# NetSPI alternatives: what AI models name instead, October 2026

IT AI Recommendation Index, October 2026 Edition. 191 of the 252 answers in the 1 category where NetSPI holds a standing named it neither first nor as an alternative; these are the first choices those answers made. Page: https://it-ai-index.com/vendors/netspi/alternatives/

## Named instead, most often (every category and segment added)

- Cobalt: 32
- BreachLock: 17
- Astra Security: 11
- Bright Defense: 8
- Acunetix: 4
- Bug Circuit: 4

## Penetration testing as a service

**Small business**: 80 of 84 answers did not name NetSPI.

- Cobalt: first choice in 14 of those 80
- Astra Security: first choice in 9 of those 80
- BreachLock: first choice in 9 of those 80
- Bright Defense: first choice in 7 of those 80
- Acunetix: first choice in 4 of those 80
- Bug Circuit: first choice in 3 of those 80
- HIFENCE: first choice in 2 of those 80
- Prescient Security: first choice in 2 of those 80

**Mid-market**: 69 of 84 answers did not name NetSPI (NetSPI is #8 of 10 at 0%).

- Cobalt: first choice in 14 of those 69
- BreachLock: first choice in 7 of those 69
- Astra Security: first choice in 2 of those 69
- Synack: first choice in 2 of those 69
- Bright Defense: first choice in 1 of those 69
- Bug Circuit: first choice in 1 of those 69
- Bugcrowd: first choice in 1 of those 69
- CISA's free Cyber Hygiene service: first choice in 1 of those 69

**Enterprise**: 42 of 84 answers did not name NetSPI (NetSPI is #1 of 11 at 46%).

- Cobalt: first choice in 4 of those 42
- BreachLock: first choice in 1 of those 42
- Bugcrowd: first choice in 1 of those 42
- Bugcrowd's PTaaS Subscription: first choice in 1 of those 42
- DeepStrike: first choice in 1 of those 42
- Mandiant: first choice in 1 of those 42
- Synack: first choice in 1 of those 42

Published under CC BY 4.0. The output is the models' output; nothing here is a recommendation by the index.