13 Best Penetration Testing Tools in 2025 [Pricing + Feature Comparison]

In this digital era, an unthinkable amount of data is stored and handled across industries. A large chunk of this data is stored in cloud assets and these cloud assets are primary targets for bad actors and hackers. 

While organizations use the boilerplate solutions recommended, is it enough to keep your organization protected? The only way to know would be to see how your organization’s security solution performs during an attack.

Voila- Introducing Penetration Testers
As the name suggests, they come up with different ways to find vulnerabilities in your organization’s security and gain access to sensitive data. These tests are designed to help you identify gaps and fortify your security.

There are full-fledged penetration testing tools at your disposal to tighten up the security of your systems before cybercriminals try anything malicious.

To help you choose the right set of pen testing tools, we have listed the Top 13. 

Let’s briefly discuss them!

What is Penetration Testing?

A penetration test, commonly known as a pen test, is a sanctioned simulation of an attack on a computer system to assess its security. This simulated attack aims to uncover potential vulnerabilities within a system’s defenses that real attackers could exploit. The goal is to identify weak points and address them as and when required to enhance the overall security posture of the system.

In simpler terms, Pen testers mimic hackers to identify what a  hacker does to exploit your systems Pen testing also evaluates adherence to compliance and regulations by identifying the areas of threats, loose security configuration, and authentication weaknesses.

There are different penetration testing tools to perform these tests and cyber-attack simulations. Some tools can automate penetration tests, and some require you to perform the tests manually. But before we talk about Ocean’s Twelve (pun intended), let’s take a look at the benefits of penetration testing. 

What is a penetration testing tool?

Penetration testing tools perform sanctioned simulations of cyber attacks on a computer system, network, or application to assess its security and uncover potential vulnerabilities within a system’s defenses that attackers could exploit. These tools can automate testing processes and improve the efficiency of network and security testing. 

Bonus: Want to strengthen your network defenses? Get our External Network VAPT Report and discover critical insights.

Simply put, these pen-testing tools mimic malicious activity to help the company identify what a hacker does to exploit your systems. The goal is to periodically address weaknesses and enhance the overall security posture of the system.  It also evaluates adherence to compliance and regulations by highlighting gaps in security configuration and correcting weaknesses.

How does Penetration Testing work under compliance?

Cybersecurity regulations are often designed to hold organizations accountable for their security practices. An organization may be required to fulfill compliance obligations under laws like GDPR, HIPAA, standards like ISO 27001, SOC 1 & 2, and industry-specific regulations like PCI DSS.

While many regulations only imply conducting penetration tests, PCI DSS explicitly mentions penetration tests for evaluating an organization’s security posture.

PCI DSS

In PCI DSS 3.2.1, Requirement 11 emphasizes the necessity of regular penetration testing. This mandate applies to merchants requiring a formal audit or completing SAQ C and SAQ D and extends to all Service Providers.

What does PCI DSS penetration testing involve?

• It includes the evaluation of network infrastructure and applications, both from external and internal perspectives
• The testing must cover an organization’s entire cardholder data environment (CDE), including any systems that might impact CDE security

What does a PCI pen test uncover?

• Unsafe configurations: Identifies insecure system and network setups
• Access control issues: Pinpoints improper access controls
• Wireless network risks: Reveals the presence of rogue wireless networks
• Coding vulnerabilities: Detects coding weaknesses such as XSS and SQL injection
• Authentication and session management weaknesses: Identifies flaws in authentication and session management
• Encryption concerns: Assesses and exposes encryption flaws

Read our blog What is PCI Penetration Testing and How it Works 

GDPR

While GDPR doesn’t explicitly mention penetration tests, Article 32 emphasizes the need for organizations to establish a process for regularly testing, assessing, and evaluating technical and organizational measures to ensure data processing security.

Article 32(1) outlines various measures that controllers or processors should implement, including establishing a process for regularly testing and assessing the effectiveness of these measures. 

Although this statement is broad, a general principle is that any system storing personal data should undergo testing. Moreover, Article 32 specifies that controllers and processors must implement security mechanisms appropriate to their organizational risks.

For GDPR compliance, your organization’s testing plan should include periodic intervals for conducting penetration tests and vulnerability assessments.

HIPAA

HIPAA, much like GDPR, doesn’t explicitly mention using pen testing software. However, according to § 164.308(a)(8) of HIPAA, covered entities are required to perform a technical evaluation to assess the security of protected health information (PHI). 

A data security analyst conducts HIPAA penetration testing under the HIPAA Security Rule. This testing aims to identify potential weaknesses and vulnerabilities in the data security of a covered entity. 

The analyst engages in “ethical hacking,” realistically replicating the efforts of a malicious attacker, with the primary goal of enhancing data security.

ISO 27001

When it comes to ISO 27001, the answer is a bit of both yes and no. For systems with standard functions and common structures, fulfilling the requirement may only need a vulnerability assessment. 

However, for more intricate setups like custom web applications, you’ll likely need penetration testing to ensure your security is robust enough for data protection and to defend against cyber threats.

In the current version of ISO 27001, Control A.12.6.1 mandates organizations to promptly document common vulnerabilities, assess their exposure, and take steps to mitigate associated risks. 

SOC 2

The simple answer is no; penetration testing is not a requirement for SOC 2 compliance. While it can benefit any organization, it’s not a mandatory component. 

However, auditors often suggest penetration testing assessments as they contribute to the audit process and fulfill specific requirements in the Trust Services Criteria, especially under COSO Principle 16. 

This principle emphasizes ongoing evaluations to ensure internal controls are present and functional.

Sprinto can assist you in maintaining ongoing security and compliance. While penetration testing is just a part of a comprehensive security strategy, it’s crucial for assessing the strength of your system or network. 

Meeting common framework requirements such as PCI involves integrating regular pen tests into your processes to get ongoing compliance on the go.

If you struggle with keeping up with your compliance tasks, Sprinto is here to help. Our tools automate testing and monitor your network for potential threats. Our in-house experts can guide you on when to schedule your next penetration test and identify risks to your data.

Top 13 Penetration Testing Tools

There are multiple penetration testing tools to help you identify and remove the vulnerabilities in the system and web apps. Finding the right one in an ocean full of software and tools on the Internet can be daunting. So, let’s talk about an efficient set of pen-testing tools and their key features.

Note: These tools are listed in no particular ranking order, and all of them are useful for performing different penetration tests.

Below are the best 13 penetration testing tools you can try in 2025:

• Metasploit
• Getastra
• Nmap
• John the Ripper
• Wireshark
• Kali Linux
• Nessus
• Intruder
• Burp Suite
• Acunetix
• sqlmap
• OWASP Zed Attack Proxy (ZAP)
• Nikto
  

1. Metasploit

Metasploit is a popular penetration tool among cyber threat actors because of its extensive exploits and vulnerabilities in the Metasploit Framework database. This tool has an advanced penetration testing automation framework based on Ruby and is widely used by cyber security professionals for simulating any pen testing methods for security assessments.

The open-source software allows you to identify weak points and vulnerabilities and enables you to set up the defense. It identifies the system’s weaknesses and tries to exploit them further. Therefore you can quickly isolate and demonstrate the vulnerabilities and fix the threats. Added to that, Metasploit offers the ability to automate manual exploits and tests.

Key Features

• Open-source framework based on Ruby and is available for free
• Many plugins and settings to configure to tune scans
• Work with both command line and GUI interface
• It runs on Mac OS X, Linux, and Window

G2 rating 4.6/5 (49 reviews)

2. Astra Pentest

Astra is a comprehensive penetration testing tool that blends automation, AI, and manual penetrating capabilities to run 9300+ security tests. Designed in adherence with industry standards such as OWASP 10 and SANS 25, their expert-vetted scans ensure zero false positives. 

Meanwhile, the in-depth hacker-style manual pentest reveals critical vulnerabilities like payment gateway hacks and business logic errors. The collaborative CXO-friendly dashboard and real-time expert support facilitate the remediation of bugs discovered by the pentesting tool.

Astra offers seamless integration with your CI/CD Pipeline to help smoothen your big leap from DevOps to DevSecOps. The convenient Login recording Chrome extension enables authenticated scans behind login pages without redundant reauthentication.

Loved by companies across the globe, Astra’s PTaaS platform is trusted by brands you trust, such as Godaddy, Muthoot Finance, and Network 18.

Key Features

• Leverage the combined power of Astra’s vulnerability scanner and manual pentests 
• Collaborate with pentesters with an array of certifications, including OSCP, CEH, eJPT, eWPTXv2, and CCSP (AWS).
• Seamlessly integrate with tools such as Jira, GitHub, GitLab, Slack, and Jenkins.
• Generate customizable reports to cater to your individual needs
• Boost customer trust with Astra’s publicly verifiable customer certificate.
• Ensure compliance with ISO, HIPAA, GDPR, and SOC2, among others. 

3. Nmap

Network Mapper or Nmap is a must-have pen testing software for pen testers. It is a highly configurable, open-source tool that you can tailor for specific needs, such as scanning and mapping networks, determining active hosts, identifying open ports, and detecting vulnerabilities. 

Nmap can also be used for service identification in the target network (services running on the network) and identify vulnerabilities related to those services.

Nmap sends differently structured packets for different transport layer protocols, which return with IP addresses and other information. You can use this information for host discovery, OS fingerprinting, service discovery, and security auditing. 

Nmap pen testing software is important for testers to gather crucial security information to perform other penetration tests. It allows security administrators to find and list all devices, operating systems, and applications connected to a network to identify potential vulnerabilities.

Key Features

• It enables you to map an extensive network with thousands of ports
• Nmap scripting engine to attack systems during vulnerability scanning
• Fully open-sourced and free to use
• Supports Linux, Windows, and Mac OS X

G2 rating is 4.6/5 (34 reviews)

4. John the Ripper

John the Ripper is an open-source penetration testing tool. Ethical hackers choose this tool because of its strength in password cracking. The software supports various operating systems such as Linux, Unix, Windows, and Mac OS X and is highly effective in testing the resilience and strength of passwords.

The software’s cross-platform compatibility makes it accessible for security assessment. The software offers support for various hash types and can effectively analyze and provide insights about the vulnerabilities in the encryptions.

Overall, it acts as an indispensable tool for pen testers, with its advanced encryption capabilities, to discover weaknesses in password security and enhance overall system security. 

Key features

• Supports Linux, Unix, Windows, and Mac OS X
• Capability to crack password encryption utilizing MD5, DES, and Blowfish
• Offer extensive support for large range of encrypted passwords and formats
• Ability to do hash detection and support various hash types

5. Cobalt Strike

Cobalt Strike is a threat emulation and commercial penetration testing tool that gives testers access to various attack capabilities. By vigorously testing the application, network, and system, Cobalt can emulate different types of malware and advanced threats to check for security loopholes. 

The tool has an agent named Beacon that gains a foothold on the target network to execute various attacks. The tool is majorly used by large businesses, governments, consulting organizations, and advanced pen testers to replicate complex threat tactics. 

The best part about Cobalt Strike is that you can generate comprehensive reports through reporting options. These reports can be beneficial when analyzing security performance. 

Key Features

• Advanced beacon payload (lightweight agent) that remains stealthy for better testing
• Post-exploitation models perform different actions after compromising the system
• Collaboration features to test attacks that require multiple users
• Advanced and detailed reporting capabilities

G2 rating 4.5/5 (5 reviews)

6. Wireshark

Wireshark is another open-source penetration testing software for network analysis and communications protocol development. Using this tool, you can capture the network traffic in real-time and analyze the details like packet length, source/destination address, timestamp, etc. This information can be the basis for many cyber attacks, so pen testers use this tool to see the visible packet information.

Unlike Nmap, Wireshark is a user-friendly tool with an interactive interface that allows users to view and analyze the captured network in multiple ways easily. While it doesn’t exploit the vulnerabilities found, it can help identify a lot of information about the packets moving around in the network. 

With detailed reporting capabilities, Wireshark proves to be a good tool for creating easily digestible network analysis reports for stakeholders.

Key Features

• Display captured data in various formats like hex dump, ASCII, pcap, etc
• Advanced filtering and search capabilities to capture specific types of traffic
• Reporting features to create comprehensive reports
• Works on different operating systems like Windows, Linux, macOS, and other UNIX OS

G2 rating 4.7/5 (134 reviews)

7. Kali Linux

Kali Linux is not a single penetration testing tool but a base operating system with over 600 basic and advanced tools for pen testing and security auditing. It is a paradise for security professionals/testers and cyber threat actors because of its cutting-edge, powerful capabilities in the cyber security domain. 

Most of the tools mentioned in this blog are already in Kali Linux. That’s how powerful the penetration testing toolkit Kali is!

The best thing about Kali Linux is that there is detailed, well-documented information about tools and features for amateurs and experts in the field. Users can also customize the programs to create optimized versions of the tools per their requirements, making it a great platform for security professionals. 

So, if you want to dive deep into penetration testing, Kali Linux is a must-have toolkit for your ventures.

Key Features

• 600+ built-in penetration testing and security auditing tools
• Can be used directly from a USB storage device
• Open-source, cost-free OS
• Kali NetHunter – a penetration testing app available for Android phones

G2 rating 4.6/5 (77 reviews)

Also, check out SaaS security companies

8. Nessus

Nessus is a popular and robust vulnerability scanner used by pen testers and security professionals to discover vulnerabilities in the system/network. The tool is available in both open-source and commercial versions. The latter has a wide range of features to test an extensive network of systems and applications. 

Nessus lets you test for over 47,000 vulnerabilities so you can fix the missing patches and software security flaws. There are other features as well that allow you to perform security tasks such as network mapping, port scanning, malware scanning, and so on. 

The commercial version can easily cover multiple endpoints and devices to identify and report vulnerabilities in real-time. Security experts prefer the tool because of its comprehensive reporting and troubleshooting capabilities.

Key Features

• User-friendly interface and fully portable
• A database of 47,000+ vulnerabilities and constantly updating to protect you from new threats
• Customizable and detailed reporting capabilities
• Offers a free trial to try the commercial premium features

G2 rating 4.5/5 (252 reviews)

9. Intruder

Intruder is another vulnerability scanner that effortlessly finds and reports security weaknesses in your system. The software is designed for businesses to safeguard their systems, applications, and data from hackers. 

With over 10,000 security checks, Intruder is perfect for robust malware and threat detection. It is a complete automation tool that seamlessly integrates with different cloud platforms and other applications across the organization for smooth vulnerability management.

This penetration testing software proactively scans for new vulnerabilities so that you can patch your systems before attackers try to hack. It looks for common web application issues like XSS attacks, SQL injection, broken authentication, security misconfigurations, missing patches, and more. Large businesses, big banks, and government agencies can benefit from this powerful pen-testing automation tool.

Key Features

• Industry-standard scanning engines to monitor real-time risk
• Checks for the latest threats daily
• Intelligent reporting capabilities
• Integration with over 200 web apps and popular cloud platforms

G2 rating 4.8/5 (126 reviews)

10. Burp Suite

Burp Suite is also a vulnerability scanner with web application security testing tools. Security professionals can use this tool to test security from different angles and exploit vulnerabilities in web apps. The extensive documentation and user-friendly interface make it a good testing tool for new testers and security experts.

The platform has tools for both manual testing and automation. You can manually intercept and analyze the web application and browser traffic to modify information and identify loopholes. Using the Scanner and Intruder tool in Burp Suite, you can scan the web app and automate brute-force attacks to look for vulnerabilities.

Overall, it is a go-to tool for security professionals to perform penetration tests.

Key Features

• Multiple powerful modules like Scanner, Proxy, Repeater, Intruder, Sequencer, etc
• Robust API to integrate with other tools
• Collaboration features for multiple testers to work on the same project
• Generate detailed reports of identified vulnerabilities

G2 rating 4.8/5 (104 reviews)

11. Acunetix

Acunetix is a fully-automated, commercial web application security scanner that helps you get a 360-degree view of the company’s security. With over 4500 vulnerability checks, you can automate the pen testing tasks that take days to test manually. 

The tool uses advanced algorithms to identify traditional and modern web application vulnerabilities like SQL injection, SSRF, XXE attacks, and XSS attacks.

Acunetix, as an automated penetration testing tools also offers customization to meet business requirements like authentication mechanisms, scanning policies, and scheduling. You can easily integrate this tool with cloud platforms and other security tools to enhance your penetration testing efforts. 

The tool provides detailed reports of identified vulnerabilities, including severity, technical information, and remediation recommendations. The bonus is that Acunetix also helps you comply with various compliance standards and industry regulations like PCI DSS, ISO 27001, etc.

Key Features

• Automatic scanning and advanced scanning techniques with different scanning modes
• Comprehensive reporting features
• Continuous scanning to ensure ongoing vulnerability management
• Team collaboration features for better security management
  

G2 rating 4.2/5 (84 reviews)

12. Sqlmap

sqlmap is an open-source penetration testing tool to detect vulnerabilities in the database. The software automates detecting and exploiting SQL injection vulnerabilities in web applications and servers. sqlmap uses various techniques like blind SQL injection, error-based SQL injection, time-based SQL injection, and more.

The tool automatically detects SQL injection vulnerabilities, the database type, the number of databases, tables, and columns, and automatically dumps data from tables. As it is a command-line utility, it requires a good knowledge of SQL and web application security for efficient results. The utility can also be used as a password-cracking tool for dictionary-based attacks.

Key Features

• Works well on popular database management systems like PostgreSQL, MySQL, Sybase, Microsoft Access, Informix, Firebird, and IBM DB2
• Advanced search options
• Complete support for six SQL injection techniques
• Available for free on Windows and Linux

G2 rating 4.3/5 (36 reviews)

13. WASP Zed Attack Proxy (ZAP)

OWASP ZAP is an open-source web application penetration testing software that helps security professionals identify and prevent security vulnerabilities in web apps. 

ZAP is designed for man-in-the-middle attacks. So, it acts as a proxy server between a web browser and a web application, intercepting and modifying requests and responses. This way, ZAP can identify and exploit vulnerabilities in real-time.

While it may not have as many features as Burp Suite, the open-source license makes this a good penetration testing tools free alternative. There are various scanning modes, like active, passive, and automated, to detect existing and potential vulnerabilities. 

ZAP can also provide comprehensive reports on the vulnerabilities identified while pen testing, including recommendations for enhancing security.

Key Features

• Powerful automation framework to identify security threats
• Custom scan policy module to set scan as per your requirements
• Works well on different platforms like Windows, Linux, macOS, etc
• Advanced reporting features to generate detailed reports
  

Nikto

Nikto is also an advanced open-source vulnerability scanner used to identify potential web security vulnerabilities. It is a good tool for security professionals and penetration testers to detect web server and application weaknesses. It can identify vulnerabilities such as old software versions, server configuration issues, and potential security threats.

Nikto is one of the best penetration testing tools that can effectively perform a wide range of tests like web server configuration checks, server banner grabbing, outdated software checks, file and directory checks, and known vulnerability checks. The in-depth tests and analysis offered by Nikto can help you identify over 7000 malicious files and issues, making it a handy free pen testing utility.

Key Features

• Customized and comprehensive reporting capabilities
• Supports both HTTP and HTTPS
• Identifies 7000+ malicious applications and detects outdated versions of 1250+ servers
• Easy to set up and free to use

How much do Penetration Testing tools cost on average?

The price tag for penetration testing ranges from $4,000 to $100,000. On average, a top-notch, professional pen test typically falls in the $10,000 to $30,000 range.

Penetration testing types	Cost
Network & network devices	$100-$200 per device
Website/web apps	$2500-$50,000 per scan
Cloud	$600-$800 per scan
Mobile apps	$1500-$5000 per scan
SaaS	$1500-$3000 per sca

Various factors determine the cost of a Penetration testing tool, we’ve listed the salient ones here: 

• Smaller and less complex organizations generally incur lower costs than larger ones.
• The more applications, devices (vulnerability scanning tool), and systems to test, the higher the cost. Complex setups, like those with mobile apps internal and external servers, escalate the budget.
• The tools and practices used impact costs. While advanced application pentesting tools might be pricier, they can deliver higher-quality results. Consider the method based on the test’s purpose and importance.
• The scope of the test influences costs. Clearly defining the elements you’re concerned about ensures focused testing without unnecessary expenses.
• Cybersecurity professionals with more experience come at a higher cost. Assess your specific needs and weigh the factors above to determine whether a more or less experienced professional suits your organization. For smaller businesses with simpler network interfaces, opting for a less experienced professional may be cost-effective.

How to choose the best penetration testing tool

Choosing the best penetration testing tool can vary based on the environment you’re testing in, the level of expertise, and more. Here are few essential factors to consider while choosing your pen testing tool:

Define your scope: Before conducting penetration testing you need to map your scope. Define what systems, networks, and applications need to be assessed. Define the purpose of the penetration testing and the vulnerabilities you aim to address. This will help you narrow down the tools based on the objectives you have mapped as well as features they privide.

Assess features and capabilities: Choose penetration testing tools that perform well with your system infrastructure. Make sure the tool is compatible with your operating systems. Look for functionalities such as vulnerability scanning, password cracking, exploit testing, automation, and additional features essential for effective penetration testing.

Accessibility: Make sure the tool is easy to deploy. Consider factors such as the user interface, documentation, and training resources that can increase the efficiency of the testing process. Evaluate the tool based on the reviews and ratings.

Reporting: Choose tools that offer defined reporting functionalities. Ensure that the reports are consistent and understandable and that there are signs of data manipulation. Look for additional features, such as tester’s recommendations, observations, or notes.
Methodology: Choose a tool that follows a risk-based approach. Choose a customized tool based on your objectives and target high-risk areas. Ensure the tool also covers malware detection.

Benefits of Penetration Testing

Now that we understand what penetration testing is and how it primarily helps you strengthen the system’s security, what are the benefits of pen testing for a company? Let’s check out.

Enables Cyber Defense

In case of any intrusion report, whether they are malicious or cyber security experts testing the effectiveness of your security strategy, the penetration test feedback will tell you what actions you should take to improve your defense.

Ensures Business Continuity

Business continuity is a significant concern for many organizations. A security breach could cause a break in business continuity. Penetration tests reveal potential vulnerabilities and threats and help ensure that your operations don’t suffer from unexpected downtime or a loss of accessibility. 

To sum up, a penetration test is quite like a business continuity audit.

Adherence to compliance

To maintain a good reputation, you must comply with legal or regulatory compliance requirements, this may dictate a certain level of penetration testing. ISO 27001 standard, or PCI regulations, requires all managers and system owners to conduct penetration tests and security reviews with skilled testers regularly.

Leveraging a powerful compliance automation solution like Sprinto can help you take pen testing initiatives to the next level. Sprinto integrates with penetration testing tools and ensures any gaps, vulnerabilities, or misalignments in controls or policies is effectively remediated in record time. This not only enables frequent, consistent system improvements but helps the company maintain continuous compliance. Want to learn more? See Sprinto in action.  

Protects from Financial Damage

A single breach could cost your business significant financial damage and also impact your partnerships. Regular penetration testing can help you mitigate invasions by maintaining confidentiality, integrity, and availability, thereby protecting you from potential financial damages.

Enhances Trust

Performing regular penetration tests and implementing necessary security actions builds trust and confidence among clients, partners, and customers. Frequent pen testing is a requirement under various compliance frameworks, and conducting it tells customers and stakeholders that the organization is committed to keeping their data safe.

Penetration testing and the challenges involved

Penetration testing comes with its fair share of challenges. It’s not always as smooth as it seems. The biggest challenge is that most pen testers are external sources. Hence, they lack the intent and purpose of your security design from a root level. While this is a solvable problem, you could encounter other challenges. A few prominent ones are are:

Changing environments

The ability to swiftly respond to market changes and deliver rapid product updates poses security challenges. Fast-paced release cycles prioritize speed over protocol, and this, in turn, leads to revisions and reruns. This environment makes it challenging for businesses to conduct periodic pen tests.

Dealing with false positives

False positives in application penetration testing tools and cybersecurity create false alarms when security testing tools incorrectly identify a vulnerability. The reliance on scanning and testing tools can lead to these inaccuracies during software testing. 

A report from Security Magazines reveals that 81% of surveyed IT professionals found more than 20% of cloud security alerts to be false positives. Also, 43% of respondents noted that over 40% of cybersecurity alerts are false positives. 

As teams strive to enhance efficiency, many false positives can prove detrimental to the effectiveness of cybersecurity efforts.

Overcoming Communication Challenges

Misunderstandings between penetration testing companies and client organizations can hinder the effectiveness of tests and addressing identified vulnerabilities.

Hence, establish transparent and open communication channels immediately with your penetration testing provider. 

Opt for a provider that provides various communication methods like email, Slack, video conference calls, and a secure portal for exchanging sensitive information.

Final Thoughts

Penetration testing is the need of the hour to stay ahead of cyber threat actors. The best penetration testing tools mentioned above mentioned tools are great for keeping your systems safe by identifying potential cyber risks and security vulnerabilities in real-time and are also helpful in compliance initiatives.

The list of tools is not an exhausting one, but we have covered the essential manual testing and automation tools that you need to consider. Some tools require expertise and can be utilized well by security professionals. We hope this helps you understand and choose the best penetration testing tools in 2023 for your organization’s needs.

Compliance certificates like SOC2 and ISO 27001 are a necessity if you offer cloud-based software solutions. This showcases that your software has passed some critical security checks and increases credibility. Get in touch with our compliance experts to understand how you can quickly get security compliance certified.

FAQs

How is penetration testing done?

Penetration testing is usually performed using manual or automated technologies/tools. These tools help systematically compromise endpoints, servers, web apps, and more to find security vulnerabilities.

What is the best penetration testing tool?

The best penetration tool should help you identify the latest cyber threats in your systems and suggest possible fixes. Some of the best manual penetration testing tools are Nmap, Metasploit, and Wireshark, while the best-automated penetration testing tools are Nessus and Intruder.

Does penetration testing require coding?

No, penetration testing doesn’t necessarily require coding. Although in some cases, you might need to write and/or analyze programming codes to test specific applications and vulnerabilities. 

What is the most common penetration test?

The most common penetration test is Network testing, as cyber threat actors try to exploit network vulnerabilities first. In general, the network is the entry point to most systems and applications. This is why many testers focus on internal and external network vulnerabilities to fix network security issues at the earliest.

Is Kali Linux a penetration testing tool?

Kali Linux is an operating system with various vulnerability assessment and penetration testing tools. So, Kali Linux is a powerful pen-testing platform where you can find some excellent tools.