Unbiased Astra Pentest Review: Features, Pricing & Flaws

Most pentesting solutions give you either automation or manual testing. Astra gives you both, which creates a better security assessment approach. In this blog, I’ll do a honest review of Astra Pentst solutions — including features, usability, and pricing (and of course, the flaws). Let’s get to it right away.

Automated Vulnerability Scanner: 8,000+ Test Cases

The vulnerability scanner really shines with its test coverage. It runs over 8,000 tests to spot vulnerabilities in your digital assets. Some sources say this number goes up to 10,000 test cases, making it one of the most detailed scanners I've used.

What makes this scanner work so well:

• It checks all key security areas including OWASP Top 10, known CVEs, and SANS 25 vulnerabilities

• The scans test areas behind login screens—vital for SaaS applications

• It works well with modern web tech like Progressive Web Apps and Single Page Applications

• It helps meet compliance needs for ISO 27001, HIPAA, SOC2, and GDPR frameworks

The scanner comes with a Chrome extension that saves login processes. You won't need to log in again when sessions time out. Astra updates the scanner rules weekly to handle new threats.

Manual Penetration Testing: Beyond Automation

Automated scanning sets the foundation, but Astra's manual penetration testing adds that vital human touch. Their security team finds vulnerabilities that automated scanners miss.

The manual testing gives you:

• Zero false positives because experts check each vulnerability

• Catches business logic errors that automated tools can't spot

• AI-powered testing that copies real hacker methods and thinking

• A full look at payment gateways and processing—key for e-commerce sites

• Tests of role-based access controls to stop unauthorized access

This mixed approach really pays off. While 85% of companies spent more on penetration testing, many still use only automated tools that miss issues that need human insight.

Vulnerability Management Dashboard: A Closer Look

Astra's dashboard works as your control center for security findings. It shows a clean layout that helps you tackle vulnerabilities by importance.

The dashboard gives you:

• Detailed vulnerability reports with risk scores, CVSS ratings, and severity levels

• Clear steps to reproduce issues and video proof for each problem

• AI creates fix recommendations that developers can use right away

• Direct chat with Astra's security experts when you need answers

• Track vulnerability status with options like "Ask for review," "Ask for help," or "Won't fix"

• Works with tools like Slack, Jira, GitHub, Jenkins, and BitBucket

The platform stands out with its "Astra-naut" bot that gives 24/7 security help. You get code snippets to fix vulnerabilities, impact details, and security tips.

Astra's pentesting platform brings automated efficiency and manual expertise together. The easy-to-use dashboard helps manage the whole vulnerability lifecycle effectively.

Setting Up Astra Pentest

Security tools often turn into full-blown projects during setup. But, Astra’s set up is decent.

First-Time Setup Process

The platform takes you through a Scanner Setup workflow that helps set up your first scan in minutes. You'll need to:

• Add your target URL details

• Set up authentication for scanning behind login pages

• Pick your tech stack to get better scan coverage

The speed from signup to finding vulnerabilities really stood out. Astra's documentation states you can "go from sign-up to discovering vulnerabilities in minutes". Each user gets a Customer Success Manager who's ready to help if setup issues pop up.

Mobile apps and APIs get their own setup workflows built around these specific technologies. These workflows stick to the same basic pattern but adjust based on what you're testing.

CI/CD Integration Options

Astra really comes into its own when it's part of your development pipeline. The platform links up with many CI/CD tools to run security tests during builds, which turns DevOps into DevSecOps.

You can integrate with:

• GitHub

• GitLab

• Jenkins

• Bitbucket

• Azure

• CircleCI

Setting these up is simple - log into your dashboard, head to the Pentest menu, open your project, click Integrations, and pick your CI/CD tool. The real power comes from controlling your pipeline based on scan results. Your builds can stop automatically if serious security issues show up.

The platform lets you customize how it works:

• Start scans without waiting for results

• Stop pipelines when specific security issues appear

• Set limits based on how critical vulnerabilities are

Learning Curve Reality Check

The setup might be simple, but teams new to security testing still need time to learn. Astra has built their tools "in a way that small and medium businesses without a dedicated security team can improve security... with minimum technical requirements". All the same, new users should expect some adjustment time.

Teams just starting with penetration testing get plenty of help:

• A detailed help center with setup guides

• A "Need Help?" dashboard section for support

• A resource hub explaining product features

Good onboarding shapes how quickly teams can use all the tool's features. While Astra provides solid documentation, some users might struggle with security concepts if they're new to the field. That's where CSM support becomes really valuable during the initial setup.

The platform bridges the gap between powerful security tools and ease of use. Having worked with security tools that need dedicated experts, I found Astra's approach refreshingly simple without cutting corners on capabilities.

Real Results From Our Astra Pen Testing

Vulnerability Detection Rate

Astra Pentest's vulnerability detection proved strong during our tests. The scanner runs over 8,000 security tests, and some sources say it can do up to 10,000 test cases. The system checks for OWASP Top 10, known CVEs, and SANS 25 vulnerabilities.

• The scanner finds several moderate and high severity issues that teams miss completely

• Spots vulnerabilities behind login pages—which works great for SaaS applications

• The mix of automated and manual testing found business logic errors that automated tools usually can't catch

The platform helps maintain compliance standards like ISO 27001, SOC2, PCI-DSS, and HIPAA.

False Positive Analysis

Astra beats many similar tools we've tested when it comes to false positives. The platform claims "zero false positives" through their verification process, and our testing showed this was mostly true.

We compared it with Veracode, another leading security tool. Astra scored 6.7 in false positive rates while Veracode scored 7.4. This means developers spend less time chasing non-issues. Their security experts check each vulnerability by hand before reporting, which eliminates the hassle of sorting through real threats and false alarms.

Time-to-Resolution Metrics

The speed of fixing identified vulnerabilities impressed us the most. The platform made our remediation process faster through its features.

The dashboard changed how we handle vulnerability management. Developers get detailed steps to reproduce issues and video Proof of Concepts (PoCs), which helps them understand and fix problems quickly. Astra's security engineers offer direct support and even join calls with developers at no extra cost.

The dashboard shows "Potential Loss Saved" to help teams focus on business risks first. Our team fixed issues much faster with Astra compared to our old security solution.

Astra Pentest Pricing Breakdown

You need to know Astra Pentest's cost structure before making your investment decision. Let's get into what each price point gets you and see if this pentesting tool gives you good value for your security budget.

Scanner Plan: Features & Limitations

The basic Scanner plan costs $199 per month or $1,999 per year for one target. We designed this plan for continuous vulnerability monitoring, and it has:

• All the vulnerability scans you need with over 9,300 security tests

• No limits on integrations with CI/CD tools, Slack, Jira, and others

• AI-powered help to fix vulnerabilities

• Four scan reports vetted by experts (with yearly billing)

The Scanner plan comes with some notable limits. You won't get manual penetration testing - just automated scanning. The plan's reporting isn't deep enough to meet formal audit requirements either.

Astra lets you try things out with a $7 weekly trial before you commit to the full price. Not many security tools give you this kind of flexibility.

Pentest Plan: What You Get for $5,999

The Pentest Plan costs $5,999 annually per target and gives you much more security coverage. This yearly-billed plan takes everything from the Scanner plan and adds:

• Security experts doing complete manual penetration testing

• A thorough look at cloud security (AWS/GCP/Azure)

• Tests that find logical vulnerabilities in your business processes

• Detailed reports for SOC2, ISO27001, HIPAA, and other compliance needs

• A pentest certificate anyone can verify

The Pentest Plan changes from being just a tool to becoming a service. Real security experts check each vulnerability - that's what makes it special. They catch issues automated scanners miss and remove false alarms.

Enterprise Plan: Is It Worth $9,999+?

The Enterprise plan starts at $9,999 per year and works well for organizations with complex infrastructure. This investment gets you:

• Testing for multiple targets and different types of assets

• Your own Customer Success Manager

• Direct communication through Slack Connect or MS Teams

• Custom SLA and contract choices

• A new scan every three months

The value depends on how complex your organization is. Companies with several web applications, mobile apps, APIs, or different types of infrastructure will find this plan makes financial sense. You can bundle all your testing instead of buying separate plans.

Regular enterprise-level pentesting services cost more than $15,000 per year. This makes Astra's pricing a good deal in the market, even at this level.

The Honest Truth: Where Astra Pentest Falls Short

Astra Security provides a reliable pentesting solution, but no security tool is perfect. A closer look beyond marketing claims reveals several drawbacks that need attention in this Astra Pentest review.

Reviews of Astra Pentest Users

User feedback points to some recurring issues despite the tool's strengths. G2 reviews highlight communication as a major pain point. Many customers found that time zone differences between the US and India led to delayed responses, which sometimes took "a few days". This geographic gap could be problematic when security concerns need immediate attention.

Timeline management turned out to be challenging for many users. Reviews suggested teams should "allocate several weeks for the manual pentest to complete". Teams with tight deadlines or fast development cycles might find this extended timeline problematic.

Performance Issues During Heavy Scans

The dashboard's performance seems to be a consistent issue. Users often mentioned it was "a little slow sometimes". Eight different G2 reviews specifically pointed out "Slow Performance" as a drawback.

The platform's stability raises more concerns. One team "faced a number of annoying bugs and instabilities" that created frustration. The system appears to slow down during resource-heavy scanning operations.

UI/UX Limitations

Users gave mixed responses about the interface design. Six G2 reviews called out "Poor Interface Design" as a limitation. Another user stated plainly that "one thing I would like to improve is its UI".

Even positive reviews acknowledge the interface could use work. Industry experts noted the "GUI is not very intuitive". New users might need extra time to learn the system. Users also complained that "frequent scan update emails can be overwhelming". The notification system needs better customization options.

These drawbacks deserve attention, but they don't tell the whole story. Many users found great value in the tool all the same. A full picture of these limitations helps you make better decisions about Astra penetration testing for your security needs.

Get Astra Alternatives

Need some pentesting options besides Astra? The security world has plenty of robust tools that might work better for you. I've tested these tools and researched the market to find options that match Astra's capabilities while solving some of its shortcomings.

The G2 community really likes Intruder, which they rate at 4.8/5, making it their top pick among Astra alternatives. Users love how this security platform spots issues quickly and makes vulnerability management straightforward.

Big enterprises often go for Wiz, which boasts a 4.7/5 rating. Tenable Nessus sits at 4.5/5 and brings a robust detection engine that's 15 years old with plenty of community improvements.

The market numbers tell an interesting story. reCAPTCHA Enterprise leads with 43.27%, and WordFence follows close behind at 40.17%. These two powerhouses rule the web application security world, with more than 80% of the market between them.

Here are some specialized tools that might fit your needs:

• Uproot Security: Helps you with continuous manual pentesting services at a pocket friendly price point.

• vPenTest: Runs automated, comprehensive penetration testing that beats manual testing for speed and accuracy

• Cobalt: Scores 4.6/5 with its Pen Testing as a Service (PTaaS), which turns traditional pentesting into an information-rich vulnerability tracker

• Orca Security: Shows you all your workloads across major cloud providers without needing agents

Your specific needs will point you to the right choice. While Astra works well for mid-sized companies, these alternatives might serve you better if Astra's features don't quite match what you're after.

Final Verdict: Should You Choose Astra Pentest?

The platform runs 8,000+ automated tests and gives you complete coverage.

These practical features make it stand out:

• Expert verification eliminates false positives

• Detailed vulnerability reports with video proof-of-concepts

• Direct access to security experts when you need help

• Easy CI/CD integration options

The platform does have a few drawbacks. The dashboard slows down during heavy scans, and time zone differences can cause communication delays. The scanner plan costs $199 monthly and provides decent value (I still think it’s ridiculously expensive). Larger organizations should look at the $5,999 annual Pentest plan that offers full coverage.

Security tools like Intruder and Wiz exist in the market. But Astra's combination of automated efficiency and manual expertise makes it a great fit for mid-sized companies that need reliable security testing without complexity.