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Head-to-head · Offensive Security

OWASP ZAP vs Metasploit

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 1 check side by side
Higher score OWASP ZAP #4 in Offensive Security 9.0/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 0 of 2 features Visit OWASP ZAP
Metasploit #5 in Offensive Security 8.9/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 0 of 2 features Visit Rapid7

OWASP ZAP leads on 0 checks, Metasploit on 0, and 1 is even. Who comes out ahead on the 1 yes/no, price and count check where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreOWASP ZAP · 9.0/10
  • Free planboth

OWASP ZAP scores higher on our rubric for offensive security: 9.0 against 8.9 out of 10; our editors rank them #4 and #5.

OWASP ZAP is the better fit for teams seeking free, automated web application testing. Metasploit is the better fit for practitioners needing free exploit and post-exploit tools.

  • OWASP ZAP fits best

    Teams seeking free, automated web application testing

  • Metasploit fits best

    Practitioners needing free exploit and post-exploit tools

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Side by side

Feature OWASP ZAP 9.0/10 Visit ↗ Metasploit 8.9/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.0 8.9
Ranking #4 in Offensive Security #5 in Offensive Security
Best for Teams seeking free, automated web application testing Practitioners needing free exploit and post-exploit tools
Pricing model Free Free plan + paid
Starting price Free plan Free plan
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — —
Deployment Self-hosted, Desktop, Browser extension Self-hosted
Platforms Windows, macOS, Linux Linux, macOS
Support Community, Docs Community
Integrations 2 integrations 2 integrations
Built for Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features OWASP ZAP 0/2 · Metasploit 0/2
Automated attacks Not checked yet Not checked yet
Attack simulation library Not checked yet Not checked yet
Specs
Deployment Not checked yet Not checked yet
Testing scope Not checked yet Not checked yet
Listed integrations Not checked yet Not checked yet
Our review
Pros
  • Active and passive scans pair with traditional, AJAX, and client-side spiders.
  • Authenticated scans support browser, form, JSON, HTTP/NTLM, and script-based methods.
  • REST API, YAML automation, Docker scans, and GitHub Actions support CI/CD workflows.
  • Free Framework includes reconnaissance, exploit, payload and post-exploitation modules
  • Supports network and web application testing in a self-hosted setup
  • Metasploit Pro adds evidence collection, reports and credential management
Cons
  • Self-hosted and desktop deployment puts setup and operation on the team.
  • Scanning focus is web applications and APIs, not a broad security testing suite.
  • Support channels are community and documentation.
  • Framework is installed locally and is available for Linux and macOS
  • Community support is the listed support channel
  • Advanced assessment workflow features are part of the commercial edition
Our verdict

OWASP ZAP is an open-source penetration-testing tool for finding vulnerabilities in web applications. It is suited to developers, testers, and security specialists who want to run manual or automated checks without a paid plan. The product…

Read the review →

Metasploit is a penetration testing framework maintained by the open-source community and Rapid7. Its free Metasploit Framework is aimed at security practitioners and teams that need tools to gather information, test known vulnerabilities,…

Read the review →
  1. OWASP ZAPOffensive Security 9.0Free plan
  2. MetasploitOffensive Security 8.9Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • OWASP ZAP — where it wins

    • Active and passive scans pair with traditional, AJAX, and client-side spiders.
    • Authenticated scans support browser, form, JSON, HTTP/NTLM, and script-based methods.
    • REST API, YAML automation, Docker scans, and GitHub Actions support CI/CD workflows.

    Where it doesn't

    • Self-hosted and desktop deployment puts setup and operation on the team.
    • Scanning focus is web applications and APIs, not a broad security testing suite.
    • Support channels are community and documentation.

  • Metasploit — where it wins

    • Free Framework includes reconnaissance, exploit, payload and post-exploitation modules
    • Supports network and web application testing in a self-hosted setup
    • Metasploit Pro adds evidence collection, reports and credential management

    Where it doesn't

    • Framework is installed locally and is available for Linux and macOS
    • Community support is the listed support channel
    • Advanced assessment workflow features are part of the commercial edition
  • OWASP ZAP9.0/10 · Free plan

    A free, automation-ready web application scanner with broad API and authentication support.

    Visit OWASP ZAPFull verdict →
  • Metasploit8.9/10 · Free plan

    Free, open-source testing tools with paid capabilities for guided assessments and reporting.

    Visit Rapid7Full verdict →

More comparisons

All offensive security comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update