Security & Cybersecurity · head to head
Metasploit vs Burp Suite
Metasploit
Security & Cybersecurity
The world's most used penetration testing framework
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
Burp Suite
Security & Cybersecurity
The leading toolkit for web security testing
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Metasploit the free Framework edition is command line only; the web interface is Pro only; Burp Suite the automated vulnerability scanner is Professional only, at $499; the free Community edition is manual tools
- They diverge on capability: Metasploit covers Exploit database, Burp Suite covers Web vulnerability scanner.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Metasploit and Burp Suite actually diverge.
| Attribute | Metasploit | Burp Suite |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | freemium | subscription |
| Platforms | Desktop, Cli | Desktop, Api |
| Founded | 2000 | 2004 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), 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 Metasploit
- Exploit database
- Payload generation
- Post-exploitation
- Evasion modules
- Auxiliary scanners
- Social engineering
- Credential harvesting
- Session management
Only in Burp Suite
- Web vulnerability scanner
- Proxy interceptor
- Intruder
- Repeater
- Sequencer
- Decoder
- Comparer
- Logger
Both cover
- OWASP ZAP
- On-premise deployment
- Desktop support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Metasploit
- Penetration testing and exploit development against known vulnerabilitiesnot Burp Suite
- Validating whether a reported vulnerability is actually exploitablenot Burp Suite
- Running phishing and credential attack simulations on the Pro editionnot Burp Suite
Burp Suite
- Manual web application penetration testing through an intercepting proxynot Metasploit
- Automated scanning for web vulnerabilities on the Professional editionnot Metasploit
- Extending testing with community-built BApp extensionsnot Metasploit
- Enterprise-wide dynamic scanning through Burp DASTnot Metasploit
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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
Burp Suite
- The automated vulnerability scanner is Professional only, at $499; the free Community edition is manual tools
- BApp Store extensions require the Professional edition
- DAST and the agentic testing product are separate enterprise offerings with no published price
- Professional is licensed per user per year rather than perpetually
Pricing, plan by plan
Metasploit
Free- Metasploit Framework (OSS)Free
- Open source
- 1500+ exploits
- Command line
- Metasploit ProFree
- Web interface
- Automated testing
- Phishing campaigns
Burp Suite
Free- Community EditionFree
- Essential manual tools
- Proxy
- Repeater
- Professional$449/year
- All Community features
- Burp Scanner
- Advanced manual tools
- Enterprise$6995/year
- CI/CD integration
- Scheduled scans
- Role-based access
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.
Choose Burp Suite if
- You need web vulnerability scanner.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Desktop, Api.
- You also want proxy interceptor.
Questions people ask
- Is Metasploit or Burp Suite better?
- Neither clearly leads. Metasploit starts at Free and Burp Suite at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Metasploit or Burp Suite?
- Metasploit starts at Free and Burp Suite at Free.
- Does Metasploit or Burp Suite run on more platforms?
- Metasploit runs on Desktop, Cli. Burp Suite runs on Desktop, Api.
- Can I use Metasploit for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Metasploit best used for?
- Metasploit is most often used for penetration testing and exploit development against known vulnerabilities, validating whether a reported vulnerability is actually exploitable, running phishing and credential attack simulations on the pro edition. Of those, penetration testing and exploit development against known vulnerabilities and validating whether a reported vulnerability is actually exploitable are not what Burp Suite is typically brought in for.
- What can Metasploit do that Burp Suite cannot?
- Metasploit covers Exploit database, Payload generation, Post-exploitation, Evasion modules. Burp Suite covers Web vulnerability scanner, Proxy interceptor, Intruder, Repeater. Both handle OWASP ZAP, On-premise deployment, Desktop support.