Weighing other options? See the best DAST solutions for 2026 and open source DAST tools.
The short version
SecureSlate and Acunetix both scan running web applications from the outside, the way an attacker would. Acunetix is a specialist dynamic application security testing (DAST) tool. It crawls complex applications, authenticates into them, tests APIs, and probes for injection flaws and other exploitable weaknesses. SecureSlate is a compliance and security platform whose DAST continuously monitors your domains and subdomains, then ties each finding to the controls your SOC 2 or ISO 27001 auditor reviews.
- Choose SecureSlate if you need continuous external monitoring of your domains as part of a compliance program, alongside code, secrets, and cloud scanning, at a published price.
- Choose Acunetix if you need deep, authenticated testing of complex web applications and APIs for injection and logic flaws, run by a security or AppSec team.
- The honest split: SecureSlate covers the whole program around the scan, from code to cloud to audit evidence. Acunetix goes deeper on web application scanning alone. Details below, including where Acunetix wins.
How we compare these platforms
This comparison is published by SecureSlate, so read it with that in mind. Capability is rated in three states:
| Rating | What it means |
|---|---|
| 🟢 | Built in and usable without add-ons |
| 🟠 | Present but limited or partial, or dependent on tier or a separate module |
| 🔴 | Not available natively |
- Acunetix gets credit where it earns it. Categories where Acunetix is stronger are named in the tables and collected in one section.
- Pricing is directional. Acunetix is quote-based. Verify against a written proposal.
- Claims map to documentation. SecureSlate capabilities link to product or documentation pages you can check.
SecureSlate vs Acunetix at a glance
| Category | SecureSlate | Acunetix |
|---|---|---|
| External scanning of live domains | 🟢 Continuous | 🟢 |
| Deep crawling of complex and single-page apps | 🟠 | 🟢 Core strength |
| API security testing | 🟠 | 🟢 |
| Active injection testing (SQLi, XSS) | 🟠 | 🟢 |
| Subdomain discovery | 🟢 | 🟠 |
| CWE classification and recommended fix | 🟢 | 🟢 |
| Code, secrets, and cloud scanning | 🟢 Included | 🔴 Separate products |
| Compliance frameworks and controls | 🟢 Full program | 🟠 Compliance reports |
| Pricing transparency | 🟢 Published list pricing | 🔴 Quote-based |
Start with scanning depth and compliance.
Web application scanning depth
Acunetix is built to go deep into a single application. It crawls modern JavaScript-heavy front ends, logs in to reach authenticated pages, tests APIs from their definitions, and actively probes for SQL injection, cross-site scripting, and many other vulnerability classes. Where it can, it confirms findings to reduce false positives. For an AppSec team testing a complex application before release, this is the job.
SecureSlate's DAST and attack surface monitoring is built for breadth and continuity. Your primary domain is scanned automatically at signup, subdomain discovery finds the hosts you forgot, and every monitored domain is rescanned on a recurring interval. It finds what a deployed system exposes: error pages disclosing internal paths, missing or permissive security headers, content security policy weaknesses, and source code or configuration served by the web server. Each finding carries a CWE, severity, confidence score, instance count, and a recommended solution you can turn into an instruction for your AI coding agent.
If you need to prove your checkout flow resists injection attacks behind authentication, Acunetix is the right tool, or a penetration test. If you need every public domain watched continuously with findings that count as audit evidence, SecureSlate covers it.
| SecureSlate | Acunetix | |
|---|---|---|
| Automatic first scan at signup | 🟢 | 🔴 |
| Recurring automatic rescans | 🟢 | 🟢 Scheduled |
| Crawl depth on complex apps | 🟠 | 🟢 |
| API scanning from definitions | 🟠 | 🟢 |
| Finding confidence and proof | 🟢 Confidence score | 🟢 Proof of exploit on many findings |
| Instance grouping | 🟢 | 🟢 |
Code, secrets, and cloud
DAST tests what is deployed. Many vulnerabilities are cheaper to catch earlier. SecureSlate includes code security and SAST across 30+ languages, secrets detection, open source license risk, end-of-life software tracking, and cloud misconfiguration scanning across AWS, Azure, and GCP.
Acunetix focuses on DAST. Its parent company sells other application security products, so confirm what is bundled if you want static analysis or software composition analysis from the same vendor.
| SecureSlate | Acunetix | |
|---|---|---|
| SAST and code scanning | 🟢 | 🔴 Separate product |
| Secrets detection | 🟢 | 🔴 |
| Dependency and license risk | 🟢 | 🟠 Confirm with vendor |
| Cloud misconfiguration | 🟢 | 🔴 |
| Dark web credential monitoring | 🟢 | 🔴 |
Compliance and audit evidence
Acunetix produces reports that map findings to standards such as the OWASP Top 10 and PCI DSS, which help when an auditor asks for scan evidence.
SecureSlate runs the program that evidence belongs to. Multi-framework control mapping, policies, access reviews, vendor risk, a trust center, and audit management are in the platform, and DAST findings sit next to the vulnerability management controls they satisfy. The record of what was scanned, when, what was found, and how it was fixed is already in place when fieldwork starts.
| SecureSlate | Acunetix | |
|---|---|---|
| OWASP and PCI style scan reports | 🟢 CWE-classified findings | 🟢 |
| SOC 2 and ISO 27001 control set | 🟢 | 🔴 |
| Findings mapped to controls | 🟢 | 🔴 |
| Policies, vendor risk, access reviews | 🟢 | 🔴 |
Pricing
Acunetix is quote-based, with tiers that differ by features and scale, and cost tied to the number of applications you scan. Request a written proposal.
SecureSlate publishes pricing. Vulnerability scanners are included from the Pro plan at $4,788 per year, alongside a compliance framework, automated control testing, and access reviews. Ultra at $8,500 per year adds a penetration test and a framework audit. See pricing or the savings calculator.
| SecureSlate | Acunetix | |
|---|---|---|
| Published list pricing | 🟢 | 🔴 |
| Deployment | Cloud | Cloud or on-premises |
| Compliance program included | 🟢 | 🔴 |
| Penetration test option | 🟢 Included in Ultra | 🔴 |
Where Acunetix wins
Depth of web application testing. Crawling complex front ends, authenticated scanning, API testing, and active injection testing are what Acunetix is built for.
Proof and accuracy. Confirming many findings automatically means developers spend less time arguing about false positives.
On-premises option. Teams that cannot use a cloud scanner, or need to scan internal applications, can run Acunetix on their own infrastructure.
AppSec team workflow. For a dedicated AppSec team testing before release, Acunetix fits into that process directly.
Who each platform is for
Choose SecureSlate if
- You need every public domain and subdomain monitored continuously as audit evidence.
- You want DAST, SAST, secrets, and cloud scanning in one platform with your compliance program.
- You do not have an AppSec team to configure and tune a specialist scanner.
Choose Acunetix if
- You need authenticated, deep testing of complex web applications and APIs.
- You must scan internal applications or run on your own infrastructure.
- Compliance is handled elsewhere and DAST depth is the priority.
FAQ
Is SecureSlate an Acunetix alternative?
For teams that need continuous external monitoring of their domains as part of SOC 2 or ISO 27001, yes. For deep, authenticated testing of complex applications and APIs, Acunetix is the more capable DAST tool.
What does SecureSlate DAST find?
Issues that only exist in a running application, such as error pages disclosing internal detail, missing or permissive security headers, content security policy weaknesses, and source code or configuration served by the web server. Each finding includes a CWE and a recommended solution.
Do I still need a penetration test with DAST?
Usually, yes. Automated scanning catches known patterns. A penetration test tests business logic and chains of weaknesses. SecureSlate Ultra includes a penetration test.
Can I use Acunetix and SecureSlate together?
Yes. Some teams run Acunetix for pre-release testing and use SecureSlate for continuous monitoring and compliance. Upload Acunetix reports to the data room as evidence.
Which is cheaper?
SecureSlate publishes pricing from $4,788 per year for plans that include scanning and a compliance framework. Acunetix is quote-based. Compare written quotes for the same scope.
Is this comparison biased?
It is published by SecureSlate, so treat it as a vendor's argument. SecureSlate claims link to documentation, and the areas where Acunetix is stronger are named in Where Acunetix wins.
Related guides:
Need compliance without the complexity?
SecureSlate automates ISO 27001, SOC 2, GDPR, HIPAA, and more. Built for growing teams. See it in action.
Find compliance gaps in 30 seconds
