Which is easier to use, VAS or OWASP ZAP?

VAS is significantly easier to use. You enter a URL, click scan, and get results in 3-5 minutes with no setup required. OWASP ZAP is a powerful but complex tool that requires installation, configuration, understanding of security concepts, and scans can take 30 minutes to several hours depending on settings.

Is OWASP ZAP better than VAS for security testing?

OWASP ZAP is more comprehensive for traditional penetration testing—it can intercept HTTP traffic, perform advanced fuzzing, and execute sophisticated attack sequences. VAS is specialized for AI-generated applications and better at finding issues like exposed API keys, missing Supabase RLS, and Firebase misconfigurations. They solve different problems.

Yes, OWASP ZAP is completely free and open source. However, it requires time investment to learn and configure effectively. VAS offers a free Quick Scan or $29/month for 4 deep scans, with no setup or security expertise required.

Can VAS replace OWASP ZAP?

No, they serve different purposes. VAS provides quick, focused security checks for AI-generated applications before launch. OWASP ZAP is a comprehensive penetration testing platform for security professionals. Many teams use VAS for rapid pre-launch checks and ZAP for deeper security assessments of critical applications.

Does OWASP ZAP detect Supabase RLS issues?

No, OWASP ZAP does not have specific tests for Supabase Row Level Security or Firebase Security Rules. It's a general-purpose DAST tool. VAS is built specifically for modern AI-generated applications and includes active testing of BaaS security configurations.

How long does a VAS scan take vs OWASP ZAP?

VAS scans typically complete in 3-5 minutes. OWASP ZAP scan duration varies widely based on configuration—a quick scan might take 30 minutes, while a comprehensive active scan can take several hours or longer depending on application size and settings.

VAS

OWASP ZAP

VAS vs OWASP ZAP: Which Security Scanner?

ZAP is a powerful free DAST tool for security professionals. VAS is a focused, easy-to-use scanner built specifically for AI-generated applications. Here's how to choose.

At a Glance

Time to First Scan

VAS: 30 seconds

ZAP: 30+ minutes setup

Technical Expertise

VAS: None required

ZAP: Security knowledge helpful

Cost

VAS: Free Quick Scan

ZAP: Free (your time)

Choose VAS If...

You built your app with Lovable, Bolt, Cursor, or similar AI tools
You want results in minutes, not hours
You need to check Supabase RLS or Firebase Rules
You're not a security expert and want guidance

Choose OWASP ZAP If...

You need deep penetration testing capabilities
You want to intercept and modify HTTP requests
You're comfortable with security tooling
Budget is your primary concern

Feature Comparison

Feature	VAS	OWASP ZAP
AI Code Pattern Detection	Trained on AI-generated patterns	Generic web app scanning
Exposed Secrets Detection	Deep JS bundle analysis	Basic pattern matching
Supabase RLS Testing	Active policy testing	No BaaS support
Firebase Rules Testing	Security rules validation	No Firebase support
Traditional DAST	Core security checks	Comprehensive DAST
SQL Injection Testing	Basic detection	Advanced fuzzing
Setup Required	NoneEnter URL, click scan	SignificantInstall, configure, learn
Time to Results	3-5 minutes	30 min - hoursDepends on config
AI-Ready Export	Markdown for Claude/ChatGPT	HTML/JSON reports
Pricing	Free + $29/mo	Free (open source)

Understanding the Differences

OWASP ZAP: The Power Tool

OWASP ZAP (Zed Attack Proxy) is an incredibly powerful, free, open-source security tool maintained by the OWASP community. It's been the go-to DAST (Dynamic Application Security Testing) tool for security professionals for over a decade.

ZAP can intercept HTTP traffic, modify requests, perform automated scanning, and execute sophisticated attack sequences. It's highly configurable, extensible through plugins, and can be integrated into CI/CD pipelines for automated testing.

However, ZAP has a learning curve. Setting up effective scans requires understanding security concepts, configuring scan policies, and knowing which tests to run. For complex applications, scans can take hours to complete.

VAS: Purpose-Built for AI Apps

VAS takes a different approach. Instead of being a general-purpose security testing platform, it's specifically designed for the types of vulnerabilities that appear in AI-generated web applications.

When you build an app with Lovable, Bolt.new, or Cursor, you face specific security challenges: API keys bundled into JavaScript, Supabase tables without RLS policies, Firebase with open security rules, missing HTTP security headers. VAS knows exactly where to look for these issues.

There's no configuration, no setup, no learning curve. Enter your URL, click scan, and get results in 3-5 minutes with step-by-step guidance on fixing each issue. The AI-ready markdown export means you can paste findings directly into Claude or ChatGPT to help implement fixes.

The Real Trade-off: Time vs Money

ZAP is free but costs time—time to learn, time to configure, time to run scans, time to interpret results. For security professionals who use these tools daily, that time investment pays off through deeper capabilities.

VAS offers a free Quick Scan that saves time. If you need a quick security check before launching your Lovable app, you can have actionable results in minutes rather than spending hours learning ZAP.

Complementary Tools

These tools can work together. Use VAS for quick pre-launch checks of your AI-generated applications—it'll catch the exposed secrets, database misconfigurations, and missing headers that AI tools commonly produce. Then use ZAP for deeper penetration testing if your application handles sensitive data or requires compliance with security standards.

Quick Security Check for Your AI App?

VAS scans your Lovable, Bolt, or Cursor application in minutes. No setup, no configuration—just enter your URL and get actionable results.

Run Free Scan Learn More About VAS