Security Scanner Comparison
VAS vs Snyk vs OWASP ZAP vs Burp Suite: Which security scanner is right for your web application in 2026?
We compare pricing, ease of use, feature depth, and vibe-coding support across the four most popular security scanning tools. Whether you built your app with Lovable, Cursor, or traditional code, find the right scanner for your needs.
Starter Scan from $5 · No account required
Built for vibe-coded apps
Developer-first security platform
Open-source web app scanner
Enterprise penetration testing
Why This Comparison Matters in 2026
The security scanning landscape has changed dramatically. In 2024 and 2025, vibe coding went mainstream. Millions of developers began building production applications with AI tools like Lovable, Bolt.new, Cursor, Windsurf, and v0. These tools generate functional code at extraordinary speed, but they also introduce a new class of security vulnerabilities that traditional scanners were never designed to detect.
Traditional security scanners like Snyk, OWASP ZAP, and Burp Suite were built for a different era. Snyk excels at scanning dependencies and container images for known CVEs. OWASP ZAP is the gold standard for open-source dynamic application security testing (DAST). Burp Suite is the tool of choice for professional penetration testers. Each has decades of development behind it.
But none of them understand the specific patterns of vibe-coded applications. When a developer uses Lovable to generate a Supabase-backed app, the most critical security question is not whether the app is vulnerable to SQL injection. It is whether Row Level Security is properly configured, whether the Supabase service role key is exposed in client-side code, and whether the AI-generated authentication logic actually enforces authorization. These are the checks that VAS was built for.
This comparison helps you understand which tool is right for your specific situation. If you are a solo developer who built your MVP with an AI coding tool, your needs are very different from a security team at a Fortune 500 company. Let us break down exactly where each scanner excels and where it falls short.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
Ease of Use
| Feature | VAS | Snyk | ZAP | Burp |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Setup time | < 1 min | 5-15 min | 30-60 min | 1-2 hours |
| Technical expertise required | None | Low | Medium-High | High |
| One-click scanning | ||||
| Plain English reports | ||||
| Remediation guidance | Basic | Basic |
Vibe Coding Checks
| Feature | VAS | Snyk | ZAP | Burp |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Supabase RLS detection | ||||
| Firebase rules analysis | ||||
| Exposed API key detection | ||||
| AI platform fingerprinting | ||||
| Client-side auth detection | Partial | Partial | ||
| Vibe-coding specific remediation |
Traditional Security
| Feature | VAS | Snyk | ZAP | Burp |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| XSS detection | ||||
| SQL injection | Basic | |||
| Security headers | ||||
| CSRF detection | ||||
| Dependency scanning | ||||
| Container scanning |
Enterprise Features
| Feature | VAS | Snyk | ZAP | Burp |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CI/CD integration | Coming soon | |||
| Compliance reporting | ||||
| Team management | ||||
| API access | Coming soon | |||
| Custom rules | ||||
| SBOM generation |
Detailed Scanner Breakdown
VAS (Vibe App Scanner)
VAS is the only security scanner purpose-built for vibe-coded applications. It understands the specific technology stacks and patterns used by AI coding platforms. When you scan a URL with VAS, it automatically detects whether your app was built with Lovable, Bolt, Cursor, or other vibe coding tools and adjusts its checks accordingly.
Unlike traditional scanners that require you to integrate into your CI/CD pipeline or install local software, VAS works by scanning your deployed application directly. You paste your URL, and within minutes you get a comprehensive report covering security headers, exposed credentials, authentication flaws, RLS configurations, and platform-specific vulnerabilities.
VAS also generates AI-readable markdown remediation files. Instead of a generic “fix your security headers” message, you get specific instructions that can be fed back into your AI coding tool to implement the fix automatically. This closes the loop: the AI built the vulnerability, and VAS helps the AI fix it.
Strengths
- Purpose-built for vibe-coded apps
- Zero setup - just paste a URL
- AI-readable remediation output
- Detects Supabase/Firebase misconfigurations
- Affordable for solo developers
Limitations
- No dependency/container scanning
- No CI/CD integration yet
- No compliance reporting
- Newer tool with smaller community
Snyk
Snyk is the industry-leading developer security platform, used by millions of developers worldwide. It excels at finding vulnerabilities in open-source dependencies, container images, infrastructure as code, and source code. If you need to know whether your npm packages have known CVEs, Snyk is the best tool for the job.
Snyk integrates deeply into the development workflow. It plugs into GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket, and every major CI/CD platform. It can automatically create pull requests to fix vulnerable dependencies. For enterprise teams, it provides compliance dashboards, license scanning, and SBOM generation.
However, Snyk operates primarily at the code and dependency level. It does not scan your deployed application for runtime security issues. It will not tell you that your Supabase RLS is disabled or that your security headers are missing. For vibe-coded applications, Snyk catches one piece of the puzzle (dependency vulnerabilities) but misses the most common issues that AI code generation introduces.
Strengths
- Best-in-class dependency scanning
- Container and IaC scanning
- Deep CI/CD integration
- Auto-fix PRs for dependencies
- Enterprise compliance features
Limitations
- No runtime/DAST scanning
- No vibe-coding awareness
- Does not check security headers
- Expensive at scale
OWASP ZAP
OWASP ZAP (Zed Attack Proxy) is the world's most widely used open-source web application security scanner. Maintained by the Open Web Application Security Project, it has been the go-to free DAST scanner for over a decade. It provides automated scanning, manual testing capabilities, and an extensive marketplace of add-ons.
ZAP is incredibly powerful in the right hands. It can spider your application, actively probe for vulnerabilities, intercept and modify HTTP traffic, and generate detailed reports. Security professionals use it daily for penetration testing and security assessments. It supports automation through its API and can be integrated into CI/CD pipelines.
The trade-off is complexity. Setting up ZAP effectively requires understanding of web security concepts, scan policies, and attack patterns. The results can be noisy with false positives, and interpreting them requires expertise. For a developer who just built an app with Lovable and wants a quick security check, ZAP presents a steep learning curve. It also has no awareness of vibe-coding patterns, BaaS configurations, or AI-generated code issues.
Strengths
- Completely free and open source
- Deep DAST scanning capabilities
- Large community and add-ons
- Manual testing proxy mode
- API for automation
Limitations
- Steep learning curve
- High false positive rate
- No vibe-coding awareness
- Requires local installation
Burp Suite
Burp Suite by PortSwigger is the professional-grade web security testing platform. It is the industry standard for penetration testers and security consultants worldwide. Burp Suite Professional provides the most thorough automated scanning available, combined with powerful manual testing tools that let experts probe deeply into application logic.
The automated scanner in Burp Suite Professional covers an extensive range of vulnerabilities including advanced injection techniques, authentication flaws, business logic errors, and more. Burp Suite Enterprise extends this with CI/CD integration, scheduled scanning, role-based access control, and compliance dashboards suitable for large organizations.
For solo developers and small startups, Burp Suite is often overkill. The pricing starts at $449/year for Professional (per-user) and jumps to $8,395/year per scanning agent for Enterprise. The tool requires significant security knowledge to use effectively. Like ZAP, it has no understanding of vibe-coding patterns or BaaS configurations. It will find traditional vulnerabilities with excellent accuracy but will miss the specific issues that plague AI-generated applications.
Strengths
- Most thorough automated scanner
- Best-in-class manual testing tools
- Industry standard for pentesting
- Enterprise CI/CD integration
- Lowest false positive rate
Limitations
- Expensive for individuals
- Requires security expertise
- No vibe-coding awareness
- No dependency scanning
Pricing Comparison
VAS
Solo devs & small teams building with AI tools
Snyk
Development teams needing dependency & container scanning
OWASP ZAP
Security-savvy developers who want a free, powerful tool
Burp Suite
Enterprise security teams & professional pentesters
Which Scanner Should You Choose?
Solo Developer / Indie Hacker Building with AI Tools
You built your app with Lovable, Bolt, Cursor, or v0. You need a quick security check before launch. You do not have a security background, and you do not want to spend hours configuring tools.
Small Startup with a Development Team (5-20 devs)
You have a growing codebase with multiple contributors. You need dependency scanning in your CI/CD pipeline and want automated vulnerability detection on every pull request. You may also be using AI tools for rapid prototyping.
Security-Savvy Developer on a Budget
You have web security knowledge and want to do thorough testing. You are comfortable with complex tools and want the deepest possible analysis without spending money. You have time to configure and learn.
Enterprise Security Team / Professional Pentester
You need the deepest possible vulnerability detection, compliance reporting, and integration with your existing security workflow. Budget is not the primary constraint. Thoroughness and accuracy are critical.
The Layered Security Approach
No single scanner catches everything. The most effective security strategy uses multiple tools at different layers. Here is how the four scanners complement each other in a comprehensive security program.
Layer 1: Code & Dependencies
Scan your source code and packages for known vulnerabilities before deployment.
Layer 2: AI Code Patterns
Detect vibe-coding-specific issues like exposed keys, missing RLS, and client-side auth.
Layer 3: Application Testing
Actively probe your deployed application for injection, XSS, and logic flaws.
Layer 4: Continuous Monitoring
Ongoing scanning to catch regressions and new vulnerabilities as your app evolves.
Why We Built VAS
We built VAS because we saw a gap that traditional scanners could not fill. In 2025, we watched thousands of developers ship applications built with AI coding tools. These apps looked professional and worked well. But a shocking percentage had critical security flaws that existing scanners could not detect.
The problem was not that developers were careless. The problem was that AI code generation tools optimize for functionality, not security. They generate code that works, but they frequently omit authorization checks, leave BaaS configurations wide open, expose sensitive keys in client bundles, and skip security headers entirely.
Traditional scanners were designed for a world where developers wrote their own code and understood (at least roughly) how their authentication and authorization worked. When an AI generates your auth logic, you may not even know what to check. VAS fills this gap by checking the specific patterns and configurations that AI tools get wrong, and by providing remediation guidance that AI tools can understand and implement.
We are not trying to replace Snyk, ZAP, or Burp Suite. We are the missing layer that makes AI-generated code safe to deploy. Use VAS alongside your existing security tools for the most comprehensive coverage.
Try VAS on Your App
See what traditional scanners miss. Get a comprehensive security report for your vibe-coded application in minutes, not hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which security scanner is best for vibe-coded apps?
VAS (Vibe App Scanner) is purpose-built for vibe-coded applications. It understands the specific patterns and vulnerabilities introduced by AI code generation tools like Lovable, Bolt, Cursor, and v0. Traditional scanners like Snyk and OWASP ZAP are designed for conventionally-developed software and miss many AI-specific issues like exposed Supabase service keys, missing RLS policies, and client-side-only authentication checks.
Is OWASP ZAP still a good free security scanner in 2026?
OWASP ZAP remains an excellent free option for traditional web application security testing. It excels at finding common vulnerabilities like XSS, SQL injection, and CSRF. However, it requires significant technical expertise to configure and interpret results. For vibe-coded applications specifically, ZAP will miss platform-specific issues like Supabase RLS misconfigurations, Firebase rule problems, and AI-generated authentication flaws. It works best as part of a broader security testing strategy.
How does VAS pricing compare to Burp Suite and Snyk?
VAS is significantly more affordable: $5 for a Starter Scan, $10 for a Launch Scan, or $29/month for Pro. Burp Suite Professional costs $449/year per user, and Snyk's paid plans start at $25/month for developers but enterprise pricing can reach thousands per month. For solo developers and small startups building with AI tools, VAS offers the best value with purpose-built vibe-coding checks included.
Can I use multiple security scanners together?
Yes, and it is actually recommended for production applications handling sensitive data. Each scanner has different strengths: VAS catches vibe-coding-specific issues, Snyk handles dependency vulnerabilities, and tools like Burp Suite or ZAP provide deeper penetration testing. A layered approach gives the most comprehensive coverage. For most vibe-coded MVPs, starting with VAS and adding tools as you scale is a practical approach.
Do I need a security scanner if I use GitHub's built-in security features?
GitHub's Dependabot and code scanning (powered by CodeQL) are excellent for dependency vulnerabilities and some code patterns, but they operate at the code level. They cannot test your deployed application's runtime behavior - things like missing security headers, exposed API endpoints, permissive CORS, or Supabase RLS misconfigurations. DAST scanners like VAS test the live application and catch issues that code-level tools cannot detect.
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Last updated: February 2026