Two layers of application security, and where each tool fits
StackHawk is a paid dynamic application security testing tool aimed at development teams. It scans running web applications and APIs for runtime vulnerabilities such as injection and broken access control, with configuration that lives in your repo and runs inside CI/CD before code reaches production. That covers one layer of application security, the runtime behavior of a deployed app.
A pipeline DAST is one layer of website security. The other layer is how your site is configured at the edge. A web app can pass dynamic testing while still missing critical HTTP security headers like Content Security Policy and HSTS, serving cookies without Secure or HttpOnly flags, lacking DNS email authentication records (SPF, DKIM, DMARC, CAA), or running with weak TLS settings. SiteSecurityScore is purpose built for that configuration layer, the part attackers probe first. It grades your whole posture in seconds and hands you copy and paste fixes, free and instant, so it is the essential layer you should run alongside a pipeline DAST.
StackHawk vs SiteSecurityScore: side by side feature comparison
Configuration Layer
| Feature | SiteSecurityScore | StackHawk |
|---|---|---|
| Security headers analysis | ||
| Content Security Policy (CSP) | ||
| Strict Transport Security (HSTS) | ||
| TLS and certificate config | ||
| DNS records (SPF, DKIM, DMARC, CAA) | ||
| Cookie security attributes | ||
| Letter grade scoring |
Automation and Access
| Feature | SiteSecurityScore | StackHawk |
|---|---|---|
| Instant scan, no setup required | ||
| No account for basic scans | ||
| REST API for automation | ||
| CI-friendly scanning | ||
| MCP connector for AI coding tools | ||
| Free tier |
Features
| Feature | SiteSecurityScore | StackHawk |
|---|---|---|
| Actionable fix recommendations | ||
| PDF report generation | ||
| Browser extension (authenticated pages) | ||
| Free continuous monitoring | ||
| CSP violation and NEL reporting | ||
| Free header generator tools | ||
| Learning center with guides |
Dynamic Application Testing
| Feature | SiteSecurityScore | StackHawk |
|---|---|---|
| Runtime vulnerability scanning (DAST) | ||
| Web application scanning | ||
| API scanning (REST, GraphQL, SOAP, gRPC) | ||
| Injection and access control testing | ||
| Pre-production pipeline testing |
The configuration layer SiteSecurityScore covers
Security headers analysis
CSP, HSTS, X-Frame-Options, X-Content-Type-Options, Referrer-Policy, Permissions-Policy, COOP, COEP, and CORP. These headers help prevent XSS, clickjacking, and data leakage, and they sit outside the runtime testing a pipeline DAST handles.
Deep CSP analysis
Directive-by-directive breakdown of your Content Security Policy. Identifies unsafe-inline, overly broad wildcards, and missing directives, then helps you tighten the policy.
TLS and DNS records
TLS and certificate configuration plus SPF, DKIM, DMARC, and CAA record analysis. Find gaps in your transport security and email authentication before attackers exploit them.
Cookie security audit
HttpOnly, Secure, SameSite, Path, Domain, and prefix checks for every cookie. Spot session hijacking and CSRF risks instantly.
CORS and information disclosure
Reviews Access-Control-Allow-Origin and credentials settings to flag permissive cross-origin configurations, and checks for information disclosure and mixed content.
security.txt validation
Verifies the presence and correctness of your security.txt file, ensuring security researchers can reach you through the proper disclosure channel.
Free continuous monitoring with email alerts
A pipeline scan runs when you ship. Between deploys, your configuration can drift. A header gets removed, a certificate nears expiration, or a CSP policy changes, and a build-time scan will not catch it until the next pipeline run.
SiteSecurityScore runs free daily automated scans that grade your HTTP security headers, deep Content Security Policy analysis, TLS certificates, DNS records (SPF, DKIM, DMARC, CAA), and cookie security in a single pass. When anything changes, you receive an email alert immediately, and you can wire CSP violation and NEL reports back into your workflow. Continuous coverage, no manual re-testing, no pipeline to wire up.
Automated daily scans
Every monitored site is scanned once per day covering headers, CSP, TLS, DNS, and cookies.
Email alerts on changes
Get notified when your security 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 grade to fix in one place.
Scan authenticated pages and connect to your AI workflow
Chrome Extension and MCP connector
The SiteSecurityScore browser extension captures real response headers from your authenticated sessions, so you can grade admin panels, internal dashboards, and staging environments with one click. SiteSecurityScore also ships an MCP connector for Claude Code and ChatGPT Codex, so you can run scans right from your AI coding workflow alongside your REST API automation. Everything you need for the configuration layer in one place.
Run a free website security scan
Enter any URL and get a graded configuration audit covering HTTP headers, deep CSP analysis, HSTS, TLS certificates, DNS records, and cookie security, with copy and paste fixes in seconds. No account required.
Start scanningFrequently asked questions
Is SiteSecurityScore a replacement for StackHawk?
SiteSecurityScore and StackHawk cover different layers of application security and work well side by side. StackHawk is a paid DAST that runs dynamic web app and API scans inside your CI/CD pipeline before code reaches production. SiteSecurityScore is the fastest way to grade and fix the configuration layer attackers probe first, covering security headers, deep CSP analysis, TLS, DNS, cookies, CORS, and security.txt in one instant scan. You get a letter grade with copy and paste fixes in seconds, free continuous monitoring, a REST API, and an MCP connector, with no account and no pipeline to wire up. Run SiteSecurityScore for the configuration layer and StackHawk for pipeline testing.
What does SiteSecurityScore check that StackHawk does not focus on?
SiteSecurityScore owns the HTTP configuration layer end to end. It grades security headers (Content Security Policy, HSTS, X-Frame-Options, X-Content-Type-Options, Referrer-Policy, Permissions-Policy, COOP, COEP, CORP), TLS and certificate configuration, DNS records (SPF, DKIM, DMARC, CAA), cookie security attributes, CORS, security.txt, information disclosure, and mixed content. It runs deep directive by directive CSP analysis, delivers a letter grade with copy and paste fixes in seconds, and includes free daily monitoring with email alerts.
Does StackHawk check HTTP security headers and CSP?
StackHawk is a dynamic application security testing tool that finds runtime vulnerabilities in web apps and APIs, such as injection and broken access control, by scanning a running application inside a pipeline. It is not built as a header and CSP grading tool. SiteSecurityScore is purpose built for that work and gives you an instant letter grade across security headers, deep CSP analysis, TLS, DNS, and cookies, with copy and paste fixes you can ship right away.
Can I run a security scan without setting up a CI/CD pipeline?
Yes. StackHawk is designed to run inside CI/CD against a running application, which requires pipeline setup. SiteSecurityScore needs no pipeline and no account for basic scans. You enter a URL and get an instant graded report on headers, deep CSP analysis, TLS, DNS, and cookies. When you are ready to automate, SiteSecurityScore gives you a REST API and CI friendly scanning so you can grade the configuration layer on every build with no pipeline to wire up.
Is SiteSecurityScore free to use as a StackHawk alternative?
Yes. SiteSecurityScore delivers free website security scans covering security headers, TLS certificates, DNS records, deep Content Security Policy analysis, and cookie security, with no account required for basic scans. Free continuous daily monitoring with email alerts is included too. Paid plans add monitoring at scale, PDF reports, REST API access, and higher scan limits. It is the essential configuration layer check you should not skip, and the free tier covers the work most teams need.
Can SiteSecurityScore scan pages behind a login?
Yes. SiteSecurityScore ships a Chrome browser extension that captures real HTTP response headers from your authenticated sessions, so you can grade admin panels, internal dashboards, and staging environments in one click. It also ships an MCP connector for Claude Code and ChatGPT Codex so you can run scans directly from your AI coding workflow.