Software · head to head
Metasploit vs OWASP ZAP
Metasploit
Software
The world's most used penetration testing framework
- 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; OWASP ZAP oWASP ZAP is free and open source with no official paid enterprise support contract available from OWASP; support is community-only (mailing lists, GitHub issues).
- They diverge on capability: Metasploit covers Exploit database, OWASP ZAP covers Active scanner.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Metasploit and OWASP ZAP actually diverge.
| Attribute | Metasploit | OWASP ZAP |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | freemium | free |
| Platforms | Desktop, Cli | Desktop, Cli, Api |
| Founded | 2000 | 2001 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), 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 Metasploit
- Exploit database
- Payload generation
- Post-exploitation
- Evasion modules
- Auxiliary scanners
- Social engineering
- Credential harvesting
- Session management
Only in OWASP ZAP
- Active scanner
- Passive scanner
- Spider/crawler
- Fuzzer
- Forced browse
- WebSocket testing
- AJAX spider
- Authentication support
Both cover
- 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 OWASP ZAP
- Validating whether a reported vulnerability is actually exploitablenot OWASP ZAP
- Running phishing and credential attack simulations on the Pro editionnot OWASP ZAP
OWASP ZAP
- Penetration Testingnot Metasploit
- Web Securitynot Metasploit
- Open Sourcenot 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
OWASP ZAP
- OWASP ZAP is free and open source with no official paid enterprise support contract available from OWASP; support is community-only (mailing lists, GitHub issues).
Pricing, plan by plan
Metasploit
Free- Metasploit Framework (OSS)Free
- Open source
- 1500+ exploits
- Command line
- Metasploit ProFree
- Web interface
- Automated testing
- Phishing campaigns
OWASP ZAP
Free- Free & Open SourceFree
- Full functionality
- Active & passive scanning
- Spider
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 OWASP ZAP if
- You need active scanner.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Desktop, Cli, Api.
- You also want passive scanner.
Questions people ask
- Is Metasploit or OWASP ZAP better?
- Neither clearly leads. Metasploit starts at Free and OWASP ZAP at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Metasploit or OWASP ZAP?
- Metasploit starts at Free and OWASP ZAP at Free.
- Does Metasploit or OWASP ZAP run on more platforms?
- Metasploit runs on Desktop, Cli. OWASP ZAP runs on Desktop, Cli, 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 OWASP ZAP is typically brought in for.
- What can Metasploit do that OWASP ZAP cannot?
- Metasploit covers Exploit database, Payload generation, Post-exploitation, Evasion modules. OWASP ZAP covers Active scanner, Passive scanner, Spider/crawler, Fuzzer. Both handle On-premise deployment, Desktop support.