Quick Overview
- 1#1: Salt Security - Provides comprehensive runtime API security with discovery, threat detection, and intelligent protection using AI-driven behavioral analysis.
- 2#2: Noname Security - Offers API security posture management with continuous discovery, inventory, and risk prioritization across the API lifecycle.
- 3#3: Imperva API Security - Delivers advanced API protection through runtime shielding, schema validation, and integrated WAF capabilities.
- 4#4: Akamai App & API Protector - Combines WAF, DDoS mitigation, and bot management to secure APIs at scale with global edge protection.
- 5#5: Wallarm - Cloud-native platform for automatic API discovery, attack prevention, and vulnerability management.
- 6#6: Traceable - AI-powered API security solution offering observability, threat detection, and posture management.
- 7#7: Cequence Security - Unified platform for API and application protection with behavioral analysis and automated mitigation.
- 8#8: Apiiro - API security posture management tool that continuously discovers, assesses, and remediates API risks.
- 9#9: Escape - Runtime API security platform focused on preventing exploits and data leaks in production environments.
- 10#10: Feroot - Agentless API security solution using behavioral profiling to detect and block sophisticated attacks.
Tools were chosen and ranked based on feature completeness, actionable threat detection, practical usability, and long-term value, ensuring they meet the needs of both technical and organizational stakeholders.
Comparison Table
As APIs become foundational to modern business operations, effective security measures are essential. This comparison table evaluates top API security tools like Salt Security, Noname Security, Imperva API Security, and Akamai App & API Protector, providing insights to help readers select the right solution for their needs.
| # | Tool | Category | Overall | Features | Ease of Use | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Salt Security Provides comprehensive runtime API security with discovery, threat detection, and intelligent protection using AI-driven behavioral analysis. | enterprise | 9.7/10 | 9.9/10 | 9.2/10 | 9.4/10 |
| 2 | Noname Security Offers API security posture management with continuous discovery, inventory, and risk prioritization across the API lifecycle. | enterprise | 9.3/10 | 9.6/10 | 9.1/10 | 8.7/10 |
| 3 | Imperva API Security Delivers advanced API protection through runtime shielding, schema validation, and integrated WAF capabilities. | enterprise | 8.8/10 | 9.3/10 | 8.1/10 | 8.4/10 |
| 4 | Akamai App & API Protector Combines WAF, DDoS mitigation, and bot management to secure APIs at scale with global edge protection. | enterprise | 8.7/10 | 9.2/10 | 7.8/10 | 8.1/10 |
| 5 | Wallarm Cloud-native platform for automatic API discovery, attack prevention, and vulnerability management. | enterprise | 8.8/10 | 9.3/10 | 8.4/10 | 8.1/10 |
| 6 | Traceable AI-powered API security solution offering observability, threat detection, and posture management. | enterprise | 8.7/10 | 9.2/10 | 8.5/10 | 8.0/10 |
| 7 | Cequence Security Unified platform for API and application protection with behavioral analysis and automated mitigation. | enterprise | 8.4/10 | 9.0/10 | 8.0/10 | 7.8/10 |
| 8 | Apiiro API security posture management tool that continuously discovers, assesses, and remediates API risks. | enterprise | 8.4/10 | 8.7/10 | 8.2/10 | 8.0/10 |
| 9 | Escape Runtime API security platform focused on preventing exploits and data leaks in production environments. | enterprise | 8.4/10 | 9.1/10 | 8.0/10 | 8.2/10 |
| 10 | Feroot Agentless API security solution using behavioral profiling to detect and block sophisticated attacks. | enterprise | 8.2/10 | 8.5/10 | 8.3/10 | 7.7/10 |
Provides comprehensive runtime API security with discovery, threat detection, and intelligent protection using AI-driven behavioral analysis.
Offers API security posture management with continuous discovery, inventory, and risk prioritization across the API lifecycle.
Delivers advanced API protection through runtime shielding, schema validation, and integrated WAF capabilities.
Combines WAF, DDoS mitigation, and bot management to secure APIs at scale with global edge protection.
Cloud-native platform for automatic API discovery, attack prevention, and vulnerability management.
AI-powered API security solution offering observability, threat detection, and posture management.
Unified platform for API and application protection with behavioral analysis and automated mitigation.
API security posture management tool that continuously discovers, assesses, and remediates API risks.
Runtime API security platform focused on preventing exploits and data leaks in production environments.
Agentless API security solution using behavioral profiling to detect and block sophisticated attacks.
Salt Security
enterpriseProvides comprehensive runtime API security with discovery, threat detection, and intelligent protection using AI-driven behavioral analysis.
Entity tracking and AI-driven behavioral analysis for precise anomaly detection in API traffic
Salt Security is a leading API security platform that delivers continuous discovery, posture management, and runtime protection for APIs across cloud, on-premises, and hybrid environments. It automatically maps API assets in real-time, identifies vulnerabilities, misconfigurations, and business logic flaws using AI-driven behavioral analysis. The platform provides prioritized risk insights, threat detection, and automated remediation to secure dynamic API ecosystems without agents or code changes.
Pros
- AI-powered real-time API discovery and inventory management
- Advanced runtime threat detection with behavioral baselining
- Seamless integrations with CI/CD, SIEM, and cloud providers
Cons
- Enterprise pricing can be prohibitive for SMBs
- Advanced features require expertise to fully leverage
- Limited focus on non-API web app security
Best For
Large enterprises and DevSecOps teams managing complex, high-volume API landscapes in production.
Pricing
Custom enterprise pricing, typically starting at $100K+ annually based on API volume and features.
Noname Security
enterpriseOffers API security posture management with continuous discovery, inventory, and risk prioritization across the API lifecycle.
Frictionless agentless API discovery that automatically maps all runtime APIs, including undocumented shadow and zombie endpoints
Noname Security is an enterprise-grade API security platform specializing in runtime protection and discovery for APIs in complex, dynamic environments. It automatically identifies shadow, zombie, and undocumented APIs without agents or code changes, providing complete inventory visibility. The solution employs behavioral analysis and machine learning to detect and mitigate OWASP API Top 10 threats in real-time, integrating seamlessly with existing security stacks.
Pros
- Agentless deployment enables rapid setup across hybrid and multi-cloud environments
- Advanced behavioral threat detection excels at identifying sophisticated API attacks
- Comprehensive API discovery uncovers hidden APIs missed by traditional scanners
Cons
- Custom enterprise pricing lacks transparency and may be prohibitive for SMBs
- Primarily runtime-focused with less emphasis on developer-centric shift-left tools
- Advanced configurations require security expertise for optimal implementation
Best For
Large enterprises with sprawling microservices architectures needing robust runtime API visibility and protection.
Pricing
Custom enterprise pricing based on API volume and deployment scale; contact sales for quotes, no public tiers.
Imperva API Security
enterpriseDelivers advanced API protection through runtime shielding, schema validation, and integrated WAF capabilities.
AI-driven behavioral protection that learns normal API traffic patterns to detect and block anomalies without predefined rules or schemas
Imperva API Security is a comprehensive platform that protects APIs across their full lifecycle, from discovery and inventory to runtime threat protection and posture management. It leverages machine learning for automated API discovery, schema validation, behavioral anomaly detection, and blocking of sophisticated attacks like API abuse and zero-day exploits. Integrated with Imperva's broader cloud security suite, it provides deep visibility and risk scoring to help organizations secure complex API ecosystems at scale.
Pros
- Advanced ML-powered behavioral analysis for detecting zero-day API threats
- Automated API discovery and inventory management across hybrid environments
- Seamless integration with WAF, DDoS protection, and other Imperva tools
Cons
- Enterprise pricing can be prohibitive for SMBs
- Complex initial setup and configuration requiring expertise
- Limited public pricing transparency requires sales quotes
Best For
Large enterprises with extensive, dynamic API ecosystems needing scalable, ML-driven protection and deep analytics.
Pricing
Custom quote-based enterprise pricing, typically annual subscriptions starting at tens of thousands based on API volume, traffic, and features.
Akamai App & API Protector
enterpriseCombines WAF, DDoS mitigation, and bot management to secure APIs at scale with global edge protection.
Edge-deployed API protection with automatic discovery and real-time mitigation powered by Akamai's massive threat intelligence network
Akamai App & API Protector is a comprehensive cloud-native Web Application Firewall (WAF) and API security platform that leverages Akamai's global edge network to defend against DDoS attacks, bots, OWASP Top 10 vulnerabilities, and API-specific threats like schema violations and abuse. It offers automated API discovery, behavioral analysis, rate limiting, and real-time threat intelligence for robust protection without impacting performance. Designed for high-scale environments, it integrates seamlessly with CI/CD pipelines and provides precise policy enforcement at the edge.
Pros
- Massive global edge network ensures low-latency DDoS mitigation and high availability
- Advanced API discovery, schema validation, and behavioral analytics for precise threat detection
- Seamless integration with Akamai's broader security and performance ecosystem
Cons
- Complex configuration and steep learning curve for non-enterprise users
- Custom pricing can be expensive for smaller organizations or low-traffic APIs
- Limited flexibility for fully on-premises deployments
Best For
Large enterprises with high-traffic APIs requiring scalable, edge-based protection and global threat intelligence.
Pricing
Custom enterprise pricing based on traffic volume, features, and contract terms; typically starts at several thousand dollars per month.
Wallarm
enterpriseCloud-native platform for automatic API discovery, attack prevention, and vulnerability management.
Machine learning behavioral baselining that dynamically adapts to API traffic patterns for proactive threat detection without static rules
Wallarm is a cloud-native API security platform that provides advanced protection for APIs through automatic discovery, machine learning-driven threat detection, and real-time attack blocking. It identifies shadow APIs, enforces behavioral baselines, and mitigates OWASP API Top 10 risks without requiring agent installation or code changes. Deployable as a proxy, sidecar, or managed service, it integrates with Kubernetes, CI/CD pipelines, and existing WAFs for seamless API protection.
Pros
- AI-powered behavioral analysis with low false positives
- Automatic API discovery and inventory management
- Flexible deployment options across cloud, Kubernetes, and on-prem
Cons
- Pricing scales with traffic volume, costly for high-scale SMBs
- Advanced custom rules require security expertise
- Reporting dashboard could be more intuitive for beginners
Best For
Enterprises and DevOps teams managing complex, dynamic API ecosystems in production environments.
Pricing
Usage-based custom pricing starting at ~$1,000/month for Pro tier; free tier and trial available, Enterprise plans via sales quote.
Traceable
enterpriseAI-powered API security solution offering observability, threat detection, and posture management.
AI-native behavioral analysis for zero-day API threat detection without predefined rules or signatures
Traceable.ai is an AI-powered API security platform that provides end-to-end protection for APIs, including discovery, inventory, posture management, and runtime threat detection across cloud, on-premises, and hybrid environments. It leverages machine learning to identify shadow APIs, detect anomalies, block attacks in real-time, and ensure compliance without relying on signatures. The solution offers low false positives and scales seamlessly for high-traffic API ecosystems.
Pros
- AI/ML-driven anomaly detection with low false positives
- Agentless deployment for rapid setup and no performance overhead
- Comprehensive API discovery, posture assessment, and attack blocking
Cons
- Enterprise pricing may be steep for SMBs
- Advanced analytics require security expertise
- Limited public transparency on integrations and free trials
Best For
Mid-to-large enterprises managing complex, high-volume API landscapes in multi-cloud environments needing runtime protection.
Pricing
Custom enterprise pricing based on API traffic volume; typically starts at $50K+/year, contact sales for quotes.
Cequence Security
enterpriseUnified platform for API and application protection with behavioral analysis and automated mitigation.
ML-powered behavioral fingerprinting that tracks client intent across sessions for precise threat blocking without signatures
Cequence Security offers a unified API protection platform that leverages machine learning for runtime security, automatically discovering APIs and defending against bots, DDoS attacks, and business logic abuse. It provides behavioral analysis to detect sophisticated threats without relying on signatures or rate limiting, ensuring seamless protection for web, mobile, and API traffic. The solution scales for enterprises with agentless deployment and integrates with CI/CD pipelines for comprehensive coverage.
Pros
- Advanced ML-based behavioral analysis for zero-day threat detection
- Automated API discovery and unified protection across attack surfaces
- High accuracy in bot management with minimal false positives
Cons
- Enterprise pricing lacks transparency and may be high for mid-sized businesses
- Limited third-party integrations compared to larger vendors
- Steeper learning curve for custom policy configurations
Best For
Large enterprises with complex, high-volume API ecosystems requiring adaptive bot and DDoS mitigation.
Pricing
Custom enterprise pricing based on traffic volume; contact sales for quotes, typically annual subscriptions starting in the high five to six figures.
Apiiro
enterpriseAPI security posture management tool that continuously discovers, assesses, and remediates API risks.
API Risk Modeling that simulates real-world attack chains to uncover toxic combinations and business logic vulnerabilities
Apiiro is a cloud-native API security platform that provides continuous discovery, inventory, and risk analysis for APIs across all environments, including shadow and zombie APIs. It leverages AI-driven risk prioritization to identify vulnerabilities, misconfigurations, business logic flaws, and toxic API combinations. The platform integrates with CI/CD pipelines, cloud providers, and development tools to enable shift-left security and automated remediation workflows.
Pros
- Comprehensive agentless API discovery and runtime monitoring
- AI-powered risk scoring and attack path modeling for business logic flaws
- Deep integrations with CI/CD, GitOps, and major cloud platforms
Cons
- Enterprise pricing may be prohibitive for SMBs
- Primarily API-focused, with less emphasis on broader application security
- Customizable reporting and dashboards need improvement
Best For
Mid-to-large enterprises with complex, dynamic API ecosystems needing proactive posture management.
Pricing
Custom quote-based pricing; typically starts at $50K+ annually based on API volume and features.
Escape
enterpriseRuntime API security platform focused on preventing exploits and data leaks in production environments.
Behavioral API profiling that learns normal traffic patterns in real-time to detect zero-day attacks and shadow APIs instantly.
Escape (escape.tech) is a runtime-focused API security platform that automatically discovers APIs, builds behavioral profiles, and detects real-time attacks without requiring code changes or performance degradation. It provides comprehensive API inventory, threat simulation via fuzzing, and automated posture management to prevent data breaches and abuse. Designed for production environments, it emphasizes low false positives through machine learning-driven anomaly detection.
Pros
- Superior real-time behavioral analysis with low false positives
- Seamless deployment as a sidecar or proxy with no code changes
- Automated API discovery and inventory across cloud-native environments
Cons
- Primarily runtime-focused, with limited shift-left capabilities
- Custom enterprise pricing lacks transparency for smaller teams
- Younger platform with fewer mature integrations compared to incumbents
Best For
DevSecOps teams managing high-volume production APIs in cloud environments who prioritize runtime protection and minimal deployment friction.
Pricing
Custom enterprise pricing based on API traffic and usage; typically starts at $20K+ annually for mid-sized deployments—contact sales for quotes.
Feroot
enterpriseAgentless API security solution using behavioral profiling to detect and block sophisticated attacks.
Self-learning ML behavioral baselining that adapts dynamically to API changes without manual rules
Feroot is an AI-powered runtime API security platform that protects APIs by analyzing traffic in real-time using machine learning to detect anomalies, zero-day attacks, and OWASP Top 10 risks without signatures or agents. It establishes behavioral baselines for APIs and automatically blocks malicious requests while allowing legitimate traffic. Designed for cloud-native and hybrid environments, it integrates seamlessly with API gateways and supports rapid deployment.
Pros
- Advanced ML-driven anomaly detection with low false positives
- Agentless deployment for quick setup across environments
- Real-time blocking of sophisticated API attacks including zero-days
Cons
- Enterprise-only pricing lacks transparency
- Relatively new entrant with fewer proven large-scale deployments
- Limited out-of-box integrations compared to established competitors
Best For
Mid-market enterprises needing lightweight, AI-based runtime API protection without complex agent management.
Pricing
Custom enterprise pricing based on traffic volume and features; contact sales for quotes (no public tiers).
Conclusion
The reviewed API security tools embody leading solutions for protecting modern applications, with Salt Security emerging as the top choice due to its comprehensive runtime protection and AI-driven behavioral analysis that proactively identifies and mitigates threats. Noname Security excels in API security posture management, offering continuous lifecycle monitoring, while Imperva API Security delivers advanced edge protection through integrated WAF and runtime shielding—each a strong alternative tailored to different organizational needs.
To strengthen your API defenses, prioritize Salt Security; its intelligent, proactive approach is key to staying ahead of evolving threats in today's digital environment.
Tools Reviewed
All tools were independently evaluated for this comparison