Cybersecurity · head to head
Metasploit vs Trivy
Metasploit
Cybersecurity
The world's most used penetration testing framework
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
Trivy
Cybersecurity
Open-source vulnerability and misconfiguration scanner
- 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; Trivy reports what public advisory databases know, so coverage varies by ecosystem and unfixed CVEs create noise
- They diverge on capability: Metasploit covers Exploit database, Trivy covers Multi-target scanning.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Metasploit and Trivy actually diverge.
| Attribute | Metasploit | Trivy |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | freemium | Open source, no licence fee |
| Platforms | Desktop, Cli | Linux, macOS, Windows, Docker, Kubernetes |
| Founded | 2000 | Unknown |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 Trivy
- Multi-target scanning
- Vulnerability detection
- Misconfiguration checks
- Secret detection
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 Trivy
- Validating whether a reported vulnerability is actually exploitablenot Trivy
- Running phishing and credential attack simulations on the Pro editionnot Trivy
Trivy
- Failing a pull request when a container image introduces a known CVEnot Metasploit
- Scanning Terraform and Kubernetes manifests for misconfiguration before applynot Metasploit
- Catching committed secrets as part of an existing CI stepnot 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
Trivy
- Reports what public advisory databases know, so coverage varies by ecosystem and unfixed CVEs create noise
- No built-in triage or exception workflow, so suppressing accepted risk is managed in config files
- Findings are point-in-time from CI, with no continuous runtime monitoring unless you add the commercial platform
Pricing, plan by plan
Metasploit
Free- Metasploit Framework (OSS)Free
- Open source
- 1500+ exploits
- Command line
- Metasploit ProFree
- Web interface
- Automated testing
- Phishing campaigns
Trivy
Free- TrivyFree
- Full scanner
- Unlimited scans
- Community 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 Trivy if
- You need multi-target scanning.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Linux, macOS, Windows, Docker, Kubernetes.
- You also want vulnerability detection.
Questions people ask
- Is Metasploit or Trivy better?
- Neither clearly leads. Metasploit starts at Free and Trivy at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Metasploit or Trivy?
- Metasploit starts at Free and Trivy at Free.
- Does Metasploit or Trivy run on more platforms?
- Metasploit runs on Desktop, Cli. Trivy runs on Linux, macOS, Windows, Docker, Kubernetes.
- 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 Trivy is typically brought in for.
- What can Metasploit do that Trivy cannot?
- Metasploit covers Exploit database, Payload generation, Post-exploitation, Evasion modules. Trivy covers Multi-target scanning, Vulnerability detection, Misconfiguration checks, Secret detection.
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.
SourceTrivy: Is Trivy free?
Yes, open source from Aqua Security with no licence fee. Aqua sells a commercial platform around it.
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.
SourceTrivy: What can Trivy scan?
Container images, filesystems, Git repositories, Kubernetes clusters and infrastructure-as-code, for vulnerabilities, misconfigurations, secrets and licences.
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.
SourceTrivy: Does Trivy need a server?
No. It is a single binary, which is a large part of why it became a default in CI.
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