Cobalt
Crowd testing tools
Dynamic application security testing (DAST) software
Penetration testing tools
DevSecOps software
- Features
- Ease of use
- Ease of management
- Quality of support
- Affordability
- Market presence
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What is Cobalt
Cobalt is a penetration testing platform that helps organizations plan, run, and manage security tests against web applications, APIs, and other systems. It combines a software workflow for scoping, scheduling, reporting, and remediation tracking with access to a vetted pool of security testers. Typical users include security teams and engineering teams that need recurring pentests, evidence for compliance, and integration into development workflows. The product emphasizes on-demand testing and collaboration features rather than only automated scanning.
On-demand pentest operations workflow
Cobalt provides a structured workflow for scoping, launching, and managing penetration tests, including communications and deliverable handling. This can reduce the operational overhead compared with coordinating ad-hoc consulting engagements. Teams can standardize how tests are requested and executed across multiple applications. The approach fits organizations that run recurring tests on a schedule or after major releases.
Access to vetted tester network
The platform includes access to a pool of security testers, enabling organizations to source expertise without building a large internal team. This model supports scaling testing capacity up or down based on release cycles. It also helps teams cover different skill sets (for example, web app and API testing) through a single vendor relationship. The network-based approach aligns with use cases that resemble managed crowd or community testing, but focused on security.
Collaboration and remediation tracking
Cobalt supports collaboration between security, engineering, and testers through centralized findings, evidence, and reporting. Findings management and remediation workflows help teams track status and retesting outcomes over time. This can improve handoffs compared with static PDF-only reporting. Integrations (where available) can connect findings to engineering ticketing and CI/CD processes.
Not a pure DAST scanner
Cobalt’s core value centers on human-led penetration testing and program management rather than continuous automated dynamic scanning. Organizations that need always-on DAST coverage across many endpoints may still require separate automated scanning tools. This can increase tooling complexity for teams seeking a single product for both automated and human testing. The platform is better suited to periodic assessments and targeted testing.
Cost and lead-time variability
Penetration testing programs typically cost more than basic crowd testing or automated testing approaches, especially when run frequently. Scheduling and tester availability can introduce lead-time variability depending on scope and urgency. For smaller teams, the overhead of scoping and coordinating tests may feel heavy relative to lightweight bug-finding tools. Budgeting can be less predictable when scope changes across applications.
Coverage depends on test scope
Results depend heavily on how the engagement is scoped (assets included, timebox, and depth of testing). If scope is narrow, issues outside the defined targets may remain untested. If scope is broad, timelines and costs can increase and findings triage can become more demanding. Organizations need mature asset inventory and prioritization to get consistent value.
Plan & Pricing
Pricing model: Pay-as-you-go / credit-based PtaaS with optional fixed "Starter Packages".
Overview (from Cobalt official site):
- Cobalt primarily sells pentesting as-a-service via a credit-based consumption model (a "Cobalt Credit" = 8 pentesting hours) sold in annual packages; customers are asked to "get a quote" for Standard, Premium, and Enterprise tiers. (source: Cobalt pricing page)
- The site also publishes fixed-price Starter Packages for common web/API engagements (Small / Medium / Large) with "starts at" prices and "Buy now" buttons. (source: Cobalt Starter Package page)
Starter Packages (published fixed starting prices on official site):
- Small (Web or Web + API) — Starts at $8,500 (includes 1 user role, up to 40 dynamic pages; Web+API includes up to 75 endpoints). (source: Cobalt starter package page)
- Medium (Web or Web + API) — Starts at $13,600 (includes 2 user roles, up to 50 dynamic pages; Web+API includes up to 100 endpoints). (source: Cobalt starter package page)
- Large (Web or Web + API) — Starts at $20,400 (includes 3 user roles, up to 75 dynamic pages; Web+API includes up to 125 endpoints). (source: Cobalt starter package page)
Credit/Consumption model (no per-credit public price found on the official site):
- Cobalt Credits represent a standardized unit of work (8 pentesting hours) and are sold in annual packages that include asset scoping, retesting, and platform access. Exact per-credit pricing and annual credit-package prices are not published on the public pricing page; the site requires contacting sales/getting a quote for Standard/Premium/Enterprise tiers. (source: Cobalt pricing page)
Notable included items (from official docs/pages):
- Free retesting of findings included with engagements (6 months for Standard; 12 months for Premium/Enterprise) — this is part of the paid engagement, not a separate free trial. (source: Cobalt docs and pages)
Free tier / trial: No permanent free plan or time-limited free trial is published on the official site.
Minimum published paid cost: The lowest explicit price shown on the official site is $8,500 (Small Starter Package). More comprehensive/annual credit packages require a quote and may be higher.
Seller details
Cobalt.io
San Francisco, California, United States
2013
Private
https://www.cobalt.io/
https://x.com/cobalt_io
https://www.linkedin.com/company/cobalt-io
