Aikido vs Clone Systems
AI pentesting for your application compared with automated penetration testing of your networks and web apps, with published prices on both sides.
Aikido Security is a developer security platform from Ghent, Belgium, founded in 2022, that added an AI-driven penetration test for applications and APIs. Clone Systems is an independent security testing company since 1998 and a PCI Approved Scanning Vendor since 2007 that sells automated external and internal penetration testing online. This page compares the two on what they test, how they test it, and what they publish about price, using only what each company says about its own products.
Where Aikido is strong
Aikido's pentest is built around your application. Hundreds of autonomous agents test your frontend, web app, and APIs, with code access improving the results, and findings are reported only after they are exploited and confirmed against the live target. It is fast: Aikido says findings arrive within minutes and a full report within a few hours. Retesting is free for six months. If you do not pay up front and the test finds no high or critical issue, Aikido says you do not pay at all. For a software company that wants a deep test of one application and its APIs, it is a serious option.
Where Clone Systems is different
- Networks as well as applications. Clone Systems tests your internet-facing systems (perimeter services, exposed applications, subdomains) and, with the internal test, your office network, Active Directory, and cloud identity. Aikido's pentest scope is one application and its primary APIs. We found no network or internal network test on Aikido's site.
- Nothing from your code. Clone Systems tests from the outside, the way an attacker would, with no repository to connect. Aikido's standard test does not require code access but works better with it, and its rightsized pricing and pay-later option require a connected repository.
- Lower published price. A Clone Systems external test is $1,995 for one target over 30 days. Aikido's standard pentest is 4,000 credits, which Aikido prices at one dollar per credit.
- A PCI Approved Scanning Vendor. Clone Systems has been on the PCI Council's ASV list since 2007 and sells the ASV scan in the same cart. We found no ASV listing claimed on Aikido's site.
- Engineers when you need them. If your auditor wants a person to run the test, a Clone Systems engineer can perform it on the same platform, or you can move to a full managed penetration test. Aikido describes human escalation for critical findings.
Feature comparison
| Capability | Clone Systems | Aikido |
|---|---|---|
| Automated external penetration test (networks and web apps) | Applications and APIs only | |
| Automated internal network penetration test | - | |
| Authenticated web application testing | ||
| Code repository required | - (not needed) | Optional (improves results; required for rightsized pricing) |
| PCI Approved Scanning Vendor | Not found | |
| PCI ASV scan in the same cart | - | |
| Human-led penetration test available | Escalation for critical findings | |
| Published price with online checkout | ||
| Retests | Inside your 30-day window | Free for six months |
| Executive and technical reports | ||
| Letter of attestation | ||
| Developer platform (code scanning, cloud posture) | - |
Published pricing, side by side
| Test | Clone Systems | Aikido |
|---|---|---|
| One external target, 30 days | $1,995 | Not offered as a unit |
| Standard application pentest | $3,495 (10 external IPs or domains, includes authenticated web app testing) | 4,000 credits, about $4,000 (one application and its primary APIs) |
| Larger applications | $6,495 (50 external IPs or domains) | 8,000 to 32,000 credits for large, complex, and enterprise applications |
| Internal network, 25 hosts | $2,995 | Not found |
| Annual program | From $5,995 a year | Continuous testing, custom pricing |
| Retest | Included for 30 days | Included for six months |
Prices as published by each vendor, checked October 6, 2026. Aikido prices its pentests in credits at one dollar per credit. The two companies count scope differently (targets and hosts against applications), so matched sizes are approximate.
Who should choose which
Choose Aikido if you are a software team that wants a deep, code-aware test of one application and its APIs, you already use or want a developer security platform, and you value a six-month retest window.
Choose Clone Systems if you need your networks tested as well as your apps, you want an internal test, you need a PCI Approved Scanning Vendor, or you want the lowest published price for a test that starts today with nothing to connect.
If your auditor or customer is asking
Both companies produce reports written for SOC 2 and ISO 27001 audits, and both issue a letter of attestation. The question to settle before you buy is scope. If the request says "penetration test of your environment" or names external and internal testing, as PCI DSS Requirement 11.4 and the FTC Safeguards Rule do, an application-only test leaves the network side open. If the request is specifically about one web application, either test can answer it. See what is in a Clone Systems report and the note you can send your auditor first.
Frequently asked questions
Prices and product details are taken from each vendor's public website and help documentation, checked October 6, 2026. Aikido is a trademark of Aikido Security. Clone Systems is not affiliated with Aikido Security. Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we will update it.
See also: Vulnerability management platforms compared, Intruder vs Clone Systems, Pentera vs Clone Systems