Metasploit
Open-source penetration testing framework from Rapid7 with thousands of exploit and payload modules.
Updated · AppBreakup editorial · Linux, macOS, Windows
Is Metasploit free?
Yes, free and open source
Switch from Metasploit to
All 5
Burp SuiteStarting price: $499 (Burp Suite Professional)
ZAPOpen source
CaidoFree plan + paid
- Verified facts
- 4 of 4
- Alternatives ranked
- 5
- Approved reviews
- 0
- Visits sent from here
- 0
About Metasploit
Metasploit is the best-known framework for exploiting known vulnerabilities during authorised security testing. Testers pick a module for a vulnerable service, configure a payload such as Meterpreter, and run it from the msfconsole command line; the framework also covers scanning, credential attacks and post-exploitation. Modules are written by Rapid7 staff and a large open-source community, and new ones for fresh CVEs arrive in weekly releases. The Metasploit Framework is free and open source, and Rapid7 also sells Metasploit Pro, a commercial edition with a web interface, automation and reporting for teams. Nightly installers bundle Ruby and PostgreSQL for Linux, macOS and Windows, and it comes preinstalled on security distributions such as Kali Linux. It is aimed at pentesters, red teams and defenders checking whether systems are exploitable; it assumes command-line comfort and should only be used against systems you are permitted to test.
Best for: Pentesters and red teams who need a large, maintained library of exploits for known vulnerabilities.
Pros and cons
What works
- Free framework with a very large, regularly updated module library
- Meterpreter payloads cover Windows, Linux, Android and more
- Backed by Rapid7, with a commercial Pro edition for teams
Why people leave
- Mainly driven from the command line, with a learning curve
- GUI, automation and reporting require the paid Pro edition
- Antivirus tools often flag or quarantine its files on install
Metasploit vs Burp Suite, ZAP and Caido
From each app's listing and the prices verified on its own site. A dash means we haven't verified it yet.
| Attribute | Metasploit | Burp Suite | ZAP | Caido |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Open source | Free plan + paid | Open source | Free plan + paid |
| Verified price | — | $499 (Burp Suite Professional) | — | — |
| Free plan | Free app | Yes, Community Edition | Free app | Yes, 2 projects and 7 workflows |
| Open source | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Self-hostable | No | No | No | No |
| Platforms | Linux, macOS, Windows | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows, macOS, Linux |
Top Metasploit alternatives
See all 5- 1Burp Suite68.8
The standard tool if your testing is mostly web apps, with a proxy, repeater and scanner in one GUI.
- 2ZAP64.8
Free, open-source web app scanner and proxy for testers who mainly assess websites and APIs.
- 3Caido61.8
Lightweight web hacking proxy with a free tier, for web-focused testing instead of network exploits.
- 4
sqlmap57.5Free tool that automates finding and exploiting SQL injection end to end, a narrower but faster route for web database targets.
- 5
Kali Linux51.2Ships Metasploit alongside hundreds of other attack tools, so one install covers recon, exploitation and cracking.
Why people left Metasploit
In reviewers' own words, from reviews of the apps they moved to. These are their opinions, not ours.
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Reviews
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Metasploit: common questions
What is Metasploit?
Metasploit: Open-source penetration testing framework from Rapid7 with thousands of exploit and payload modules. Best for pentesters and red teams who need a large, maintained library of exploits for known vulnerabilities. Available for Linux, macOS and Windows.
Is Metasploit free?
Yes. Metasploit is free, open-source software.
Is Metasploit open source?
Yes. The source code is on GitHub at rapid7/metasploit-framework.
What platforms does Metasploit run on?
Metasploit is available for Linux, macOS and Windows.
What are the best alternatives to Metasploit?
The highest-ranked Metasploit alternatives right now are Burp Suite, ZAP and Caido. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.
Metasploit vs Burp Suite: what's the difference?
Metasploit is free and open source; Burp Suite is free with paid plans. Metasploit is open source and Burp Suite is not. Both run on Linux, macOS and Windows.