Security & Cybersecurity · head to head
Cisco Duo vs Metasploit
Cisco Duo
Security & Cybersecurity
Trusted access for all users, all devices
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
Metasploit
Security & Cybersecurity
The world's most used penetration testing framework
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Cisco Duo free tier caps at 10 users; every paid tier requires a minimum of 10 users; Metasploit the free Framework edition is command line only; the web interface is Pro only
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Cisco Duo and Metasploit actually diverge.
| Attribute | Cisco Duo | Metasploit |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | Web | Desktop, Cli |
| Founded | Unknown | 2000 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (freemium), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Security & Cybersecurity).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in Cisco Duo
Nothing recorded that Metasploit does not also cover.
Only in Metasploit
- Exploit database
- Payload generation
- Post-exploitation
- Evasion modules
- Auxiliary scanners
- Social engineering
- Credential harvesting
- Session management
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Cisco Duo
No use cases recorded yet. See the Cisco Duo review.
Metasploit
- Penetration testing and exploit development against known vulnerabilitiesnot Cisco Duo
- Validating whether a reported vulnerability is actually exploitablenot Cisco Duo
- Running phishing and credential attack simulations on the Pro editionnot Cisco Duo
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Cisco Duo
- Free tier caps at 10 users; every paid tier requires a minimum of 10 users
- Licenses cannot be bought individually above the free tier: under 100 users they are sold in increments of 10, and over 100 users in increments of 25
- Duo Premier, the top tier with the most adaptive access controls, costs $9 per user per month on top of the per-increment purchase requirement
Metasploit
- The free Framework edition is command line only; the web interface is Pro only
- Automated exploitation, automated credential attacks and antivirus evading dynamic payloads are restricted to Metasploit Pro
- Reporting, audit wizards, task chains and closed loop vulnerability validation are Pro only
- Rapid7 publishes no price for Metasploit Pro and routes buyers to contact sales
Pricing, plan by plan
Cisco Duo
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Cisco Duo review.
Metasploit
Free- Metasploit Framework (OSS)Free
- Open source
- 1500+ exploits
- Command line
- Metasploit ProFree
- Web interface
- Automated testing
- Phishing campaigns
Which should you pick?
Choose Metasploit if
- You need exploit database.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Desktop, Cli.
- You also want payload generation.
Questions people ask
- Is Cisco Duo or Metasploit better?
- Neither clearly leads. Cisco Duo starts at Free and Metasploit at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Cisco Duo or Metasploit?
- Cisco Duo starts at Free and Metasploit at Free.
- Does Cisco Duo or Metasploit run on more platforms?
- Cisco Duo runs on Web. Metasploit runs on Desktop, Cli.
- Can I use Cisco Duo for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What can Cisco Duo do that Metasploit cannot?
- Metasploit covers Exploit database, Payload generation, Post-exploitation, Evasion modules.
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