Best Runtime Application Security Tools in 2026: 9 Tools Compared
By ToolNimba Editorial Team October 30, 2026 8 min read
- Top pick
Contrast ADRServer-side runtime protection across languages
Starting priceSee websiteCheck out Contrast ADRRead our review - Runner-up
WaratekLegacy Java estates that cannot be rewritten
Starting priceSee websiteCheck out WaratekRead our review - Also great
JscramblerClient-side JavaScript and payment page protection
Starting priceSee websiteCheck 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
| Name | Best for | Starting price | Free plan | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Server-side runtime protection across languages | See website | Free trial | Visit | |
| Legacy Java estates that cannot be rewritten | See website | No | Visit | |
| Client-side JavaScript and payment page protection | See website | Free trial | Visit | |
| Mobile app shielding and obfuscation | See website | Yes | Visit | |
| No-code mobile protection in CI | See website | Free trial | Visit | |
| Runtime security linked to observability | See website | Free trial | Visit | |
| Runtime security with full application context | See website | Free trial | Visit | |
| Integrated web application and API protection | See website | Free trial | Visit | |
| Budget mobile sealing with a listed price | $129.00 per month | Free trial | Visit |
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.

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.
- Agent inside the server process
- Broad language support
- Public host pricing on AWS Marketplace
- Pricing is per concurrent host
- Assess and Scan are separate listings

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.
- JVM-level instrumentation
- Protects legacy JRE, WebLogic, and Tomcat
- Virtual patching
- Java only
- Quote-only pricing scoped per JVM

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.
- Code Integrity and Webpage Integrity
- Payment page protection
- CI integration
- Client-side only
- Obfuscation does not virtual-patch server vulnerabilities
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.
- DexGuard and iXGuard shielding
- Anti-tamper and environment checks
- Free AppSweep scanner
- Quote-based pricing for shielding
- Protection lane, not a testing tool
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.
- No SDK required
- Binary fused in CI
- Broad mobile protections
- Mobile only
- Some controls can break debug and MDM flows

Datadog Application Security
Best for: Runtime security linked to observability
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.
- Runtime context from traces
- No new agent for existing Datadog users
- Usage-based pricing
- Depth below dedicated RASP agents
- Best for teams already on Datadog

Dynatrace Application Security
Best for: Runtime security with full application context
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.
- Application context from observability
- Automatic discovery
- No separate agent for existing users
- Depth below dedicated RASP
- Best for teams already on Dynatrace
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.
- WAF, bot management, and runtime controls in one platform
- Broad deployment options
- Quote-only pricing
- Runtime depth depends on deployment

DoveRunner AppSealing
Best for: Budget mobile sealing with a listed price
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.
- No-code sealing for Android and iOS
- Listed price
- 30-day trial
- 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.


