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    The Budget Security Alternative to Intruder

    Short version: Intruder is an excellent continuous vulnerability scanner that also sells AI-powered web app pentests from $3,500/test. If what you actually need is a manual penetration test with exploitation evidence an auditor will accept, that's a different product — and it's what we do: human-led testing by OSCP-certified professionals at $985 per tester-day (US), €849/day (EU). This page lays out the honest difference so you can pick right.

    At a glance

     IntruderBudget Security
    Core modelContinuous automated vulnerability scanning; AI web app pentestsManual penetration testing by certified humans
    Published priceAI pentest from $3,500/test (excl. VAT); subscription scanning tiers$985 per tester-day (US) / €849/day (EU)
    Best forOngoing hygiene and known-CVE detection across a changing surfaceAudit evidence, business logic, complex auth, deep manual testing
    Audit evidence (SOC 2 / ISO 27001 / NIS2)AI/automated output — auditors expect manual evidenceManual report with exploitation proof + tester identity
    Report turnaroundContinuous / on scan completionFull report within 7 days; findings as confirmed
    RetestRe-scan on scheduleOne free retest included

    Intruder figures read from its public pricing page, August 2026. Some subscription tiers render dynamically and are not quoted here. See our Pentest Price Index for the sourcing.

    Where each one wins

    Choose Intruder when your priority is continuous, low-effort monitoring of a shifting external surface — catching new exposures and known CVEs quickly across many assets. That's a genuinely good use of an automated platform, and we won't pretend otherwise.

    Choose Budget Security when you need a real penetration test: an auditor asked for one, a customer's security review demands manual evidence, or you're shipping a product where business logic and authentication flaws — the things scanners and AI agents miss — are the actual risk. You get a named OSCP-certified tester, exploitation evidence, and a report built for audits.

    Honestly? Many teams run both. Continuous scanning for coverage, a manual pentest for depth and compliance. They solve different problems.

    Intruder Alternative FAQ

    What is the best alternative to Intruder for penetration testing?
    It depends on what you need Intruder for. If you want continuous automated vulnerability scanning of your external surface, Intruder is a strong fit and hard to replace like-for-like. If you need a manual penetration test with exploitation evidence for a SOC 2, ISO 27001, or HIPAA audit, you need a human-led service — Budget Security delivers manual pentests by OSCP-certified testers at $985 per tester-day (US) / €849/day (EU), with an audit-ready report. Many teams use both: Intruder for continuous scanning, a manual pentest for compliance and depth.
    Is Intruder a real penetration test?
    Intruder is primarily a continuous vulnerability scanning platform, and it also offers an AI-powered web application pentest starting from $3,500 per test (as published on its pricing page, observed August 2026, exclusive of VAT). Automated and AI-assisted testing is useful for ongoing hygiene, but SOC 2, ISO 27001, and NIS2 auditors expect evidence of manual testing by qualified people. For that, a human-led engagement is the safer choice.
    How does Budget Security pricing compare to Intruder?
    Intruder publishes an AI web app pentest from $3,500 per test and subscription scanning tiers (some figures render dynamically on their page). Budget Security publishes a flat manual rate: $985 per tester-day for US clients, €849/day in the EU, with most single-scope manual pentests completing in 3–7 days. The two price different things — automated/AI scanning per year versus manual testing per day — so compare on what you actually need, not headline numbers.
    Can I switch from Intruder to Budget Security?
    You don't have to choose exclusively. Keep Intruder for continuous scanning if it serves you, and book manual pentests with Budget Security when you need audit-grade evidence or deeper testing of business logic and complex authentication. Scoping a manual test takes minutes on our platform, with a fixed price and a tester assigned within 24 hours.
    Scope a manual pentest