head to head · open source
pentest-ai vs hacktheweb
pentest-ai has 1,827 GitHub stars, 334 forks, 2 open issues and last shipped 12 days ago. hacktheweb has 1,311 stars, 286 forks, 0 open issues and last shipped yesterday. pentest-ai leads on adoption by 39% (1,827 vs 1,311 stars). pentest-ai is written in Python under MIT; hacktheweb is written in Python under MIT. pentest-ai has attracted 18% as many forks as stars, hacktheweb 22%. hacktheweb was the more recently maintained of the two, and both are self-hostable with no licence fee. The two share 3 topic tags (ai-security, cybersecurity, ethical-hacking), so they are genuine substitutes rather than adjacent tools.
Two open source projects, one decision. Both are free and self-hostable — the differences are community size, license terms, language stack and release pace.
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Side by side
| pentest-ai | hacktheweb | |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | ★ 1.8K | ★ 1.3K |
| License | MIT | MIT |
| Written in | Python | Python |
| Last push | 2026-11-03 | 2026-11-14 |
| Forks | ⑂ 334 | ⑂ 286 |
| Self-hosting | Yes | Yes |
| Data ownership | Your server | Your server |
pick pentest-ai if
- You weight community size — 1.8K stars and counting
- You want the MIT license terms
- Your stack matches Python
- You value the larger contributor base for long-term maintenance
pick hacktheweb if
- You want the hacktheweb feature set and don't need the biggest community
- You prefer the MIT license terms
- Your stack matches Python
- You evaluated both and hacktheweb fits your workflow better
About pentest-ai
Website · Quick start · Verification · Documentation · Issues Pentest AI connects an AI client or model to a penetration testing workflow. It investigates applications, records findings, and uses machine oracles to check whether an exploit can be reproduced . Verified findings carry evidence you can replay. Use it through MCP , from the CLI , or in CI . The model helps drive the investigation; an oracle determines whether a finding earns a verified verdict. Test only systems you own or have explicit authorization to assess. Read the acceptable use policy and terms before running an engagement. Quick start…
read the full pentest-ai overview →
About hacktheweb
HackTheWeb AI Powered Web Application Penetration Testing Framework Automated security testing with intelligent decision making Website • Features • Installation • Usage • Documentation 🪙 Official Token Contract Address (CA) [!IMPORTANT] Official Contract Address (Solana): • Network: Solana (pump.fun) • Security Notice: Always verify the contract address matches this official repository. Never trust unverified third parties. 🎯 Overview HackTheWeb is a production ready, AI powered web application penetration testing tool designed for security professionals and ethical hackers. It uses rule based artificial…
read the full hacktheweb overview →
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Frequently asked questions
Is pentest-ai or hacktheweb more popular?
pentest-ai has 1,827 GitHub stars and hacktheweb has 1,311. pentest-ai has the larger community by that measure.
Are pentest-ai and hacktheweb free?
Both are open source. pentest-ai is licensed under MIT and hacktheweb under MIT. Neither carries a licence fee.
What is the difference between pentest-ai and hacktheweb?
pentest-ai is written in Python and hacktheweb in Python. The practical differences are community size, licence terms, language stack and release cadence — all compared in the table above.
Which should I choose, pentest-ai or hacktheweb?
Choose pentest-ai if you want the larger community (1,827 stars) or its MIT licence terms. Choose hacktheweb if its feature set, stack or MIT licence fits better. Both are self-hostable.