OWASP ZAP vs Pa11y: Pricing and Ratings Compared (2026)
Entry prices and free plans as read on each vendor's pricing page, and user ratings as published on review sites, for OWASP ZAP and Pa11y side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
Based on published vendor pricing and features and on public review data, here's who should pick what:
OWASP ZAP
Open-source web application security scanner
Best for you if:
- • You want a fully free tool (Pa11y requires payment)
Pa11y
Free and open-source tools to help designers and developers make web pages more accessible.
Best for you if:
- • You want completely free and open-source
| At a Glance | OWASP ZAP | Pa11y |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Free 100% free | Free plan |
Category | Security Testing & QA | Testing & QA Developer Tools |
Rating | 4.7/5 G2 4.7 14 reviews | n/a |
Free plan | Yes | Yes |
Choose OWASP ZAP or Pa11y?
Choose OWASP ZAP if
- You want a fully free tool (Pa11y requires payment)
- You want free security scanner
- You want good for web apps
- You work in security, not testing & QA
Choose Pa11y if
- You want completely free and open-source
- You want offers multiple tools for different use cases (CLI, Dashboard, Webservice, CI)
- You work in testing & QA, not security
In-Depth Analysis
OWASP ZAP
Open-source web application security scanner
OWASP ZAP's pricing is exceptionally generous, being entirely free.
Strengths
- Pro: Free security scanner
- Pro: Good for web apps
- Pro: Active community
- Pro: CI/CD integration
- Pro: Open source
Weaknesses
- Con: Learning curve
- Con: False positives
- Con: Performance varies
- Con: UI dated
- Con: Configuration needed
Key features
Pa11y
Free and open-source tools to help designers and developers make web pages more accessible.
The pricing for Pa11y is exceptionally generous as all tools are completely free.
Strengths
- Pro: Completely free and open-source
- Pro: Offers multiple tools for different use cases (CLI, Dashboard, Webservice, CI)
- Pro: Helps track accessibility trends over time with graphs
- Pro: Supports integration into continuous integration workflows
Weaknesses
- Con: Requires some technical knowledge for CLI and Webservice tools
- Con: Dashboard might require setup and hosting by the user
Key features
Plans and prices: OWASP ZAP vs Pa11y
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| OWASP ZAP |
| zaproxy.org read Nov 2, 2026 |
| Pa11y |
| pa11y.org read Oct 4, 2026 |
Prices as read on each vendor's own pricing page on the date shown. Plans are listed per tool and are not matched against the other tool's plans: a plan name or price in one column says nothing about the same row in the other. Details on OWASP ZAP pricing and Pa11y pricing.
Key Takeaways
OWASP ZAP
- Choose if you want open-source web application security scanner
Pa11y
- Choose if you want free and open-source tools to help designers and developers make web pages more accessible
What the data shows
On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair.
- Only OWASP ZAP has a published user rating (4.7/5 from 14 reviews); Pa11y has none we can show.
- Both have a free plan.
Criteria: user rating (only above 20 reviews on both sides, gap of 0.2 or more), entry price (only on the same billing basis), free plan. How we rate
Frequently Asked Questions
How do OWASP ZAP and Pa11y compare in 2026?
On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair. Only OWASP ZAP has a published user rating (4.7/5 from 14 reviews); Pa11y has none we can show. Both have a free plan.
What are OWASP ZAP and Pa11y used for?
OWASP ZAP: Open-source web application security scanner. Pa11y: Free and open-source tools to help designers and developers make web pages more accessible.
What does OWASP ZAP cost vs Pa11y?
OWASP ZAP is free. Pa11y has no public paid-plan price on file. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Nov 2, 2026.
What's the main difference between OWASP ZAP and Pa11y?
OWASP ZAP's main strength: free security scanner. Pa11y's main strength: completely free and open-source.