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ZAP alternatives: 4 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Nov 1, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave ZAP: interface is dated and busier than Burp or Caido, and windows and Linux builds need Java 17 or newer installed. We ranked 4 alternatives by how directly each one replaces ZAP, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Burp Suite currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Burp Suite logoBurp SuiteFree plan + paidNoWindows, macOS, Linux7 of 766.5
2Caido logoCaidoFree plan + paidNoWindows, macOS, Linux4 of 462.6
3mitmproxy logomitmproxyOpen sourceYesWindows, macOS, Linux4 of 452.6
4Tenable Nessus logoTenable NessusPaidNoWindows, macOS, Linux +14 of 440.0
  1. Burp Suite logo

    1. Burp SuiteTop pick

    Best for: Pentesters and bug bounty hunters doing hands-on web application testing

    Free plan + paidWindows, macOS, Linux

    66.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from ZAP

    The industry standard, with a more polished UI and a stronger paid scanner.

    Pros

    • Industry-standard proxy, Repeater and Intruder workflow
    • Free Community Edition for learning and manual testing
    • Large extension library and free training from PortSwigger

    Cons

    • The scanner and full-speed Intruder require the paid Professional licence
    • Community Edition can't save projects
    • Java-based UI can be heavy on memory during big tests
    Visit Burp Suite Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.3100
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Burp Suite a good ZAP alternative?

    Verified facts

    7 of 7 verified
    Free edition
    Community Edition
    Checked Oct 29, 2026portswigger.net(opens source in a new tab)
    Pro-only features
    Project files, full Intruder, vulnerability scanner
    Checked Oct 29, 2026portswigger.net(opens source in a new tab)
    Billing
    Yearly licence terms
    Checked Oct 29, 2026portswigger.net(opens source in a new tab)
    Owner
    PortSwigger Ltd
    Checked Oct 29, 2026portswigger.net(opens source in a new tab)
    Starting price
    $499 (Burp Suite Professional)
    Checked Nov 1, 2026portswigger.net(opens source in a new tab)
    Free plan
    Yes, Community Edition
    Checked Nov 1, 2026portswigger.net(opens source in a new tab)
    Free trial
    Yes (Professional)
    Checked Nov 1, 2026portswigger.net(opens source in a new tab)
  2. Caido logo

    2. Caido

    Best for: Bug bounty hunters and pentesters who want a faster, lighter Burp-style proxy

    Free plan + paidWindows, macOS, Linux

    62.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from ZAP

    Modern, fast web proxy with a cleaner interface and a free tier.

    Pros

    • Free plan includes all core HTTP tools
    • HTTPQL makes filtering large traffic histories quick
    • Headless, API-first design suits automation

    Cons

    • Free plan caps projects, workflows and plugins
    • Smaller plugin ecosystem than Burp Suite
    • AI assistant and backups require a paid plan
    Visit Caido Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.387
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Caido a good ZAP alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Free plan
    Yes, 2 projects and 7 workflows
    Checked Nov 1, 2026caido.io(opens source in a new tab)
    Filtering
    HTTPQL query language
    Checked Nov 1, 2026caido.io(opens source in a new tab)
    AI providers
    Bring your own model
    Checked Nov 1, 2026caido.io(opens source in a new tab)
    Team plan
    Up to 50 seats, shared instance
    Checked Nov 1, 2026caido.io(opens source in a new tab)
  3. mitmproxy logo

    3. mitmproxy

    Best for: Developers and security testers who want a scriptable, free HTTPS proxy

    Open sourceWindows, macOS, Linux

    52.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from ZAP

    Lightweight, scriptable proxy for testers who mostly inspect and modify traffic.

    Pros

    • Free and MIT-licensed
    • Python add-on API for automating rewrites and mocks
    • Supports HTTP/2, HTTP/3 and WebSockets
    • Terminal, web and headless modes

    Cons

    • Less polished GUI than commercial proxies
    • Installing the CA certificate on devices is manual
    • Terminal-first workflow has a learning curve
    Visit mitmproxy Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.346
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.15100
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is mitmproxy a good ZAP alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    License
    MIT
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Protocols
    HTTP/1, HTTP/2, HTTP/3, WebSockets
    Checked Oct 29, 2026mitmproxy.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Web interface
    mitmweb
    Checked Oct 29, 2026mitmproxy.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Scripting
    Python add-ons via mitmdump
    Checked Oct 29, 2026mitmproxy.org(opens source in a new tab)
  4. Tenable Nessus logo

    4. Tenable Nessus

    Best for: Pentesters, consultants and IT teams that need trusted point-in-time vulnerability scans

    PaidSelf-hostableWindows, macOS, Linux, Web

    40.0

    score / 100

    Why switch from ZAP

    Scans hosts and networks for missing patches and known CVEs, not just web apps.

    Pros

    • Large, frequently updated plugin library
    • Clear severity scoring and remediation guidance
    • Compliance and configuration audits in Professional

    Cons

    • Free licence lasts 30 days and covers only 5 IPs
    • Professional costs thousands per year
    • Cheaper editions are limited to non-commercial use
    Visit Tenable Nessus Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.312
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Tenable Nessus a good ZAP alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Free licence
    30 days, up to 5 IPs
    Checked Nov 1, 2026tenable.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Essentials Plus price
    $199/year
    Checked Nov 1, 2026tenable.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Nessus Professional price
    $4,790
    Checked Nov 1, 2026tenable.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Commercial use
    Professional only
    Checked Nov 1, 2026tenable.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best ZAP alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Burp Suite logo

Best ZAP alternative for most people

Burp Suite

The industry standard, with a more polished UI and a stronger paid scanner.

mitmproxy logo

Best ZAP alternative for a free option

mitmproxy

Lightweight, scriptable proxy for testers who mostly inspect and modify traffic.

Caido logo

Best ZAP alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Caido

Modern, fast web proxy with a cleaner interface and a free tier.

mitmproxy logo

Best ZAP alternative for open source

mitmproxy

Lightweight, scriptable proxy for testers who mostly inspect and modify traffic.

Tenable Nessus logo

Best ZAP alternative for self-hosting

Tenable Nessus

Scans hosts and networks for missing patches and known CVEs, not just web apps.

Burp Suite logo

Best ZAP alternative for Mac

Burp Suite

The industry standard, with a more polished UI and a stronger paid scanner.

Burp Suite logo

Best ZAP alternative for Windows

Burp Suite

The industry standard, with a more polished UI and a stronger paid scanner.

Burp Suite logo

Best ZAP alternative for Linux

Burp Suite

The industry standard, with a more polished UI and a stronger paid scanner.

Tenable Nessus logo

Best ZAP alternative for working in the browser

Tenable Nessus

Scans hosts and networks for missing patches and known CVEs, not just web apps.

ZAP alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to ZAP?

Burp Suite ranks first right now. The industry standard, with a more polished UI and a stronger paid scanner. Caido and mitmproxy follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to ZAP?

Yes. Burp Suite (free plan + paid), Caido (free plan + paid) and mitmproxy (open source) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to ZAP?

Yes: mitmproxy.

Which ZAP alternatives work on Linux?

Burp Suite, Caido, mitmproxy and Tenable Nessus run on Linux.

Why do people switch from ZAP?

The complaints we hear most: interface is dated and busier than Burp or Caido; windows and Linux builds need Java 17 or newer installed; releases are unsigned, so operating systems show warnings on install.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces ZAP, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.