Introduction
Development teams shipping APIs face three critical security challenges: detecting OWASP API Top 10 vulnerabilities before production, integrating security testing into CI/CD pipelines without slowing releases, and monitoring runtime API behavior for attacks.
This comparison covers 5 platforms designed for developer workflows, examining their testing capabilities, CI/CD integrations, deployment models, and pricing structures.
Each platform approaches API security differently - some focus on developer-first testing, others on runtime protection, and several combine both. The goal is to help you select tools that fit your team size, tech stack, and security requirements.
1. Akto
Visit WebsiteKey Highlights
- Automated API discovery across traffic sources (proxies, load balancers, service mesh)
- Pre-built test library covering OWASP API Top 10, business logic flaws, and custom vulnerabilities
- Native integrations with Burp Suite, Postman, AWS, GCP, and Kubernetes
- CI/CD plugins for GitHub Actions, Jenkins, CircleCI, and GitLab with configurable failure thresholds
- OpenAPI spec generation and diff analysis for tracking API changes
1. Akto
Open-source API security platform that discovers APIs across internal, public, and third-party integrations, then automatically generates test cases for OWASP API Top 10 vulnerabilities. Supports REST, SOAP, GraphQL, and gRPC protocols with built-in CI/CD integrations.
Key Highlights
- Automated API discovery across traffic sources (proxies, load balancers, service mesh)
- Pre-built test library covering OWASP API Top 10, business logic flaws, and custom vulnerabilities
- Native integrations with Burp Suite, Postman, AWS, GCP, and Kubernetes
- CI/CD plugins for GitHub Actions, Jenkins, CircleCI, and GitLab with configurable failure thresholds
- OpenAPI spec generation and diff analysis for tracking API changes
2. Traceable AI
Visit WebsiteKey Highlights
- AI-driven behavioral analysis detecting anomalous API calls and attack patterns
- Built-in bot detection and fraud prevention for authentication and transaction endpoints
- API security data lake for historical analysis and threat hunting
- Automated response capabilities including rate limiting, IP blocking, and alert triggers
- Integration with WAFs, SIEMs, and incident response platforms
2. Traceable AI
Runtime API security platform using AI and machine learning for contextual threat analysis. Builds an API security data lake to detect anomalies, bot attacks, and fraud attempts across distributed API environments.
Key Highlights
- AI-driven behavioral analysis detecting anomalous API calls and attack patterns
- Built-in bot detection and fraud prevention for authentication and transaction endpoints
- API security data lake for historical analysis and threat hunting
- Automated response capabilities including rate limiting, IP blocking, and alert triggers
- Integration with WAFs, SIEMs, and incident response platforms
3. Wallarm
Visit WebsiteKey Highlights
- eBPF-based traffic capture with minimal performance overhead (sub-millisecond latency)
- Kubernetes-native with Helm chart deployment and automatic service discovery
- Real-time blocking of SQL injection, XSS, RCE, and OWASP API Top 10 attacks
- AI models trained on attack patterns to reduce false positives
- DevOps-friendly with Terraform provider and API for automation
3. Wallarm
API security and WAF platform using eBPF kernel technology for low-latency traffic inspection. Provides Kubernetes-native deployment with automatic API inventory, OWASP API Top 10 protection, and AI-powered endpoint security.
Key Highlights
- eBPF-based traffic capture with minimal performance overhead (sub-millisecond latency)
- Kubernetes-native with Helm chart deployment and automatic service discovery
- Real-time blocking of SQL injection, XSS, RCE, and OWASP API Top 10 attacks
- AI models trained on attack patterns to reduce false positives
- DevOps-friendly with Terraform provider and API for automation
4. StackHawk
Visit WebsiteKey Highlights
- Pre-configured CI/CD integrations with GitHub Actions, Jenkins, GitLab, CircleCI
- YAML-based configuration for defining API endpoints, authentication, and scan parameters
- Automatic baseline setting to identify new vulnerabilities vs. existing issues
- Built-in authentication handling for OAuth, JWT, session cookies, and API keys
- Jira, Slack, and ticketing system integrations for vulnerability reporting
4. StackHawk
Developer-first DAST (Dynamic Application Security Testing) tool specifically designed for API and web application testing in CI/CD pipelines. Integrates with GitHub Actions, Jenkins, GitLab CI, and CircleCI with pre-built workflow templates.
Key Highlights
- Pre-configured CI/CD integrations with GitHub Actions, Jenkins, GitLab, CircleCI
- YAML-based configuration for defining API endpoints, authentication, and scan parameters
- Automatic baseline setting to identify new vulnerabilities vs. existing issues
- Built-in authentication handling for OAuth, JWT, session cookies, and API keys
- Jira, Slack, and ticketing system integrations for vulnerability reporting
5. Escape
Visit WebsiteKey Highlights
- Business logic testing for authorization flaws, BOLA/BFLA vulnerabilities
- GraphQL introspection and mutation testing for schema abuse
- Multi-step attack chain simulation (authentication bypass, privilege escalation)
- CI/CD integration via CLI tool and webhook triggers
- Compliance reporting for PCI-DSS, SOC 2, and GDPR requirements
5. Escape
API security testing platform focused on business logic vulnerabilities and complex attack scenarios beyond standard OWASP checks. Uses GraphQL introspection and REST API mapping to test authorization flows and multi-step attack chains.
Key Highlights
- Business logic testing for authorization flaws, BOLA/BFLA vulnerabilities
- GraphQL introspection and mutation testing for schema abuse
- Multi-step attack chain simulation (authentication bypass, privilege escalation)
- CI/CD integration via CLI tool and webhook triggers
- Compliance reporting for PCI-DSS, SOC 2, and GDPR requirements
Conclusion
Selecting an API security platform depends on your development workflow and security maturity.
Akto offers the most developer-friendly experience with built-in test case generation and broad protocol support (REST, GraphQL, gRPC, SOAP), making it ideal for teams managing diverse API types.
Traceable provides the strongest runtime protection with AI-powered threat detection and fraud prevention, suited for production environments handling sensitive transactions.
Wallarm delivers the fastest deployment using eBPF technology and Kubernetes-native architecture, perfect for cloud-native teams needing immediate protection.
StackHawk focuses specifically on CI/CD integration with pre-built pipelines for Jenkins, GitHub Actions, and GitLab, best for teams prioritizing shift-left security.
Escape specializes in business logic testing beyond OWASP checks, valuable for complex API workflows.
For most development teams starting with API security, Akto and StackHawk offer the best balance of ease of use, CI/CD integration, and testing depth. Teams with mature security programs should evaluate Traceable or Wallarm for runtime protection capabilities.