testing and network security assessments.

Category

Scanner, Penetration Testing Tool

Key Features of NodeZero

• Based on Ubuntu Linux for stability and compatibility
• Pre-installed with a range of security tools, including network and vulnerability scanners, forensics tools, and intrusion detection systems
• User-friendly interface for managing security tools and configurations
• Regular security updates and bug fixes
• Support for multiple languages
• Lightweight and easy to use

Pricing

NodeZero is open-source software, which means it is free to use and distribute. There are no licensing costs or fees associated with using NodeZero. However, users may need to invest in hardware, software, and support services if they want to set up and run an instance of NodeZero themselves. Alternatively, commercial companies may offer NodeZero-based services or support, and these may be subject to fees or charges.

Background and Location

NodeZero was founded by a team of security professionals and open-source enthusiasts. The exact founding date and location of the project are not publicly disclosed.

Snyk

Snyk is a software security platform that helps developers find and fix vulnerabilities in open-source packages and containers, as well as monitor for new security issues — all in minutes.

Category

Scanner

Key Features of Snyk

• Vulnerability scanning for open-source packages and containers
• Remediation advice and automatic fixing of vulnerabilities
• Monitoring for new security issues in dependencies
• Integration with popular development tools and CI/CD pipelines
• Collaboration and reporting capabilities for development teams.

Pricing

Snyk offers a free plan for personal projects and open-source packages and paid plans for commercial use with varying features and pricing based on the size of the organization and specific security needs. Enterprise pricing is available upon request. Additional services such as training, support, and managed services are also offered for an additional fee. You can find more details about Snyk pricing on their website.

Background and Location

Snyk was founded in 2015 by Guy Podjarny, Danny Grander, and Gil Weinberg. The company is headquartered in Boston, USA, with additional offices in London and Tel Aviv.

Tenable IO

Tenable IO is a vulnerability management platform that provides continuous visualization, analytics, and measurement solutions to transform vulnerability data into meaningful insights.

Category

Scanner

Key Features of Tenable IO

• Activity dashboard
• Alerts/notifications
• Application security
• Container scanning
• Continuous integration
• Customizable reports
• Data visualization
• Incident management

Pricing

Tenable IO pricing is based on the specific features and services that a customer requires. There is no one set price for Tenable IO as the cost will depend on the scale of the deployment and the level of support that the customer needs. To get a more accurate estimate, it’s recommended to contact the Tenable sales team to discuss your specific use case and requirements.

Background and Location

Tenable, Inc. was founded in 2002 by Renaud Deraison and Gideon T. Wol Coburn. The company is headquartered in Columbia, Maryland, USA.

Veracode

Trusted by 2,600 companies globally, Veracode is a leading provider of application security solutions that helps organizations secure their software applications from threats and vulnerabilities. The platform was designed to protect the entire software lifecycle, not just after code is built.

Category

Scanner 

Key Features of Veracode

• Static and dynamic analysis (SAST/DAST)
• Software composition analysis (SCA)
• Web application security testing
• Mobile application security testing
• Application security management
• Penetration testing
• Interactive analysis

Pricing

Veracode pricing is based on the scope and complexity of an organization’s application security needs. They offer both on-demand and enterprise pricing models, with costs varying depending on the number of applications, number of scans, and level of support required. Contact Veracode directly for a personalized quote.

Founder and Location

Veracode was founded in 2006 and is headquartered in Burlington, Massachusetts, USA. The company was founded by Chris Wysopal, Christien Rioux, and Arthur Hildyard.

Intruder.io

Intruder.io is a web-based vulnerability scanning tool that performs automated security assessments on websites and web applications to identify potential security vulnerabilities. It allows organizations to identify and remediate security risks before they can be exploited by attackers.

Category

Scanner

Key Features of Intruder.io

• Automated scans for common vulnerabilities, such as SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), and cross-site request forgery (CSRF)
• Customizable payloads and attack techniques
• Real-time monitoring and reporting of security events
• Integration with popular security tools and frameworks
• Support for multiple scan targets and concurrent scanning

Pricing

Intruder.io offers three pricing plans: Essential starting from $108/month, Pro starting from $180/month, and Verified starting from $450/month.

Background and Location

Intruder.io was founded by Chris Wallis in 2015 and has gone ahead to receive multiple accolades, including GCHQ’s Cyber Accelerator. The company is located in London, UK.

BeEF

BeEF (Browser Exploitation Framework) is a browser exploitation framework that enables attackers to assess and exploit vulnerabilities in target browsers. It provides a comprehensive platform for penetration testers and security researchers to demonstrate the impact of browser-based vulnerabilities.

Category

Exploitation Tool

Key Features of BeEF

• Modular architecture
• Cross-browser compatibility
• Keystroke logging
• Browser proxying
• Integration with Metasploit
• Hooking through QR codes
• Phonegap modules
• Plugin detection

Pricing

BeEF is open source software and is freely available to use. It can be downloaded and installed on a local system at no cost. However, support, training, and custom development services may be offered by the development team or authorized partners for a fee.

Background and Location

BeEF was founded by Wade Alcorn, the NGS Security’s general manager for Asia Pacific, led by Christian Fricho, leader of the Perth Open Web Application Security Project and Michelle Orru, a vulnerability researcher and social engineer. The exact founding date of BeEF is not publicly disclosed

Acunetix

Acunetix, by Invicti Security, is a web vulnerability scanner that automatically tests and identifies security weaknesses in web applications, websites, and network infrastructure.

Category

Scanner

Key Features of Acunetix

• Identifies security vulnerabilities in web applications
• Detects a wide range of vulnerabilities
• Can scan websites with authentication mechanisms
• Suitable for security professionals, developers, and website owners
• Available as both on-premise and cloud-based solutions.

Pricing

Pricing for Acunetix is not publicly available as it is typically customized for each customer based on their specific needs and the size of their organization. It is best to contact Acunetix directly for more information on pricing and to receive a quote.

Background and Location

Acunetix was created in 2005 at the very beginning of the transition from static web pages to true web applications. Parent company Invicti was founded in 2018 by Ferruh Mavituna who brought together Webapp, Netsparker, and Websecurity platform, Acunetix. Invicti is located in Austin, TX.

W3af

W3af, short for Web Application Attack and Audit Framework, is an open-source web application security scanner tool designed to identify and exploit vulnerabilities in web applications. It supports various attack methods and helps in performing automated penetration testing.

Category

Scanner; Exploitation Tool

Key Features of W3af

• A user-friendly interface for managing and monitoring the scanning process
• The ability to perform both active and passive scans
• Integration with multiple third-party tools and plugins for enhanced functionality
• The ability to generate detailed reports on the results of scans
• HTTP basic and digest authentication
• Useragent faking
• Add custom headers to requests
• File upload using multipart

Pricing

W3af is an open-source web application security scanner, and as such it has no cost associated with it. The software can be freely downloaded and used by anyone.

Background and Location

W3af was founded in 2006 by Andres Riancho after many years of development by the community. In July 2010, w3af announced its sponsorship and partnership with Rapid7.

Wireshark

Wireshark is a free and open-source network protocol analyzer used for network troubleshooting, analysis, software, and communications protocol development.

Category

Penetration Testing Tool

Key Features of Wireshark

• Deep inspection of hundreds of protocols, with more being added all the time
• Live capture and offline analysis
• Standard three-pane packet browser
• Multi-platform: Runs on Windows, Linux, OS X, FreeBSD, NetBSD, and many others
• Captured network data can be browsed via a GUI, or via the TTY-mode TShark utility
• The most powerful display filters in the industry
• Rich voIP analysis

Pricing

Wireshark is open source software and is free to use. It does not have a commercial version or any kind of paid subscription. However, donations to the project are appreciated to help support its ongoing development and maintenance

Background and Location

Wireshark was founded in 1998 by Gerald Combs while he was a student at the University of Illinois. The original development was based in the United States, and the project has since grown to include a large international community of contributors and users. Wireshark is now maintained by the Wireshark Development Team.

John the Ripper

John the Ripper is a free, open-source password cracking tool designed to perform dictionary and brute-force attacks on encrypted passwords. It supports multiple encryption algorithms and runs on various platforms.

Category

Exploitation Tool

Key Features of John the Ripper

• Supports various operating systems, including Unix, Windows, macOS, and others.
• Can crack passwords using a variety of attack modes, including dictionary attacks, brute force attacks, and hybrid attacks that combine the two.
• Has a built-in password cracker for many file formats, including ZIP, RAR, PDF, and others.
• Supports multiple encryption types, including DES, MD5, SHA-1, and others.
• Can be run on a distributed network of computers for faster password cracking.
• Allows users to create custom wordlists for dictionary attacks.
• Can be used to detect weak passwords and improve password policies.
• Supports multi-core processors and GPUs for faster cracking speed.
• Can be used for both offline and online password cracking.

Pricing

John the Ripper is a free and open-source tool, meaning that it is available for use at no cost. There is no pricing associated with the tool.

Background and Location

John the Ripper was originally developed by Alexander Peslyak, also known by his handle Solar Designer, in 1996.

Cain and Abel

Cain and Abel is a password recovery and cracking tool for Microsoft Windows. It uses various methods such as dictionary attacks, brute force, and cryptanalysis to recover passwords and other encrypted data. It is widely used by penetration testers and security professionals.

Category

Exploitation Tool

Key Features of Cain and Abel

• Password recovery
• Cryptanalysis
• Multiple attack methods
• Network analysis
• Easy-to-use interface
• Supports Windows
• Revealing password boxes
• Uncovering cached passwords
• Dumping protected storage passwords

Pricing

Cain and Abel is an open-source tool; hence, it’s completely free to use.

Background and Location

Cain and Abel was released in the year 2014. The developers of the software are Massimiliano Montoro and Sean Babcock.

Hashcat

Hashcat is a password cracking tool that uses brute-force or dictionary attack to recover lost passwords. It supports various types of hash algorithms and is highly optimized for speed and efficiency.

Category

Exploitation Tool

Key Features of Hashcat

• World’s fastest password cracker
• World’s first and only in-kernel rule engine
• Open-source (MIT License)
• Multi-OS (Linux, Windows and macOS)
• Multi-platform (CPU, GPU, APU, etc. — everything that comes with an OpenCL runtime)
• Multi-hash (cracking multiple hashes at the same time)
• Multi-devices (utilizing multiple devices in same system)
• Multi-device-types (utilizing mixed device types in same system)

Pricing

Hashcat is open-source software and is available for free. However, users may choose to donate to the project or purchase a commercial license for some advanced features and support.

Background and Location

Hashcat was founded by Jens ‘atom’ Steuben and Gabriele ‘matrix’ Gristina. Its Stable release dates back to November 2021.

Hydra

Hydra (also known as THC Hydra) is a tool for guessing network logins, which is available on multiple operating systems including Kali Linux, Parrot, and other penetration testing platforms. It uses parallelized brute-force attacks to guess the correct username and password combination.

Category

Exploitation Tool

Key Features of THC Hydra

• Parallelized login attempts to speed up guessing process
• Supports various protocols, including Telnet, FTP, HTTP, HTTPS, SMB, etc.
• Ability to perform dictionary and brute-force attacks
• Customizable attack settings for specifying target IP, port, username, password, and more
• Support for stealth scanning and SOCKS

Pricing

THC Hydra is open-source software and therefore is free to use. There are no fees or costs associated with using the tool. However, it is important to note that using this tool for malicious purposes is illegal and could result in serious consequences.

Background and Location

Hydra was created by Marc van Hauser. The first version of Hydra was released in the early 2000s and has since been updated and maintained by a community of developers. Hydra is an open-source project and does not have a central organization or headquarters.

Zed Attack Proxy

The Open Worldwide Application Security Project (OWASP) Zed Attack Proxy (ZAP) is an open-source security tool for web applications that helps find security vulnerabilities and aids in penetration testing. It provides an automated and easy-to-use interface for finding and exploiting common web application security flaws.

Category

Scanner, Penetration Testing Tool

Key Features of Zed Attack Proxy

• Passive scanner
• Automated scanner
• Multi-platform support
• Port identification
• Intercepting proxy
• Directory searching
• Brute force attack
• Web crawler
• Interactive penetration testing

Pricing

Zed Attack Proxy (ZAP) is open-source software and is available for free. There are no licensing fees or costs associated with using ZAP.

Background and Location

ZAP was founded in 2011 by Simon Bennetts and is maintained by the OWASP (Open Web Application Security Project) Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting and advocating for secure coding practices and the development of secure software. The OWASP Foundation is headquartered in San Francisco, California, USA.

Choosing the Best Pentesting Tool for Your Business

Choosing the right penetration testing tool for your business is critical to ensuring the security of your network, apps, and systems. It’s essential to consider factors such as  capabilities, pricing, and reporting, Os capabilities and customization of the company when choosing a tool. 

Capability

When evaluating pentesting tools, it’s important to consider a number of factors to ensure you choose a tool with the capabilities you need. Here are some key considerations: scanning capabilities, vulnerability detection, exploitation, reporting and automation. 

Pricing

When choosing pentesting tools based on pricing, it’s important to consider the following factors:

• Cost vs. value — Don’t just focus on the price of the tool, but also on the value it provides in terms of features, performance, and accuracy.
• Scalability — Consider whether the tool is scalable enough to accommodate your needs as your organization grows and changes.
• Compatibility — Ensure that the tool is compatible with your existing systems, network, and software.
• Support and maintenance — Look for tools that offer reliable customer support and maintenance to ensure that you can quickly resolve any issues that may arise.
• Hidden costs — Be aware of any hidden costs, such as licensing fees, training costs, or ongoing subscription fees that may impact your budget in the long run.
• Trial period — Take advantage of any free trial period offered by the vendor to test the tool and evaluate whether it meets your requirements before committing to purchase.

Reporting

When choosing a pentesting tool with great reporting, it’s important to consider factors such as customization, automation, report format, level of detail, export options, integration with other tools, and usability.

The best tool will meet your specific needs and requirements and provide comprehensive, easy-to-understand reports that can be customized and shared with stakeholders in a variety of formats. It’s important to choose a tool that meets your specific needs and requirements, taking into account factors such as the scope of your testing, the size of your network or application, and your budget.

OS Capabilities

When choosing a pentesting tool with the best operating system (OS) capabilities, there are several factors to consider including operating system support, automation, scalability, user interface, customization, reporting, price and community and support. Ultimately, the best pentesting tool for you will depend on your specific needs and requirements. It’s recommended to research and evaluate different options to find the one that best suits your needs.

Customization

When looking for penetration testing tools with the best customization, you should consider the following factors: custom scripting capabilities, API availability, modularity, configuration options, plugins and extensions, community support and documentation. By considering these factors, you can find a penetration testing tool that is flexible and customizable enough to meet your specific needs. The best tool for you will depend on your specific needs and requirements, so be sure to research each of these tools in more detail to determine which one is right for you.

Summary

We have explored 32 popular penetration testing tools for 2023. The tools are divided into four general categories: Scanners, Exploitation Tools, Penetration Testing Tools, and Reporting Platforms. Scanners include vulnerability scanners and web app scanners, and they search for vulnerabilities in an organization’s infrastructure and programs. Exploitation tools exploit flaws found by scanners, while penetration testing tools simulate attacks on computer systems and networks to identify vulnerabilities that could be exploited by attackers. Reporting tools generate detailed reports on the results of penetration testing. One of the popular penetration test reporting platforms discussed is PlexTrac, which improves efficiency and effectiveness in penetration testing reporting, collaboration, and management. We also explored the best pentesting tools based on capabilities, pricing, reporting, OS capabilities, and customization.