# AppCheck SPA Scanner vs w3af: side-by-side comparison (2026) [AppCheck SPA Scanner](https://cybersectools.com/tools/appcheck-spa-scanner) is a commercial [dynamic application security testing](https://cybersectools.com/categories/dast) solution by [AppCheck](https://cybersectools.com/companies/appcheck). [w3af](https://cybersectools.com/tools/w3af) is a free [dynamic application security testing](https://cybersectools.com/categories/dast) solution. Features, integrations, deployment and the company behind each one, side by side. Need the answer fast? [Best DAST Solutions for Business](https://cybersectools.com/shortlists/best-dast-solutions) picks PortSwigger Burp Suite DAST, Invicti DAST, Rapid7 InsightAppSec and 4 more. ## Side-by-side comparison | | AppCheck SPA Scanner | w3af | |---|---|---| | Pricing model | Commercial | Free | | Category | Dynamic Application Security Testing | Dynamic Application Security Testing | | Verified | No | No | | Deployment type | Cloud | On-Premises | | Company size fit | SMB, Mid-Market, Enterprise | Startup, SMB, Mid-Market | | GitHub stars | – | 4,852 | | Last commit | – | Jun 2020 | | Company | AppCheck | – | | Headquarters | – | – | ### Use cases and capabilities | | AppCheck SPA Scanner | w3af | |---|---|---| | DAST | Yes | – | | OWASP | Yes | – | | Web Security | Yes | Yes | | XSS | Yes | Yes | | SQL Injection | – | Yes | | Security Scanning | – | Yes | | Open Source | – | Yes | ### Core features **AppCheck SPA Scanner** 10 features listed. Sign in on the page to see them. **w3af** No features listed. ### Integrations **AppCheck SPA Scanner** 2 integrations listed. Sign in on the page to see them. **w3af** No integrations listed. ## Which one fits you Based on what each listing shows: deployment, company size, price and open source. - [AppCheck SPA Scanner](https://cybersectools.com/tools/appcheck-spa-scanner) fits if you want a cloud product and you are an enterprise. - [w3af](https://cybersectools.com/tools/w3af) fits if you need to run it on your own servers, you are a startup, you need a free product and you want an open-source product. ## AppCheck SPA Scanner vs w3af FAQ Common questions when comparing AppCheck SPA Scanner vs w3af for dynamic application security testing. ### What is the difference between AppCheck SPA Scanner and w3af? **AppCheck SPA Scanner**: DAST scanner for Single Page Applications using headless browser technology. Built by AppCheck. **w3af**: W3af is an open source web application security scanner that identifies over 200 types of vulnerabilities including XSS, SQL injection, and OS commanding in web applications. The table above shows where their features, integrations, deployment and company size fit differ. ### Who makes AppCheck SPA Scanner and w3af? **AppCheck SPA Scanner** is made by AppCheck. **w3af** is open-source with 4,852 GitHub stars. The vendor behind a product decides its roadmap, support, and longevity, so check each company's profile before you commit. ### Is AppCheck SPA Scanner a good alternative to w3af? Often, yes. AppCheck SPA Scanner and w3af are both Dynamic Application Security Testing products, and both cover Web Security, XSS. Key differences: AppCheck SPA Scanner is Commercial while w3af is Free, w3af is open-source. Use the table above to see where features, deployment and company size fit differ. ## Related comparisons - [AppCheck SPA Scanner vs Halo Security Application Scanning](https://cybersectools.com/compare/appcheck-spa-scanner-vs-halo-security-application-scanning) - [AppCheck SPA Scanner vs VulnSign Dynamic Application Security Testing](https://cybersectools.com/compare/appcheck-spa-scanner-vs-vulnsign-dynamic-application-security-testing) - [AppCheck SPA Scanner vs Probely (Snyk API & Web)](https://cybersectools.com/compare/appcheck-spa-scanner-vs-probely-snyk-api-and-web) - [w3af vs Halo Security Application Scanning](https://cybersectools.com/compare/halo-security-application-scanning-vs-w3af) - [w3af vs VulnSign Dynamic Application Security Testing](https://cybersectools.com/compare/vulnsign-dynamic-application-security-testing-vs-w3af) - [w3af vs Probely (Snyk API & Web)](https://cybersectools.com/compare/probely-snyk-api-and-web-vs-w3af) ## Alternatives to each - [See all AppCheck SPA Scanner alternatives](https://cybersectools.com/alternatives/appcheck-spa-scanner) - [See all w3af alternatives](https://cybersectools.com/alternatives/w3af) --- Source: https://cybersectools.com/compare/appcheck-spa-scanner-vs-w3af For AI agents: each product above has its own Markdown page (add .md to its URL, for example https://cybersectools.com/tools/appcheck-spa-scanner.md). Every CybersecTools shortlist is listed at https://cybersectools.com/shortlists.md. More on AppCheck SPA Scanner and w3af: funding, momentum, hiring and news, plus the full product and company record, are available through the Mandos MCP Server (paid plans), which connects to AI assistants: https://mandos.io/mcp?utm_source=cybersectools.com&utm_medium=compare-md