logo svg
logo

October 2, 2025

Top Web Application Penetration Testing Companies 2025 (Reviewed)

Compare the best web app pentesting firms DeepStrike, Rapid7, Secureworks, CrowdStrike, Cobalt, NetSPI, and more with services, strengths, pricing, and compliance coverage.

Mohammed Khalil

Mohammed Khalil

Featured Image
Infographic showing 98% of web applications contain at least one flaw in 2025.

Web applications power today’s businesses, but they are high value targets for hackers. In fact, a recent report found that nearly 98% of web apps have at least one security flaw. That means attackers are constantly probing login pages, APIs, and hidden functions for vulnerabilities.

A web application penetration test or web pentest is a proactive security service in which experts simulate real attacks against your site or API to expose hidden weaknesses. Unlike automated scans, pen tests combine skilled human analysis with tools to thoroughly attack the app.

For example, testers may attempt SQL injection in forms, try to break authentication, or chain multiple small issues to escalate access. In practice, a web pentest might include everything from code review to customized exploits. According to NIST, penetration testing mimics real world attacks to test security controls.

Companies like DeepStrike lead this field by rigorously testing web apps against the OWASP Top 10 and business logic flaws, validating only vulnerabilities that are proven exploitable.

What Is Web Application Penetration Testing?

Process diagram of the web application penetration testing lifecycle.

Web application penetration testing is a specialized service where security professionals actively attack your websites or web services to find vulnerabilities. The goal is to simulate how a real attacker would break in and compromise your data.

Testers follow a structured approach: first they gather information about the app’s technology and functionality, then they use automated scanners like Burp Suite, OWASP ZAP, Nessus to map the site and find low hanging fruit. The crucial step, however, is manual testing.

An expert tester will try injection attacks SQLi, XSS , check for misconfigurations, open cloud storage, exposed APIs , and probe authentication and access controls. They may attempt cross site request forgery CSRF or server side request forgery SSRF to breach user accounts. In short, web app pentesting identifies how an attacker could bypass your safeguards, and produces a report with actionable fixes. For a high level overview, see our what is penetration testing services guide.

Why Web App Pentesting Matters in 2025

Infographic showing OWASP Top 10 risks commonly uncovered in web application penetration tests.

Web application vulnerabilities remain a top cause of security incidents. Recent data shows 17% of cyberattacks target web app flaws, and as noted, almost all web apps have some exploitable bug. Common high risk issues like SQL injection CWE 89 alone account for about 19-20% of critical web vulnerabilities.

In 2025, new trends heighten the risk even further: apps increasingly use complex APIs like GraphQL and REST and microservices, expanding the attack surface. For example, modern APIs have unique security challenges see our GraphQL API security and testing guide for details on these emerging risks.

Penetration testing is crucial because automated scans alone can't find everything. A skilled tester can discover hidden logic flaws and chained attacks that a scanner misses. Moreover, pentesting is often required by compliance frameworks: standards like PCI DSS 11.3, SOC 2, HIPAA, and ISO 27001 mandate regular web app testing.

Hiring a reputable pentesting company helps meet audit requirements while improving security. It also aligns with cyber insurance trends: many insurers now require documented pentesting as part of policy underwriting see penetration testing for cyber insurance eligibility .

Finally, doing regular pentests gives you a fresh security baseline. With attacks on web services rising, there’s no substitute for having an outsider try to break in before a real hacker does.

Top Global Web Application Penetration Testing Companies

Below are some of the leading web application penetration testing providers worldwide. Each firm offers robust web app testing, often alongside network, cloud, or mobile assessments. We highlight their strengths:

DeepStrike Manual-First Pentesting with Compliance Precision

DeepStrike penetration testing services website highlighting manual-first pentesting approach simulating real-world cyberattacks."

DeepStrike, headquartered in the US with operations in the UAE, is a manual-first pentesting provider trusted by enterprises needing rigorous testing mapped to compliance frameworks. With expert certifications, real-world attack simulations, and continuous collaboration support, DeepStrike stands out as a global benchmark for high-accuracy penetration testing.

Rapid7 Global Pentesting & Security Platform Leader

"Rapid7 security platform homepage featuring penetration testing, threat detection, and attack surface management solutions."

Rapid7 is a global cybersecurity powerhouse best known for creating Metasploit and offering PTaaS via InsightAppSec. With 11,000+ clients worldwide and expertise in manual + automated testing, Rapid7 is a strong choice for enterprises that want pentesting integrated into a broader security strategy.

Secureworks SpiderLabs Threat-Intelligence Driven Pentesting

"Secureworks cybersecurity services page presenting enterprise-grade penetration testing and threat detection backed by Sophos."

Secureworks, part of Dell Technologies, combines SpiderLabs’ offensive pentest team with CTU’s real-world threat intelligence to deliver highly contextual, enterprise-grade pentests. Their edge lies in bridging pentesting, SOC, and IR services, making them a strong option for organizations seeking a holistic, threat-driven approach.

CrowdStrike Adversary-Emulation with Global Threat Intel

"CrowdStrike cybersecurity platform homepage highlighting acquisition of Pangea to deliver AI-driven detection and response solutions."

CrowdStrike brings its global threat intel and Falcon ecosystem into web, cloud, and identity-layer pentesting. With multi-phase adversary simulations and deep red team exercises, CrowdStrike is best suited for enterprises that want testing integrated with endpoint/identity defense and informed by live attacker TTPs.

BreachLock Fast & Audit-Ready Pentesting-as-a-Service

"BreachLock penetration testing and attack surface discovery platform offering continuous vulnerability management and red teaming."

BreachLock, headquartered in New York, offers a rapid-deployment PTaaS platform blending AI-enhanced scanning with human expertise. With tests launched in 1 day, audit-ready reports, and unlimited free retesting, BreachLock is a strong fit for SMBs and enterprises seeking fast, continuous pentesting at scale.

Cobalt PTaaS Pioneer with Crowdsourced Pentesting

"Cobalt pentesting platform homepage showcasing human-led, AI-powered penetration testing services for vulnerability detection."

Cobalt cobalt.io is a pioneering PTaaS provider that connects organizations with a vetted community of pentesters through its Cobalt Core platform. With tests launching in 24 hours, real-time dashboards, and flexible credit-based pricing, Cobalt appeals to DevOps-driven teams and SaaS firms seeking continuous, agile pentesting.

NetSPI Global Enterprise PTaaS with Resolve™ Platform

"NetSPI penetration testing and PTaaS solutions website highlighting AI-led security, continuous testing, and proactive vulnerability management."

NetSPI is a global penetration testing leader with offices across the US, Canada, UK, and India. Its Resolve™ PTaaS portal delivers continuous collaboration, remediation validation, and unlimited retesting, while its seasoned pentest team provides deep technical assurance. NetSPI is best suited for large enterprises seeking scalable, programmatic pentesting integrated into long-term security strategy.

Packetlabs Manual, Research-Driven Pentesting 95% Manual

"Packetlabs penetration testing services page emphasizing CREST and SOC 2 Type II accredited ethical hacking with impact-first findings."

Packetlabs Canada/US is a manual-first pentest firm with a strong reputation for creative, research-driven testing. With a focus on web/API vulnerabilities, attack-chain simulations, and compliance-ready reporting, Packetlabs is a strong choice for enterprises in finance, healthcare, and tech seeking highly technical manual evaluations.

Rhino Security Labs Boutique Pentesting with Custom Tools & Deep Dives

"Rhino Security Labs website promoting deep-dive penetration testing services to uncover advanced vulnerabilities beyond standard scans."

Rhino Security Labs, based in Seattle, is a boutique penetration testing provider recognized for its manual-first, research-heavy approach. With expertise in web, cloud, mobile, and IoT security, plus custom tooling e.g., Pacu for AWS, Rhino is ideal for organizations seeking a specialized team delivering both technical depth and business-context reporting.

Trustwave SpiderLabs Global Web Application & Enterprise Pentesting

"Trustwave SpiderLabs homepage highlighting global threat experts in penetration testing, incident response, and threat intelligence."

Trustwave’s SpiderLabs is a global offensive security team known for web apps and enterprise-scale pentesting. With mature processes, compliance alignment PCI, HIPAA, GDPR, and ties to incident response, Trustwave is a strong choice for multinationals needing reliable, enterprise-grade testing across geographies.

NCC Group Established Global Consultancy for Application Security

"Cybersecurity company homepage featuring tagline ‘People powered, tech-enabled cyber security’ with image of a professional analyzing code reflected in glasses."

NCC Group nccgroup.com is a 25+ year global cybersecurity leader providing application and infrastructure pentesting worldwide. With CREST accreditation, ISO authorship, and seasoned consultants, NCC Group is ideal for organizations seeking an established, methodologically rigorous partner with global reach and credibility.

How a Web App Pentest Works Step by Step

  1. Planning & Scoping: Define the testing targets domains, subdomains, APIs and rules. Decide on black box/grey box/white box scope, provide any login credentials, and set testing dates/duration.
  2. Reconnaissance: Gather information on the application tech stack, endpoints, hidden pages . This involves both manual and automated discovery.
  3. Automated Scanning: Use tools like Burp Suite, OWASP ZAP, Nessus to crawl the app and identify common issues SQL injection points, XSS, exposed services .
  4. Manual Testing: The core phase. Attempt exploits based on application logic. Testers try injections, broken authentication, access control flaws, file upload vulnerabilities, SSRF/CSRF, and other attacks. They often chain steps e.g., use one flaw to help exploit another .
  5. Exploitation & Validation: Confirm suspected bugs by exploiting them for example, retrieving data, gaining elevated privileges . Only confirmed issues are reported to avoid false positives.
  6. Reporting: Document each finding with reproduction steps, screenshots, and remediation advice. Reports include technical details for developers and an executive summary with prioritized risks.
  7. Retesting: Once fixes are applied, testers re-verify. Leading firms include at least one free retest to ensure all identified vulnerabilities are resolved.

This methodology aligns with best practices NIST SP 800 115 . Effective communication during testing is key: testers often ask questions to clarify app logic and cover hidden functionality.

How to Choose a Web App Penetration Testing Company

Selecting the right pentesting partner can be daunting. Here are key factors to consider:

Expertise & Experience:

Methodology & Compliance:

Testing Model PTaaS vs Traditional :

Black Box vs White Box:

Pricing and ROI:

Deliverables & Retesting:

References & Reviews:

Balance cost with thoroughness. The lowest bid is rarely the best in cybersecurity. Look for partners with strong reputations and high E E A T experience, expertise, authority, trust . For example, make sure they have real life penetration experience, not just checkbox scanners. If you’re drafting requirements, our penetration testing RFP writing guide offers advice on what to include.

Manual vs Automated Testing

Side-by-side comparison of automated vs manual pentesting strengths.

Penetration testing for web apps typically uses both automated scanners and manual techniques. Automated tools like static code analyzers, DAST scanners, or tools in Burp Suite are useful for quickly finding known issues: outdated libraries, simple SQL injections, exposed admin pages, etc.

However, they often report false positives and miss context specific flaws. The real value is manual testing. A skilled tester can do things machines can’t: they understand business logic, chain multiple vulnerabilities, and try creative paths. As one industry guide notes, web pentesting uncovers vulnerabilities that automated scanners often miss.

For example, an automated scan might flag a missing CSRF token on a form. A human tester could use that to craft a cross site request that makes an admin perform an unintended action. Or if one endpoint leaks a user ID and another allows email change, a tester might connect the dots to hijack accounts.

In short, use automation for baseline coverage and speed, but rely on manual analysis for deep assessment. The top pentesting firms integrate both: they run scans for quick wins and then devote most effort to hand testing.

Our manual vs automated penetration testing blog explains why both are important. Always ensure your pentest includes a thorough hands on phase cookie cutter scanning alone is not enough.

Black Box vs White Box vs Grey Box Testing

Comparison of black box, grey box, and white box penetration testing methods.

There are three main testing approaches:

Most commercial web app tests go with grey box or black box providing test accounts for realism . White box code review can be added for deeper assurance. Discuss with your pentester what makes sense.

For example, if your app handles critical data, combining a code review with penetration testing can be worthwhile. Our difference between internal and external penetration tests article covers similar concepts in networking, which can be analogized to black/white box decisions.

Certifications & Standards

Compliance mapping chart showing how penetration testing supports PCI, SOC 2, HIPAA, and ISO 27001.

When evaluating web pentesting firms, certifications and standards matter:

Penetration Testing vs Vulnerability Scanning

Comparison chart contrasting vulnerability scanning (automated checks, potential findings) with penetration testing (human-led exploitation, validated impact) mapped to NIST SP 800-115.

A common question is: what’s the difference between pentesting and scanning? Vulnerability scanners automatically check systems for known issues missing patches, known CVEs, etc. and produce a checklist of potential vulnerabilities. Penetration testing, by contrast, actively exploits vulnerabilities to demonstrate impact.

As NIST points out, pen tests show how well the system tolerates real world attack patterns. For example, a scan might flag a possible SQL injection point, a pentester will try to use it to extract data. In practice, use scanners for broad coverage, but rely on human led pentesting for conclusive proof and complex scenarios see vulnerability assessment vs penetration testing.

Penetration Testing Pricing Models

Infographic showing fixed-price, time-based, and PTaaS pricing options for penetration testing.

Penetration testing costs and pricing models vary:

Each has pros and cons. Fixed is straightforward, subscriptions enable continuous security. Always clarify what’s included URLs, authentication, and retests . For ballpark figures, our penetration testing cost article breaks down typical pricing by scope.

How Pentesting Helps Your Organization

ROI comparison infographic showing high breach costs vs relatively low pentesting investment.

Web app pentesting strengthens security in concrete ways. By finding flaws early, you reduce the risk of costly breaches or outages. A single vulnerability like an admin authentication bypass could lead to a major data leak, catching it in time saves potential millions.

Pentesting also ensures compliance and customer trust auditors and clients often expect proof of third party testing. Moreover, pentests educate developers. The detailed report shows exactly how flaws were exploited, guiding better secure coding practices. Over time, this raises your overall security posture.

In our experience, investing in regular pentesting has a high ROI: preventing just one breach often pays for many tests. Even small and mid sized companies benefit: there are now affordable options for SMBs. See our penetration testing for startups and SMBs guide for specialized offerings.

In 2025, web application security requires more than occasional code fixes, it demands proactive, expert led testing. The companies profiled above from DeepStrike to Rapid7 and others are global leaders in web application penetration testing. Each brings its own strengths, whether it’s deep manual expertise, continuous PTaaS platforms, or integrated threat intelligence.

Your choice depends on factors like budget, scope, and how continuous you want testing to be. Whatever you pick, the key is to ensure the firm has strong E E A T: practical experience with web apps, deep technical expertise, a track record of successful engagements, and transparent, trustworthy reporting.

Ready to strengthen your defenses? If you’re looking to validate your web app security or identify hidden risks, DeepStrike is here to help. Our team of certified experts provides clear, actionable guidance and penetration testing services tailored to your needs.

Call-to-action banner for DeepStrike’s penetration testing services.

Explore our penetration testing services to see how we can uncover vulnerabilities before attackers do. Drop us a line. Our specialists are always ready to dive in and secure your applications.

About the Author:Mohammed Khalil is a Cybersecurity Architect at DeepStrike, specializing in advanced penetration testing and offensive security. With certifications including CISSP, OSCP, and OSWE, he has led numerous red team engagements for Fortune 500 companies. Mohammed focuses on cloud security, application vulnerabilities, and adversary emulation. His work involves dissecting complex attack chains and developing resilient defense strategies for clients in finance, healthcare, and technology sectors.

FAQs

It’s a security assessment where experts actively attack a web application to find vulnerabilities. This goes beyond automated scans by simulating real hacking techniques SQL injection, XSS, authentication bypass, etc. to show how an attacker could exploit your app. See what is penetration testing services for more.

Pentesting firms combine automated scans with human expertise. Skilled testers uncover complex logic flaws and chained exploits that tools alone miss, and they validate findings by demonstrating real attacks, reducing false positives. In other words, expert pentesters think like attackers, catching hidden threats and minimizing noise.

Key factors are experience, case studies, sector knowledge , tester credentials OSCP, CREST, etc. , methodology standards like OWASP or NIST , and deliverables detailed reports, retesting . Also consider pricing model projects vs PTaaS and whether they meet your compliance needs PCI, HIPAA, SOC2 . See the How to Choose section above for details.

Automated tools quickly find known vulnerabilities, but often report false positives and miss contextual flaws. Manual testing is where a human probes the application logic and chains steps creatively. The best approach blends both: use tools for broad coverage and manual techniques for depth our manual vs automated penetration testing blog explains further .

Costs vary. A simple small web app might cost $10K-$20K for a basic test, while complex enterprise applications can cost $50K or more. Some vendors offer subscription or platform pricing. The final price depends on scope size, complexity and required depth. The ROI is generally high: preventing even one breach can justify multiple pentests.

Look for recognized qualifications: testers might hold OSCP, GPEN, CEH, CISSP, etc., and firms may be CREST accredited or ISO 27001 certified. These indicate a skilled, vetted team. Also ensure they follow industry standards like NIST SP 800 115 or OWASP in their methodology.

PTaaS is a cloud based pentesting subscription model. It gives you continuous or on demand access to pentesting tools and collaboration portals, often with unlimited retesting. Companies like Cobalt, BreachLock, and Intruder use PTaaS to deliver fast, collaborative web app testing.

background
Let's hack you before real hackers do

Stay secure with DeepStrike penetration testing services. Reach out for a quote or customized technical proposal today

Contact Us