9 Best Mobile Tools (2026)
Compare 9 mobile security tools for 2026. Test iOS and Android apps for vulnerabilities, data leakage, and OWASP MASVS compliance. Free and commercial options.
What is Mobile Application Security Testing?
Mobile Application Security Testing (MAST) analyzes iOS and Android apps for vulnerabilities specific to mobile platforms.
Unlike traditional web application testing, MAST tools understand platform-specific security models, binary formats (APK, IPA), and runtime behaviors unique to mobile environments.
Mobile apps face distinct security challenges: insecure local data storage, weak cryptography, improper keychain/keystore usage, certificate pinning bypass, and platform API misuse.
Traditional SAST and DAST tools miss these issues because they were designed for web applications.
The mobile security landscape is increasingly critical. In 2023 alone, mobile app vulnerabilities contributed to approximately 40% of data breaches involving personal data. Google reports over half of breaches involve compromised credentials, including weak passwords and stolen authentication tokens. Verizon research finds 15% of data breaches involved the software supply chain, including third-party SDKs used in mobile apps. There has been a 180% increase in attacks exploiting vulnerabilities, including poor input/output validation common in mobile applications.
“Mobile apps are decompilable by design — attackers will reverse engineer your app, find hardcoded secrets, and exploit weak cryptography,” warns Sven Schleier, OWASP MASTG Project Co-Lead and mobile security researcher. “Testing needs to go beyond what traditional scanners can detect.”
MAST combines three testing approaches:
- Static Analysis — Analyzing the compiled binary without execution. Finds hardcoded secrets, insecure configurations, and cryptographic weaknesses.
- Dynamic Analysis — Running the app on a device or emulator to observe runtime behavior. Detects data leakage, insecure network communication, and authentication issues.
- Interactive Testing — Combining static and dynamic analysis with runtime instrumentation (using tools like Frida) to test specific security controls.
Advantages & Limitations
Advantages
- ✓Platform-specific testing for iOS and Android
- ✓Binary and runtime analysis capabilities
- ✓Detects insecure data storage and crypto issues
- ✓OWASP MASVS compliance validation
- ✓Tests compiled apps without source code access
Limitations
- ✗Platform fragmentation (iOS vs Android differences)
- ✗Requires specialized mobile security expertise
- ✗Device farms and emulators can be expensive
- ✗OS updates frequently break test automation
- ✗Dynamic analysis harder to integrate in CI/CD
OWASP Mobile Top 10 (2024)
The OWASP Mobile Top 10 identifies the most critical security risks for mobile applications.
Mobile security tools should detect these vulnerabilities:
Improper Credential Usage
Hardcoded credentials, insecure storage of API keys, and improper handling of authentication tokens.
Inadequate Supply Chain Security
Vulnerabilities in third-party libraries, SDKs, and frameworks used in the mobile app.
Insecure Authentication/Authorization
Weak authentication mechanisms, improper session handling, and authorization bypass vulnerabilities.
Insufficient Input/Output Validation
SQL injection, XSS, and path traversal through improper validation of user inputs and API responses.
Insecure Communication
Missing or improper TLS implementation, certificate pinning bypass, and data transmitted in cleartext.
Inadequate Privacy Controls
Excessive data collection, improper PII handling, and violations of privacy regulations (GDPR, CCPA).
Insufficient Binary Protections
Missing code obfuscation, lack of anti-tampering, and no jailbreak/root detection.
Security Misconfiguration
Debug mode enabled in production, excessive permissions, and insecure default settings.
Insecure Data Storage
Sensitive data stored unencrypted, improper keychain/keystore usage, and data leakage through logs or backups.
Insufficient Cryptography
Weak encryption algorithms, hardcoded keys, and improper implementation of cryptographic functions.
Mobile Security Tool Comparison
| Tool | Focus | Key Strength |
|---|---|---|
| Free / Open Source | ||
| MobSF | SAST + DAST | All-in-one open-source framework |
| Freemium | ||
| Ostorlab | SAST + DAST | Open-source core (OXO engine) |
| Commercial | ||
| AppKnox | SAST + DAST + API | Gartner Leader, <1% false positives |
| Data Theorem | SAST + DAST + RASP | #1 Gartner Cloud Native Apps |
| esChecker | Real device testing | Device farm, zero false positives |
| NowSecure | Privacy + Security | Data protection analysis, SBOM |
| Oversecured | SAST + DAST | 99.8% detection, 3% false positives |
| Talsec | App shielding | RASP + anti-reversing SDK |
| Zimperium zScan | SAST + DAST + IAST | AI-driven, supply chain analysis |
Testing vs Shielding Tools
| Aspect | Security Testing (MAST) | App Shielding (RASP) |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Find vulnerabilities before release | Protect app at runtime |
| When | Development and CI/CD | Production runtime |
| Examples | MobSF, NowSecure, Oversecured | Talsec, Data Theorem RASP |
| Best for | Finding and fixing vulnerabilities | Anti-tampering, anti-reversing |
Market Changes
The mobile security market has seen consolidation and specialization:
- Platform convergence — Most tools now support both iOS and Android. Single-platform specialists are rare.
- Privacy focus — Tools like NowSecure emphasize privacy analysis and data protection, reflecting regulatory pressure (GDPR, CCPA, app store requirements).
- Supply chain awareness — The 2024 OWASP Mobile Top 10 added supply chain security, and tools are adding third-party SDK analysis.
- Shift-left integration — Commercial vendors now emphasize CI/CD integration. Zimperium zScan and AppKnox offer GitHub Actions and Jenkins plugins.
- Device farm alternatives — Cloud-based testing on real devices is now standard. esChecker specializes in real device testing without emulators.
How to Choose a Mobile Security Tool
Platform Coverage
Do you need iOS, Android, or both? MobSF covers both platforms. Some tools specialize in one platform or have stronger support for one over the other.
Static vs Dynamic
For CI/CD integration, static analysis is easier to automate. For comprehensive testing, you need dynamic analysis on real devices or emulators. Many commercial tools offer both.
Compliance Requirements
If you need OWASP MASVS compliance reports, look for tools that map findings to MASVS requirements. NowSecure and Oversecured generate compliance-ready reports.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is mobile application security testing?
What is OWASP MASVS?
Can I use SAST tools for mobile apps?
What is the difference between MAST and DAST?
Is there a free mobile security tool?
Explore Other Categories
Mobile covers one aspect of application security. Browse other categories in our complete tools directory.
Suphi Cankurt is an application security enthusiast based in Helsinki, Finland. He reviews and compares 129 AppSec tools across 10 categories on AppSec Santa. Learn more.