CISO Tribune

Vendor comparison · 2 companies

Contrast Security vs StackHawk

Contrast Security sells an Application and API Security platform built to detect and stop live application-layer attacks. StackHawk sells two plans, Wingman and StackHawk Scale, that run on HawkScan, a runtime testing engine for running applications. CISO Tribune files both under Dynamic application security testing. This page sets the two records side by side: what each sells, where it is based, who owns and funds it, the customers it names and its recent news, each fact numbered to its source.

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Up to four companies side by side.

  • Contrast Security
  • StackHawk
Contrast Security vs StackHawk: Products, Customers and Funding Compared
Contrast SecurityContrast Security sells an Application and API Security platform built to detect and stop live application-layer attacks.contrastsecurity.comStackHawkStackHawk sells two plans, Wingman and StackHawk Scale, that run on HawkScan, a runtime testing engine for running applications.stackhawk.com
What it sells
  • Contrast One[8]A managed Application Security service from Contrast Security.
  • Wingman[15][16]Runs inside a coding agent and tests the running app.
  • StackHawk Scale[15][16]The plan for security teams covering every app in the organization.
  • HawkScan[3][15]The runtime testing engine that tests the running application with real requests.
Categories
Headquarters
Not stated on its pagesNot stated on its pages
Founded
2014[2]Not stated on its pages
Ownership and funding
Not stated on its pagesNot stated on its pages
Named customers
Not stated on its pagesNot stated on its pages
Recent news
Not stated on its pages
  • April 30, 2026StackHawk connected its scan findings to Wiz, where they are synced automatically and shown as enrichment data on the Attack Surface Findings page.[12]
  • December 16, 2025StackHawk launched Business Logic Testing, automated multi-user authorization testing aimed at BOLA, BFLA and privilege escalation vulnerabilities.[14]
  • November 20, 2025StackHawk announced an integration that correlates findings from Endor Labs' SAST with StackHawk DAST findings.[13]
G2 and Gartner Peer Insights
  • G2: listed, seen October 24, 2026[3]
  • Gartner Peer Insights: Not stated on its pages
  • G2: Not stated on its pages
  • Gartner Peer Insights: Not stated on its pages
Who it fits
From its own pages, Contrast Security sells mainly to security and engineering teams, bringing Dev, AppSec and SecOps around a shared view of what happens inside applications. Its pages say CEOs look to CISOs to solve the problem of application vulnerability breaches, and that more CISOs look to Contrast. The customers it names include a banking platform provider and a financial institution handling sensitive customer data. Contrast One is offered to organizations that lack the resources to build a comprehensive AppSec team.Application security and product security teams that need coverage across every app and API are named as buyers, and the Scale plan is for security teams covering every app in the organization. The industries named are financial services, health tech, insurance, media, transportation, education technology, and cloud analytics. Scans are described as fitting into any pipeline and any environment, with no vendor cloud.
Last verified
November 2, 2026November 2, 2026

Where they overlap

  • Contrast Security and StackHawk are both filed under Dynamic application security testing.

Where they differ, field by field

  • Contrast Security's primary category is Application shielding and RASP; StackHawk's is Dynamic application security testing.
  • StackHawk is also filed under API security.
  • Contrast Security lists Contrast One. StackHawk lists Wingman, StackHawk Scale and HawkScan.
  • Contrast Security was founded in 2014.

What it sells: Contrast Security

What Contrast One does[8]
Contrast One is a managed Application Security service. It is available for Application Security Testing and Application Detection and Response.

What it sells: StackHawk

What Wingman does[15][16]
Wingman runs inside the coding agent that engineers already use. When the agent finishes a feature, Wingman tests the running app with HawkScan, hands the findings to the same agent, and rescans after the fix.
What StackHawk Scale does[15][16]
StackHawk Scale adds attack surface discovery and program reporting for security teams. StackHawk Scale is priced by team, not by usage.
What HawkScan does[3][15]
HawkScan tests the running application with real requests. StackHawk scans run as a CLI or Docker container that spins up and shuts down per scan. StackHawk scan configuration is YAML config-as-code, versioned alongside the app.

Questions about Contrast Security and StackHawk

What do Contrast Security and StackHawk sell?
Contrast Security sells Contrast One. StackHawk sells Wingman, StackHawk Scale and HawkScan.
Are Contrast Security and StackHawk in the same category?
They share Dynamic application security testing. Contrast Security's primary category is Application shielding and RASP and StackHawk's is Dynamic application security testing.
When were Contrast Security and StackHawk founded?
Contrast Security was founded in 2014.
Who are Contrast Security and StackHawk sold to?
From its own pages, Contrast Security sells mainly to security and engineering teams, bringing Dev, AppSec and SecOps around a shared view of what happens inside applications. Application security and product security teams that need coverage across every app and API are named as buyers, and the Scale plan is for security teams covering every app in the organization.
What have Contrast Security and StackHawk announced recently?
April 30, 2026: StackHawk connected its scan findings to Wiz, where they are synced automatically and shown as enrichment data on the Attack Surface Findings page.

About Contrast Security

Contrast Security sells an Application and API Security platform built to detect and stop live application-layer attacks. Contrast Security delivers real-time visibility and protection from inside running applications, using patented in-app sensors and a unified platform for Application Detection and Response and Application Security Testing. Contrast Security says that, unlike legacy tools that operate outside the application, it protects software from within.[4]

The approach rests on runtime instrumentation. Contrast instruments an application from within and observes every method, every request and every attack path as it happens. Contrast also says it reports only verified, exploitable vulnerabilities with a fix attached. The Contrast Graph links active attacks to specific lines of code in real time.[1][5]

CVE Shield deploys inside running applications without requiring code changes. CVE Shield operates within the application runtime to detect and block exploitation attempts against known vulnerabilities in third-party libraries. CVE Shield starts with Java applications on Linux-based systems. The free tier is limited to one user and up to two applications, and it provides real-time monitoring in observation mode with no automated blocking. Blocking mode is available in the Pro and Enterprise plans. Pro is a flat annual price starting at $750 a month billed annually.[1][6][7]

Contrast One is a managed Application Security service launched by Contrast Security. Contrast One is available for Application Security Testing and Application Detection and Response.[8]

Contrast Security was launched by its founder, Jeff Williams. Jeff Williams helped create OWASP in 2001. Contrast names Citizens Bank, Backbase and AARP among the companies that follow his plan. Backbase integrated Contrast Application Detection and Response to gain real-time visibility into attacks on its banking platform. Fortuneo replaced manual testing with Contrast automated, real-time protection.[4][9]

On data handling, Contrast agents minimize the data collected by reporting only confirmed vulnerabilities to the Contrast Team Server. Contrast hosts its application services and data on Amazon Web Services facilities in the United States, Europe, the UK and Japan.[1][4][5][8][9][10][11][12]

Contrast Security on the record

Sources

Contrast Security full record

  1. [1]contrastsecurity.comContrast Security · contrastsecurity.com · undated page, accessed September 27, 2026 · Tier A
  2. [2]Contrast security recognized by the 2023 gartner peer insights voice of the customer for application security testing 302008541Contrast Security via PR Newswire · prnewswire.com · published December 7, 2023 · Tier A
  3. [3]Contrast Security Reviews & Product Details - G2G2 · undated page, accessed October 24, 2026 · Tier C
  4. [4]About Us | Get Secure Code Moving | Contrast SecurityContrast Security · undated page, accessed November 3, 2026 · Tier A
  5. [5]Runtime Application Security for AI-Generated Code | Contrast SecurityContrast Security · undated page, accessed November 3, 2026 · Tier A
  6. [6]Protect Applications from CVEs | Contrast SecurityContrast Security · undated page, accessed November 3, 2026 · Tier A
  7. [7]Contrast Security Pricing and Packaging | Application Security Pricing | Contrast SecurityContrast Security · undated page, accessed November 3, 2026 · Tier A
  8. [8]Managed Application Security Launched by Contrast SecurityContrast Security · published October 23, 2024 · Tier A
  9. [9]Customers | Customer Success Stories | Contrast SecurityContrast Security · undated page, accessed November 3, 2026 · Tier A
  10. [10]Contrast Security Honored with Inaugural Wiz Integrations (WIN) Partner AwardContrast Security · published July 30, 2025 · Tier A
  11. [11]Trust Center | Security PracticesContrast Security · undated page, accessed November 3, 2026 · Tier A
  12. [12]CISO Should Prioritize AppSec | Contrast SecurityContrast Security · undated page, accessed November 3, 2026 · Tier A

StackHawk full record

  1. [1]stackhawk.comStackHawk · stackhawk.com · undated page, accessed September 27, 2026 · Tier A
  2. [2]Stackhawk launches sensitive data identification to help security teams protect high risk apis 302476776StackHawk via PR Newswire · prnewswire.com · published June 12, 2025 · Tier A
  3. [3]AI Coding Agent Security Platform | StackHawk, Inc.StackHawk · undated page, accessed October 28, 2026 · Tier A
  4. [4]AI Coding Agent Security for Modern Security Teams | StackHawk, Inc.StackHawk · undated page, accessed October 28, 2026 · Tier A
  5. [5]API Security Testing Trusted by HealthTechStackHawk · undated page, accessed October 28, 2026 · Tier A
  6. [6]API Security that keeps pace with FinTech InnovationStackHawk · undated page, accessed October 28, 2026 · Tier A
  7. [7]Getting Started | Delivering Secure Applications, SimplifiedStackHawk · undated page, accessed October 28, 2026 · Tier A
  8. [8]OWASP Top 10 Solution Page with StackHawk InsightsStackHawk · undated page, accessed October 28, 2026 · Tier A
  9. [9]StackHawk: Your AppSec Intelligence PlatformStackHawk · undated page, accessed October 28, 2026 · Tier A
  10. [10]Secure Vibe Coding with StackHawkStackHawk · undated page, accessed October 28, 2026 · Tier A
  11. [11]Runtime Application Business Logic Testing for API-Driven AppsStackHawk · undated page, accessed October 28, 2026 · Tier A
  12. [12]StackHawk and Wiz: One Risk Picture Across the Application and Cloud LayerStackHawk · published April 30, 2026 · Tier A
  13. [13]StackHawk + Endor Labs: Correlating and Prioritizing SAST and DAST FindingsStackHawk · published November 20, 2025 · Tier A
  14. [14]Introducing Intelligent Business Logic Testing: Find Authorization Flaws Pre-ProductionStackHawk · published December 16, 2025 · Tier A
  15. [15]About StackHawk | Security Feedback for Coding AgentsStackHawk · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  16. [16]Pricing for StackHawk's AI Coding Agent Security PlatformStackHawk · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  17. [17]Modern DAST | StackHawk Dynamic Application Security TestingStackHawk · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  18. [18]The Developer-First Alternative to Bright SecurityStackHawk · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A

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