Why you should never skip the configuration layer
Acunetix is a paid commercial web vulnerability scanner. It crawls your application and runs dynamic testing for issues like SQL injection and cross-site scripting, with an interactive AcuSensor agent that maps a finding back to server-side code. It runs on-prem or in the cloud and is aimed at security teams and enterprises that need broad application coverage.
That model comes with a license cost and a setup that suits dedicated security staff. Meanwhile the configuration layer is the surface attackers probe first. A site can pass an application scan and still be missing HTTP security headers like Content Security Policy and HSTS, serving cookies without Secure or HttpOnly flags, lacking DNS records like SPF, DKIM, and DMARC, or running a weak TLS setup. SiteSecurityScore is the fastest way to grade and fix that layer. It returns a letter grade with copy and paste fixes in seconds, for free, with no account and no setup needed for basic scans. It is the essential layer you should never skip, and it pairs perfectly with a full DAST.
Acunetix vs SiteSecurityScore: side by side feature comparison
Configuration Posture Layer
| Feature | SiteSecurityScore | Acunetix |
|---|---|---|
| HTTP security headers analysis | ||
| Deep CSP policy breakdown | Partial | |
| TLS/SSL configuration and certificate | ||
| Cookie security attributes | ||
| DNS records (SPF, DKIM, DMARC, CAA) | ||
| security.txt validation | ||
| Mixed content detection |
Access and Cost
| Feature | SiteSecurityScore | Acunetix |
|---|---|---|
| Free instant scan, no license | ||
| No account for basic scans | ||
| Letter grade scoring | Partial | |
| Actionable fix recommendations | ||
| Aimed at every site owner | ||
| Built for enterprise security teams |
Workflow and Automation
| Feature | SiteSecurityScore | Acunetix |
|---|---|---|
| PDF report generation | ||
| REST API for automation | ||
| Browser extension (authenticated pages) | ||
| Daily monitoring with email alerts | Partial | |
| CSP violation and NEL reporting | ||
| MCP connector for Claude Code and Codex | ||
| Free header generator tools | ||
| Learning center with guides |
Application Testing
| Feature | SiteSecurityScore | Acunetix |
|---|---|---|
| Automated DAST crawling | ||
| SQL injection detection | ||
| Cross-site scripting (XSS) detection | ||
| Interactive (IAST) sensor checks | ||
| Broad application vulnerability coverage | ||
| On-prem and cloud deployment |
What Acunetix covers vs the config layer SiteSecurityScore grades
Acunetix focuses on application testing, finding injection and scripting flaws across your code. SiteSecurityScore owns the configuration posture layer that browsers and email systems rely on, the surface attackers probe first. Here is everything it grades in a single free scan, with copy and paste fixes ready in seconds.
Security headers analysis
CSP, HSTS, X-Frame-Options, X-Content-Type-Options, Referrer-Policy, Permissions-Policy, COOP, COEP, and CORP. These headers help stop XSS, clickjacking, and data leakage at the browser boundary.
CSP policy analysis
Directive by directive breakdown of your Content Security Policy. It flags unsafe-inline, overly broad wildcards, and missing directives so you can tighten the policy.
DNS security records
SPF, DKIM, DMARC, and CAA record analysis. Find gaps in email authentication and certificate authority controls before attackers use them for phishing.
Cookie security audit
HttpOnly, Secure, SameSite, Path, Domain, and prefix checks for every cookie. Spot session hijacking and CSRF risks at a glance.
CORS and TLS review
Checks Access-Control-Allow-Origin and credentials settings for overly permissive cross-origin rules, plus TLS configuration, certificate validity, and mixed content.
security.txt and disclosure
Verifies your security.txt file and flags information disclosure so researchers can reach you and so your server is not leaking detail it should not.
Continuous posture monitoring with email alerts
A full DAST scan is a heavy, scheduled job. You kick one off, review the report, and move on. If your TLS certificate expires or a header configuration changes next week, the surface posture drifts and you may not notice until the next full scan window.
SiteSecurityScore gives you free continuous daily monitoring that automatically scans your HTTP security headers, Content Security Policy, TLS/SSL configuration, DNS records, and cookies in a single pass. The moment anything changes, you get an email alert right away. It also supports CSP violation and NEL reporting so you catch issues straight from the browser. No manual re-testing required.
Automated daily scans
Every monitored site is scanned once per day across headers, CSP, TLS, DNS, and cookies.
Email alerts on changes
Get notified when your posture changes, a certificate nears expiration, or a header is removed.
Free security header generator tools
Knowing which headers are missing is only half the job. You also need correct values. SiteSecurityScore includes free generator tools that produce copy and paste configurations for your web server, so you go from finding to fixed in seconds.
Scan authenticated pages with the browser extension
Chrome Extension
A public scan only reaches pages anyone can load. The SiteSecurityScore Chrome extension captures real response headers from your authenticated sessions, so you can grade admin panels, internal dashboards, and staging environments with one click. For automation, the REST API and the MCP connector for Claude Code and ChatGPT Codex let you pull posture results straight into your own pipelines.
Run a free website security scan
Enter any URL and get an instant letter grade with copy and paste fixes covering HTTP headers, deep CSP analysis, HSTS, TLS certificates, DNS records, and cookie security. Free, instant, no account, no setup.
Start scanningFrequently asked questions
Is SiteSecurityScore a replacement for Acunetix?
SiteSecurityScore and Acunetix cover different layers of website security and work powerfully together. Acunetix is a paid commercial web vulnerability scanner that runs automated DAST and IAST checks for issues like SQL injection and cross-site scripting across an application. SiteSecurityScore is the fastest way to grade and fix your configuration layer, the surface attackers probe first, covering HTTP security headers, deep CSP analysis, TLS, DNS records, cookies, CORS, and security.txt. It is free and instant, it needs no license and no setup, and it gives you a letter grade with copy and paste fixes in seconds. Run it as the essential first layer you should never skip, then bring in Acunetix for deep application testing.
Is there a free alternative to Acunetix?
Acunetix is commercial software with paid licensing aimed at security teams and enterprises. SiteSecurityScore gives you everything you need for the configuration layer in one free, instant scan, covering HTTP security headers, deep CSP analysis, TLS, DNS records, cookies, CORS, and security.txt, with no license, no setup, and no account required for basic scans. You get an immediate letter grade and a copy and paste fix list in seconds, plus free continuous daily monitoring with email alerts, a REST API, a Chrome extension for authenticated pages, free header generator tools, and an MCP connector for Claude Code and ChatGPT Codex.
What does SiteSecurityScore check that complements an Acunetix scan?
SiteSecurityScore is purpose built for the configuration posture layer that attackers probe first. It grades HTTP security headers (Content Security Policy, HSTS, X-Frame-Options, X-Content-Type-Options, Referrer-Policy, Permissions-Policy, COOP, COEP, CORP), runs deep CSP policy analysis, checks TLS/SSL configuration and certificates, DNS records (SPF, DKIM, DMARC, CAA), cookie security attributes, CORS configuration, security.txt, information disclosure, and mixed content, all in a single free scan with copy and paste fixes. These checks pair perfectly with the application testing Acunetix performs.
Can I monitor my security headers and TLS automatically without Acunetix?
Yes. SiteSecurityScore includes free continuous daily monitoring that automatically scans your HTTP security headers, CSP, TLS/SSL configuration, DNS records, and cookies in one pass. You receive email alerts the moment anything changes, such as an expiring certificate, a removed header, or a CSP policy change. It also supports CSP violation and NEL reporting so you catch issues straight from production, with no manual re-testing required.
Does SiteSecurityScore run a full DAST scan like Acunetix?
These tools cover different layers by design. Acunetix runs dynamic application security testing plus interactive checks to find issues like SQL injection and cross-site scripting across an entire application, which requires a licensed engine. SiteSecurityScore is the fastest way to grade and fix the configuration layer, covering HTTP security headers, deep CSP analysis, TLS, DNS records, and cookies for free and instantly. It is the essential posture layer you should never skip, and it pairs perfectly with a full DAST.
Can SiteSecurityScore scan pages behind a login?
Yes. SiteSecurityScore ships a Chrome extension that captures real HTTP response headers from your authenticated sessions, so you can grade admin panels, internal dashboards, and staging environments with one click. It also exposes a REST API and an MCP connector for Claude Code and ChatGPT Codex, so you can pull posture results straight into your own workflows and automation.