42Crunch
42Crunch is an API security platform that provides automated tools to help you identify vulnerabilities, enforce security policies, and protect your applications from data breaches and cyber attacks.
Cobalt
Cobalt is a Pentest as a Service platform that combines SaaS efficiency with a global community of security experts to identify and remediate vulnerabilities in your applications.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | 42Crunch | Cobalt |
|---|---|---|
| Website | 42crunch.com | cobalt.io |
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Custom |
| Starting Price | Free | Custom Pricing |
| FREE Trial | ✓ 0 days free trial | ✘ No free trial |
| Free Plan | ✓ Has free plan | ✘ No free plan |
| Product Demo | ✓ Request demo here | ✓ Request demo here |
| Deployment | ||
| Integrations | ||
| Target Users | ||
| Target Industries | ||
| Customer Count | 0 | 0 |
| Founded Year | 2017 | 2013 |
| Headquarters | London, UK | San Francisco, USA |
Overview
42Crunch
42Crunch provides a unified platform to help you secure your entire API lifecycle from design to runtime. You can automatically audit your OpenAPI definitions to find security gaps before writing a single line of code. By integrating security directly into your development workflow, you ensure that every API you deploy is hardened against common threats like broken object-level authorization and data injections.
The platform enables you to enforce consistent security policies across your entire API inventory using a micro-API firewall. You can monitor traffic in real-time and block malicious requests without manual intervention. It is designed for security and development teams in regulated industries who need to scale their API security without slowing down their release cycles.
Cobalt
Cobalt transforms traditional penetration testing into a dynamic, tech-enabled experience through its Pentest as a Service (PtaaS) platform. You can move away from slow, static PDF reports and instead launch comprehensive security assessments in days rather than weeks. The platform connects you directly with a vetted community of on-demand security researchers who test your web applications, APIs, and cloud infrastructure in real-time.
You can manage the entire testing lifecycle from a single dashboard, allowing your developers to communicate directly with testers for faster vulnerability remediation. It integrates with your existing development workflows to ensure security keeps pace with your release cycles. Whether you need to meet compliance requirements like SOC2 or harden your external attack surface, you get actionable data and on-demand retesting to stay secure.
Overview
42Crunch Features
- API Security Audit Scan your OpenAPI specifications instantly to receive a security score and actionable fix headers for identified vulnerabilities.
- Conformity Testing Verify that your live API implementation matches your security contract to prevent data leakage and unauthorized access.
- Micro-API Firewall Deploy a lightweight firewall that stays with your API to block attacks and enforce strict schema validation.
- IDE Extensions Fix security issues while you code with native extensions for VS Code and IntelliJ that provide real-time feedback.
- CI/CD Integration Automate your security gates within Jenkins, GitHub Actions, or GitLab to ensure only secure APIs reach production.
- Discovery and Inventory Find and catalog all your APIs across your infrastructure to eliminate shadow APIs and unmanaged endpoints.
Cobalt Features
- On-Demand Pentesting. Launch a manual pentest in as little as 24 hours to meet tight production deadlines or compliance windows.
- Real-Time Reporting. View vulnerabilities as testers find them so your team can start fixing critical bugs before the test even finishes.
- Direct Researcher Access. Chat directly with your assigned security experts to clarify findings and get specific guidance on complex remediation steps.
- SDLC Integrations. Push findings automatically to Jira, GitHub, or Slack so your developers can manage security fixes in their existing tools.
- Complimentary Retesting. Request a free retest once you've applied a fix to ensure the vulnerability is fully resolved and verified.
- Compliance Reporting. Generate audit-ready reports for SOC2, HIPAA, and PCI-DSS with a single click to satisfy your stakeholders and auditors.
Pricing Comparison
42Crunch Pricing
- Static API Security Audit
- IDE Extensions access
- OpenAPI (Swagger) support
- Basic security scoring
- Individual user access
- Everything in Community, plus:
- Dynamic API Scan
- API Firewall protection
- CI/CD pipeline integration
- Centralized security governance
- Role-based access control
Cobalt Pricing
Pros & Cons
42Crunch
Pros
- Excellent integration with popular developer IDEs
- Detailed scoring provides clear paths for remediation
- Automates complex security testing in CI/CD
- Lightweight firewall has minimal impact on performance
Cons
- Steep learning curve for complex API schemas
- Requires high-quality OpenAPI documentation to work
- Enterprise pricing requires a custom sales quote
Cobalt
Pros
- Significantly faster setup time than traditional consulting firms
- Direct communication with testers speeds up remediation
- Clean dashboard replaces messy PDF report management
- High-quality, vetted researchers provide deep manual insights
Cons
- Credit-based pricing can be complex to forecast
- Platform focus is primarily on manual testing over automation
- Premium pricing reflects the high-touch expert service