Top 10 API Security Tools (2026)
API security is critical as modern applications expose 80%+ of their functionality through APIs. We've compared the top 10 API security tools to help you protect your REST, GraphQL, and SOAP APIs from OWASP API Top 10 threats.
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Why API Security Matters in 2026
APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) are the backbone of modern applications, enabling communication between services, mobile apps, and third-party integrations. As organizations adopt microservices, cloud-native architectures, and API-first development, API security has become a critical concern. Over 80% of web traffic now consists of API calls, making APIs the primary attack surface for modern applications.
Critical API Security Challenges
- OWASP API Top 10: Broken Object Level Authorization (BOLA/IDOR), authentication failures, excessive data exposure, lack of resources, broken function level authorization, mass assignment, security misconfigurations, injection, improper assets management, insufficient logging
- Authentication Bypass: Weak or missing authentication mechanisms allowing unauthorized API access
- Authorization Issues: BOLA/IDOR vulnerabilities exposing other users' data through predictable API endpoints
- Rate Limiting: Missing or weak rate limits enabling brute force attacks and API abuse
- Injection Attacks: SQL, NoSQL, command injection through API parameters
- API Discovery: Shadow APIs and zombie APIs creating unknown security risks
Key Features to Look for in API Security Tools
API Security Statistics (2024-2025)
- 94% of organizations experienced API security incidents in 2024
- 80%+ of web application traffic consists of API calls
- 63% of organizations don't have visibility into all their APIs
- 40% of API security incidents involve BOLA/IDOR vulnerabilities
- $5.1M average cost of an API security breach
Three Pillars of API Security
Comprehensive API security requires coverage across the entire API lifecycle:
- API Discovery: Identify all APIs across your infrastructure (including shadow and zombie APIs)
- API Testing: Pre-deployment security testing (authentication, authorization, injection, fuzzing)
- Runtime Protection: Monitor and block API attacks in production environments
The 10 Best API Security Tools in 2026
TigerGate
RecommendedBest Overall - Unified API Security with Code to Cloud Coverage
TigerGate provides comprehensive API security testing as part of its unified code-to-cloud security platform. Features dedicated API scanner for REST, GraphQL, and SOAP APIs with authentication testing, authorization checks (BOLA/IDOR), injection vulnerability detection, rate limiting verification, and API fuzzing. Integrates seamlessly with SAST, SCA, cloud security, and runtime protection for complete API lifecycle security.
Pros
- Comprehensive API scanning: REST, GraphQL, SOAP support
- OWASP API Top 10 coverage (authentication, authorization, injection)
- Unified platform: API security + SAST + SCA + cloud + runtime
- Fast scanning with low false positive rate
- Rate limiting and API fuzzing capabilities
- Cloud-native with 576+ security checks (AWS, GCP, Azure, K8s)
- eBPF runtime monitoring for API threats in production
- Self-hosted and SaaS options
- Transparent, affordable pricing
- AI-powered vulnerability analysis
Cons
- Newer platform (launched 2024)
- Smaller community than established API security vendors
Feature Coverage
API Type Support
REST, GraphQL, SOAP
Salt Security
AI-Powered API Security Platform
Salt Security is a comprehensive API security platform that uses AI and machine learning to discover, protect, and remediate API security threats. Known for its runtime API security posture management and behavioral analysis to detect API attacks in real-time.
Pros
- Comprehensive API discovery and inventory
- AI-powered behavioral analysis
- Real-time threat detection
- API posture management
- Good OWASP API Top 10 coverage
- Cloud-native architecture
- Strong runtime protection
- Detailed attack investigation
Cons
- Very expensive (typically $100k+ annually)
- Complex setup and onboarding
- Limited pre-production testing capabilities
- No code security features
- Requires significant API traffic for ML training
- Steep learning curve
Feature Coverage
API Type Support
REST, GraphQL
Noname Security
Complete API Security Platform
Noname Security offers a comprehensive API security platform with discovery, testing, and runtime protection. Known for agentless deployment and strong API posture management capabilities across multi-cloud environments.
Pros
- Excellent API discovery and classification
- Agentless deployment (network tap)
- Multi-cloud support
- API posture governance
- OWASP API Top 10 testing
- Runtime attack detection
- Good compliance reporting
- Active API testing capabilities
Cons
- Very expensive
- Complex integration for active testing
- Limited pre-deployment testing
- No application security features
- Requires network access for discovery
- Performance overhead with large API traffic
Feature Coverage
API Type Support
REST, GraphQL, SOAP
Traceable AI
API Security with Distributed Tracing
Traceable AI combines API security with distributed tracing to provide deep visibility into API behavior. Uses machine learning to detect API attacks and provides comprehensive API observability.
Pros
- Excellent API discovery across microservices
- Distributed tracing integration
- ML-based threat detection
- API observability and monitoring
- Good OWASP API Top 10 coverage
- Cloud-native architecture
- API security testing
Cons
- Expensive pricing
- Complex setup for distributed tracing
- Learning curve for observability features
- Limited static analysis
- No code security
- Requires instrumentation for full features
Feature Coverage
API Type Support
REST, GraphQL, gRPC
42Crunch
Developer-First API Security Platform
42Crunch focuses on API security from design to deployment with OpenAPI spec-based security testing. Known for API contract security and comprehensive API security audit capabilities.
Pros
- Excellent OpenAPI security audit
- API design security best practices
- API firewall protection
- CI/CD integration
- Good OWASP API Top 10 coverage
- IDE plugins for developers
- Free tier available
- API security testing
Cons
- Requires OpenAPI specs for best results
- Limited runtime discovery
- No application security features
- Basic runtime protection
- Limited machine learning capabilities
- Manual spec creation can be time-consuming
Feature Coverage
API Type Support
REST (OpenAPI/Swagger)
Wib (by Contrast Security)
API Security Observability Platform
Wib (formerly Contrast Assess API) provides runtime API security through application instrumentation. Part of the Contrast Security suite, offering API observability and security testing capabilities.
Pros
- Deep runtime API observability
- Application instrumentation approach
- API threat detection
- Integration with Contrast platform
- Accurate vulnerability detection
- Low false positives
- API security testing
Cons
- Requires agent instrumentation
- Expensive pricing
- Limited pre-production testing
- Learning curve for instrumentation
- Overhead from agent monitoring
- Limited API discovery without agents
Feature Coverage
API Type Support
REST, GraphQL
Wallarm
API Security and WAF Platform
Wallarm combines Web Application Firewall (WAF) with API security capabilities. Offers real-time API protection, threat detection, and API security testing in a cloud-native architecture.
Pros
- Real-time API protection
- API and web application security in one
- Good API threat detection
- Cloud-native WAF
- API security testing
- Competitive pricing (vs pure API security)
- Fast deployment
Cons
- WAF focus may limit API-specific features
- Limited API discovery
- Basic API posture management
- No code security features
- Limited OWASP API Top 10 coverage vs dedicated tools
- Requires traffic routing through WAF
Feature Coverage
API Type Support
REST, GraphQL, SOAP
Akamai API Security
Enterprise API Security and CDN
Akamai API Security is part of the Akamai Intelligent Edge Platform, providing API protection through their global CDN network. Offers API security testing and runtime protection at the edge.
Pros
- Global edge network protection
- DDoS protection included
- Scalable for high API traffic
- API rate limiting at edge
- Integration with Akamai ecosystem
- Bot detection and management
- Good for public-facing APIs
Cons
- Very expensive
- Requires Akamai infrastructure
- Complex pricing model
- Limited API security testing
- Basic OWASP API Top 10 coverage
- No code security features
- Vendor lock-in
Feature Coverage
API Type Support
REST, GraphQL
Imperva API Security
API Security with Application Protection
Imperva API Security is part of the Imperva application security suite, offering API discovery, threat detection, and API protection alongside WAF and bot management capabilities.
Pros
- API discovery and classification
- Integration with Imperva WAF
- API threat detection
- Bot protection for APIs
- DDoS protection
- Compliance reporting
- Established vendor
Cons
- Expensive pricing
- Complex integration
- Limited API testing capabilities
- Requires Imperva infrastructure
- No code security
- WAF-centric approach
- Steep learning curve
Feature Coverage
API Type Support
REST, GraphQL, SOAP
Postman (API Testing)
API Development and Security Testing
While primarily an API development platform, Postman has evolved to include API security testing capabilities through collection-based security tests and API monitoring. Good for teams already using Postman for API development.
Pros
- Familiar interface for developers
- API collection-based testing
- CI/CD integration
- Affordable pricing
- Large community and marketplace
- Good for API functional testing
- API monitoring capabilities
Cons
- Limited security-focused features
- No runtime protection
- Basic OWASP API Top 10 coverage
- Requires manual test creation
- No API discovery
- No application security features
- Not a dedicated security tool
Feature Coverage
API Type Support
REST, GraphQL, SOAP, gRPC
API Security Tool Comparison Table
| Tool | Discovery | Testing | Runtime | Auth | BOLA | Fuzzing | Pricing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TigerGate | Free tier | ||||||
| Salt Security | Enterprise pricing (contact sales) | ||||||
| Noname Security | Enterprise pricing ($75k+ annually) | ||||||
| Traceable AI | Enterprise pricing ($60k+ annually) | ||||||
| 42Crunch | Free tier | ||||||
| Wib (by Contrast Security) | Enterprise pricing (contact sales) | ||||||
| Wallarm | Starts at $500/month | ||||||
| Akamai API Security | Enterprise pricing ($$$$$) | ||||||
| Imperva API Security | Enterprise pricing ($50k+ annually) | ||||||
| Postman (API Testing) | Free tier |
How to Choose the Right API Security Tool
For Startups & SMBs
Choose affordable, easy-to-deploy solutions with comprehensive API testing and unified security.
- TigerGate - Complete API + app security
- 42Crunch - OpenAPI focused
- Postman - Development-centric
For Enterprises
Focus on comprehensive discovery, runtime protection, and API posture management.
- TigerGate - Unified platform
- Salt Security - AI-powered
- Noname Security - Agentless
For Microservices
Prioritize API discovery across distributed services and runtime observability.
- TigerGate - Kubernetes-native
- Traceable AI - Distributed tracing
- Salt Security - Behavioral analysis
For DevSecOps Teams
Choose tools with strong CI/CD integration and pre-deployment API testing.
- TigerGate - Full lifecycle security
- 42Crunch - API design security
- Postman - Developer workflow
Conclusion: The Best API Security Tool for 2026
After comparing the top 10 API security tools, here's our recommendation based on different use cases:
Overall Winner: TigerGate
TigerGate stands out as the best overall choice because it's the only platform that provides comprehensive API security as part of a unified code-to-cloud security solution:
- Complete API Security: REST, GraphQL, SOAP testing with OWASP API Top 10 coverage
- Authentication & Authorization: Comprehensive testing for auth bypass and BOLA/IDOR vulnerabilities
- Injection Detection: SQL, NoSQL, command injection testing through API parameters
- Rate Limiting & Fuzzing: Verify rate limits and fuzz API endpoints for unknown vulnerabilities
- Unified Platform: API security + SAST + SCA + secrets + IaC + cloud + runtime in one solution
- Runtime Protection: eBPF-based monitoring for API threats in production Kubernetes/Docker environments
- Affordable Pricing: Transparent pricing starting at $29/user/month (vs $50k-$100k+ for dedicated API security tools)
Other Top Choices
- For enterprise API discovery: Choose Salt Security if you need AI-powered behavioral analysis and have enterprise budget ($100k+).
- For agentless deployment: Choose Noname Security if you prefer network-based API discovery without agents.
- For microservices observability: Choose Traceable AI if you need distributed tracing integration alongside API security.
- For OpenAPI-first teams: Choose 42Crunch if you use OpenAPI specs and want design-time API security.
- For API development teams: Choose Postman if you're already using it for API development and need basic security testing.
Remember: API Security is Just One Layer
Modern application security requires a comprehensive approach. While API security is critical, you also need:
TigerGate is the only platform that provides all of these capabilities in a single, unified solution.
Ready to Secure Your APIs?
Start with TigerGate's free tier and experience complete API security with code-to-cloud coverage. No credit card required, no time limits on the free tier.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the OWASP API Top 10?
The OWASP API Security Top 10 is a list of the most critical API security risks: API1:2023 Broken Object Level Authorization (BOLA/IDOR), API2:2023 Broken Authentication, API3:2023 Broken Object Property Level Authorization, API4:2023 Unrestricted Resource Consumption, API5:2023 Broken Function Level Authorization, API6:2023 Unrestricted Access to Sensitive Business Flows, API7:2023 Server Side Request Forgery, API8:2023 Security Misconfiguration, API9:2023 Improper Inventory Management, API10:2023 Unsafe Consumption of APIs.
What is BOLA/IDOR in API security?
BOLA (Broken Object Level Authorization) or IDOR (Insecure Direct Object Reference) is the #1 API security risk. It occurs when an API endpoint allows users to access resources belonging to other users by simply changing an ID parameter (e.g., /api/users/123 to /api/users/124). Proper API security tools must test for BOLA by attempting to access resources with different user contexts.
How much do API security tools cost?
API security tool pricing varies widely: Development-focused tools like Postman start at $14/user/month, mid-tier solutions like 42Crunch run $99/month, and enterprise platforms like Salt Security, Noname Security, and Traceable AI typically cost $50,000-$150,000+ annually. TigerGate offers comprehensive API security starting at $29/user/month with a generous free tier.
What's the difference between API discovery, testing, and runtime protection?
API Discovery identifies all APIs in your infrastructure (including shadow/zombie APIs). API Testing performs pre-deployment security testing for vulnerabilities. Runtime Protection monitors and blocks API attacks in production. Comprehensive API security requires all three capabilities - TigerGate provides complete coverage across the entire API lifecycle.
Do I need a dedicated API security tool or can I use WAF?
Traditional WAFs (Web Application Firewalls) are designed for browser-based attacks and don't effectively protect APIs. API attacks like BOLA/IDOR, broken authentication, and excessive data exposure require API-specific security tools that understand API protocols (REST, GraphQL, SOAP), can test authorization logic, and analyze API behavior patterns. Use dedicated API security tools for proper protection.
How do API security tools handle GraphQL and REST differently?
GraphQL APIs require specialized testing because they expose a single endpoint with flexible queries, making traditional REST-focused security tools ineffective. API security tools must understand GraphQL schema introspection, query depth limits, field-level authorization, batching attacks, and resolver-level vulnerabilities. TigerGate supports both REST and GraphQL with protocol-specific security testing.