Best API Security Software in 2026
Updated
In short: F5 BIG-IP APM is ranked #1 of 28 as of 4 October 2026, ahead of DataDome API Protection and 42Crunch API Security Platform. The best-ranked option with a free plan is 42Crunch API Security Platform. The lowest first paid tier on this page is 42Crunch API Security Platform at $9/mo.
API security can span discovering APIs, managing their posture and protecting them at runtime. Compare the 22 ranked entries on API discovery, API posture management, runtime protection and sensitive data detection, as well as specification governance. Deployment model, free-plan availability and paid-from pricing add details about fit and cost. Wallarm API Security, Akto API Security Platform and Salt Security API Protection Platform appear first, followed by 42Crunch API Security Platform. Use the ranking and these listed criteria to compare which security capabilities each product addresses for your API environment.
28 API security software ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
Recognised 40% · Phone app 26% · Documented 20% · Free plan 14% of the score
- 1 F5 BIG-IP APM iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.1
- 2 DataDome API Protection iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.6 Runtime protection: Yes
- 3 42Crunch API Security Platform No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.3$9/mo API discovery: YesRuntime protection: YesAPI posture management: Yes
- 4 APISec Platform No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.3$690/mo API discovery: Yes
- 5 Wallarm API Security No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.3Free API discovery: YesRuntime protection: YesAPI posture management: Yes
- 6 Akto API Security Platform No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.8 API discovery: YesRuntime protection: YesAPI posture management: Yes
- 7 Palo Alto Networks Cortex Cloud API Security No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.8 API discovery: YesRuntime protection: YesAPI posture management: Yes
- 8 Radware API Security Service No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.7 API discovery: YesRuntime protection: YesAPI posture management: Yes
- 9 Salt Security API Protection Platform No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.7 API discovery: YesRuntime protection: YesAPI posture management: Yes
- 10 Escape No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.6
- 11 Check Point CloudGuard Data Security No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.5
- 12 Checkmarx API Security No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.5 API discovery: YesRuntime protection: NoAPI posture management: Yes
- 13 Imperva API Security No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.5 API discovery: YesRuntime protection: YesAPI posture management: Yes
- 14 Akamai API Security No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.4 API discovery: YesRuntime protection: YesAPI posture management: Yes
- 15 APIPosture No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.4 API discovery: YesRuntime protection: NoAPI posture management: Yes
- 16 Cequence Unified API Protection No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.4 API discovery: YesRuntime protection: YesAPI posture management: Yes
- 17 Microsoft Defender for Containers No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.4 API discovery: NoRuntime protection: NoAPI posture management: No
- 18 APIDynamics No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.3 API discovery: YesRuntime protection: YesAPI posture management: Yes
- 19 Cisco Panoptica No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.3 API discovery: YesAPI posture management: Yes
- 20 CyanoRisk API Security Posture Management No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.3 API discovery: YesRuntime protection: YesAPI posture management: Yes
- 21 Haltdos No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.3 API discovery: YesRuntime protection: YesAPI posture management: Yes
- 22 Onam Security API Security No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.3 API discovery: YesAPI posture management: Yes
- 23 Prophaze API Security No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.3 API discovery: YesRuntime protection: YesAPI posture management: Yes
- 24 ThreatX API and Application Protection No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.3 API discovery: YesRuntime protection: YesAPI posture management: Yes
- 25 Traceable API Security Platform No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.3 API discovery: YesRuntime protection: YesAPI posture management: Yes
Is your app on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored. They are labelled, and the editorial order and scores never change for payment.
Questions about this list
Which API security software is ranked first on Samsung Mobile US Press?
F5 BIG-IP APM is ranked #1 of 28 with a score of 7.1. DataDome API Protection is second and 42Crunch API Security Platform third.
How many of these have a free plan?
3 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, 42Crunch API Security Platform has the lowest first paid tier we found: $9/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked mobile-first: a phone app alongside the web or desktop product, a free tier and the depth of its documentation. Paid placements never change a rank.