Best Penetration Testing Software in 2026
Updated
In short: Pentesterra is ranked #1 of 31 as of 4 October 2026, ahead of Kali Linux and RedAmon. The best-ranked option with a free plan is RedAmon. The lowest first paid tier on this page is PenTest.WS at $4.95/mo.
Penetration testing software addresses different testing needs, including web apps, APIs, networks, and mobile environments. Compare those testing areas with evidence capture and finding management to understand how the tools align with your assessment work. Kali Linux, Caido, and Dradis are among the entries to consider across the listed criteria. Deployment options may also factor into how a tool fits your setup. Check free-plan availability and paid-from pricing alongside the testing coverage, rather than treating cost as the only distinction. The comparison points can help you narrow options based on the systems you assess and how you need to record evidence and track findings.
31 penetration testing 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 Pentesterra No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 8.2€23/mo Deployment: hybridWeb app testing: YesAPI testing: Yes
- 2 Kali Linux Android only RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.7 Deployment: hybridWeb app testing: Yes
- 3 RedAmon No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.6Free Deployment: on-premWeb app testing: YesAPI testing: Yes
- 4 OWASP ZAP No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.4Free API testing: Yes
- 5 NodeZero No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.3 Deployment: hybridWeb app testing: YesAPI testing: Yes
- 6 Pentera Platform No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.3
- 7 Burp Suite DAST No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.2 API testing: Yes
- 8 Penti No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.1 Deployment: hybridWeb app testing: YesAPI testing: Yes
- 9 Dradis No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.0$300/mo Deployment: on-premWeb app testing: Yes
- 10 PENTRA No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.7 Deployment: on-premWeb app testing: YesAPI testing: Yes
- 11 Caido No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.7Free Web app testing: YesAPI testing: Yes
- 12 Faraday No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.6 Deployment: hybridWeb app testing: Yes
- 13 Offensive360 DAST No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.5 API testing: Yes
- 14 Equixly No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.4 Deployment: hybrid
- 15 XBOW No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.3
- 16 PlexTrac No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.3 Deployment: hybridWeb app testing: Yes
- 17 Core Impact No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.2 Deployment: on-premWeb app testing: Yes
- 18 PenTest.WS No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.2$4.95/mo Deployment: hybridWeb app testing: Yes
- 19 Aircrack-ng No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.2Free Deployment: on-premWeb app testing: NoAPI testing: No
- 20 Metasploit Pro No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.1 Deployment: on-premWeb app testing: Yes
- 21 Reconmap No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.8 Deployment: hybridWeb app testing: Yes
- 22 AttackForge No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.6
- 23 PenPeeper No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.6 Deployment: on-premWeb app testing: Yes
- 24 Pentographer No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.4 Deployment: hybrid
- 25 w3af No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.3 API testing: 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 penetration testing software is ranked first on Samsung Mobile US Press?
Pentesterra is ranked #1 of 31 with a score of 8.2. Kali Linux is second and RedAmon third.
How many of these have a free plan?
6 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, PenTest.WS has the lowest first paid tier we found: $4.95/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.