Compare
HackZero vs.
Strix.
Strix is a genuinely good open-source AI hacker, the same kind of tool as us. So we ran both head to head, black-box: no source on either side, just the target, no human in the loop, one hour. Here is the result, and where each one fits.
Black-box benchmark, one hour
44+
HackZero
2
Strix
From a URL alone, no source on either side, same target, no human in the loop. We count only findings whose exploit actually fired.
Side by side
| Strix | HackZero | |
|---|---|---|
| Proven findings, black-box, one hour | 2 | 44+, exploit-proven |
| License and cost | Open-source (Apache-2.0), free to self-run | Managed subscription, from $299 a month |
| Reads your code | Yes | Yes, reads the repo first |
| Proof per finding | Proof-of-concept exploit | Reproducible curl, screen recording, and fix diff |
| Compliance attestation | Not in the open tool | SOC 2 controls plus an independent CPA who attests them, billed to you directly from $2,500 |
| Runs in CI | Yes, on every pull request | Yes, on pull requests and monthly |
| Who operates it | You run, tune, and pay LLM tokens | Managed, nothing to run |
| Best for | Developers who want free, hackable, in-CI testing | Teams that need validated findings and audit-ready evidence |
The benchmark measures proven-finding throughput on one target over one hour. On price, Strix wins: it is free and open-source.
Which one
Same category,
different priorities.
Pick Strix when
- Budget is the hard constraint. It is free and open-source; you pay only for LLM tokens.
- You want to own and modify the tool, and read or fork the agents.
- You live in CI and want a quick check on every pull request.
- You do not need an auditor to accept the output.
Pick HackZero when
- You need depth of proven findings, not raw autonomy. Black-box, from a URL, that was 44+ to 2 in an hour.
- Every finding has to be reproducible: a curl that fires, a screen recording, and a fix diff.
- An auditor has to accept the result. We build the controls and run the test, and introduce an independent CPA who signs the attestation and bills you directly from $2,500.
- You want findings in your tracker without running or tuning the tool yourself.
The other comparisons
vs. Vanta
The compliance leader, with the pentest sold separately.
Readvs. Drata
Enterprise compliance automation; the test is a separate budget line.
Readvs. Horizon3
Internal network validation, not the product you ship.
Readvs. XBOW
$4,000 to $8,000 a test, against a monthly subscription.
Readvs. Manual pentest
A yearly engagement against continuous coverage.
Read