Last updated: May 18, 2026
Burp Suite Pro has been the default web pentest proxy for fifteen years. Its UI shows it. Caido was built by a small team (mostly Yann Liauw, formerly Trail of Bits) starting 2022, GA in 2023, with a clear thesis: “what if Burp were redesigned today, with collaboration baked in.” For most workflows, the answer is “much better.” This module gives you the technical grounding to decide whether to migrate.
Architecture differences
Burp: Java desktop app. Single-machine project files. Extensions in Java, Jython, JavaScript (Bambdas). All scope/proxy/repeater state lives in a single JVM heap. Multi-tester collaboration requires Burp Enterprise (separate product, costs more).
Caido: Rust core, web UI. Local-first or cloud-deployed. Project state in SQLite. Multiple testers can work the same project from the same self-hosted Caido instance with proper RBAC. Extensions in JavaScript (Caido Plugins) or Workflows (visual, no-code).
The architectural difference shows up everywhere. Caido starts in <1 second; Burp’s JVM warm-up is 10-30s on a developer laptop. Caido’s project files are 10x smaller. Memory consumption at idle: Caido ~100MB, Burp ~1-2GB.
Workflow comparison — proxy + repeater
The 80% of pentesting work — intercept, modify, replay — is functionally similar. Caido’s UI is cleaner; finding requests by their Sitemap path is faster; the Repeater tab supports tabs for multi-request workflows natively (Burp added this, but the implementation is rough).
Caido wins on: HTTP/2 and HTTP/3 first-class support. Burp Pro added HTTP/2 in 2022 but the implementation has been buggy. Caido’s HTTP/3 (QUIC) interception works out of the box.
Burp wins on: deep customisation of Proxy listener (TLS pass-through rules, certificate handling, request handlers in extensions). Mature.
Workflow comparison — automation
Burp’s Bambdas (introduced 2023) are short JavaScript snippets that run on every request/response, can highlight, modify, drop. Useful but limited to single-request scope.
Caido’s Workflows are visual graphs of operations: “for every request matching X, do Y, then Z, then if condition C, do W.” More expressive than Bambdas. Closer to Bash pipelines than to extension code. Easier to share between testers (export/import as YAML).
Burp’s BCheck (also 2023) is YAML-defined active-scanner checks. Very powerful — can express most reusable vulnerability patterns. Caido has nothing equivalent yet.
Burp’s full extension API is the most mature. Hundreds of community extensions in the BApp Store cover everything from JWT manipulation (jwt-editor) to GraphQL probing (InQL) to passive scanners. Caido’s extension ecosystem is small (50+ as of late 2024); the popular extensions exist but coverage is thinner.
Where Caido clearly wins
- Multi-tester collaboration — self-host Caido, multiple testers connect via web UI, work the same project simultaneously. Burp Enterprise costs $10K+/year.
- Project management — Caido has built-in checklist (OWASP, custom), notes per request, screenshots. Burp uses Notes extensions which are not first-class.
- Findings export — Caido exports findings to Markdown / JSON / SARIF natively, with templates. Burp’s report generator is dated.
- Modern UI — keyboard shortcuts, command palette (cmd+k), dark mode, saner zoom, no Java look-and-feel. The productivity difference is real once you switch.
- HTTP/3 and modern protocols — first-class.
Where Burp still wins
- Active scanner depth — 15+ years of vulnerability checks, regularly updated. Caido’s active scan is basic; for a “throw the kitchen sink” pre-engagement scan, Burp’s still better.
- Extension ecosystem — JWT, GraphQL, custom session handling, OAuth flows, race-condition tools (Turbo Intruder), Captcha bypass tools — these all exist as Burp extensions, only some have Caido equivalents.
- Intruder vs Caido’s Replay — Burp Intruder’s payload management (sniper, battering ram, pitchfork, cluster bomb) is more flexible than Caido’s Replay tab.
- Documentation and learning resources — PortSwigger’s WebSecurity Academy, the Burp Suite Cookbook, Bug Bounty Bootcamp etc. Massive corpus aimed at Burp.
- Industry expectation — most pentest reports reference Burp screenshots; clients expect “Burp output.” Caido is gaining traction but not the default.
Migration plan — 4 weeks
Week 1 — Side-by-side: install Caido alongside Burp. Run them in parallel on a personal lab target (DVWA, Juice Shop, your bug-bounty target). Configure Caido’s CA cert in your browser. Compare workflows.
Week 2 — Workflow port: take three to five Burp Bambdas you use regularly. Re-implement as Caido Workflows. Note where the syntax breaks; document.
Week 3 — Real engagement, Caido primary: do a non-critical engagement (own targets, low-stakes bug bounty) Caido-first, fall back to Burp only for active scanning. Learn what’s missing.
Week 4 — Decision: based on the engagement, decide. Most testers find: keep Burp Pro license for active scanner + 5-10 specific extensions; do all manual exploration / replay / collaboration in Caido. The hybrid is the realistic 2026 setup.
The licensing math
Burp Suite Pro: $475/year per user. Burp Enterprise: starts ~$10K/year for 5 testers.
Caido Pro: ~$10/month per user (lower tier), ~$25/month per user (team tier). Caido Community Edition is free with basic features.
For an Indian bug-bounty solo: Caido Pro is materially cheaper than Burp Pro. For a 5-person consulting team: Caido is dramatically cheaper than Burp Enterprise. The license-per-tester math alone justifies a serious evaluation.
Practical exercise — Caido on Juice Shop
Install OWASP Juice Shop locally (docker run --rm -p 3000:3000 bkimminich/juice-shop). Open Caido (free version), set up proxy, browse Juice Shop in your browser. Try these tasks in Caido (no Burp):
- Find the SQL injection in /rest/user/login. Use Caido’s Replay to test payloads. Compare to running the same in Burp Repeater.
- Find the JWT in localStorage post-login. Use a Caido Plugin to inspect/modify the JWT signature. Document any UX differences from Burp’s jwt-editor.
- Set up a Caido Workflow that highlights every response containing “admin” and saves a note. Compare to Bambda equivalent.
- Use the Caido Sitemap to find an under-trafficked endpoint (e.g., /api/Quantitys). Test for IDOR.
If you can complete all four in Caido without missing Burp, you’re ready to do real engagements there. If you find specific friction, document — it tells you which Burp extensions you’d need to port or re-license.
FAQ
Should I cancel my Burp Pro subscription?
Not yet. Caido is great for manual pentesting; Burp Pro’s active scanner remains the better tool for “find every common vuln on this scope” runs. Hybrid: keep Burp Pro for one tester (the lead, who runs scans), put the rest of the team on Caido.
Is Caido safe for client engagements?
Yes for most. Caido’s local-first mode keeps all data on your machine. For self-hosted team deployments, ensure the Caido instance is on your engagement VLAN, not the broader corporate network — same hygiene as Burp Enterprise.
What about ZAP — is that still relevant?
OWASP ZAP is free, open-source, actively developed. Capable. UX is dated (Java desktop). For solo budget-conscious testers it’s a viable option. For a 2026 full-stack workflow, Caido is the better default.
Can I import a Burp project into Caido?
Caido has a Burp project import (selected request/response data). Not perfect — extensions, scanner findings don’t carry over. Realistic flow is to start fresh in Caido on a new engagement, not migrate active engagements mid-flight.
Is Caido financially safe long-term?
Caido raised seed funding in 2024, is profitable on subscriptions, has a small but stable team. Lower bus-factor than PortSwigger (Burp’s parent, established 2008, 100+ employees). For mission-critical engagements, having a Burp Pro license as backup is reasonable hedge.
⚖️ Legal: Use both Burp and Caido only on systems you own or have explicit written authorisation to test. India IT Act §43 / §66 covers unauthorised access. For bug bounty engagements, scope and ROE from the platform (HackerOne, Bugcrowd, Intigriti) are your authorisation. For client engagements, written SOW with technical scope.
Related engagement → How we ran a web app pentest for a leading Indian fintech
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