Software · head to head
Malwarebytes vs Metasploit
Metasploit
Software
The world's most used penetration testing framework
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Malwarebytes free version limited to on-demand scanning and removal; no real-time protection; Metasploit the free Framework edition is command line only; the web interface is Pro only
- They diverge on capability: Malwarebytes covers Malware detection & removal, Metasploit covers Exploit database.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Malwarebytes and Metasploit actually diverge.
| Attribute | Malwarebytes | Metasploit |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android | Desktop, Cli |
| Founded | 2008 | 2000 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (freemium), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
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 Malwarebytes
- Malware detection & removal
- Ransomware protection
- Real-time protection
- Anti-exploit
- Anti-phishing
- Browser Guard
- VPN
- Brute Force Protection
Only in Metasploit
- Exploit database
- Payload generation
- Post-exploitation
- Evasion modules
- Auxiliary scanners
- Social engineering
- Credential harvesting
- Session management
Both cover
- Desktop support
- English language support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Malwarebytes
- Budget-conscious users performing manual scans via free versionnot Metasploit
- Organisations needing real-time malware and ransomware protection via Premium subscriptionnot Metasploit
- Users combining antivirus with privacy via Premium plus Privacy VPN bundlenot Metasploit
Metasploit
- Penetration testing and exploit development against known vulnerabilitiesnot Malwarebytes
- Validating whether a reported vulnerability is actually exploitablenot Malwarebytes
- Running phishing and credential attack simulations on the Pro editionnot Malwarebytes
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Malwarebytes
- Free version limited to on-demand scanning and removal; no real-time protection
- Upgrade requires purchase of Malwarebytes Premium for automatic protection
- Privacy VPN add-on requires separate subscription or bundle with Premium
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
Malwarebytes
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Malwarebytes 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 Malwarebytes if
- You need malware detection & removal.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Windows, macOS, iOS, Android.
- You also want ransomware protection.
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 Malwarebytes or Metasploit better?
- Neither clearly leads. Malwarebytes 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, Malwarebytes or Metasploit?
- Malwarebytes starts at Free and Metasploit at Free.
- Does Malwarebytes or Metasploit run on more platforms?
- Malwarebytes runs on Windows, macOS, iOS, Android. Metasploit runs on Desktop, Cli.
- Can I use Malwarebytes for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Malwarebytes best used for?
- Malwarebytes is most often used for budget-conscious users performing manual scans via free version, organisations needing real-time malware and ransomware protection via premium subscription, users combining antivirus with privacy via premium plus privacy vpn bundle. Of those, budget-conscious users performing manual scans via free version and organisations needing real-time malware and ransomware protection via premium subscription are not what Metasploit is typically brought in for.
- What can Malwarebytes do that Metasploit cannot?
- Malwarebytes covers Malware detection & removal, Ransomware protection, Real-time protection, Anti-exploit. Metasploit covers Exploit database, Payload generation, Post-exploitation, Evasion modules. Both handle Desktop support, English language support.
Related pages
More on Malwarebytes
Keep looking
Other head to heads
- Malwarebytes vs 1Password
- Malwarebytes vs Bitdefender Total Security
- Malwarebytes vs Norton 360
- Malwarebytes vs LastPass
- Malwarebytes vs Bitwarden
- Malwarebytes vs Kaspersky Total Security
- Malwarebytes vs McAfee Total Protection
- Malwarebytes vs Avast One
- Malwarebytes vs CrowdStrike Falcon
- Malwarebytes vs CyberGhost VPN
- Malwarebytes vs ESET NOD32 Antivirus
- Malwarebytes vs ExpressVPN
- Malwarebytes vs Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
- Malwarebytes vs NordVPN
- Malwarebytes vs ProtonVPN
- Malwarebytes vs Snyk
- Malwarebytes vs Trend Micro Vision One
- Malwarebytes vs Acunetix
- Metasploit vs 1Password
- Metasploit vs Bitdefender Total Security
- Metasploit vs Norton 360
- Metasploit vs LastPass
- Metasploit vs Bitwarden
- Metasploit vs Kaspersky Total Security
- Metasploit vs McAfee Total Protection
- Metasploit vs Avast One
- Metasploit vs CrowdStrike Falcon
- Metasploit vs CyberGhost VPN
- Metasploit vs ESET NOD32 Antivirus
- Metasploit vs ExpressVPN
- Metasploit vs Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
- Metasploit vs NordVPN
- Metasploit vs ProtonVPN
- Metasploit vs Snyk
- Metasploit vs Trend Micro Vision One
- Metasploit vs Acunetix