42Crunch vs APIsec

42Crunch positions itself as an API security gateway, focusing on runtime protection and policy enforcement in production. Its approach is infrastructure-centric, often deployed as a sidecar or gateway proxy. middleBrick is a self-service black-box scanner for assessing API risk without installing agents or accessing application code. It suits teams that want to scan from outside the runtime and avoid changes to their deployment topology.

42Crunch offers a broad feature set including runtime policy enforcement, schema validation, and threat mitigation, with dashboards and configuration for gateways. Its detection is tied to its deployment model and may include blocking or transformation capabilities. middleBrick focuses on discovery and risk scoring across 12 categories aligned to OWASP API Top 10, including authentication bypass, IDOR, business logic surface, data exposure patterns, and LLM security probes. middleBrick performs read-only scans, supports OpenAPI 3.0/3.1 and Swagger 2.0 with recursive $ref resolution, and cross-references spec definitions against observed behavior without attempting intrusive exploit testing.

middleBrick maps findings directly to PCI-DSS 4.0, SOC 2 Type II, and OWASP API Top 10 (2023), using direct language for these frameworks. It helps you prepare for and supports audit evidence for other regulations through alignment with security controls described in standards such as HIPAA, GDPR, ISO 27001, and NIST. 42Crunch may reference compliance capabilities tied to its gateway features, but organizations should validate controls independently, as scanner tools do not audit or certify adherence.

The middleBrick pricing model distinguishes clearly by scope. The Free tier allows 3 scans per month with CLI access. The Starter tier at 99 dollars per month supports 15 APIs, dashboard reporting, scheduled scans, email alerts, and an MCP Server. The Pro tier at 499 dollars per month scales to 100 APIs with continuous monitoring, GitHub Action integration, CI/CD gates, and compliance reports. An Enterprise tier offers unlimited APIs, custom rules, SSO, and dedicated support. 42Crunch typically follows a subscription model tied to gateway instances, node count, or throughput, which can require larger commitments and higher baseline costs.

middleBrick integrates through its web dashboard, CLI, GitHub Action, and MCP Server, enabling scans in developer workflows and CI pipelines without requiring code changes. The CLI command middlebrick scan <url> can output JSON or text, and GitHub Actions can fail builds based on score thresholds. 42Crunch integrates via its gateway, providing policy management and runtime telemetry, often requiring changes to ingress configuration and coordination with DevOps and platform teams. Both tools provide programmatic access, but middleBrick emphasizes low-friction onboarding for any API endpoint, whereas 42Crunch ties usage to its deployment model.