Metasploit
Penetration testing framework
As of 13 November 2026, Metasploit is free to use. Metasploit is the world's most widely used penetration testing framework. Softwr lists it under Cybersecurity. Metasploit is made by Rapid7, launched in 2000, available on Windows, macOS, API.
Overview
What Metasploit does
Metasploit is the world's most widely used penetration testing framework. It helps security teams verify vulnerabilities, test security awareness, and manage security assessments.
What people use it 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
Related searches
The honest half
Where it falls short
Concrete and checkable, so you can decide whether any of them matter to you. This is the half of a review a vendor will not write about 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
Pricing
What Metasploit costs
Taken from the vendor's own pricing page. Prices move, so check before you buy.
Metasploit Framework (OSS)
Free
- Open source
- 1500+ exploits
- Command line
- Community modules
- Scripting
Metasploit Pro
Free
- Web interface
- Automated testing
- Phishing campaigns
- Reporting
- Contact sales for pricing
Capabilities
Features
Exploit database
Payload generation
Post-exploitation
Evasion modules
Auxiliary scanners
Social engineering
Credential harvesting
Session management
Nmap
Integration with Nmap
Nessus
Integration with Nessus
Nexpose
Integration with Nexpose
Cobalt Strike
Integration with Cobalt Strike
Answered, with sources
Questions people ask
Each answer names the page it came from, so you can check it rather than take our word for it.
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.
SourceWhat 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.
SourceWhat 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.
SourceBehind it
Who makes Metasploit
- Company
- Rapid7
- Based in
- Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Keep looking
Where to go from Metasploit
- Metasploit alternativesEvery product people weigh against it
- Metasploit pricingPlans, floors and what the tiers exclude
- Metasploit badgesWhich rules it meets, and the figure behind each
- All Cybersecurity softwareThe full category
- Best Cybersecurity softwareThe shortlist, and how it was cut
Best Cybersecurity software for
Compare Metasploit with
- Burp Suite
- OWASP ZAP
- Syft
- Wireshark
- HashiCorp Vault
- Bitwarden
- Semgrep
- Passbolt
- Infisical
- Trivy
- authentik
- Chainguard
- Semperis
- SentinelOne
- Shufti Pro
- Signicat
- Silent Eight
- SentinelOne Singularity
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Softwr does not host reviews and shows no star rating for Metasploit, because a rating we did not collect is not ours to publish. What is here is the pricing and platform detail from the vendor’s own pages, limitations we could state concretely, and alternatives a reviewer confirmed people weigh against it. Tell us if any of it is wrong.
More on Metasploit
Metasploit alternatives
What people switch to, and what they give up
Metasploit pricing
Every tier, and where the cost actually lands
Compare Metasploit
Put it head to head with anything we hold
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