# Fortra BeSTORM vs w3af: side-by-side comparison (2026)

[Fortra BeSTORM](https://cybersectools.com/tools/fortra-bestorm) is a commercial [dynamic application security testing](https://cybersectools.com/categories/dast) solution by [Fortra](https://cybersectools.com/companies/fortra). [w3af](https://cybersectools.com/tools/w3af) is a free [dynamic application security testing](https://cybersectools.com/categories/dast) solution. Features, integrations, deployment and the company behind each one, side by side.

Need the answer fast? [Best DAST Solutions for Business](https://cybersectools.com/shortlists/best-dast-solutions) picks PortSwigger Burp Suite DAST, Invicti DAST, Rapid7 InsightAppSec and 4 more.

## Side-by-side comparison

| | Fortra BeSTORM | w3af |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Commercial | Free |
| Category | Dynamic Application Security Testing | Dynamic Application Security Testing |
| Verified | Verified | No |
| Deployment type | Hybrid | On-Premises |
| Company size fit | Mid-Market, Enterprise | Startup, SMB, Mid-Market |
| GitHub stars | – | 4,852 |
| Last commit | – | Jun 2020 |
| Company | Fortra | – |
| Headquarters | – | – |

### Use cases and capabilities

| | Fortra BeSTORM | w3af |
|---|---|---|
| DAST | Yes | – |
| Fuzzing | Yes | – |
| Black Box Testing | Yes | – |
| Protocol Analysis | Yes | – |
| Critical Infrastructure | Yes | – |
| SQL Injection | – | Yes |
| Web Security | – | Yes |
| Security Scanning | – | Yes |
| Open Source | – | Yes |
| XSS | – | Yes |

### Core features

**Fortra BeSTORM**

- Black box fuzzing without source code access
- Automated malformed input generation and injection
- Protocol and API security testing
- Vulnerability detection including buffer overflows and format string errors
- Support for a wide range of protocols and application interfaces
- Pre-release application security validation

**w3af**

No features listed.

## Which one fits you

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

- [Fortra BeSTORM](https://cybersectools.com/tools/fortra-bestorm) fits if you need both cloud and on-premises options and you are an enterprise.
- [w3af](https://cybersectools.com/tools/w3af) fits if you need to run it on your own servers, you are a startup or a small business, you need a free product and you want an open-source product.

## Fortra BeSTORM vs w3af FAQ

Common questions when comparing Fortra BeSTORM vs w3af for dynamic application security testing.

### What is the difference between Fortra BeSTORM and w3af?

**Fortra BeSTORM**: Black box fuzzer and DAST product for application security testing. Built by Fortra. Core capabilities include Black box fuzzing without source code access, Automated malformed input generation and injection, Protocol and API security testing.

**w3af**: W3af is an open source web application security scanner that identifies over 200 types of vulnerabilities including XSS, SQL injection, and OS commanding in web applications.

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

### Who makes Fortra BeSTORM and w3af?

**Fortra BeSTORM** is made by Fortra. **w3af** is open-source with 4,852 GitHub stars. The vendor behind a product decides its roadmap, support, and longevity, so check each company's profile before you commit.

### Is Fortra BeSTORM a good alternative to w3af?

Often, yes. Fortra BeSTORM and w3af are both Dynamic Application Security Testing products. Key differences: Fortra BeSTORM is Commercial while w3af is Free, w3af is open-source. Use the table above to see where features, deployment and company size fit differ.

## Related comparisons

- [Fortra BeSTORM vs Halo Security Application Scanning](https://cybersectools.com/compare/fortra-bestorm-vs-halo-security-application-scanning)
- [Fortra BeSTORM vs VulnSign Dynamic Application Security Testing](https://cybersectools.com/compare/fortra-bestorm-vs-vulnsign-dynamic-application-security-testing)
- [Fortra BeSTORM vs Acunetix Web Application & API Security](https://cybersectools.com/compare/fortra-bestorm-vs-acunetix-web-application-and-api-security)
- [w3af vs Halo Security Application Scanning](https://cybersectools.com/compare/halo-security-application-scanning-vs-w3af)
- [w3af vs VulnSign Dynamic Application Security Testing](https://cybersectools.com/compare/vulnsign-dynamic-application-security-testing-vs-w3af)
- [w3af vs Acunetix Web Application & API Security](https://cybersectools.com/compare/acunetix-web-application-and-api-security-vs-w3af)

## Alternatives to each

- [See all Fortra BeSTORM alternatives](https://cybersectools.com/alternatives/fortra-bestorm)
- [See all w3af alternatives](https://cybersectools.com/alternatives/w3af)

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Source: https://cybersectools.com/compare/fortra-bestorm-vs-w3af

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

More on Fortra BeSTORM and w3af: 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