Security & Cybersecurity · head to head
Metasploit vs Cisco Duo
Metasploit
Security & Cybersecurity
The world's most used penetration testing framework
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
Cisco Duo
Security & Cybersecurity
Trusted access for all users, all devices
- 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; Cisco Duo free tier caps at 10 users; every paid tier requires a minimum of 10 users
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Metasploit and Cisco Duo actually diverge.
| Attribute | Metasploit | Cisco Duo |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | Desktop, Cli | Web |
| Founded | 2000 | Unknown |
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 Metasploit
- Exploit database
- Payload generation
- Post-exploitation
- Evasion modules
- Auxiliary scanners
- Social engineering
- Credential harvesting
- Session management
Only in Cisco Duo
Nothing recorded that Metasploit does not also cover.
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 Cisco Duo
- Validating whether a reported vulnerability is actually exploitablenot Cisco Duo
- Running phishing and credential attack simulations on the Pro editionnot Cisco Duo
Cisco Duo
No use cases recorded yet. See the Cisco Duo review.
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
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
Pricing, plan by plan
Metasploit
Free- Metasploit Framework (OSS)Free
- Open source
- 1500+ exploits
- Command line
- Metasploit ProFree
- Web interface
- Automated testing
- Phishing campaigns
Cisco Duo
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Cisco Duo review.
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 Metasploit or Cisco Duo better?
- Neither clearly leads. Metasploit starts at Free and Cisco Duo at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Metasploit or Cisco Duo?
- Metasploit starts at Free and Cisco Duo at Free.
- Does Metasploit or Cisco Duo run on more platforms?
- Metasploit runs on Desktop, Cli. Cisco Duo runs on Web.
- 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 Cisco Duo is typically brought in for.
- What can Metasploit do that Cisco Duo cannot?
- Metasploit covers Exploit database, Payload generation, Post-exploitation, Evasion modules.