Cybersecurity · head to head
Metasploit vs OpenVPN
Metasploit
Cybersecurity
The world's most used penetration testing framework
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
OpenVPN
Networking
Open source VPN protocol with a commercial Access Server product priced per simultaneous connection
- 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; OpenVPN open source OpenVPN, while free, requires real technical skill to configure, secure and maintain without the Access Server admin layer
- They diverge on capability: Metasploit covers Exploit database, OpenVPN covers Open source core.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Metasploit and OpenVPN actually diverge.
| Attribute | Metasploit | OpenVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | freemium | Open source core is free; Access Server billed per simultaneous connection |
| Platforms | Desktop, Cli | Linux, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android |
| Category | Cybersecurity | Networking |
| Founded | 2000 | Unknown |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated).
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 OpenVPN
- Open source core
- Access Server admin UI
- Per-connection licensing
- Free tier
- Cross-platform clients
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 OpenVPN
- Validating whether a reported vulnerability is actually exploitablenot OpenVPN
- Running phishing and credential attack simulations on the Pro editionnot OpenVPN
OpenVPN
- A technical team wanting a fully free, self-configured VPN server using the open source protocol without any vendor relationshipnot Metasploit
- A small business wanting a supported, easier-to-administer VPN server, willing to pay per concurrent connection rather than per employeenot Metasploit
- An organisation with more staff than typical concurrent VPN usage, since Access Server bills only active simultaneous connections, not total accountsnot Metasploit
- An IoT or large-scale deployment needing custom Enterprise pricing above 2,000 connectionsnot 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
OpenVPN
- Open source OpenVPN, while free, requires real technical skill to configure, secure and maintain without the Access Server admin layer
- Per-connection billing on Access Server means usage spikes, such as an all-hands remote day, can push simultaneous connections over a licensed limit and block new connections until usage drops or the plan is upgraded
- OpenVPN's traditional hub-and-spoke architecture routes traffic through a central server, unlike mesh VPN tools like Tailscale or NetBird that establish direct peer-to-peer connections where possible, which can add latency
- Client configuration and certificate management for the open source version is more manual and error-prone than newer VPN tools with zero-config onboarding
- Access Server pricing above the Growth tier reverts to custom Enterprise quoting, so very large deployments lose the pricing transparency of the lower tiers
- The protocol's throughput is generally lower than newer kernel-integrated protocols like WireGuard under equivalent conditions, which matters for high-bandwidth use cases
Pricing, plan by plan
Metasploit
Free- Metasploit Framework (OSS)Free
- Open source
- 1500+ exploits
- Command line
- Metasploit ProFree
- Web interface
- Automated testing
- Phishing campaigns
OpenVPN
Free- Access Server FreeFree
- Up to 2 simultaneous connections
- All features included
- Access Server Growth$7/month
- Per simultaneous connection beyond the free tier
- Annual billing
- Access Server Enterprise/IoT$undefined/month
- Custom pricing for 2,000+ connections
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 OpenVPN if
- You need open source core.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Linux, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android.
- You also want access server admin ui.
Questions people ask
- Is Metasploit or OpenVPN better?
- Neither clearly leads. Metasploit starts at Free and OpenVPN at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Metasploit or OpenVPN?
- Metasploit starts at Free and OpenVPN at Free.
- Does Metasploit or OpenVPN run on more platforms?
- Metasploit runs on Desktop, Cli. OpenVPN runs on Linux, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android.
- 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 OpenVPN is typically brought in for.
- What can Metasploit do that OpenVPN cannot?
- Metasploit covers Exploit database, Payload generation, Post-exploitation, Evasion modules. OpenVPN covers Open source core, Access Server admin UI, Per-connection licensing, Free tier.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Metasploit: Is Metasploit Framework free to use?
Yes, Metasploit Framework is available as free open-source software with source code accessible via GitHub. Community support is provided through Slack, GitHub, Twitter, and email.
SourceOpenVPN: Is OpenVPN free?
The open source protocol and software are free under the GPL; Access Server, the commercial packaged product, charges per simultaneous connection beyond a free 2-connection tier.
Metasploit: What is the difference between Metasploit Framework and Metasploit Pro?
Metasploit Framework is the free open-source version. Metasploit Pro is a commercial offering with customer support from Rapid7, though specific pricing and features are not detailed on the download page.
SourceOpenVPN: What counts as a connection for billing purposes?
A simultaneously active connected device, not a registered user account or total device count; unlimited accounts and devices can be created but only the licensed number can be connected at once.
Metasploit: What support is available for the free Framework version?
Community-based support for Metasploit Framework is available through Slack, GitHub, Twitter, and email ([email protected]). Commercial customers using Metasploit Pro receive customer support from Rapid7.
SourceOpenVPN: How does OpenVPN compare with WireGuard-based tools like Tailscale?
OpenVPN uses a traditional hub-and-spoke VPN architecture rather than the mesh, peer-to-peer approach used by newer tools like Tailscale or NetBird.
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