# AWS Security Agent vs Cognito Scanner: side-by-side comparison (2026)

[AWS Security Agent](https://cybersectools.com/tools/aws-security-agent) is a commercial [penetration testing](https://cybersectools.com/categories/pentesting-tools) solution by [Amazon Web Services, Inc](https://cybersectools.com/companies/amazon-web-services-inc). [Cognito Scanner](https://cybersectools.com/tools/cognito-scanner) 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

| | AWS Security Agent | Cognito Scanner |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Commercial | Free |
| Category | Penetration Testing | Penetration Testing |
| Verified | No | No |
| Deployment type | Cloud | On-Premises |
| Company size fit | SMB, Mid-Market, Enterprise | Mid-Market, Enterprise |
| GitHub stars | – | 109 |
| Last commit | – | Dec 2023 |
| Company | Amazon Web Services, Inc. | – |
| Headquarters | – | – |

### Use cases and capabilities

| | AWS Security Agent | Cognito Scanner |
|---|---|---|
| AWS | Yes | Yes |
| DAST | Yes | – |
| Enumeration | – | Yes |
| Privilege Escalation | – | Yes |

### Core features

**AWS Security Agent**

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

**Cognito Scanner**

No features listed.

## Which one fits you

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

- [AWS Security Agent](https://cybersectools.com/tools/aws-security-agent) fits if you want a cloud product and you are a small business.
- [Cognito Scanner](https://cybersectools.com/tools/cognito-scanner) fits if you need to run it on your own servers, you need a free product and you want an open-source product.

## AWS Security Agent vs Cognito Scanner FAQ

Common questions when comparing AWS Security Agent vs Cognito Scanner for penetration testing.

### What is the difference between AWS Security Agent and Cognito Scanner?

**AWS Security Agent**: AI-powered agent for automated security reviews and penetration testing. Built by Amazon Web Services, Inc.

**Cognito Scanner**: A Python script that performs security testing attacks against AWS Cognito services including account creation, user enumeration, and privilege escalation vulnerabilities.

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

### Who makes AWS Security Agent and Cognito Scanner?

**AWS Security Agent** is made by Amazon Web Services, Inc. **Cognito Scanner** is open-source with 109 GitHub stars. The vendor behind a product decides its roadmap, support, and longevity, so check each company's profile before you commit.

### Is AWS Security Agent a good alternative to Cognito Scanner?

Often, yes. AWS Security Agent and Cognito Scanner are both Penetration Testing products, and both cover AWS. Key differences: AWS Security Agent is Commercial while Cognito Scanner is Free, Cognito Scanner is open-source. Use the table above to see where features, deployment and company size fit differ.

## Related comparisons

- [AWS Security Agent vs Ridge Security RidgeBot OWASP Compliance](https://cybersectools.com/compare/aws-security-agent-vs-ridge-security-ridgebot-owasp-compliance)
- [AWS Security Agent vs Cobalt Offensive Security Platform](https://cybersectools.com/compare/aws-security-agent-vs-cobalt-offensive-security-platform)
- [AWS Security Agent vs Astra Pentest Platform](https://cybersectools.com/compare/astra-pentest-platform-vs-aws-security-agent)
- [Cognito Scanner vs Ridge Security RidgeBot OWASP Compliance](https://cybersectools.com/compare/cognito-scanner-vs-ridge-security-ridgebot-owasp-compliance)
- [Cognito Scanner vs Cobalt Offensive Security Platform](https://cybersectools.com/compare/cobalt-offensive-security-platform-vs-cognito-scanner)
- [Cognito Scanner vs Astra Pentest Platform](https://cybersectools.com/compare/astra-pentest-platform-vs-cognito-scanner)

## Alternatives to each

- [See all AWS Security Agent alternatives](https://cybersectools.com/alternatives/aws-security-agent)
- [See all Cognito Scanner alternatives](https://cybersectools.com/alternatives/cognito-scanner)

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Source: https://cybersectools.com/compare/aws-security-agent-vs-cognito-scanner

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

More on AWS Security Agent and Cognito Scanner: 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
