Cybersecurity · head to head
Metasploit vs Transmit Security
Metasploit
Cybersecurity
The world's most used penetration testing framework
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
Transmit Security
Cybersecurity
Customer identity platform built around passwordless and fraud signals
- From
- On request
- 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; Transmit Security pricing is not published, so it cannot be compared early against competitors that post per monthly active user rates, and the eventual quote often mixes per-user and per-transaction units.
- They diverge on capability: Metasploit covers Exploit database, Transmit Security covers Passwordless authentication.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Metasploit and Transmit Security actually diverge.
| Attribute | Metasploit | Transmit Security |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free | On request |
| Pricing model | freemium | quote |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Platforms | Desktop, Cli | Web, iOS, Android |
| Founded | 2000 | Unknown |
Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Cybersecurity).
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 Transmit Security
- Passwordless authentication
- Detection and response
- Identity verification
- Orchestration
- Account recovery
- Bot and automation detection
- Composable APIs
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 Transmit Security
- Validating whether a reported vulnerability is actually exploitablenot Transmit Security
- Running phishing and credential attack simulations on the Pro editionnot Transmit Security
Transmit Security
- A bank moving a consumer base off passwords to passkeys without losing customers at the migration stepnot Metasploit
- An insurer whose account recovery flow is the main account takeover route and needs risk scoring inside itnot Metasploit
- A retailer that wants bot detection at login rather than only at checkoutnot Metasploit
- An organisation replacing an in-house customer login system that has become an unfunded engineering liabilitynot 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
Transmit Security
- Pricing is not published, so it cannot be compared early against competitors that post per monthly active user rates, and the eventual quote often mixes per-user and per-transaction units.
- Migrating a live consumer identity base is a high risk project, and credential migration constraints mean some users must re-register, which shows up as measurable churn.
- The vendor is smaller than the identity incumbents, so the partner and systems integrator pool is thinner and staffing a large programme is harder.
- Workforce identity is not the focus, so an organisation wanting one vendor for employees and customers will still run two platforms.
- The fraud detection value depends on traffic volume feeding the models, so a smaller deployment gets less benefit from exactly the capability that justified choosing it over a plain identity provider.
Pricing, plan by plan
Metasploit
Free- Metasploit Framework (OSS)Free
- Open source
- 1500+ exploits
- Command line
- Metasploit ProFree
- Web interface
- Automated testing
- Phishing campaigns
Transmit Security
On request- Transmit Security Platform$undefined/year
- Priced per monthly active user or per transaction by service
- Services licensed individually or as a platform
- Free developer tier for evaluation
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 Transmit Security if
- You need passwordless authentication.
- You work on Web, iOS, Android.
- You also want detection and response.
Questions people ask
- Is Metasploit or Transmit Security better?
- Neither clearly leads. Metasploit starts at Free and Transmit Security at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Metasploit or Transmit Security?
- Metasploit has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Metasploit and On request for Transmit Security.
- Does Metasploit or Transmit Security run on more platforms?
- Metasploit runs on Desktop, Cli. Transmit Security runs on Web, iOS, Android.
- Can I use Metasploit for free?
- Yes. Metasploit has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Transmit Security starts at On request.
- 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 Transmit Security is typically brought in for.
- What can Metasploit do that Transmit Security cannot?
- Metasploit covers Exploit database, Payload generation, Post-exploitation, Evasion modules. Transmit Security covers Passwordless authentication, Detection and response, Identity verification, Orchestration.
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.
SourceTransmit Security: Do we have to replace our existing identity provider?
No. The services are composable, so detection and response or verification can be adopted alongside an existing provider such as Okta or Entra ID.
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.
SourceTransmit Security: Is fraud detection an extra licence?
It is a separate service, but it is designed to run inside the authentication flow rather than as a bolted-on second vendor. Confirm which services are in your quote.
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.
SourceTransmit Security: Is there a way to try it?
Yes, a free developer tier exists for evaluation, though production use is an enterprise agreement.
Related pages
More on Transmit Security
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