# CyCognito Active Security Testing vs http-sniffer: 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). [http-sniffer](https://cybersectools.com/tools/http-sniffer) 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 | http-sniffer |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| GitHub stars | – | 193 |
| Last commit | – | Jul 2025 |
| Company | CyCognito | – |
| Headquarters | – | – |

### Use cases and capabilities

| | CyCognito Active Security Testing | http-sniffer |
|---|---|---|
| Attack Paths | Yes | – |
| DAST | Yes | – |
| PCAP | – | Yes |

### Core features

**CyCognito Active Security Testing**

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

**http-sniffer**

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 and you are an enterprise.
- [http-sniffer](https://cybersectools.com/tools/http-sniffer) 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 http-sniffer FAQ

Common questions when comparing CyCognito Active Security Testing vs http-sniffer for security scanning.

### What is the difference between CyCognito Active Security Testing and http-sniffer?

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

**http-sniffer**: A multi-threading tool for sniffing HTTP header records with support for offline and live sniffing, TCP flow statistics, and JSON output.

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

### Who makes CyCognito Active Security Testing and http-sniffer?

**CyCognito Active Security Testing** is made by CyCognito. **http-sniffer** is open-source with 193 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 http-sniffer?

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

## Related comparisons

- [CyCognito Active Security Testing vs Jsmon 2.0](https://cybersectools.com/compare/cycognito-active-security-testing-vs-jsmon-20)
- [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 Intruder XSS Scanner](https://cybersectools.com/compare/cycognito-active-security-testing-vs-intruder-xss-scanner)
- [http-sniffer vs Jsmon 2.0](https://cybersectools.com/compare/http-sniffer-vs-jsmon-20)
- [http-sniffer vs RoboShadow OWASP ZAP Vulnerability Scanner](https://cybersectools.com/compare/http-sniffer-vs-roboshadow-owasp-zap-vulnerability-scanner)
- [http-sniffer vs Intruder XSS Scanner](https://cybersectools.com/compare/http-sniffer-vs-intruder-xss-scanner)

## Alternatives to each

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

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

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 http-sniffer: 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