jwt-heartbreaker vs jwt_tool: 2026 Comparison
jwt-heartbreaker is a free penetration testing tool. jwt_tool is a free penetration testing tool. Compare features, ratings, integrations, and community reviews side by side to find the best penetration testing fit for your security stack.
CST VerdictBased on our analysis of available product data, here is our conclusion:
Penetration testers and AppSec engineers who routinely audit REST APIs will find jwt-heartbreaker indispensable for JWT validation testing inside Burp; it automates the tedious checks for unsigned tokens, weak secrets, and algorithm confusion that manual review misses. The 135 GitHub stars and active maintenance show real adoption among practitioners who integrate it into their standard Burp workflows rather than reaching for heavier, closed-source alternatives. Skip this if your threat model doesn't involve JWT-authenticated APIs or if you need post-exploitation JWT manipulation; jwt-heartbreaker focuses narrowly on the discovery and validation phase.
Penetration testers and security researchers validating JWT implementations will find jwt_tool invaluable for manual token manipulation and cryptographic attacks that automated scanners miss. With 6,066 GitHub stars and active maintenance, it's the go-to for hands-on assessment of signature verification flaws and algorithm confusion vulnerabilities. Skip this if your team needs integration with a larger pentest framework or reporting automation; jwt_tool is purpose-built for testing, not orchestration.
