Two essential security testing approaches, but very different in scope, cost, and depth. Here's how to choose the right one for your application.
Start with automated scanning. Get results in minutes.
Automated tools checking for known issues
Human experts manually exploiting vulnerabilities
| Aspect | Vulnerability Scan | Penetration Test |
|---|---|---|
| What It Is | Automated tool that checks for known vulnerabilities and misconfigurations | Human experts manually attempting to exploit vulnerabilities in your application |
| Time Required | Minutes to hours | Days to weeks |
| Cost | Free to hundreds of dollars | Thousands to tens of thousands of dollars |
| Coverage | Broad - checks many known issues quickly | Deep - explores specific attack chains thoroughly |
| Expertise Needed | Minimal - run the scan and read results | High - requires skilled security professionals |
| False Positives | More common - requires manual verification | Rare - humans verify findings |
| Business Logic Testing | Limited - can't understand your app's logic | Thorough - testers understand and exploit business logic |
| Frequency | Run frequently (every deploy, weekly, etc.) | Periodic (annually, quarterly, or after major changes) |
Running automated checks on every deployment or regularly scheduled intervals
Finding basic issues before investing in manual testing
Quick verification before going live or after changes
Getting security coverage when funds are limited
Checking for OWASP Top 10, misconfigurations, and CVEs
SOC 2, PCI-DSS, HIPAA often require manual penetration testing
Apps processing payments, health data, or personal information
Multi-step workflows, role-based access, or financial transactions
Comprehensive security review before significant public releases
Deep investigation after a breach or suspected compromise
Most security programs use both vulnerability scanning and penetration testing. They serve different purposes and complement each other.
Use automated scanning continuously, then bring in pentesters for major milestones or compliance.
Automated scans catch regressions; periodic pentests find complex issues.
Don't waste pentest budget on issues a scanner could find. Fix automated findings, then get manual testing.
Before investing in penetration testing, make sure you've addressed the basics. Our free scanner checks for common vulnerabilities in minutes.
Scan Your App FreeFor simple applications with no sensitive data, scanning may be sufficient. However, if you handle payments, health data, or personal information, or need compliance certifications, penetration testing is typically required. Scanners and pentests complement each other - they don't replace one another.
Best practice is to run scans on every deployment (integrated into CI/CD) plus weekly or monthly comprehensive scans. Many teams also run scans before and after any significant changes. The more frequently you scan, the sooner you catch issues.
Penetration testing costs vary widely: simple web app pentests start around $2,000-5,000, mid-complexity applications run $5,000-15,000, and comprehensive enterprise pentests can exceed $50,000. Pricing depends on application complexity, scope, and tester expertise.
Before a pentest: 1) Run automated scans and fix obvious issues - don't pay pentesters to find things a scanner catches. 2) Document your application's scope and functionality. 3) Set up a staging environment for testing. 4) Prepare credentials for different user roles. 5) Have developers available to answer questions.
Modern scanners are quite accurate for known issues but do produce false positives (flagging issues that aren't real vulnerabilities) and false negatives (missing real issues). Quality scanners minimize both, but always verify critical findings manually. Scanners excel at finding known patterns but can't understand business context.
It depends on the compliance framework. PCI-DSS requires both quarterly vulnerability scans AND annual penetration testing. SOC 2 requires vulnerability management (often automated scans) and typically includes penetration testing. Check your specific compliance requirements - many mandate both types of testing.