XBOW vs Cobalt: autonomous testing or credit-based PTaaS
XBOW is an autonomous testing platform for web apps and APIs with usage-based pricing and no published unit. Cobalt is a PTaaS platform with human testers and AI agents, sold as annual credit packages, plus one $3,500 autonomous test offered until 31 December 2026. Neither lists a tier price. Checked 9 November 2026 from vendor pages.
XBOW vs Cobalt is a choice between an autonomous platform and a hybrid one. XBOW says autonomous AI agents run the attack. Cobalt pairs vetted human testers with AI agents and sells annual credit packages. Both are in the provider dataset, and this page uses vendor pages checked on 9 November 2026.
What is each one?#
XBOW is an autonomous testing platform that runs many AI agents in parallel against web applications and APIs and validates findings with exploits. Buyers set scope, impact level and testing windows.
Cobalt is a PTaaS platform. Testing is done by a network of vetted freelance pentesters (the Cobalt Core) with AI agents, and Cobalt also sells a separate autonomous pentest.
How do XBOW and Cobalt compare at a glance?#
| Field | XBOW | Cobalt |
|---|---|---|
| Delivery | Automated: autonomous AI agents; findings reviewed before delivery (reviewer not stated) | Hybrid: vetted freelance testers with AI agents; separate autonomous option |
| Scope named | Web apps and APIs | Web app, API, cloud, network, mobile, AI apps |
| Pricing model | Custom quote, described as usage-based and scoped to your environment | Annual credit packages (Standard, Premium, Enterprise); one credit is 8 hours of testing |
| Published prices | None | Autonomous Pentest $3,500 per test, limited time; tiers have no price |
| Turnaround claim | First validated findings in hours; testing continuous or on demand | Autonomous: findings in 24 hours. Tiers: start in 3 / 2 / 1 business days |
| What turnaround measures | Time to first findings, not a full report | Time to first findings (autonomous) or time to start (tiers) |
| Retest terms | Free and unlimited, per the homepage | Table: free for 6 months (Standard) or 12 months (Premium, Enterprise). FAQ: unlimited on demand during the contract |
| Sample report | Not published | On request |
| Credentials with evidence | None listed | SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001, CREST accreditation (Trust Center) |
| Integrations | CI/CD API | Jira, GitHub, Slack |
Sources: XBOW homepage, XBOW pricing, Cobalt pricing, Cobalt Trust Center, checked 9 November 2026.
How are they priced?#
The units differ, so the numbers do not line up. XBOW states no amount and no unit. Its pricing is usage-based and scoped to your environment, which means a quote. Cobalt states a unit for its tiers (one credit is 8 hours of testing) but no price per credit. The credits a test uses can vary with your contracted per-credit rate.
The one dollar figure is Cobalt's Autonomous Pentest at $3,500 per test. It is a web application test, findings arrive in 24 hours, and the test must start and finish before 31 December 2026. A tier price for either vendor is Not published. See the XBOW pricing page for what to ask in a quote.
Who does the testing?#
XBOW says no human drives the attack. Agents test and findings are reviewed before delivery, and the pages checked do not say who reviews them. Cobalt uses vetted freelance testers in a pool, with AI agents helping, and offers its Autonomous Pentest as a separate product. The choice affects how you read findings: ask each vendor who signs off on a finding and who answers your questions about it.
How do scope and fit differ?#
XBOW's pages name web apps and APIs, and the dataset marks cloud, network, mobile and AI apps as unknown. The best fit is an engineering-led team that wants continuous automated testing of many web apps and APIs, with controls over scope, rate limits and test windows.
Cobalt lists web app, API, cloud, network, mobile and AI apps. Its best fit is a team that wants human pentesters on a platform with fast starts and in-platform retesting, and is happy to buy an annual credit package.
Where is each one stronger, by the sources?#
| Question | Source-backed answer |
|---|---|
| Wider scope list | Cobalt (six named scopes against two) |
| Published entry price | Cobalt, one figure ($3,500), until 31 December 2026 |
| Retest wording | XBOW states free and unlimited. Cobalt gives two different windows |
| Credentials with evidence | Cobalt (Trust Center). XBOW lists none |
| Speed of first findings | XBOW says hours. Cobalt autonomous says 24 hours |
What do neither publish?#
Neither publishes a tier price. XBOW publishes no billing unit, no sample report and no list of audited credentials, and its page does not make clear whether the compliance frameworks it names are certifications it holds or frameworks it supports. Cobalt does not publish a per-credit rate or a sample report (on request). Neither states time to a final report.
How do you decide?#
- List what you test: web and API only points toward either; mobile, network or cloud narrows the list to Cobalt on the pages checked.
- Decide whether you want continuous automated runs or scheduled human-led tests.
- Ask both for a written quote for the same scope and a stated unit.
- Ask who reviews findings, and request a sample report.
- Check other XBOW options and the Synack vs Cobalt page, and read the pentest cost guide.
Found an error? Send a correction.
Questions
Is XBOW cheaper than Cobalt?
The pages do not show it. XBOW publishes no amount and no billing unit, only usage-based pricing scoped to your environment. Cobalt publishes one figure, $3,500 per Autonomous Pentest, valid for tests that start and finish before 31 December 2026. Get a written quote from each for the same scope.
Does XBOW use human pentesters?
XBOW says no human drives the attack. Autonomous AI agents test, and findings are reviewed before delivery. Its pages do not say who reviews. Cobalt uses a network of vetted freelance pentesters with AI agents, plus a separate autonomous option.
Which one covers mobile and network testing?
Cobalt lists web app, API, cloud, network, mobile and AI apps. XBOW's pages checked name web apps and APIs only, and the dataset marks cloud, network and mobile as unknown for XBOW. Confirm scope in the quote if you need more than web and API.
Sources
- XBOW homepage (checked 9 November 2026)
- XBOW pricing (checked 9 November 2026)
- Cobalt pricing (checked 9 November 2026)
- Cobalt Trust Center (checked 9 November 2026)
- Cobalt homepage (checked 9 November 2026)
Compare like with like
An automated scan, a manual test and annual credits are different units. Check scope, delivery and retest terms before price.