AuditWard vs Detectify
Detectify is an external attack surface management and DAST platform for security teams watching many internet-facing assets. AuditWard is a QA and security tool that audits one app in a single pass, from a URL or a coding agent, and tags each finding to a compliance framework.
One honest line of difference.
Detectify continuously discovers and scans a whole external attack surface for security issues. AuditWard does functional QA in a real browser and a security scan of one target in the same audit, then triages and compliance-tags the findings. If you are weighing a Detectify alternative, the choice is scope versus a combined QA and security tool.
Detectify is a security platform. It does not run functional web QA or end-to-end UI testing, so the table below compares only the security half of AuditWard against it, plus the parts of AuditWard that have no Detectify equivalent.
Detectify vs AuditWard, feature by feature.
Every row below comes from public facts about each product. Where a capability is not documented for one side, the cell says so rather than guessing. Verify current Detectify details on detectify.com before you decide.
| Capability | AuditWard | Detectify |
|---|---|---|
| Functional web QA in a real browser | Yes. An Explorer agent runs a checklist in a real Chromium browser and captures annotated screenshots. | Not a documented feature. Detectify is a security and AppSec tool, not an end-to-end UI tester. |
| Web application security scanning (DAST) | Yes. Real pentest tooling: curl, testssl.sh, Nuclei, Nmap, Gobuster, nslookup, WhatWeb. | Yes. DAST web application testing is a core capability. |
| External attack surface management (EASM) | Not a documented feature. AuditWard audits a target you point it at, not a continuously discovered asset inventory. | Yes. Continuous discovery of subdomains, open ports, and technology stacks. |
| MCP server for coding agents | Yes. Native MCP server with six tools for Claude Code, Claude Desktop, and any MCP client. | Yes. A remote-hosted MCP server launched (announced May 2026) for Claude Code, Cursor, ChatGPT, and Claude Desktop. |
| Per-finding compliance tagging | Yes. Each finding is tagged to PCI DSS 4.0, SOC 2, GDPR, OWASP Top 10, HIPAA, and ISO 27001. | Not a documented feature equivalent to per-finding framework tagging. |
| Credential loop for apps behind a login | Yes. The scan pauses at a login wall with structured questions and resumes once you answer. Answers are KMS-encrypted. | Varies. Authenticated scanning support is not detailed in the facts used here. |
| Crowdsourced vulnerability research | Not a documented feature. AuditWard uses standard pentest tooling, not a community payload feed. | Yes. Research from a crowdsourced ethical-hacker community, plus an AI Researcher feature named Alfred. |
| Agent-driven find-and-fix loop | Findings return to your coding agent over MCP with evidence; the agent writes fixes in your workflow. | Yes. Find and Fix hands findings to an agent that can generate a patch and trigger a validation scan. |
| Cloud and domain connectors | Not a documented feature. AuditWard works from a URL you are authorized to test. | Yes. Connectors for AWS, GCP, Azure, GoDaddy, and NS1 to build asset inventory. |
| PCI ASV scanning | No. AuditWard is not a PCI Approved Scanning Vendor and does not offer ASV scans. | Offered through a partnership with Clone Systems, not as Detectify's own ASV accreditation. |
| Pentest-style PDF report | Yes. An Analyst turns evidence into a triaged, confidence-scored report with annotated screenshots. | Varies. Reporting format is not specified in the facts used here. |
| Entry pricing | Basic is free (1 scan a month). Starter is $49 a month with MCP and credential Q&A. Team is $199 a month. | Published self-serve entry pricing per scan profile, billed annually. Confirm current figures and currency on detectify.com. |
Where AuditWard goes a different way.
These are the reasons a team picks AuditWard over a pure security platform. They lead with the combined QA and security audit and the MCP server, because that pairing is the core of what AuditWard is for.
QA and security in one pass
An LLM Planner builds a checklist from your URL and instructions, an Explorer agent runs the QA flows in a real Chromium browser, and security tooling probes the same target. You get functional bugs and security findings from one run. Detectify covers the security side well but does not do the browser QA half.
An MCP server built around the audit
Both products ship an MCP server. AuditWard's six tools (qa_test, qa_status, qa_get_artifacts, qa_provide_context, qa_cancel, qa_report) drive the whole audit from your coding agent, including answering credential questions mid-scan. Detectify's MCP server launched in May 2026 and plugs its security engines into agent workflows.
Findings tagged to frameworks
Every AuditWard finding carries a tag to PCI DSS 4.0, SOC 2, GDPR, OWASP Top 10, HIPAA, or ISO 27001, so the evidence drops straight into compliance work. This is per-finding tagging, not a readiness score, and it has no documented equivalent in the Detectify facts used here.
A credential loop for logged-in apps
When a scan hits a login wall, AuditWard pauses and asks structured questions. You answer in the dashboard or with qa_provide_context, the answers are KMS-encrypted, and the scan resumes behind the login. That keeps authenticated parts of an app in scope without sharing standing credentials.
Where Detectify may fit better.
Detectify is the stronger choice for several real situations. If any of these describe your team, look at Detectify first. AuditWard is built for auditing one app deeply, not for managing a sprawling external estate.
Continuous attack surface monitoring
If you need ongoing discovery and monitoring across many internet-facing assets (subdomains, open ports, technology stacks), Detectify's EASM is built for that breadth. AuditWard audits a single target you point it at, not a continuously discovered inventory.
Crowdsourced research and fresh payloads
Detectify pulls vulnerability research from a crowdsourced ethical-hacker community and runs an AI Researcher feature, Alfred, that generates and tests hypotheses. If frequently updated, community-sourced payloads matter to you, that is a Detectify strength.
PCI ASV scanning
If you specifically need PCI ASV scanning, Detectify offers it through a partnership with Clone Systems for continuous attack-surface compliance. AuditWard is not an Approved Scanning Vendor and cannot fill that requirement.
An agent-driven find-and-fix loop with re-validation
AppSec teams who want findings handed to an agent that generates a patch and then triggers an automatic validation scan to confirm the fix will find Detectify's Find and Fix flow purpose-built for that loop.
Does AuditWard replace a manual pentest? No.
AuditWard runs real pentest tooling and reports triaged findings, but it is not a certified penetration test and is not a PCI Approved Scanning Vendor. It complements a manual pentest, it does not replace one. Detectify is a security and AppSec platform with its own strengths; neither product is a substitute for a human-led engagement when you need one.
For more on what the security side of AuditWard covers, see website security scanning, or go back to the full comparison hub to line AuditWard up against other tools.
Detectify vs AuditWard questions.
Is AuditWard a good Detectify alternative?
It depends on what you need. If you want functional QA in a real browser and a security scan of one app in the same audit, with findings tagged to compliance frameworks, AuditWard fits. If you need continuous external attack surface discovery across many assets, Detectify is built for that breadth.
Does Detectify do QA testing like AuditWard?
No. Detectify is a security and AppSec platform that does EASM and DAST. It is not documented as a functional web QA or end-to-end UI tester, so it covers only the security half of what AuditWard does.
Do both tools have an MCP server?
Yes. AuditWard ships a native MCP server with six tools that drive the whole QA and security audit from a coding agent. Detectify launched a remote-hosted MCP server, announced in May 2026, that plugs its security engines into agent workflows for clients like Claude Code and Cursor.
Can AuditWard do PCI ASV scanning?
No. AuditWard is not a PCI Approved Scanning Vendor. Detectify offers ASV scanning through a partnership with Clone Systems. If an ASV scan is a hard requirement, that is a reason to choose Detectify.
Does AuditWard tag findings to compliance frameworks?
Yes. Each finding is tagged to PCI DSS 4.0, SOC 2, GDPR, OWASP Top 10, HIPAA, or ISO 27001. This is per-finding tagging to support your compliance work, not a certification or a readiness score.
How much does AuditWard cost compared to Detectify?
AuditWard Basic is free for one scan a month, Starter is $49 a month with MCP and credential Q&A, and Team is $199 a month. Detectify publishes self-serve entry pricing per scan profile, billed annually. Confirm current Detectify figures and currency on detectify.com.