Cybersecurity · head to head
Metasploit vs Rapid7 InsightVM
Metasploit
Cybersecurity
The world's most used penetration testing framework
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
Rapid7 InsightVM
Cybersecurity
Vulnerability management at scale
- From
- $1.62/month
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Metasploit has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Metasploit the free Framework edition is command line only; the web interface is Pro only; Rapid7 InsightVM insightVM is now sold inside Exposure Command rather than as a standalone product
- They diverge on capability: Metasploit covers Exploit database, Rapid7 InsightVM covers Asset discovery.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Metasploit and Rapid7 InsightVM actually diverge.
| Attribute | Metasploit | Rapid7 InsightVM |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free | $1.62/month |
| Pricing model | freemium | usage-based |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Platforms | Desktop, Cli | Web, Cloud, Api |
Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Cybersecurity), founded (2000).
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 Rapid7 InsightVM
- Asset discovery
- Vulnerability scanning
- Risk prioritization
- Threat intelligence
- Custom policies
- Remediation tracking
- Compliance reporting
- API access
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 Rapid7 InsightVM
- Validating whether a reported vulnerability is actually exploitablenot Rapid7 InsightVM
- Running phishing and credential attack simulations on the Pro editionnot Rapid7 InsightVM
Rapid7 InsightVM
- Vulnerability management and risk assessmentnot Metasploit
- Web application security scanningnot Metasploit
- Cloud infrastructure security monitoringnot 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
Rapid7 InsightVM
- InsightVM is now sold inside Exposure Command rather than as a standalone product
- Rapid7 states pricing is not publicly listed and is provided by custom quote based on the customer's environment
- Billing counts billable assets including devices, software, identities, cloud compute instances and applications, so the asset count grows faster than a device inventory suggests
- Cloud security, compliance, infrastructure as code scanning and application security testing require the Ultimate package rather than Essentials
- Volume discounts are described as commonly available for larger asset counts, so smaller buyers pay the higher unit rate
Pricing, plan by plan
Metasploit
Free- Metasploit Framework (OSS)Free
- Open source
- 1500+ exploits
- Command line
- Metasploit ProFree
- Web interface
- Automated testing
- Phishing campaigns
Rapid7 InsightVM
$1.62/month- InsightVM$1.62/month per asset
- Vulnerability risk management
- Unlimited user accounts
- 24/7 technical support
- InsightAppSec$175/month
- Web application security
- Per application pricing
- Unlimited user accounts
- InsightCloudsec$5775/month
- Cloud security
- Up to 500 instances
- Unlimited user accounts
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 Rapid7 InsightVM if
- You need asset discovery.
- You work on Web, Cloud, Api.
- You also want vulnerability scanning.
Questions people ask
- Is Metasploit or Rapid7 InsightVM better?
- Neither clearly leads. Metasploit starts at Free and Rapid7 InsightVM at $1.62/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Metasploit or Rapid7 InsightVM?
- Metasploit has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Metasploit and $1.62/month for Rapid7 InsightVM.
- Does Metasploit or Rapid7 InsightVM run on more platforms?
- Metasploit runs on Desktop, Cli. Rapid7 InsightVM runs on Web, Cloud, Api.
- Can I use Metasploit for free?
- Yes. Metasploit has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Rapid7 InsightVM starts at $1.62/month.
- 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 Rapid7 InsightVM is typically brought in for.
- What can Metasploit do that Rapid7 InsightVM cannot?
- Metasploit covers Exploit database, Payload generation, Post-exploitation, Evasion modules. Rapid7 InsightVM covers Asset discovery, Vulnerability scanning, Risk prioritization, Threat intelligence.
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.
SourceRapid7 InsightVM: What is the starting price for Rapid7 InsightVM?
InsightVM starts at $1.62 per month per asset, with example pricing provided for 500-asset deployments.
SourceMetasploit: 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.
SourceRapid7 InsightVM: How much does InsightAppSec cost?
InsightAppSec starts at $175 per month per application for web application security scanning.
SourceMetasploit: 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.
SourceRapid7 InsightVM: What does InsightCloudsec cover?
InsightCloudsec starts at $5,775 per month for cloud security monitoring of up to 500 instances.
SourceRapid7 InsightVM: Do Rapid7 products include unlimited user accounts?
Yes, all Rapid7 products include unlimited user accounts, 24/7 technical support, single sign-on, and customer-success team access.
SourceRelated pages
More on Rapid7 InsightVM
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