Akto
Akto is an open-source API security platform that helps you discover all your APIs, detect sensitive data exposure, and find vulnerabilities in your CI/CD pipeline before hackers do.
Cloudflare
Cloudflare is a global cloud services provider that delivers security, performance, and reliability for websites, APIs, and internet applications through a massive distributed network of edge servers.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Akto | Cloudflare |
|---|---|---|
| Website | akto.io | cloudflare.com |
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Starting Price | Free | Free |
| FREE Trial | ✓ 14 days free trial | ✘ No free trial |
| Free Plan | ✓ Has free plan | ✓ Has free plan |
| Product Demo | ✓ Request demo here | ✓ Request demo here |
| Deployment | ||
| Integrations | ||
| Target Users | ||
| Target Industries | ||
| Customer Count | 0 | 0 |
| Founded Year | 2021 | 2009 |
| Headquarters | Bengaluru, India | San Francisco, USA |
Overview
Akto
Akto is a specialized API security platform designed to help you secure your entire API ecosystem. You can automatically discover every API endpoint in your network, including hidden or 'shadow' APIs that often go undocumented. The platform continuously monitors your traffic to identify where sensitive data like PII or financial info is being exposed, giving you a clear map of your security posture.
You can integrate security testing directly into your development workflow by running over 100 built-in security tests against your APIs. This allows you to catch broken object-level authorization (BOLA) and other common vulnerabilities before they reach production. Whether you are a security engineer or a developer, you can use Akto to automate the tedious parts of API auditing and maintain a robust defense against modern web threats.
Cloudflare
Cloudflare protects and accelerates your online presence by acting as a secure gateway between your servers and your visitors. You can shield your website from DDoS attacks, malicious bots, and data breaches while simultaneously speeding up content delivery through a global network spanning hundreds of cities. It simplifies complex networking tasks, allowing you to manage DNS, SSL certificates, and web application firewalls from a single, intuitive dashboard.
You can deploy serverless code at the edge to build faster applications without managing infrastructure. Whether you are running a personal blog or a global enterprise application, the platform scales to meet your traffic demands. It eliminates the need for expensive hardware and complex configurations, giving you enterprise-grade security and performance tools that you can set up in minutes.
Overview
Akto Features
- Automated API Discovery Inventory all your APIs automatically by analyzing network traffic to find shadow APIs and undocumented endpoints instantly.
- Sensitive Data Tracking Identify exactly where sensitive data like passwords or credit card numbers are leaking across your API requests and responses.
- BOLA Detection Run automated tests to find Broken Object Level Authorization flaws, the most critical risk in modern API security today.
- CI/CD Integration Trigger automated security scans within your GitHub or GitLab pipelines to stop vulnerable code from ever being deployed.
- API Traffic Mirroring Analyze real-world traffic patterns without impacting your application performance using seamless mirroring from AWS, Azure, or GCP.
- Custom Test Editor Create your own security tests using a simple YAML-based editor to address unique business logic vulnerabilities in your apps.
Cloudflare Features
- Global CDN. Cache your content across a massive global network to deliver lightning-fast load times for your visitors everywhere.
- DDoS Protection. Block massive distributed denial-of-service attacks automatically to keep your website online and accessible during high-traffic events.
- Web Application Firewall. Protect your applications from common vulnerabilities like SQL injection and cross-site scripting with pre-configured security rules.
- Free SSL/TLS. Encrypt data between your visitors and your origin server with automated SSL certificates to improve trust and SEO.
- Cloudflare Workers. Run custom JavaScript or Rust code at the network edge to create high-performance applications without managing servers.
- Bot Management. Identify and mitigate automated bot traffic to prevent credential stuffing, content scraping, and inventory hoarding on your site.
Pricing Comparison
Akto Pricing
- Up to 50 endpoints
- Automated API discovery
- Basic security tests
- Community support
- Local deployment option
- Everything in Free, plus:
- Unlimited endpoints
- Advanced sensitive data detection
- CI/CD pipeline integration
- Slack and Jira alerts
- Priority email support
Cloudflare Pricing
- Global Content Delivery Network
- Unmetered DDoS protection
- Fast, authoritative DNS
- Universal SSL certificate
- Basic bot mitigation
- Everything in Free, plus:
- Web Application Firewall (WAF)
- Lossless image optimization
- Mobile acceleration (Mirage)
- Automatic platform optimization
- Enhanced security reporting
Pros & Cons
Akto
Pros
- Fast setup with immediate visibility into shadow APIs
- Comprehensive library of pre-built security test cases
- Open-source core allows for deep customization
- Strong focus on the OWASP API Top 10
- Easy integration with existing DevOps workflows
Cons
- Initial traffic mirroring setup can be technical
- Pro tier pricing is a significant jump
- Learning curve for writing custom YAML tests
Cloudflare
Pros
- Extremely easy to set up with simple DNS changes
- Generous free tier includes unmetered DDoS protection
- Global network significantly reduces latency for international users
- Clean and intuitive dashboard for managing complex settings
Cons
- Customer support can be slow on lower-tier plans
- Advanced features require a steep jump in pricing
- Occasional false positives in the web application firewall