Cybersecurity · head to head
Metasploit vs VUEWorks
Metasploit
Cybersecurity
The world's most used penetration testing framework
- From
- Free
- Free plan
- Yes
VUEWorks
Government
GIS-centred enterprise asset management for public agencies, built around Esri ArcGIS
- From
- On request
- Free plan
- No
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; VUEWorks the product assumes a maintained enterprise ArcGIS geodatabase; agencies without one face a spatial data cleanup project before VUEWorks does anything useful, and that project is usually quoted by the same consultancy selling the software.
- They diverge on capability: Metasploit covers Exploit database, VUEWorks covers Native Esri integration.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Metasploit and VUEWorks actually diverge.
| Attribute | Metasploit | VUEWorks |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free | On request |
| Pricing model | freemium | quote |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Platforms | Desktop, Cli | Web, iOS, Android |
| Category | Cybersecurity | Government |
| Founded | 2000 | Unknown |
Identical on both: 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 VUEWorks
- Native Esri integration
- Work orders and requests
- Inspections
- Condition and risk
- Capital planning
- Pavement management
- Mobile field access
- Dashboards
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 VUEWorks
- Validating whether a reported vulnerability is actually exploitablenot VUEWorks
- Running phishing and credential attack simulations on the Pro editionnot VUEWorks
VUEWorks
- A county public works department that already runs Esri and wants work orders raised directly against map featuresnot Metasploit
- A stormwater utility recording CCTV sewer inspection results against pipe segments for regulatory reportingnot Metasploit
- A transport agency modelling pavement treatment strategies to defend a road resurfacing budgetnot Metasploit
- A city consolidating sign, signal and streetlight inventories that currently live in separate spreadsheetsnot 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
VUEWorks
- The product assumes a maintained enterprise ArcGIS geodatabase; agencies without one face a spatial data cleanup project before VUEWorks does anything useful, and that project is usually quoted by the same consultancy selling the software.
- No pricing is published and deals are typically bundled with consulting services, which makes it hard to separate the software cost from the data work when comparing bids.
- The interface is functional rather than modern, and field crews accustomed to consumer mobile apps often resist it, which undermines the data quality the capital planning depends on.
- The Esri dependency is also an Esri cost: agencies need current ArcGIS Enterprise or ArcGIS Online licensing, and that sits outside the VUEWorks quote entirely.
- It is a small vendor with a limited partner network and a mainly North American footprint, so support and implementation capacity outside that region is thin.
Pricing, plan by plan
Metasploit
Free- Metasploit Framework (OSS)Free
- Open source
- 1500+ exploits
- Command line
- Metasploit ProFree
- Web interface
- Automated testing
- Phishing campaigns
VUEWorks
On request- VUEWorks Enterprise$undefined/year
- Quoted per agency by user count and modules
- Hosted or on-premise deployment options
- GIS integration, data migration and configuration quoted separately
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 VUEWorks if
- You need native esri integration.
- You work on Web, iOS, Android.
- You also want work orders and requests.
Questions people ask
- Is Metasploit or VUEWorks better?
- Neither clearly leads. Metasploit starts at Free and VUEWorks at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Metasploit or VUEWorks?
- Metasploit has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Metasploit and On request for VUEWorks.
- Does Metasploit or VUEWorks run on more platforms?
- Metasploit runs on Desktop, Cli. VUEWorks runs on Web, iOS, Android.
- Can I use Metasploit for free?
- Yes. Metasploit has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. VUEWorks 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 VUEWorks is typically brought in for.
- What can Metasploit do that VUEWorks cannot?
- Metasploit covers Exploit database, Payload generation, Post-exploitation, Evasion modules. VUEWorks covers Native Esri integration, Work orders and requests, Inspections, Condition and risk.
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.
SourceVUEWorks: Do we need Esri ArcGIS?
Effectively yes. The asset register is the GIS, and the ArcGIS licensing sits outside the VUEWorks quote.
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.
SourceVUEWorks: Is pricing published?
No. VUEWorks is quoted per agency by users and modules, often bundled with data collection services.
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.
SourceVUEWorks: Can it replace Cityworks?
It occupies the same GIS-centric municipal asset management space, so yes in principle, but migration means remapping workflows and history.
VUEWorks: Is there a cloud option?
Yes, VUEWorks is offered hosted as well as on-premise.
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