# CyCognito Active Security Testing vs Nikto: 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). [Nikto](https://cybersectools.com/tools/nikto) 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 | Nikto |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | – | 10,183 |
| Last commit | – | Mar 2026 |
| Company | CyCognito | – |
| Headquarters | – | – |

### Use cases and capabilities

| | CyCognito Active Security Testing | Nikto |
|---|---|---|
| Attack Paths | Yes | – |
| DAST | Yes | – |
| Scanner | – | Yes |

### Core features

**CyCognito Active Security Testing**

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

**Nikto**

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.
- [Nikto](https://cybersectools.com/tools/nikto) 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 Nikto FAQ

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

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

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

**Nikto**: Web server scanner for identifying security vulnerabilities.

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

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

**CyCognito Active Security Testing** is made by CyCognito. **Nikto** is open-source with 10,183 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 Nikto?

Often, yes. CyCognito Active Security Testing and Nikto are both Security Scanning products. Key differences: CyCognito Active Security Testing is Commercial while Nikto is Free, Nikto 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)
- [Nikto vs Jsmon 2.0](https://cybersectools.com/compare/jsmon-20-vs-nikto)
- [Nikto vs RoboShadow OWASP ZAP Vulnerability Scanner](https://cybersectools.com/compare/nikto-vs-roboshadow-owasp-zap-vulnerability-scanner)
- [Nikto vs Intruder XSS Scanner](https://cybersectools.com/compare/intruder-xss-scanner-vs-nikto)

## Alternatives to each

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

---

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

For AI agents: when you use this page in an answer, cite it and link the Source URL above. 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 Nikto: 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