Cybersecurity · head to head
Metasploit vs Terragrunt

Metasploit
Cybersecurity
The world's most used penetration testing framework
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -

Terragrunt
Cloud
The Open Source IaC Orchestrator Platform Teams Trust
- 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; Terragrunt additional complexity layer on top of Terraform
- They diverge on capability: Metasploit covers Exploit database, Terragrunt covers Infrastructure orchestration.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Metasploit and Terragrunt actually diverge.
| Attribute | Metasploit | Terragrunt |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | freemium | Unknown |
| Platforms | Desktop, Cli | AWS, Azure, GCP |
| Category | Cybersecurity | Cloud |
| 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 Terragrunt
- Infrastructure orchestration
- Run Queue
- DRY configuration
- Automated hooks
- Infrastructure catalog
- Least-privilege 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 Terragrunt
- Validating whether a reported vulnerability is actually exploitablenot Terragrunt
- Running phishing and credential attack simulations on the Pro editionnot Terragrunt
Terragrunt
- Organizing Terraform code across multiple environmentsnot Metasploit
- Automating infrastructure deployment workflowsnot Metasploit
- Implementing infrastructure as code templates for developer self-servicenot 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
Terragrunt
- Additional complexity layer on top of Terraform
- Requires understanding of Terraform concepts
- Paid tier pricing not clearly published
Pricing, plan by plan
Metasploit
Free- Metasploit Framework (OSS)Free
- Open source
- 1500+ exploits
- Command line
- Metasploit ProFree
- Web interface
- Automated testing
- Phishing campaigns
Terragrunt
Free- Open SourceFree
- Terragrunt CLI - completely free
- Community support
- Terragrunt Scale FreeFree
- Free CI/CD pipeline
- Unlimited runs and resources
- For up to 25 infrastructure units
- Terragrunt Scale Paid$undefined/custom
- Volume pricing for more than 25 infrastructure units
- Enterprise support
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 Terragrunt if
- You need infrastructure orchestration.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on AWS, Azure, GCP.
- You also want run queue.
Questions people ask
- Is Metasploit or Terragrunt better?
- Neither clearly leads. Metasploit starts at Free and Terragrunt at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Metasploit or Terragrunt?
- Metasploit starts at Free and Terragrunt at Free.
- Does Metasploit or Terragrunt run on more platforms?
- Metasploit runs on Desktop, Cli. Terragrunt runs on AWS, Azure, GCP.
- 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 Terragrunt is typically brought in for.
- What can Metasploit do that Terragrunt cannot?
- Metasploit covers Exploit database, Payload generation, Post-exploitation, Evasion modules. Terragrunt covers Infrastructure orchestration, Run Queue, DRY configuration, Automated hooks.
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.
SourceTerragrunt: Is Terragrunt free?
Yes, the Terragrunt CLI is completely free and open source. Terragrunt Scale offers a free tier for up to 25 infrastructure units.
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.
SourceTerragrunt: What is the difference between Terragrunt and Terraform?
Terragrunt is an orchestration layer on top of Terraform that handles state management, DRY principles, and deployment automation without replacing Terraform itself.
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.
SourceRelated pages
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