API security platforms · October 2026 Edition
Akamai API Security vs StackHawk
One of fourteen models named Akamai API Security first on the direct prompt; zero named StackHawk. Akamai API Security was named by fourteen of the fourteen models and StackHawk by twelve and Akamai API Security carries 39 labels and StackHawk 19, so the shares are not directly comparable.
Named in one category this edition.
Named in three categories this edition.
First-choice share6%4%Of first choices across the direct, paraphrase, budget and scale prompts, 0 to 100.
Negative rate21%5%Negative labels as a share of the product's labels, 0 to 100.
Rank in category#5#8A position in a field of 13; printed, not drawn.
Labels3919A count; the two differ.
The two percentage rows are drawn on one 0 to 100 track, Akamai API Security reading right to left. Rank and label count are printed, not drawn.Salt Security was named alongside these two in eight of the fourteen direct answers. Wallarm API Security vs Akamai API Security · Wallarm API Security vs StackHawk · OWASP ZAP vs Akamai API Security
Share is the count of first choices across the direct, paraphrase, budget and scale prompts over all fourteen models, for a mid-market B2B company; rank is within the category; every quote names the model and the prompt it came from. Both figures come from the API security platforms page.
By framing
How many of the fourteen models made each the first choice, per way of asking, and how many argued against it.
Akamai API SecurityFirst choices, of fourteen modelsStackHawk
Direct101 against Akamai API Security
Paraphrase201 against Akamai API Security
Comparative20
Budget-constrained022 against Akamai API Security · 1 against StackHawk
Scale-constrained00
Negative004 against Akamai API Security
Bars are first choices, 0 to 14 each sideModels that argued againstA model can name both, so the two sides of a row do not sum to fourteen.
Across every category in the October 2026 Edition, Akamai API Security and StackHawk were named in the same answer twenty-six times, of the 125 answers naming Akamai API Security and the 147 naming StackHawk. In those answers StackHawk took the first choice six times and Akamai API Security zero.
Every model, every framing
The eighty-four answers behind the chart above, one cell each: where Akamai API Security and StackHawk stood in it.
| Model | Direct | Paraphrase | Comparative | Budget-constrained | Scale-constrained | Negative |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Claude Haiku 4.5 | ||||||
| GPT-5.4 mini | | | | |||
| Gemini 3.5 Flash | | | | | ||
| Perplexity Sonar | | | | |||
| Grok 4.1 Fast | | | | | | |
| Mistral Small | | | ||||
| DeepSeek V4 Flash | | | ||||
| Llama 4 Maverick | | |||||
| Qwen 3.7 Flash | | | | |||
| Kimi K2 | | | ||||
| GLM 4.7 FlashX | | | | |||
| MiniMax M2.5 | | |||||
| GPT-6 Luna | | | | |||
| Muse Glimmer 30B | | | |
Akamai API Security StackHawk first choice named as an alternative argued againstblank: not namedEach cell is one answer, Akamai API Security on the left and StackHawk on the right.The direct prompt
The plain question, one answer per model, grouped by where Akamai API Security and StackHawk stood in it.
Akamai API Security first, StackHawk not the choice
1 of 14 modelsStackHawk was named in the answer but not as the choice, or not at all.GPT-5.4 miniAkamai API Security alternatives: Akto, Imperva API Security, Traceable API Security Platform
Neither was the first choice, one was named
4 of 14 modelsThe answer put something else first and named one of the two as an alternative.Gemini 3.5 FlashWallarm API Security alternatives: Cloudflare API Shield, Harness WAAP, Salt Security, StackHawk
Grok 4.1 FastSalt Security alternatives: Akamai API Security, Cequence Unified API Protection, Noname Security, Traceable AI
Qwen 3.7 FlashNoname Security alternatives: 42Crunch, StackHawk, Wallarm API Security
Muse Glimmer 30BCheck Point CloudGuard WAF, Traceable AI alternatives: Akamai API Security, Cequence Unified API Protection, Noname, Salt Security, Treblle
Neither was named
9 of 14 modelsThe answer made no first choice from these two in this category.Claude Haiku 4.5Salt Security alternatives: 42Crunch, Wallarm API Security
Perplexity SonarAikido Security alternatives: Check Point CloudGuard WAF
Mistral SmallAikido Security, Data Theorem API Security alternatives: Imperva API Security, Traceable AI, Wallarm API Security
DeepSeek V4 FlashNoname Security alternatives: APIsec, Postman, Traceable, Wallarm API Security
Llama 4 MaverickAikido Security alternatives: AWS API Gateway with AWS Shield, Salt Security
Kimi K2Data Theorem, Traceable AI alternatives: APIsec, Beagle Security, Imperva API Security
GLM 4.7 FlashXZuplo alternatives: Apigee, Kong Gateway, Salt Security, Traceable AI
MiniMax M2.5Auth0 alternatives: Cloudflare API Shield, Imperva API Security, Noname Security, Salt Security
GPT-6 LunaWallarm API Security alternatives: 42Crunch, Salt Security
Bold names in an answer are the products the judge labeled a first choice; a model naming several gives each of them that label. The full answer text for every row is in the record.
By buyer segment
The same question asked on behalf of a different buyer. Each standing is computed within its segment and they are never added together. The figures above are the mid-market standing, which is the one the category orders by.
Small business
StackHawk leads by nine points.
StackHawk11%#2 of 14Akamai API Security2%#12 of 14Mid-marketThe figures above
The order flips: Akamai API Security leads at mid-market.
Akamai API Security6%#5 of 13StackHawk4%#8 of 13Enterprise
Akamai API Security leads by thirty-three points.
Akamai API Security33%#1 of 12StackHawk0%#– of 12What the models said about Akamai API Security
Every negative label with a quote, up to three, then the highest-weighted positives, up to three. Six of eight in this category shown.
“If you use cloud-delivery platforms (like Cloudflare, Fastly, or Akamai) on their basic, entry-level, or pro tiers, do not assume your APIs are safe.” Gemini 3.5 Flash · negative prompt · soft negative
“exercise caution with these due to recurring user-reported drawbacks ... Steep learning curve and complex initial setup” Grok 4.1 Fast · negative prompt · soft negative
“premium enterprise API security platforms (like Salt Security, Akamai/Noname, or Traceable) are usually out of reach” Gemini 3.5 Flash · budget prompt · soft negative
“For most mid-sized B2B companies, Akamai API Security stands out due to its comprehensive discovery and protection features” Mistral Small · paraphrase prompt · first choice
“A strong enterprise shortlist candidate for complex, hybrid estates and teams wanting broad governance and testing.” GPT-6 Luna · comparative prompt · first choice
“Akamai API Security is a very strong default choice if you want a purpose-built platform with broad capability” GPT-5.4 mini · direct prompt · first choice
What the models said about StackHawk
Every negative label with a quote, up to three, then the highest-weighted positives, up to three. Three of three in this category shown.
“If you outgrow them, scale to affordable paid like StackHawk.” Grok 4.1 Fast · budget prompt · soft negative
“Best Overall Value (Automated Testing): StackHawk ... widely considered the best balance of cost and capability for startups and SMBs” Qwen 3.7 Flash · budget prompt · first choice
“StackHawk - a developer-centric CI/CD DAST on a budget, with a free tier and paid plans starting at $59/mo.” Llama 4 Maverick · budget prompt · first choice
Also compared
Wallarm API Security vs Akamai API SecurityWallarm API Security vs StackHawkOWASP ZAP vs Akamai API SecurityOWASP ZAP vs StackHawk42Crunch vs Akamai API Security42Crunch vs StackHawkSalt Security vs Akamai API SecuritySalt Security vs StackHawkAkamai API Security vs Traceable AIAkamai API Security vs Noname SecurityTraceable AI vs StackHawkNoname Security vs StackHawkAll twenty-eight head-to-head pages and the full API security standing
Comparisons are drawn for the top eight products in each category, each against each. The output is the models' output; nothing here is a recommendation by the index.