Acunetix

Overview

Founded in 2005 and headquartered in the United States, Acunetix (now part of Invicti) is a global leader in web application Security vulnerability scanning. As a benchmark DAST (Dynamic Application Security Testing) tool, Acunetix specializes in automatically detecting security vulnerabilities in web applications, covering SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), command injection, file inclusion, and 3,000+ other vulnerability types.

Acunetix combines an automated crawler with an intelligent scanning engine to deeply analyze complex web applications, including single-page applications (SPAs), JavaScript framework-based apps, and RESTful APIs. Its DeepScan technology dynamically analyzes DOM XSS and client-side logic vulnerabilities within a real JavaScript execution environment. As of 2026, Acunetix serves over 10,000 enterprise customers worldwide and is recognized by Gartner and Forrester as a leader in the web vulnerability scanning market.

Key Strengths

• 3,000+ Vulnerability Type Coverage: Acunetix's vulnerability database covers all web vulnerability types in OWASP Top 10, SANS 25, and PCI DSS requirements, including SQL injection, XSS, CSRF, SSRF, command injection, and file inclusion. See Web Vulnerability Scanning Best Practices for more details.
• DeepScan Advanced Scanning Engine: Supports deep dynamic analysis of JavaScript, AJAX, and SPA technologies. DeepScan executes page JavaScript in a real browser environment to detect client-side vulnerabilities that traditional static crawlers cannot find.
• CI/CD Native Integration: Provides plugins for Jenkins, GitLab CI, Azure DevOps, Bamboo, and other mainstream CI/CD tools, embedding security scanning into development pipelines for automated security testing on every code commit. See CI/CD Integration for DevSecOps best practices.
• Vulnerability Management System: Built-in dashboard provides risk scoring, automatic classification, and remediation tracking, with multi-dimensional analysis by vulnerability type, severity, and asset.

Product Ecosystem

Acunetix Premium

Acunetix Premium includes the full scanning feature set with unlimited web application scanning (per target domain billing), plus the vulnerability management dashboard, automated scheduling, and team collaboration features. Suitable for mid-to-large enterprises requiring comprehensive web security testing.

Acunetix Standard

Acunetix Standard provides core web vulnerability scanning features including crawler, DeepScan, report generation, and manual penetration testing tools. Suitable for independent security testing teams with simpler requirements.

Acunetix Online (SaaS)

Acunetix Online is the SaaS version offering full DAST scanning capability without local deployment. Supports REST API integration with existing security toolchains, ideal for organizations looking to quickly launch web security testing programs.

Invicti Enterprise

Invicti Enterprise builds on Acunetix's scanning capabilities with enhanced CI/CD pipeline integration, custom report templates, role-based access control, and SLA monitoring, suitable for large development teams.

Limitations

• High False Positive Rate: Deep scan mode produces a number of false positives, requiring security analysts to manually verify and confirm results. See Penetration Testing False Positive Management for methods to improve scanning efficiency.
• Web Application Only: Acunetix is limited to web application vulnerability scanning. It does not cover network-layer penetration testing, endpoint security scanning, or cloud infrastructure auditing. Comprehensive security testing requires additional Security tools.
• High Licensing Cost: Enterprise and Premium edition annual subscription costs are substantial. Budget-limited teams should consider open-source alternatives like Wireshark for supplementary testing.
• Large-Scale Deployment Complexity: For organizations scanning many web applications, distributed scanner configuration and scan strategy setup require significant upfront investment and learning.

Use Cases

• Web Application Security Testing (★★★★★): Industry benchmark DAST tool, ideal for finance, e-commerce, and government organizations with strict web application security requirements.
• DevSecOps Pipeline Integration (★★★★★): Native CI/CD plugin support, suitable for agile teams that have embedded security testing into development workflows. Combined with CI/CD Integration, enables automated security gates.
• Compliance Audit Scanning (★★★★): Built-in OWASP Top 10 and PCI DSS scanning templates, suitable for organizations requiring periodic security testing to meet industry compliance standards.
• Budget-Sensitive Small Teams (★★): Licensing costs are high; small teams should evaluate open-source alternatives first.

Pricing

Note: Acunetix/Invicti does not publish public pricing. Contact sales for a customized quote. Request a 14-day free trial to evaluate the product.

FAQ

• How to choose between Acunetix and Burp Suite? Acunetix is better suited for automated batch scanning and CI/CD integration with a lower operational threshold. Burp Suite is better for advanced manual penetration testing with higher flexibility. Recommendation: equip security testing teams with both — use Acunetix for automated scanning and Burp Suite for deep manual testing—see the website security checklist.
• How to handle Acunetix false positives? Acunetix provides forensic data and request/response details for verification. Establish a false positive verification workflow, mark confirmed false positives, and use rule exclusions to progressively reduce the false positive rate—see security hardening.
• Does Acunetix support API security testing? Yes. Acunetix can import OpenAPI/Swagger specifications to automatically generate API security test cases, detecting authentication bypass, parameter tampering, and injection vulnerabilities in RESTful and GraphQL APIs—see the API security and OAuth/JWT guide.