Is Strix better than depthfirst?

For most engineering and security teams, yes. Strix delivers exploit-validated findings and merge-ready fixes with a free open-source core, and you can run it on-prem or air-gapped with your own LLM keys. depthfirst is closed-source, runs only in its own cloud, and is code-first, with pentesting used to validate scanner output.

Can Strix replace depthfirst?

Yes. Strix covers autonomous pentesting, PR security review, malicious dependency blocking, and auto-fix, and adds black-box testing of the running app, APIs, infrastructure, and cloud that a code-first platform cannot reach.

Does depthfirst exploit vulnerabilities like Strix does?

depthfirst's agentic pentester validates findings from its code scanner against the running application and replays the attack after a merge. Strix agents start from the attacker's side, chain multi-step exploits across the full stack, and return a working PoC for each finding, whether or not the issue was visible in code.

Can Strix run on-prem, and can depthfirst?

Strix can. Deploy it self-hosted or fully air-gapped and bring your own LLM keys (OpenAI, Anthropic, Bedrock, Azure, or a local model), so source code, credentials, and findings never leave your perimeter. depthfirst is delivered only from the vendor's cloud.

Is Strix open-source and is depthfirst?

Strix has a 60,000+ star Apache-2.0 open-source core you can read, self-host, and run air-gapped with a local LLM. depthfirst is closed-source and cloud-delivered.

Strix vs depthfirst: AI Security Platforms Compared (2026)

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The verdict

Strix is the better default for engineering and security teams: a 60,000+ star open-source autonomous pentester you can deploy on-prem or air-gapped with your own LLM keys, that attacks web apps, APIs, code, infrastructure, and cloud from the attacker's side, proves every finding with a working PoC, and ships merge-ready fix PRs. depthfirst is a capable closed-source platform that starts from code scanning and uses its agentic pentester to validate scanner output, but your source code and findings have to live in its cloud.

Strix vs depthfirst at a glance

How the two AI security platforms compare across deployment, data control, and depth.

Capability

Strix

depthfirst

Delivery model

Open-source platform + hosted SaaS

Closed-source enterprise SaaS

Core approach

Autonomous agents attack the full stack and prove exploits

Code scanner and dependency firewall, with agentic pentest validation

Exploit-validated findings with PoCs

yes

yes, for scanner findings

Black-box testing without source code

yes

Code-first

Coverage

Code, APIs, web apps, infrastructure, cloud

Code, dependencies, secrets, runtime

Malicious dependency blocking

yes

Pull-request review and auto-fix PRs

yes

Retest after merge

yes, free

yes

Open-source and self-hostable

yes

no

On-prem or air-gapped deployment

yes, inside your own infrastructure

no, vendor cloud only

Bring your own LLM keys (including local models)

yes

no

Where source code and findings live

Inside your perimeter, never stored or used for training

Stored and processed in depthfirst's cloud

How you buy

Free core; self-serve, no sales call

Sales-led enterprise contract

Best for

Teams that want to own the engine and keep code in-house

Enterprises buying a code-first program through sales

Delivery model

Strix

Open-source platform + hosted SaaS

depthfirst

Closed-source enterprise SaaS

Core approach

Strix

Autonomous agents attack the full stack and prove exploits

depthfirst

Code scanner and dependency firewall, with agentic pentest validation

Exploit-validated findings with PoCs

Strix

yes

depthfirst

yes, for scanner findings

Black-box testing without source code

Strix

yes

depthfirst

Code-first

Coverage

Strix

Code, APIs, web apps, infrastructure, cloud

depthfirst

Code, dependencies, secrets, runtime

Malicious dependency blocking

Strix

yes

depthfirst

yes

Pull-request review and auto-fix PRs

Strix

yes

depthfirst

yes

Retest after merge

Strix

yes, free

depthfirst

yes

Open-source and self-hostable

Strix

yes

depthfirst

no

On-prem or air-gapped deployment

Strix

yes, inside your own infrastructure

depthfirst

no, vendor cloud only

Bring your own LLM keys (including local models)

Strix

yes

depthfirst

no

Where source code and findings live

Strix

Inside your perimeter, never stored or used for training

depthfirst

Stored and processed in depthfirst's cloud

How you buy

Strix

Free core; self-serve, no sales call

depthfirst

Sales-led enterprise contract

Best for

Strix

Teams that want to own the engine and keep code in-house

depthfirst

Enterprises buying a code-first program through sales

Built to run inside your perimeter

For regulated and data-sensitive teams, the question is not only how deep the testing goes; it is where it runs and who holds the keys.

Runs in your environment

Strix

Open-source and Docker-based, deploy Strix self-hosted or fully air-gapped inside your own infrastructure.

depthfirst

Delivered as vendor-hosted SaaS only.

Bring your own LLM keys

Strix

Use your own OpenAI, Anthropic, Bedrock, or Azure keys, or a fully local model. Prompts and code go where you decide.

depthfirst

Model provider and keys are chosen and operated by the vendor.

Your data never leaves

Strix

Source code, credentials, and exploit proof-of-concepts stay inside your perimeter, never stored or used for training.

depthfirst

Repositories and findings are stored and processed in depthfirst's cloud.

Where each platform wins

Both validate and fix. The difference is where testing starts and where it runs.

Strix key strengths

On-prem and BYOK: Deploy self-hosted or fully air-gapped and bring your own LLM keys, including local models, so code, credentials, and findings never leave your network.

Open-source core: A 60,000+ star, Apache-2.0 engine you can read, audit, and extend.

Attacker-first coverage: Agents test the running app, APIs, infrastructure, and cloud even without source access, and chain multi-step exploits.

Self-serve from day one: Sign up with GitHub and run a pentest today, no sales call required.

Fix PRs and free retest: Every validated finding ships as a merge-ready pull request and is retested after merge.

When to choose Strix

Choose Strix if you want exploit-validated, full-stack autonomous pentesting that runs inside your own perimeter, with your own LLM keys, that you can start today and own.

depthfirst key strengths

Code-first analysis: A code scanner that reasons across business logic and data flow, validated by its agentic pentester.

Enterprise packaging: Bundled modules for security teams that buy through procurement.

When to choose depthfirst

Choose depthfirst if you want a code-first enterprise program bought through procurement and are comfortable with your source code and findings living in the vendor's cloud.

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about choosing between Strix and depthfirst.

depthfirst is a closed-source, enterprise AI security platform that combines a code scanner, a dependency firewall, a security reviewer for pull requests, and an agentic pentester that validates code findings against the running app. Strix is an open-source autonomous pentester that attacks code, APIs, web apps, infrastructure, and cloud, proves exploits, and ships fix PRs, free to start.

Keep exploring

Strix vs XBOW

XBOW runs deep, vendor-managed pentests in its cloud. Strix delivers exploit-validated findings inside your own perimeter, open-source, self-hostable, and CI/CD-native.

Strix vs Aikido

Aikido is an all-in-one AppSec suite. Strix is a true open-source autonomous pentester with attacker-grade exploitation depth, BYO-LLM, and merge-ready fix PRs.

Strix vs NodeZero (Horizon3)

NodeZero (Horizon3) replays deterministic, pre-scripted attacks against networks. Strix's AI agents craft real exploits across your code, APIs, infrastructure, and cloud in the dev workflow, open-source and free to start.

Strix vs Pentera

Pentera validates enterprise networks and emulates ransomware. Strix is the open-source autonomous pentester for application and API security, native to CI/CD.

Strix vs Cobalt

Cobalt runs scheduled, human-led pentests for auditor-ready compliance reports. Strix tests continuously with autonomous agents, open-source, CI/CD-native, and shipping merge-ready fix PRs.

Strix vs Penligent

Penligent is a prompt-driven AI tool for CVE scanning and quick reports. Strix is an open-source autonomous pentester that chains real exploits in CI/CD.

Strix vs Astra Security

Astra pairs a continuous scanner with scheduled human pentests. Strix's autonomous agents exploit and prove findings on every run, open-source and free to start.

Strix vs Escape

Escape is an API-focused DAST with discovery and inventory at scale. Strix chains attacker-grade exploits across your whole stack and ships merge-ready fixes.

Strix vs Intruder

Intruder monitors your external attack surface with signature scanners. Strix agents exploit what they find in your apps and APIs, prove it, and ship the fix PR.

Strix vs Snyk

Snyk scans code, dependencies, and containers statically. Strix attacks the running app and APIs, validates every finding with a working exploit, and opens the fix.

Strix vs Burp Suite

Burp Suite is the pentester's toolkit, driven by a human. Strix agents do that work autonomously on every deploy, then prove the exploit and ship the fix PR.

Strix vs Nessus

Nessus inventories known CVEs across hosts and networks. Strix exploits real vulnerabilities in web apps, APIs, code, and cloud, and delivers merge-ready fixes.

Strix vs Semgrep

Semgrep matches rules in source code. Strix tests the running application for exploitable business logic and authorization flaws, with proof and fix PRs.

Penetration Testing as a Service

Continuous, validated pentesting on every deploy: autonomous agents that prove what is exploitable and ship the fix, not a once-a-year report.

AI Penetration Testing

Autonomous AI agents that pentest your whole stack continuously, chaining exploits, validating with proof-of-concepts, and shipping merge-ready fixes.

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No sales call. Open-source autonomous pentesting you can run on your own infrastructure with your own keys.

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Strix vs depthfirst:AI Security You Can Self-Host

Strix vs depthfirst at a glance

Built to run inside your perimeter

Where each platform wins

Strix key strengths

depthfirst key strengths

Frequently asked questions

Keep exploring

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