# CyCognito Active Security Testing vs Dnscan: side-by-side comparison (2026)

[CyCognito Active Security Testing](https://cybersectools.com/tools/cycognito-active-security-testing) is a commercial [security scanning](https://cybersectools.com/categories/security-scanning) solution by [CyCognito](https://cybersectools.com/companies/cycognito). [Dnscan](https://cybersectools.com/tools/dnscan) is a free [security scanning](https://cybersectools.com/categories/security-scanning) solution. Features, integrations, deployment and the company behind each one, side by side.

## Side-by-side comparison

| | CyCognito Active Security Testing | Dnscan |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Commercial | Free |
| Category | Security Scanning | Security Scanning |
| Verified | No | No |
| Deployment type | Cloud | On-Premises |
| Company size fit | SMB, Mid-Market, Enterprise | Startup, SMB, Mid-Market, Enterprise |
| GitHub stars | – | 1,258 |
| Last commit | – | Dec 2024 |
| Company | CyCognito | – |
| Headquarters | – | – |

### Use cases and capabilities

| | CyCognito Active Security Testing | Dnscan |
|---|---|---|
| Attack Paths | Yes | – |
| DAST | Yes | – |
| DNS Security | – | Yes |

### Core features

**CyCognito Active Security Testing**

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

**Dnscan**

No features listed.

## Which one fits you

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

- [CyCognito Active Security Testing](https://cybersectools.com/tools/cycognito-active-security-testing) fits if you want a cloud product.
- [Dnscan](https://cybersectools.com/tools/dnscan) 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.

## CyCognito Active Security Testing vs Dnscan FAQ

Common questions when comparing CyCognito Active Security Testing vs Dnscan for security scanning.

### What is the difference between CyCognito Active Security Testing and Dnscan?

**CyCognito Active Security Testing**: Automated active security testing platform for external attack surfaces. Built by CyCognito.

**Dnscan**: Dnscan is a DNS reconnaissance tool that performs DNS scans, DNS cache snooping, and DNS amplification attack detection.

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

### Who makes CyCognito Active Security Testing and Dnscan?

**CyCognito Active Security Testing** is made by CyCognito. **Dnscan** is open-source with 1,258 GitHub stars. The vendor behind a product decides its roadmap, support, and longevity, so check each company's profile before you commit.

### Is CyCognito Active Security Testing a good alternative to Dnscan?

Often, yes. CyCognito Active Security Testing and Dnscan are both Security Scanning products. Key differences: CyCognito Active Security Testing is Commercial while Dnscan is Free, Dnscan is open-source. Use the table above to see where features, deployment and company size fit differ.

## Related comparisons

- [CyCognito Active Security Testing vs Domain Verity](https://cybersectools.com/compare/cycognito-active-security-testing-vs-domain-verity)
- [CyCognito Active Security Testing vs RoboShadow OWASP ZAP Vulnerability Scanner](https://cybersectools.com/compare/cycognito-active-security-testing-vs-roboshadow-owasp-zap-vulnerability-scanner)
- [CyCognito Active Security Testing vs Jsmon 2.0](https://cybersectools.com/compare/cycognito-active-security-testing-vs-jsmon-20)
- [Dnscan vs Domain Verity](https://cybersectools.com/compare/dnscan-vs-domain-verity)
- [Dnscan vs RoboShadow OWASP ZAP Vulnerability Scanner](https://cybersectools.com/compare/dnscan-vs-roboshadow-owasp-zap-vulnerability-scanner)
- [Dnscan vs Jsmon 2.0](https://cybersectools.com/compare/dnscan-vs-jsmon-20)

## Alternatives to each

- [See all CyCognito Active Security Testing alternatives](https://cybersectools.com/alternatives/cycognito-active-security-testing)
- [See all Dnscan alternatives](https://cybersectools.com/alternatives/dnscan)

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Source: https://cybersectools.com/compare/cycognito-active-security-testing-vs-dnscan

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

More on CyCognito Active Security Testing and Dnscan: 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