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⭐ Comparisons

Best Runtime Application Security Tools in 2026: 9 Tools Compared

By ToolNimba Editorial Team October 30, 2026 8 min read

Best Runtime Application Security Tools
  1. Top pick
    Contrast ADR logoContrast ADR

    Server-side runtime protection across languages

    Starting priceSee website
    Check out Contrast ADRRead our review
  2. Runner-up
    Waratek logoWaratek

    Legacy Java estates that cannot be rewritten

    Starting priceSee website
    Check out WaratekRead our review
  3. Also great
    Jscrambler logoJscrambler

    Client-side JavaScript and payment page protection

    Starting priceSee website
    Check out JscramblerRead our review

How we researched this

We compared official pricing and feature pages, app store listings, privacy policies and public user reviews. Prices change, so check the provider's site before you pay.

Key takeaways

  • Contrast ADR is our pick for server-side runtime protection, with an agent inside the application process and public host pricing.
  • Waratek is the best choice for legacy Java estates, with JVM-level protection for stacks teams cannot rewrite.
  • Jscrambler is the best client-side option, protecting JavaScript and payment pages in the browser.
  • Guardsquare and Appdome are the best mobile runtime tools, hardening app binaries against tampering and reverse engineering.
  • Start in monitor-only mode before blocking, and check what your existing observability tools already cover before buying a dedicated agent.

Quick comparison

NameBest forStarting priceFree plan
Contrast ADRServer-side runtime protection across languagesSee websiteFree trialVisit
WaratekLegacy Java estates that cannot be rewrittenSee websiteNoVisit
JscramblerClient-side JavaScript and payment page protectionSee websiteFree trialVisit
GuardsquareMobile app shielding and obfuscationSee websiteYesVisit
AppdomeNo-code mobile protection in CISee websiteFree trialVisit
Datadog Application SecurityRuntime security linked to observabilitySee websiteFree trialVisit
Dynatrace Application SecurityRuntime security with full application contextSee websiteFree trialVisit
Imperva WAAPIntegrated web application and API protectionSee websiteFree trialVisit
DoveRunner AppSealingBudget mobile sealing with a listed price$129.00 per monthFree trialVisit

The best runtime application security tools

Runtime application security, often called RASP, protects applications while they run, inside the process, in the browser, or on the device, rather than only at the network edge. That inside view lets these tools block attacks with application context, such as which user, which function, and which data are involved. The nine tools below cover server, client, and mobile runtime protection.

01Contrast ADR logo

Contrast ADR

Best for: Server-side runtime protection across languages

Check out Contrast ADR
Starting priceSee website
Free planFree trial
Contrast ADR website
contrastsecurity.com homepage

Contrast ADR places an agent inside the application server process, giving it deep context on attacks as they happen, including which code path and data are involved. That depth lets it block exploits with fewer false positives than edge-only tools, and it supports more languages than Java-only rivals. Public pricing on AWS Marketplace lists around 1,800 dollars per concurrent host for 12 months, up to 10 hosts before a private offer.

Assess and Scan sit on separate listings, so buyers should confirm what is included. But for AppSec teams that want one agent across languages with real runtime context, Contrast ADR is the strongest dedicated server-side choice.

What we like
  • Agent inside the server process
  • Broad language support
  • Public host pricing on AWS Marketplace
Watch out for
  • Pricing is per concurrent host
  • Assess and Scan are separate listings
02Waratek logo

Waratek

Best for: Legacy Java estates that cannot be rewritten

Check out Waratek
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Waratek website
waratek.com homepage

Waratek instruments the Java Virtual Machine itself, giving compiler-level runtime protection for Java estates, including legacy stacks that teams cannot rewrite. Its Secure product provides protection, while its legacy product covers legacy JRE, WebLogic, and Tomcat environments that other tools no longer support. That focus makes it the best choice for Java-heavy estates with old, business-critical applications.

It is Java only, and pricing is quote-only, scoped per JVM. But for organizations running legacy Java they cannot modernize quickly, Waratek's depth is unmatched.

What we like
  • JVM-level instrumentation
  • Protects legacy JRE, WebLogic, and Tomcat
  • Virtual patching
Watch out for
  • Java only
  • Quote-only pricing scoped per JVM
03Jscrambler logo

Jscrambler

Best for: Client-side JavaScript and payment page protection

Check out Jscrambler
Starting priceSee website
Free planFree trial
Jscrambler website
jscrambler.com homepage

Jscrambler protects JavaScript in the browser, where traditional server-side RASP cannot reach. Its Code Integrity, Webpage Integrity, and Iframe Integrity products detect tampering, monitor third-party scripts, and protect payment pages from skimming attacks such as Magecart. Integration into CI pipelines makes protection part of the build, not an afterthought.

It is client-side only, so it does not replace server-side protection, and obfuscation alone will not virtual-patch a server vulnerability. But for teams whose crown-jewel logic or payment page lives in browser JavaScript, Jscrambler is the best dedicated client-side tool.

What we like
  • Code Integrity and Webpage Integrity
  • Payment page protection
  • CI integration
Watch out for
  • Client-side only
  • Obfuscation does not virtual-patch server vulnerabilities
04Guardsquare logo

Guardsquare

Best for: Mobile app shielding and obfuscation

Check out Guardsquare
Starting priceSee website
Free planYes

Guardsquare hardens Android and iOS binaries against reverse engineering, with DexGuard for Android and iXGuard for iOS providing obfuscation, anti-tamper checks, and environment detection. Its AppSweep scanner offers a free entry point for finding security issues in mobile apps. That shielding depth comes from Guardsquare's ProGuard heritage and long mobile focus.

Shielding pricing is quote-based, and Guardsquare is a protection tool, not a full testing platform. But for mobile teams that need their binary to resist analysis and tampering, Guardsquare is the best shielding choice.

What we like
  • DexGuard and iXGuard shielding
  • Anti-tamper and environment checks
  • Free AppSweep scanner
Watch out for
  • Quote-based pricing for shielding
  • Protection lane, not a testing tool
05Appdome logo

Appdome

Best for: No-code mobile protection in CI

Check out Appdome
Starting priceSee website
Free planFree trial

Appdome protects mobile apps without an SDK: teams upload their iOS or Android binary, select protections in a no-code console, and Appdome fuses them into the binary in CI. That approach avoids developer integration work and covers anti-tampering, anti-debugging, jailbreak detection, and data protection in one flow.

It is mobile only, so server applications need another tool, and some controls can interfere with legitimate debug and mobile device management flows. But for mobile teams that want runtime protection without SDK work, Appdome is the fastest route.

What we like
  • No SDK required
  • Binary fused in CI
  • Broad mobile protections
Watch out for
  • Mobile only
  • Some controls can break debug and MDM flows
06Datadog Application Security logo

Datadog Application Security

Best for: Runtime security linked to observability

Check out Datadog Application Security
Starting priceSee website
Free planFree trial

Datadog Application Security adds runtime protection to Datadog's observability platform, using trace context to link attacks to specific requests, services, and code. For teams already running Datadog agents, that means runtime security without deploying a new agent, and pricing follows Datadog's usage model rather than a separate per-host RASP license.

Its runtime depth is below dedicated agents like Contrast, since it is built on observability rather than in-process instrumentation. But for Datadog estates, activating existing runtime security is the cheapest and fastest first step.

What we like
  • Runtime context from traces
  • No new agent for existing Datadog users
  • Usage-based pricing
Watch out for
  • Depth below dedicated RASP agents
  • Best for teams already on Datadog
07Dynatrace Application Security logo

Dynatrace Application Security

Best for: Runtime security with full application context

Check out Dynatrace Application Security
Starting priceSee website
Free planFree trial

Dynatrace Application Security, like Datadog's, builds runtime protection on observability, giving security teams application context, topology, and code-level detail for attacks. Existing Dynatrace users can activate it without a new agent, and its automatic discovery maps which applications and vulnerabilities matter most.

Dedicated RASP agents offer deeper in-process blocking, and Dynatrace is most valuable for teams already invested in its platform. But as a first runtime layer for Dynatrace estates, it is a strong, low-friction choice.

What we like
  • Application context from observability
  • Automatic discovery
  • No separate agent for existing users
Watch out for
  • Depth below dedicated RASP
  • Best for teams already on Dynatrace
08Imperva WAAP logo

Imperva WAAP

Best for: Integrated web application and API protection

Check out Imperva WAAP
Starting priceSee website
Free planFree trial

Imperva WAAP combines web application firewall, bot management, API protection, and runtime controls in one integrated platform. That breadth suits teams that want application-layer protection managed together, with deployment options spanning edge, cloud, and on-premises environments.

Pricing is quote-only, and runtime depth depends on which deployment and modules a team buys. But for organizations that want one vendor for application protection from edge to runtime, Imperva is a credible integrated choice.

What we like
  • WAF, bot management, and runtime controls in one platform
  • Broad deployment options
Watch out for
  • Quote-only pricing
  • Runtime depth depends on deployment
09DoveRunner AppSealing logo

DoveRunner AppSealing

Best for: Budget mobile sealing with a listed price

Check out DoveRunner AppSealing
Starting price$129.00 per month
Free planFree trial

DoveRunner AppSealing offers no-code sealing of Android and iOS binaries, with a listed Professional price of 129 dollars per package per month and a 30-day trial. That published pricing is rare in mobile RASP, where most vendors are quote-only, and it makes DoveRunner the easiest mobile runtime tool to budget for.

The Professional tier caps at 15,000 monthly active devices, and multi-DRM features are a separate product. But for smaller mobile teams that want listed pricing and fast sealing, DoveRunner is the best budget option.

What we like
  • No-code sealing for Android and iOS
  • Listed price
  • 30-day trial
Watch out for
  • Professional tier capped at 15,000 monthly active devices
  • Multi-DRM is a separate product

How we picked these

We compared official product pages, pricing, and public 2026 comparisons for runtime protection tools actively available in 2026. We favored tools with real runtime mechanisms, not just scanning, and we covered server, client, and mobile runtimes. We did not claim hands-on testing; our comparison rests on published specifications, pricing, and public reviews.

How to deploy runtime protection safely

Start in monitor-only mode on one important application, and learn what the tool sees before allowing it to block production traffic. Blocking too early creates false positives that break legitimate users and erode trust in the tool. Once telemetry is validated, move selected routes into blocking mode, starting with the highest-risk paths.

Also layer your defenses: virtual patching for emergency vulnerabilities, edge and WAF controls for broad coverage, and runtime protection for applications that need deeper context. No single tool solves every layer, and the strongest runtime architecture puts the deepest agent on crown-jewel applications, not on every service at once.

Sources

  1. https://www.contrastsecurity.com/pricing
  2. https://www.waratek.com
  3. https://www.jscrambler.com/pricing
  4. https://www.guardsquare.com/pricing
  5. https://www.appdome.com/pricing
  6. https://www.datadoghq.com/pricing
  7. https://www.dynatrace.com/pricing
  8. https://www.imperva.com/pricing
  9. https://www.doverunner.com/pricing

Frequently asked questions

What is runtime application self-protection?

Runtime application self-protection, or RASP, is security built into a running application, inside the process, browser, or device, that detects and blocks attacks using application context. It differs from a firewall, which sits outside the application and sees less context.

Is RASP a replacement for a web application firewall?

No. A firewall provides broad edge coverage for many applications, while RASP provides deep, context-aware protection for specific applications. Most mature teams use both, plus scanning and patching, as layered defenses.

Should I start runtime protection in blocking or monitor mode?

Start in monitor-only mode. Learn what the tool detects, tune false positives, and only then move selected routes into blocking mode. Blocking too early risks breaking legitimate traffic.

What is the difference between server-side and client-side RASP?

Server-side RASP runs inside the application server process and protects backend logic. Client-side RASP runs in the browser or on the device and protects JavaScript, payment pages, and mobile binaries from tampering and skimming.

Do observability tools include runtime security?

Some do. Datadog and Dynatrace both offer application security features built on their observability agents, which can be a fast first step for teams already using those platforms. Dedicated RASP agents offer deeper in-process protection.

Keep reading