# Astra Pentest Platform vs Pacu: side-by-side comparison (2026)

[Astra Pentest Platform](https://cybersectools.com/tools/astra-pentest-platform) is a commercial [penetration testing](https://cybersectools.com/categories/pentesting-tools) solution by [Astra Security](https://cybersectools.com/companies/astra-security). [Pacu](https://cybersectools.com/tools/pacu) is a free [penetration testing](https://cybersectools.com/categories/pentesting-tools) solution. Features, integrations, deployment and the company behind each one, side by side.

## Side-by-side comparison

| | Astra Pentest Platform | Pacu |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Commercial | Free |
| Category | Penetration Testing | Penetration Testing |
| Verified | No | No |
| Deployment type | Cloud | On-Premises |
| Company size fit | Startup, SMB, Mid-Market, Enterprise | Mid-Market, Enterprise |
| GitHub stars | – | 4,883 |
| Last commit | – | Jul 2025 |
| Company | Astra Security | – |
| Headquarters | – | – |

### Use cases and capabilities

| | Astra Pentest Platform | Pacu |
|---|---|---|
| VAPT | Yes | – |
| DAST | Yes | – |
| Security Scanning | Yes | – |
| Lambda | – | Yes |
| AWS | – | Yes |
| Privilege Escalation | – | Yes |

### Core features

**Astra Pentest Platform**

10 features listed. Sign in on the page to see them.

**Pacu**

No features listed.

### Integrations

**Astra Pentest Platform**

3 integrations listed. Sign in on the page to see them.

**Pacu**

No integrations listed.

## Which one fits you

Based on what each listing shows: deployment, company size, price and open source.

- [Astra Pentest Platform](https://cybersectools.com/tools/astra-pentest-platform) fits if you want a cloud product and you are a startup or a small business.
- [Pacu](https://cybersectools.com/tools/pacu) fits if you need to run it on your own servers, you need a free product and you want an open-source product.

## Astra Pentest Platform vs Pacu FAQ

Common questions when comparing Astra Pentest Platform vs Pacu for penetration testing.

### What is the difference between Astra Pentest Platform and Pacu?

**Astra Pentest Platform**: Pentest platform combining automated scanning & manual VAPT with reporting. Built by Astra Security.

**Pacu**: Pacu is an open-source AWS exploitation framework designed for offensive security testing against cloud environments through modular attack capabilities.

The table above shows where their features, integrations, deployment and company size fit differ.

### Who makes Astra Pentest Platform and Pacu?

**Astra Pentest Platform** is made by Astra Security. **Pacu** is open-source with 4,883 GitHub stars. The vendor behind a product decides its roadmap, support, and longevity, so check each company's profile before you commit.

### Is Astra Pentest Platform a good alternative to Pacu?

Often, yes. Astra Pentest Platform and Pacu are both Penetration Testing products. Key differences: Astra Pentest Platform is Commercial while Pacu is Free, Pacu is open-source. Use the table above to see where features, deployment and company size fit differ.

## Related comparisons

- [Astra Pentest Platform vs GlitchSecure](https://cybersectools.com/compare/astra-pentest-platform-vs-glitchsecure)
- [Astra Pentest Platform vs AWS Security Agent](https://cybersectools.com/compare/astra-pentest-platform-vs-aws-security-agent)
- [Astra Pentest Platform vs RunSybil](https://cybersectools.com/compare/astra-pentest-platform-vs-runsybil)
- [Pacu vs GlitchSecure](https://cybersectools.com/compare/glitchsecure-vs-pacu)
- [Pacu vs AWS Security Agent](https://cybersectools.com/compare/aws-security-agent-vs-pacu)
- [Pacu vs RunSybil](https://cybersectools.com/compare/pacu-vs-runsybil)

## Alternatives to each

- [See all Astra Pentest Platform alternatives](https://cybersectools.com/alternatives/astra-pentest-platform)
- [See all Pacu alternatives](https://cybersectools.com/alternatives/pacu)

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Source: https://cybersectools.com/compare/astra-pentest-platform-vs-pacu

For AI agents: each product above has its own Markdown page (add .md to its URL, for example https://cybersectools.com/tools/astra-pentest-platform.md). Every CybersecTools shortlist is listed at https://cybersectools.com/shortlists.md.

More on Astra Pentest Platform and Pacu: 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