Catalog comparison
Burp SuiteZAP (Zed Attack Proxy)
Side-by-side facts from the TestGuild Tool Matcher catalog. Empty cells mean the catalog does not list that attribute — not that the product lacks it.
The world's #1 web penetration testing toolkit. Burp Suite enables users to accelerate application security testing with both free Community Edition and professional-grade tools. Chosen by over 70,000 security professionals worldwide.
The world's most widely used web app scanner. Free and open source DAST tool by Checkmarx. A community based GitHub Top 1000 project that anyone can contribute to.
At a glance
Primary testing surface
Burp Suite
Security
ZAP (Zed Attack Proxy)
Security
Primary capability
Burp Suite
Security
ZAP (Zed Attack Proxy)
Security
License and pricing
Burp Suite
freemium
ZAP (Zed Attack Proxy)
free · open source
Free trial
Burp Suite
No
ZAP (Zed Attack Proxy)
No
Free-tier limit
Burp Suite
Free community edition with essential manual tools for web security testing
ZAP (Zed Attack Proxy)
Not listed in catalog
Complexity
Burp Suite
intermediate
ZAP (Zed Attack Proxy)
intermediate
Team fit
Burp Suite
enterprise, large, medium, small
ZAP (Zed Attack Proxy)
enterprise, large, medium, small
Test authoring languages
Burp Suite
Java, JavaScript, Python, REST API
ZAP (Zed Attack Proxy)
Java, JavaScript, Python, REST API
Supported platforms
Burp Suite
Java, Linux, macOS, Windows
ZAP (Zed Attack Proxy)
CLI, Docker, Linux, macOS, Web, Windows
MCP server
Burp Suite
No
ZAP (Zed Attack Proxy)
No
Key features (catalog)
Burp Suite
API security testing, Auto and manual OAST testing (Burp Collaborator), Automated crawling and content discovery, Bug bounty hunting support, Burp Comparer for response comparison, Burp Decoder for encoding/decoding, Burp Intruder for custom attacks, Burp Repeater for request manipulation, Burp Sequencer for randomness analysis, CI/CD integration capabilities +18 more
ZAP (Zed Attack Proxy)
Active scanning capabilities, API security testing, Authentication support, Automated security scanning, CI/CD integration, Community-driven development, Comprehensive reporting, Cross-platform support (Windows, Mac, Linux), Docker container support, Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST) +9 more
Limitations (catalog)
Burp Suite
Community Edition has limited features, Limited to web application testing, May generate false positives requiring manual review, No mobile app security testing, No SAST capabilities, Professional version requires paid license ($475), Requires security expertise to use effectively, Resource intensive for large applications +1 more
ZAP (Zed Attack Proxy)
Limited enterprise support options, Limited to web application testing, May generate false positives requiring manual review, No built-in SAST capabilities, No mobile app security testing, Requires manual configuration for complex applications, Requires security expertise to use effectively, Steep learning curve for advanced features
| Attribute | Burp Suite | ZAP (Zed Attack Proxy) |
|---|---|---|
| Primary testing surface | Security | Security |
| Primary capability | Security | Security |
| License and pricing | freemium | free · open source |
| Free trial | No | No |
| Free-tier limit | Free community edition with essential manual tools for web security testing | Not listed in catalog |
| Complexity | intermediate | intermediate |
| Team fit | enterprise, large, medium, small | enterprise, large, medium, small |
| Test authoring languages | Java, JavaScript, Python, REST API | Java, JavaScript, Python, REST API |
| Supported platforms | Java, Linux, macOS, Windows | CLI, Docker, Linux, macOS, Web, Windows |
| MCP server | No | No |
| Key features (catalog) | API security testing, Auto and manual OAST testing (Burp Collaborator), Automated crawling and content discovery, Bug bounty hunting support, Burp Comparer for response comparison, Burp Decoder for encoding/decoding, Burp Intruder for custom attacks, Burp Repeater for request manipulation, Burp Sequencer for randomness analysis, CI/CD integration capabilities +18 more | Active scanning capabilities, API security testing, Authentication support, Automated security scanning, CI/CD integration, Community-driven development, Comprehensive reporting, Cross-platform support (Windows, Mac, Linux), Docker container support, Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST) +9 more |
| Limitations (catalog) | Community Edition has limited features, Limited to web application testing, May generate false positives requiring manual review, No mobile app security testing, No SAST capabilities, Professional version requires paid license ($475), Requires security expertise to use effectively, Resource intensive for large applications +1 more | Limited enterprise support options, Limited to web application testing, May generate false positives requiring manual review, No built-in SAST capabilities, No mobile app security testing, Requires manual configuration for complex applications, Requires security expertise to use effectively, Steep learning curve for advanced features |
How the trade-offs apply to your team
Guidance below is inferred only from catalog differences. It is not a winner pick.
Consider Burp Suite if…
- you need coverage for Java
- you care about Auto and manual OAST testing (Burp Collaborator) and Automated crawling and content discovery
Consider ZAP (Zed Attack Proxy) if…
- you need coverage for CLI, Docker, Web
- open source matters for your team
- you care about Active scanning capabilities and Authentication support
Questions to verify before choosing
- Confirm current pricing and packaging on the Burp Suite and ZAP (Zed Attack Proxy) websites.
- Trial both tools against a real slice of your application, not a demo site.
- Verify the exact browser, device, or OS matrix you must support.