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Head-to-head · Offensive Security

OWASP ZAP vs Core Impact

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 3 checks side by side
Higher score OWASP ZAP #4 in Offensive Security 9.0/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 0 of 2 features Visit OWASP ZAP
Core Impact #7 in Offensive Security 8.7/10 Paid ✓ 2 of 2 features Visit Core Impact

OWASP ZAP leads on 1 check, Core Impact on 0, and 2 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 3 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreOWASP ZAP · 9.0/10
  • Free planonly OWASP ZAP
  • Most featuresCore Impact · 2 of 2

OWASP ZAP scores higher on our rubric for offensive security: 9.0 against 8.7 out of 10; our editors rank them #4 and #7.

OWASP ZAP offers free plan; Core Impact doesn't.

OWASP ZAP is the better fit for teams seeking free, automated web application testing. Core Impact is the better fit for teams needing mature, automated network assessments.

  • OWASP ZAP fits best

    Teams seeking free, automated web application testing

  • Core Impact fits best

    Teams needing mature, automated network assessments

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Side by side

Feature OWASP ZAP 9.0/10 Visit ↗ Core Impact 8.7/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.0 8.7
Ranking #4 in Offensive Security #7 in Offensive Security
Best for Teams seeking free, automated web application testing Teams needing mature, automated network assessments
Pricing model Free Paid
Starting price Free plan —
Free plan ✓ (best) —
Free trial — —
Deployment Self-hosted, Desktop, Browser extension Self-hosted, Desktop
Platforms Windows, macOS, Linux Windows
Support Community, Docs Email, Live chat, Phone
Integrations 2 integrations 20+ integrations
Built for Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features OWASP ZAP 0/2 · Core Impact 2/2
Automated attacks Not checked yet ✓ (best)
Attack simulation library Not checked yet ✓ (best)
Specs
Deployment Not checked yet Self-hosted
Testing scope Not checked yet External
Listed integrations Not checked yet 20
Our review
Pros
  • Active and passive scans pair with traditional, AJAX, and client-side spiders.
  • Authenticated scans support browser, form, JSON, HTTP/NTLM, and script-based methods.
  • REST API, YAML automation, Docker scans, and GitHub Actions support CI/CD workflows.
  • Certified exploit library with rapid penetration test automation
  • Multi-vector testing, phishing and ransomware simulation
  • 20 integrations plus automated reporting and remediation validation
Cons
  • Self-hosted and desktop deployment puts setup and operation on the team.
  • Scanning focus is web applications and APIs, not a broad security testing suite.
  • Support channels are community and documentation.
  • Windows-only platform limits operating-system flexibility
  • No free plan; licensing is paid across Basic, Pro and Enterprise
  • Self-hosted desktop deployment requires local installation and management
Our verdict

OWASP ZAP is an open-source penetration-testing tool for finding vulnerabilities in web applications. It is suited to developers, testers, and security specialists who want to run manual or automated checks without a paid plan. The product…

Read the review →

Core Impact is Fortra’s penetration-testing platform for security teams running guided or advanced assessments. It combines Rapid Penetration Tests, a commercial library of certified exploits, and testing across networks, endpoints and web…

Read the review →
  1. OWASP ZAPOffensive Security 9.0Free plan
  2. Core ImpactOffensive Security 8.7Paid

Strengths and trade-offs

  • OWASP ZAP — where it wins

    • Active and passive scans pair with traditional, AJAX, and client-side spiders.
    • Authenticated scans support browser, form, JSON, HTTP/NTLM, and script-based methods.
    • REST API, YAML automation, Docker scans, and GitHub Actions support CI/CD workflows.

    Where it doesn't

    • Self-hosted and desktop deployment puts setup and operation on the team.
    • Scanning focus is web applications and APIs, not a broad security testing suite.
    • Support channels are community and documentation.

  • Core Impact — where it wins

    • Certified exploit library with rapid penetration test automation
    • Multi-vector testing, phishing and ransomware simulation
    • 20 integrations plus automated reporting and remediation validation

    Where it doesn't

    • Windows-only platform limits operating-system flexibility
    • No free plan; licensing is paid across Basic, Pro and Enterprise
    • Self-hosted desktop deployment requires local installation and management

More comparisons

All offensive security comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update