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HCL AppScan vs PortSwigger Burp Suite Enterprise Edition comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Aug 13, 2024

Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Categories and Ranking

HCL AppScan
Ranking in Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST)
1st
Average Rating
7.8
Reviews Sentiment
6.9
Number of Reviews
43
Ranking in other categories
Application Security Tools (14th), Static Application Security Testing (SAST) (10th)
PortSwigger Burp Suite Ente...
Ranking in Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST)
5th
Average Rating
8.0
Reviews Sentiment
7.2
Number of Reviews
12
Ranking in other categories
Vulnerability Management (24th)
 

Mindshare comparison

As of April 2025, in the Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST) category, the mindshare of HCL AppScan is 16.3%, down from 27.2% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of PortSwigger Burp Suite Enterprise Edition is 13.2%, up from 1.2% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST)
 

Featured Reviews

Rishi Anupam - PeerSpot reviewer
A stable and scalable scanning solution with good reporting feature
The solution is used for the vulnerabilities scan on the network side The reporting part is the most valuable feature. The penetration testing feature should be included. I have been using the solution for four years. It is a stable solution. I rate it seven out of ten. It is a scalable…
Hasan Abufreiha - PeerSpot reviewer
Used for web application auditing and security audits for web applications
I would advise users to limit Burp Suite usage to specific scenarios and applications. Users should use the solution as an expert testing tool instead of using it as a general scanner or for information gathering in general. The tool might be overwhelming initially for new users, but it will be easy after you get used to the UI, features, and options. PortSwigger Burp Suite Enterprise Edition has been doing an amazing job for years compared to other similar tools. Overall, I rate the solution an eight out of ten.

Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Pros

"The most valuable feature of HCL AppScan is its integration with the SDLC, particularly during the coding phase."
"This is a stable solution."
"It highlights, with several grades of severity, the types of vulnerabilities, so we can focus on the most severe security vulnerabilities in the code."
"The security and the dashboard are the most valuable features."
"The most valuable feature of the solution is the scanning or security part."
"We use it as a security testing application."
"AppScan's most valuable features include its ability to identify vulnerabilities accurately, provide detailed remediation steps, and the newly introduced AI-powered features that enhance its functionality further."
"The solution is cheap."
"The product is easy to use."
"The product's initial setup phase was super easy."
"This tool helps identify vulnerabilities. We then provide the report to the developers, who address the issues identified automatically. Its most valuable feature is CI/CD integration."
"The most appreciated functionality of PortSwigger Burp Suite is its ability to perform brute force attacks automatically."
"I like normal dynamic scanning, general web applications scanning, and vulnerability assessments."
"Parallel scans can be done with PortSwigger Burp Suite Enterprise Edition."
"The initial setup is straightforward."
"The most valuable part of it was probably the ability to intercept and modify calls."
 

Cons

"We have experienced challenges when trying to integrate this solution with other products. When you compare it with the other SecOps products, the quality of the output is too low. It is not a new-age product. It is very outdated."
"It's a little bit basic when you talk about the Web Services. If AppScan improved its maturity on Web Services testing, that would be good."
"If HCL AppScan is able to alert the clients over email once the scan is complete, it would be great. Right now, HCL AppScan doesn't let me know if the scanning part is finished or not, because of which I have to come back and check mostly."
"Improvement can be done as per customer requirements."
"They should have a better UI for dashboards."
"In future releases, I would like to see more aggressive reports. I would also like to see less false positives."
"​IBM Security AppScan Source is rather hard to use​."
"Improving usability could enhance the overall experience with AppScan. It would be beneficial to make the solution more user-friendly, ensuring that everyone can easily navigate and utilize its features."
"The solution is a bit expensive."
"It would be beneficial if Burp Suite provided predefined payloads for each attack category, such as SQL injection and cross-site scripting, to automate some tasks more effectively."
"From my personal experience, the solution's performance could be improved."
"There's definitely room for improvement. There are lots of false positives. Once I do the manual assessment, it comes as a false positive. They need to improve the Enterprise Edition, especially the part that gives false positives."
"Scalability could be better."
"The stability of the scans could be improved."
"The implementation of the solution is quite complicated and could be easier."
"PortSwigger Burp Suite Enterprise Edition should incorporate a static code analysis feature. One main issue we encounter is false positives. False positives can be challenging for developers."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"Our clients are willing to pay the extra money. It is expensive."
"I would rate the product's pricing a nine out of ten. The product's pricing is expensive compared to the features that they offer."
"The price is very expensive."
"AppScan is a little bit expensive. IBM needs to work a little bit on the pricing model, decreasing the license cost."
"The price of HCL AppScan is okay, in my opinion. You just buy HCL AppScan and don't pay anything anymore, meaning it is just a one-time purchase."
"The solution is moderately priced."
"The tool was expensive."
"The product is moderately priced, though it's an investment due to extensive code analysis needs."
"PortSwigger Burp Suite Enterprise Edition is expensive compared to other solutions."
"PortSwigger Burp Suite Enterprise Edition is neither a cheap nor an expensive product. PortSwigger Burp Suite Enterprise Edition is a good tool for companies."
"For Professional, it's about $400 per year."
"Although the solution can be a bit expensive for small companies, its pricing is fairly reasonable for its capabilities."
"The tool's pricing is reasonable and costs around 400 dollars per year."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
18%
Financial Services Firm
14%
Government
11%
Manufacturing Company
10%
Financial Services Firm
20%
Computer Software Company
13%
Manufacturing Company
9%
Government
7%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
 

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about HCL AppScan?
The most valuable feature of HCL AppScan is its integration with the SDLC, particularly during the coding phase.
What needs improvement with HCL AppScan?
AppScan needs to improve its handling of false positives. It also requires enhancements in customer support, similar to what Veracode provides. Regularly scheduling calls with clients to discuss fe...
What is your primary use case for HCL AppScan?
The primary use case for AppScan is for security purposes. I compare AppScan with other tools such as Veracode. We use AppScan for vulnerability detection and auto-remediation of vulnerabilities wi...
What do you like most about PortSwigger Burp Suite Enterprise Edition?
Parallel scans can be done with PortSwigger Burp Suite Enterprise Edition.
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for PortSwigger Burp Suite Enterprise Edition?
I am using the Community Edition, which is free, however, I understand there might be extra expenses for additional features or services.
What needs improvement with PortSwigger Burp Suite Enterprise Edition?
It would be beneficial if Burp Suite provided predefined payloads for each attack category, such as SQL injection and cross-site scripting, to automate some tasks more effectively.
 

Also Known As

IBM Security AppScan, Rational AppScan, AppScan
No data available
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

Essex Technology Group Inc., Cisco, West Virginia University, APIS IT
Nasa, Disney, Dow Jones, Iberia Bank, IBM, Ernest and Young, Apple, Ryanair, Thyssenkrupp, Delivery Hero
Find out what your peers are saying about HCL AppScan vs. PortSwigger Burp Suite Enterprise Edition and other solutions. Updated: March 2025.
848,716 professionals have used our research since 2012.