What is Acunetix?
Acunetix is a DAST (Dynamic Application Security Testing) platform that actively scans web applications and APIs for vulnerabilities including OWASP Top 10, with CI/CD and issue tracker integrations.
Comparison at a glance
| Aspect | Barrion | Acunetix |
|---|---|---|
| Scan type | Passive (read-only), production-safe, no attack payloads | Active DAST, crawl and attack to find vulnerabilities |
| What it finds | Misconfigurations, TLS/headers, cookies, exposure, drift | OWASP Top 10, SQLi, XSS, and other injection and logic issues |
| Use case | Continuous monitoring, compliance, audit evidence, zero risk | Vulnerability discovery, pre-release testing, compliance scanning |
| Remediation | Step-by-step fixes per finding, PDF/CSV export | Findings with guidance, integration with trackers and pipelines |
| Production | Designed for production, no impact on availability | Typically run in staging or scheduled windows, can affect availability |
| Pricing | Free tier, paid for monitoring | Commercial, contact for pricing |
Who Barrion is best for
Teams that want always-on web app security in production, clear remediation, and audit-ready reports without running active scans. Good for engineering teams and gap coverage between pentests. Barrion also offers AI pentesting (scoped engagements) for active testing.
Who Acunetix is best for
Teams that want comprehensive DAST with active testing, integration into CI/CD and trackers, and are comfortable running scans in non-production or controlled environments.
Frequently asked questions
Is Barrion a replacement for Acunetix?
No. Acunetix is an active DAST that crawls and attacks the app to find OWASP Top 10 and other vulnerabilities. Barrion runs passive, read-only checks for headers, TLS, cookies, and exposure. They serve different needs and one does not replace the other.
Can I use Barrion and Acunetix together?
Yes. A common pattern is Acunetix in staging or CI for active DAST and Barrion in production for continuous, production-safe monitoring with audit-ready evidence. They cover different stages and do not conflict.
How is Barrion priced vs Acunetix?
Barrion has a free tier with core checks and paid plans for monitoring. Acunetix is commercial and you contact them for pricing. Barrion is usually the easier entry point for engineering teams that need continuous coverage.
Does Barrion test in production safely?
Yes. Barrion only sends passive, read-only requests and never attack payloads, so it is safe to run continuously in production. Acunetix runs active scans and is typically scheduled in staging or controlled windows.
Summary
Barrion and Acunetix can complement each other. Use Barrion for continuous, passive monitoring and compliance. Use Acunetix for active vulnerability discovery in staging or pipelines. Choose based on whether you need production-safe ongoing monitoring (Barrion) or deep DAST (Acunetix).
Explore Barrion further
Try the same checks Acunetix runs against your own site with the free website security scan (no signup), browse our full tool catalog covering TLS, security headers, CSP, cookies, DNS, and email auth, or read per-check explainers in /learn for the background on what each test means and why it matters. If you want a deeper look at how Barrion stacks up across the market, the full Barrion vs competitors comparison walks through the trade-offs in one place, and the pricing page shows what's included in each plan.