🧩 What is Wappalyzer?
Wappalyzer is a technology profiler that identifies the software stack used by websites. It detects:
- Web servers (e.g., Apache, Nginx)
- Programming languages (e.g., PHP, Python)
- JavaScript frameworks (e.g., React, Angular)
- CMS platforms (e.g., WordPress, Joomla)
- Analytics tools, CDNs, eCommerce platforms, and more
🔍 How It Works
Wappalyzer analyzes:
- HTTP headers
- HTML source code
- JavaScript files
- Cookies and other metadata
It uses pattern matching to identify technologies based on known signatures.
🧰 Use Cases in Ethical Hacking
| Phase | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Reconnaissance | Identify potential vulnerabilities based on tech stack |
| Resource Development | Tailor payloads or exploits to specific technologies |
| Social Engineering | Craft more convincing phishing or pretexting scenarios |
🧱 Wappalyzer Browser Extension
- Available for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge
- Instantly shows detected technologies when visiting a site
- Great for passive reconnaissance — no requests beyond what the browser already makes
🖥️ CLI & API
- CLI Tool: For automated scanning in scripts or pipelines
- API Access: Useful for bulk scanning or integrating into recon tools
🛡️ Ethical Reminder
Wappalyzer is a passive tool — it doesn’t actively probe or exploit. Still, always use it within legal and authorized scopes.
Alternative // BuiltWith
🧩 BuiltWith — Technology Profiler
BuiltWith is a powerful web technology profiler that analyzes websites to identify the software and services they use. It’s widely used in cybersecurity, marketing, and competitive intelligence.
🔍 Key Features
- Detects web servers, CMS platforms, analytics tools, frameworks, and more
- Offers historical tracking of technology usage
- Supports bulk domain analysis
- Provides detailed infrastructure reports
- Accessible via API for automation
🧠 When to Use BuiltWith Over Wappalyzer
| Use Case | Why Choose BuiltWith |
|---|---|
| Recon at Scale | Scan thousands of domains or subdomains efficiently |
| Historical Analysis | Track how a target’s tech stack has changed over time |
| Enterprise Recon | Map an entire organization’s web presence |
| Competitive Profiling | See what technologies competitors or targets are using |
| Data Enrichment | Combine tech stack data with other OSINT sources |