The CI/CD-Native Alternative to Snyk DAST

Q: We already use Snyk for SAST and SCA, shouldn't we use Snyk DAST for consistency?

Platform consistency sounds appealing, but DAST is too critical to accept a bundled offering when a purpose-built alternative exists. StackHawk is best-of-breed DAST that integrates directly with Snyk via a native integration, so you get correlated findings showing which Snyk code issues are exploitable at runtime—without sacrificing DAST quality. A best-of-breed approach gives you Snyk's strengths in SAST/SCA and StackHawk's strengths in DAST.

Q: How does scan performance and speed compare between the two platforms?

StackHawk completes targeted API and application scans in minutes by running tests against only the services and endpoints affected by each code change. Snyk DAST executes in their cloud environment with scan times that vary based on application size and complexity. For teams with high deployment frequency, StackHawk's speed advantage compounds—faster scans mean developers receive feedback while context is fresh on every commit, not just periodically.

Q: What if we need to test GraphQL or gRPC APIs?

StackHawk provides first-class, native support for GraphQL and gRPC APIs with automatic discovery and comprehensive security testing out of the box. Snyk DAST has limited documentation and support for these modern API protocols. If your architecture relies on GraphQL or gRPC—increasingly common in microservices environments—StackHawk provides meaningfully better coverage.

Q: How do the pricing models differ for growing engineering teams?

StackHawk uses transparent per-developer pricing with unlimited applications and scanning, making costs predictable and linear as your team grows. Snyk bundles DAST into enterprise tiers with custom pricing that typically requires sales negotiation. For teams already paying for Snyk SAST/SCA, adding Snyk DAST may require an enterprise tier upgrade, whereas StackHawk can be adopted independently at a known per-developer cost.

StackHawk delivers dynamic testing for modern development teams, with native support for REST, GraphQL, gRPC, and SOAP APIs, unlimited scans across unlimited applications, and seamless integration into CI/CD pipelines, giving developers instant feedback as they work.

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Why Choose StackHawk Over Snyk DAST?

Unlike Snyk DAST (formerly Probely), which was acquired and added to Snyk’s platform, StackHawk is purpose-built for dynamic application security testing in modern CI/CD workflows and enables individual developers to catch and fix vulnerabilities before they deploy code. From comprehensive API support to config-as-code implementation and unlimited parallel scanning, StachHawk matches the pace of AI-driven development and microservices-driven architectures without platform lock-in.

Trusted by the Following Flocks

Purpose-Built for CI/CD

StackHawk is designed from day one to actually run inside CI/CD pipelines with Docker-based deployment, native integrations with all major source code management systems, and config-as-code implementation that version controls security testing alongside application code. Developers get immediate feedback in build logs, PR checks, and the tools they already use to enable same-day remediation when context is fresh and fixes are cheapest. Snyk DAST was added to Snyk’s platform through the Probely acquisition, offering DAST as one component alongside the rest of its application security testing capabilities. While integration with CI/CD is supported, the tool is primarily used as a standalone cloud scanner with UI-based configuration rather than pipeline-native automation, requiring more setup overhead and offering less customization for complex development workflows.

A 5-star G2 review from Todd L., Senior Site Reliability Engineer, praises CI integration and AppSec Risk Prioritization for identifying vulnerabilities early and preventing tech debt.

A dashboard displaying gRPC-Beak-Performance scan results: 11 high, 32 medium, and 43 low issues. Findings include SQL Injection and Path Traversal, with AppSec Risk Prioritization applied to highlight high-criticality risks.

Complete API Coverage for Modern Architectures

StackHawk provides native, out-of-the-box support for REST, SOAP, GraphQL, and gRPC APIs with automatic discovery and testing capabilities. Modern microservices architectures get comprehensive coverage without workarounds, with custom attack templates to address unique API behaviors and business logic vulnerabilities that matter most. Snyk DAST offers REST and SOAP API testing, but lacks native support for GraphQL and gRPC protocols that are increasingly common in cloud-native applications. Teams building with modern API architectures face coverage gaps and must invest additional engineering time to work around tool limitations or accept incomplete security testing.

Unlimited Scale Without Platform Lock-In

StackHawk offers transparent pricing with unlimited scans across unlimited applications—no concurrency restrictions, no surprise costs, no forced platform consolidation. Teams can test dozens of microservices in parallel across multiple environments in their existing security and DevOps toolchains without hitting artificial limits and having to wait for slow scans.

Snyk DAST’s pricing and capabilities are tied to Snyk’s broader platform, with scan concurrency and volume potentially restricted based on licensing tier. While integration with Snyk’s SAST and SCA creates a unified view, organizations using other tools for static analysis or dependency scanning may face redundancy costs and platform pressure that limit flexibility and may introduce latency.

Kaakaws From Our Customers

A five-star G2 review by Woody P., Co-Founder & CTO, praises StackHawk for its clarity and AppSec Risk Prioritization, revealing real security issues missed by others and enabling even junior programmers to fix problems while saving costs.

A customer review displays five stars, praising StackHawk for easy setup, top-notch staff and support, and better value compared to larger vendors—especially for AppSec Risk Prioritization. The reviewer is David M., Director of Security.

A customer review on G2 awards five stars to StackHawk's scanners, praising their flexibility, integration, and custom scanning capability for Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST). The reviewer is a verified user in information technology.

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Snyk DAST vs StackHawk Feature Comparison Guide

See the StackHawk Difference

Features

StackHawk

Snky DAST

Developer Experience

Actionable vulnerability feedback integrated into every pull request with clear remediation steps that fit developer workflows

Detailed remediation guidance, but the security-focused UI and workflow results in delayed feedback to developers

API Discovery

Source code-driven discovery finds internal and public-facing APIs before deployment, preventing exposure

External domain discovery finds APIs only after they've been exposed

API Security Testing

Comprehensive testing for all API types: REST, SOAP, GraphQL, and gRPC

Scans REST and SOAP APIs only

CI/CD Integration

Native pipeline integration across all major platforms with scans that complete within standard build times

Limited support for CI/CD integration, primarily used for scheduled scans in production

Business Logic Testing

Deterministic tests support detection of complex business logic flaws with full transparency and customization

No support for business logic testing or custom tests

Frequently Asked Questions About StackHawk and Snyk DAST

We already use Snyk for SAST and SCA, shouldn't we use Snyk DAST for consistency?

StackHawk natively integrates with Snyk’s platform to correlate SAST and DAST findings, providing the unified visibility you need without platform lock-in. Many organizations use StackHawk alongside Snyk’s SAST and SCA because StackHawk’s purpose-built DAST capabilities—native GraphQL/gRPC support, unlimited parallel scanning, and deep CI/CD automation—exceed what Snyk’s acquired DAST solution offers. You get best-of-breed dynamic testing that complements your existing Snyk investment rather than settling for an added feature.

How does scan performance and speed compare between the two platforms?

StackHawk’s scans complete in minutes with a distributed architecture that runs locally in your CI/CD environment, enabling unlimited parallel testing across multiple pipelines simultaneously. Snyk DAST (formerly Probely) uses cloud-based scanning that may introduce latency and restrict scan concurrency based on licensing tier, potentially creating bottlenecks when multiple teams need to test simultaneously during peak development hours.

What if we need to test GraphQL or gRPC APIs?

StackHawk provides native, first-class support for GraphQL and gRPC protocols out of the box, designed specifically for modern microservices architectures. Snyk DAST offers REST and SOAP support but lacks native capabilities for GraphQL and gRPC, which means teams building cloud-native applications face coverage gaps or must implement custom workarounds. This can add engineering overhead and reduce security effectiveness.

How do the pricing models differ for growing engineering teams?

StackHawk offers transparent per-developer pricing with unlimited applications and unlimited scans included. There are no concurrency restrictions or hidden costs as you scale. Snyk DAST pricing is bundled into Snyk’s broader platform licensing, which may create cost pressures if you’re only seeking dynamic testing capabilities or already have investments in other SAST/SCA tools.

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