Best Datadog App & API Protection Alternatives in 2026
15 API security software our editors would look at instead of Datadog App & API Protection, in our ranking order.
Datadog App & API Protection: A strong fit for observability teams that need API discovery and runtime blocking. Where it falls short: requires datadog infrastructure monitoring.
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Cequence Unified API Protection not yet scored
Best forLarge enterprises needing end-to-end API security
A broad API security platform for enterprises that need discovery through runtime defense.
- Runtime protection
- Specification governance
- Sensitive data detection
—not yet scoredVisit Cequence -
Akamai API Security not yet scored
Best forEnterprises needing broad API visibility and testing
A broad API security platform for enterprises that need discovery, testing, and runtime analysis.
- Runtime protection
- Specification governance
- Sensitive data detection
—not yet scoredVisit Akamai -
Salt Security API Protection Platform not yet scored
Best forCloud-native enterprises with hybrid API estates
Enterprise API security spanning discovery, governance, sensitive data, and runtime threats.
- Runtime protection
- Specification governance
- Sensitive data detection
—not yet scoredVisit Salt Security -
Best forTeams wanting broad API security with a free tier
A broad API security platform with discovery, runtime protection, and a free tier.
- Runtime protection
- Specification governance
- Sensitive data detection
9.0/10★★★★☆Visit Wallarm -
Best forTeams wanting open-source API security with broad coverage
Open-source API security with discovery, testing, posture management, and runtime protection.
- Runtime protection
- Specification governance
- Sensitive data detection
8.0/10★★★★☆Visit Akto -
APIDynamics not yet scored
Best forMulti-cloud teams needing enforcement and monitoring
A broad API security platform for multi-cloud discovery, enforcement, monitoring, and compliance.
- Runtime protection
- Sensitive data detection
- API posture management
—not yet scoredVisit APIDynamics -
Imperva API Security not yet scored
Best forEnterprises needing OWASP-focused API risk reduction
A broad API security platform for enterprises focused on discovery and OWASP risk reduction.
- Runtime protection
- Specification governance
- Sensitive data detection
—not yet scoredVisit Imperva -
ThreatX API and Application Protection not yet scored
Best forTeams needing API and application protection together
A managed platform combining API security, WAF, bot, and DDoS protection.
- Runtime protection
- Specification governance
- Sensitive data detection
—not yet scoredVisit ThreatX -
Prophaze API Security not yet scored
Best forHybrid teams needing broad runtime API controls
Broad API security coverage for hybrid teams, with contact-sales pricing.
- Runtime protection
- Specification governance
- Sensitive data detection
—not yet scoredVisit Prophaze -
Traceable API Security Platform not yet scored
Best forEnterprises wanting full-lifecycle API protection
A broad API security platform for enterprises that need lifecycle coverage from discovery to runtime defense.
- Runtime protection
- Specification governance
- Sensitive data detection
—not yet scoredVisit Traceable -
Palo Alto Networks Cortex Cloud API Security not yet scored
Best forCloud and Linux teams needing API runtime defense
A hybrid API security platform for discovery, risk prioritization and runtime defense.
- Runtime protection
- Specification governance
- Sensitive data detection
—not yet scoredVisit site -
Haltdos not yet scored
Best forHybrid API gateway and WAF control
A hybrid API gateway and WAF platform for discovery, validation, and traffic control.
- Runtime protection
- Specification governance
- Sensitive data detection
—not yet scoredVisit Haltdos -
Best forDevelopers seeking affordable API security testing
Affordable API security testing with governance and enterprise runtime controls.
- Runtime protection
- Specification governance
- Sensitive data detection
8.0/10★★★★☆Visit 42Crunch -
Escape not yet scored
Best forTeams prioritizing authenticated API security testing
Business-logic-aware API security testing with authenticated, multi-role coverage.
—not yet scoredVisit Escape -
Best forSecurity teams needing deep API testing with a free tier
A strong API testing platform for teams that need discovery, attack simulation, and replayable evidence.
- API discovery
5.6/10★★★☆☆Try APISec Platform
Datadog App & API Protection Alternatives: Common Questions
What is the best alternative to Datadog App & API Protection?
Wallarm API Security: #4 in our API Security Software ranking, with an editor score of 9.0 out of 10. A broad API security platform with discovery, runtime protection, and a free tier.
Is there a free alternative to Datadog App & API Protection?
Yes. Wallarm API Security, Akto API Security Platform and APISec Platform have a free plan or a free tier.
Datadog App & API Protection vs Each Alternative
| # | Tool | Free plan | Paid from | API discovery | Runtime protection | API posture management | Sensitive data detection | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | Datadog App & API Protection | No | $31/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9.0 |
| not scored | Cequence Unified API Protection | — | — | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | — |
| not scored | Akamai API Security | — | — | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | — |
| not scored | Salt Security API Protection Platform | — | — | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | — |
| 4 | Wallarm API Security | Yes | — | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9.0 |
| 5 | Akto API Security Platform | Yes | — | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.0 |
| not scored | APIDynamics | — | — | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | — |
| not scored | Imperva API Security | No | — | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | — |
| not scored | ThreatX API and Application Protection | — | — | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | — |
| not scored | Prophaze API Security | — | — | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | — |
| not scored | Traceable API Security Platform | — | — | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | — |
| not scored | Palo Alto Networks Cortex Cloud API Security | — | — | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | — |
| not scored | Haltdos | — | — | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | — |
| 14 | 42Crunch API Security Platform | No | — | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.0 |
| not scored | Escape | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 16 | APISec Platform | Yes | $690/mo | Yes | — | — | — | 5.6 |
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Sep 2026