# Cobalt vs Metasploit Comparison
---
## AI Generated Summary
- **G2 reviewers report** that Cobalt excels in providing a collaborative pentesting experience, with users appreciating the ability to interact with testers and quickly validate remediations. This approach makes security feel less like an audit and more like a partnership, which is a significant advantage for teams looking for actionable insights.
- **Users say** that Metasploit is a comprehensive toolkit, praised for its versatility in creating various types of payloads and exploiting systems. Reviewers highlight its user-friendly interface, which is particularly beneficial when demonstrating vulnerabilities to less-technical audiences, making it a strong choice for those who need a robust penetration testing framework.
- **According to verified reviews** , Cobalt's setup process is notably efficient, with users expressing satisfaction in how quickly they can organize pentests through the portal. This streamlined approach contrasts with Metasploit, where some users have reported challenges in configuration and setup, indicating a potential hurdle for new users.
- **Reviewers mention** that while both tools offer solid support, Cobalt stands out with its high-quality customer service. Users appreciate the clear and consistent communication throughout the pentesting process, which enhances the overall user experience compared to Metasploit, where support quality is perceived as slightly less responsive.
- **G2 reviewers highlight** that Cobalt's reporting and analytics capabilities are superior, providing actionable findings that are easy for engineers to understand and implement. In contrast, Metasploit's reporting features are seen as less intuitive, which may hinder users looking for straightforward insights from their testing efforts.
- **Users say** that Metasploit is particularly favored by small businesses due to its extensive toolkit, but Cobalt's focus on mid-market clients allows it to cater more effectively to organizations that require a collaborative and flexible approach to penetration testing. This distinction may influence buyers based on their company size and specific needs.



---
## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is the difference between Metasploit vs Cobalt?

Metasploit and Cobalt differ most clearly in reviewer-cited ease of use and support, with Cobalt scoring higher on both dimensions and being favored for its customer support and reporting quality.

| [Metasploit](https://www.g2.com/products/metasploit/reviews) | [Cobalt](https://www.g2.com/products/cobalt-io-cobalt/reviews) |
| --- | --- |
| 4.6/5 (55 reviews) | 4.5/5 (180 reviews) |
| Mid-Market | Small-Business |
| 7.8 | 9.1 |
| 8.2 | 9.2 |
| Pentesting Efficiency | Pentesting Efficiency, Customer Support |



### How do the pricing models of Metasploit and Cobalt compare?

Cobalt is rated higher for value, with reviewers expressing greater satisfaction with its pricing compared to Metasploit.

- **Metasploit:** In recent reviews, pricing is not highlighted as a core strength or differentiator.
- **Cobalt:** Reviewers describe Cobalt as offering affordable market pricing and reasonable costs for the value delivered.
- **Switching reasons:** Recent reviews cite Cobalt's value and support as reasons for choosing it over competitors.



### What are the best alternatives to Metasploit and Cobalt?

The top three alternatives to Metasploit and Cobalt are Intruder, Burp Suite, and Acunetix by Invicti.

| Product | G2 Rating (reviews) | Largest Segment | Pricing Insight | Top Reviewer-Cited Strength |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Metasploit](https://www.g2.com/products/metasploit/reviews) | 4.6/5 (55 reviews) | Mid-Market | — | Pentesting Efficiency |
| [Cobalt](https://www.g2.com/products/cobalt-io-cobalt/reviews) | 4.5/5 (180 reviews) | Small-Business | Affordable market pricing | Pentesting Efficiency, Customer Support |
| [Intruder](https://www.g2.com/products/intruder/reviews) | 4.8/5 (209 reviews) | — | — | — |
| [Burp Suite](https://www.g2.com/products/burp-suite/reviews) | 4.8/5 (129 reviews) | Mid-Market | — | — |
| [Acunetix by Invicti](https://www.g2.com/products/acunetix-by-invicti/reviews) | 4.1/5 (105 reviews) | Enterprise | — | — |



### Which Penetration Testing features should I prioritize when comparing Metasploit and Cobalt?

Buyers should prioritize ease of use, ease of setup, quality of support, reporting quality, and integration capabilities when comparing Metasploit and Cobalt.

- **Ease of Use:** Metasploit 8.1, Cobalt 9.2
- **Ease of Setup:** Metasploit 7.8, Cobalt 9.1
- **Quality of Support:** Metasploit 8.2, Cobalt 9.2
- **Reporting Quality:** Cobalt has 28 all-time mentions for reporting quality; Metasploit does not have a comparable mention count.
- **Integration Capabilities:** Cobalt has 13 all-time mentions for integrations, including Slack and Jira; Metasploit does not have comparable integration mentions.



### What are the pros and cons of Metasploit vs Cobalt?

Metasploit's headline strength is pentesting efficiency, while Cobalt's is customer support and ease of use.

- **Metasploit strengths:** Pentesting efficiency (2 all-time mentions), expertise (1 all-time mention).
- **Metasploit trade-offs:** Complex setup (1 all-time mention), some reviewers note a steep learning curve and occasional issues with exploit database updates.
- **Cobalt strengths:** Pentesting efficiency (50 all-time mentions), customer support (40 all-time mentions), ease of use (39 all-time mentions), communication (31 all-time mentions), reporting quality (28 all-time mentions), team expertise (24 all-time mentions), integrations (13 all-time mentions).
- **Cobalt trade-offs:** Expensive (14 all-time mentions), some reviewers mention variability in pentester quality and a confusing credit/pricing model.



### Is Metasploit or Cobalt better for small businesses?

Cobalt is the better fit for small businesses, with the largest reviewer segment and strong small-business sentiment.

- **Metasploit:** Largest segment is Mid-Market; reviewers highlight its technical depth but note a steeper learning curve for less technical users.
- **Cobalt:** Largest segment is Small-Business; reviewers consistently praise its ease of use, support, and suitability for small teams.



### Which Penetration Testing platform has better integrations?

Cobalt is favored for integrations, with reviewers citing more integration options and higher mention counts.

- **Metasploit:** No recent reviewer-cited integrations with significant mention counts.
- **Cobalt:** Slack (23 all-time mentions), Jira (12 all-time mentions), reviewers highlight easy integration with ticketing and collaboration tools.



### How do Metasploit and Cobalt compare on customer support?

Cobalt scores materially higher than Metasploit on Quality of Support, with a 1.0-point advantage (9.2 vs 8.2).

- **Metasploit:** Reviewers describe support as generally helpful but note occasional delays and limited onboarding assistance.
- **Cobalt:** Reviewers consistently praise Cobalt's responsive, knowledgeable support team and highlight strong customer success engagement (40 all-time mentions).



### Which is easier to implement, Metasploit or Cobalt?

Cobalt is easier to implement than Metasploit, with a 1.3-point higher Ease of Setup score (9.1 vs 7.8).

- **Metasploit:** Reviewers note a complex setup process, especially for beginners, and mention a steeper learning curve.
- **Cobalt:** Reviewers consistently describe a straightforward, fast setup process and highlight the platform's user-friendly onboarding experience.



### Which product has better API?

Cobalt is favored for its API, with more recent reviewer mentions and integration capabilities.

- **Metasploit:** API is described as handy in reviewer comments, but lacks recent mention counts or integration-specific scores.
- **Cobalt:** Reviewers highlight API usage for automated data extraction and integration with Google Sheets and ticketing systems; integrations have 13 all-time mentions, and API is cited as a differentiator in recent reviews.



| | Cobalt | Metasploit | 
|---|---|---|
| **Star Rating** | 4.5 out of 5 | 4.6 out of 5 | 
| **Total Reviews** | 180 | 55 | 

---
## Top Pros & Cons

### Cobalt

Pros:
- Pentesting Efficiency (29 reviews)
- Ease of Use (20 reviews)

Cons:
- Expensive (9 reviews)
- Limited Scope (5 reviews)

### Metasploit

Pros:
- Pentesting Efficiency (2 reviews)
- Expertise (1 reviews)

Cons:
- Complex Setup (1 reviews)

---
## Ratings Comparison
| Rating | Cobalt | Metasploit | 
|---|---|---|
  | **Meets Requirements** | 9.3 (135 reviews) | 8.9 (42 reviews) | 
  | **Ease of Use** | 9.2 (136 reviews) | 8.1 (42 reviews) | 
  | **Ease of Setup** | 9.1 (126 reviews) | 7.8 (22 reviews) | 
  | **Ease of Admin** | 9.3 (87 reviews) | 8.3 (20 reviews) | 
  | **Quality of Support** | 9.2 (134 reviews) | 8.2 (36 reviews) | 
  | **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?** | 9.3 (88 reviews) | 8.7 (17 reviews) | 
  | **Product Direction (% positive)** | 8.8 (123 reviews) | 9.1 (38 reviews) | 

---
## Pricing

### Cobalt

#### Entry-Level Pricing

Plan: Standard

Price: Contact Us

Description: For teams in need of a speedy, annual pentest to meet a compliance need or client request.

Key Features:
- SAML-Based SSO
- User And Group Access Controls
- Best Practice Methodology + Coverage Checklist

[Browse all 3 editions](https://www.g2.com/products/cobalt-io-cobalt/pricing)

#### Free Trial

No

### Metasploit

#### Entry-Level Pricing

No pricing available

#### Free Trial

Yes

---
## Features Comparison By Category

### Penetration Testing

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **Cobalt** | 8.8/10 | 112 |
| **Metasploit** | 8.4/10 | 23 |

#### Administration

| Feature | Cobalt | Metasploit | 
|---|---|---|
| **API** | 8.1 (81 reviews) | 8.5 (9 reviews) | 
| **Extensibility** | Feature Not Available | 8.1 (13 reviews) | 
| **Reporting and Analytics** | 9.2 (94 reviews) | 7.7 (14 reviews) | 

#### Analysis

| Feature | Cobalt | Metasploit | 
|---|---|---|
| **Issue Tracking** | 9.1 (92 reviews) | 8.1 (12 reviews) | 
| **Reconnaissance** | 8.8 (85 reviews) | 8.6 (17 reviews) | 
| **Vulnerability Scan** | 8.7 (76 reviews) | 8.7 (19 reviews) | 
| **Compliance Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Automatic Scans** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **SPA Scans** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Testing

| Feature | Cobalt | Metasploit | 
|---|---|---|
| **Command-Line Tools** | Feature Not Available | 9.1 (20 reviews) | 
| **Manual Testing** | 8.4 (89 reviews) | 8.3 (21 reviews) | 
| **Test Automation** | Feature Not Available | 8.0 (16 reviews) | 
| **Performance and Reliability** | 9.1 (92 reviews) | 8.4 (19 reviews) | 

#### Additional Functionality

| Feature | Cobalt | Metasploit | 
|---|---|---|
| **Network Mapping** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Activity Dashboard** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **SQL Injections** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Audit Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Threat Intelligence** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Assignment Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Integration Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **User Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Asset Discovery** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Remediation Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Vulnerability Scanning** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Generative AI** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Multi-User Collaboration** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **AI Copilot** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Web-Application Security** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Vulnerability Assessment** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Security Auditing** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Runtime Container Security** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Network Scanning** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Password Cracking** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Simulated Threat Attacks** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Certificates** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Alerts/Notifications** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Real-Time Data** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Cross-Site Scripting** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Exploit Frameworks** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

### Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST)

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **Cobalt** | 8.8/10 | 9 |
| **Metasploit** | N/A | N/A |

#### Administration

| Feature | Cobalt | Metasploit | 
|---|---|---|
| **API / Integrations** | 8.6 (7 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Extensibility** | 8.6 (7 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Analysis

| Feature | Cobalt | Metasploit | 
|---|---|---|
| **Reporting and Analytics** | 9.0 (7 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Issue Tracking** | 9.0 (7 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Static Code Analysis** | 8.8 (7 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Vulnerability Scan** | 9.2 (8 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Code Analysis** | 8.6 (7 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Testing

| Feature | Cobalt | Metasploit | 
|---|---|---|
| **Manual Testing** | 8.6 (7 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Test Automation** | 8.9 (6 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Compliance Testing** | 8.8 (7 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Black-Box Scanning** | 8.5 (8 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Detection Rate** | 8.6 (7 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **False Positives** | 8.6 (7 reviews) | Not enough data | 

### Crowd Testing Tools

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **Cobalt** | N/A | N/A |
| **Metasploit** | N/A | N/A |

#### Functionality

| Feature | Cobalt | Metasploit | 
|---|---|---|
| **Crowd Testing** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Feedback Tracking** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Integration** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Requirements** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Logging** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Admin

| Feature | Cobalt | Metasploit | 
|---|---|---|
| **Test Analysis** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

### Red Teaming Tools

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **Cobalt** | N/A | N/A |
| **Metasploit** | N/A | N/A |

#### Adversary Emulation & Operations - Red Teaming Tools

| Feature | Cobalt | Metasploit | 
|---|---|---|
| **Command & Control Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Lateral Movement Simulation** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Post-Exploitation Workflows** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Multi-Stage Attack Campaigns** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### MITRE ATT&CK & Reporting - Red Teaming Tools

| Feature | Cobalt | Metasploit | 
|---|---|---|
| **Detection Gap Analysis** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **MITRE ATT&CK Mapping** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Adversary Campaign Reporting** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### AI-Powered Red Teaming - Red Teaming Tools

| Feature | Cobalt | Metasploit | 
|---|---|---|
| **AI-Assisted Remediation Recommendations** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **AI-Generated Attack Paths** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **AI-Powered Detection Coverage Analysis** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

---
## Categories
**Shared Categories (1):** [Penetration Testing Tools](https://www.g2.com/categories/penetration-testing-tools)

**Unique to Cobalt (2):** [Crowd Testing Tools](https://www.g2.com/categories/crowd-testing-tools), [Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST) Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/dynamic-application-security-testing-dast)

**Unique to Metasploit (1):** [Red Teaming Tools](https://www.g2.com/categories/red-teaming-tools)


---
## Reviewer Demographics

### By Company Size

| Segment | Cobalt | Metasploit | 
|---|---|---|
| **Small-Business** | 24.6% | 47.2% | 
| **Mid-Market** | 55.1% | 39.6% | 
| **Enterprise** | 20.4% | 13.2% | 

### By Industry

#### Cobalt

- **Computer Software:** 26.2%
- **Information Technology and Services:** 20.7%
- **Financial Services:** 9.1%
- **Hospital & Health Care:** 4.3%
- **Health, Wellness and Fitness:** 2.4%
- **Insurance:** 2.4%
- **Marketing and Advertising:** 2.4%
- **Oil & Energy:** 2.4%
- **Computer & Network Security:** 2.4%
- **Telecommunications:** 2.4%
- **Other:** 25.0%

#### Metasploit

- **Computer & Network Security:** 34.0%
- **Information Technology and Services:** 22.6%
- **Computer Software:** 7.5%
- **Security and Investigations:** 3.8%
- **Computer Networking:** 3.8%
- **Financial Services:** 3.8%
- **Education Management:** 3.8%
- **Accounting:** 1.9%
- **Airlines/Aviation:** 1.9%
- **Automotive:** 1.9%
- **Other:** 15.1%

---
## Alternatives

### Alternatives to Cobalt

- [Intruder](https://www.g2.com/products/intruder/reviews) — 4.8/5 stars (220 reviews)
- [Astra Pentest](https://www.g2.com/products/astra-pentest/reviews) — 4.6/5 stars (248 reviews)
- [GitLab](https://www.g2.com/products/gitlab/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (900 reviews)
- [Harness Platform](https://www.g2.com/products/harness-platform/reviews) — 4.6/5 stars (333 reviews)
- [vPenTest](https://www.g2.com/products/vpentest/reviews) — 4.6/5 stars (246 reviews)
- [Tenable Nessus](https://www.g2.com/products/tenable-nessus/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (312 reviews)
- [Pentest-Tools.com](https://www.g2.com/products/pentest-tools-com/reviews) — 4.8/5 stars (109 reviews)
- [Aikido Security](https://www.g2.com/products/aikido-security/reviews) — 4.6/5 stars (266 reviews)
- [Pentera](https://www.g2.com/products/pentera/reviews) — 4.6/5 stars (190 reviews)
- [Prolific](https://www.g2.com/products/prolific/reviews) — 4.6/5 stars (238 reviews)

### Alternatives to Metasploit

- [Burp Suite](https://www.g2.com/products/burp-suite/reviews) — 4.8/5 stars (129 reviews)
- [Invicti Web + API (formerly Acunetix)](https://www.g2.com/products/invicti-web-api-formerly-acunetix/reviews) — 4.1/5 stars (105 reviews)
- [Core Impact](https://www.g2.com/products/core-impact/reviews) — 4.1/5 stars (30 reviews)
- [Invicti](https://www.g2.com/products/invicti/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (72 reviews)
- [SQLmap](https://www.g2.com/products/sqlmap/reviews) — 4.3/5 stars (38 reviews)
- [Intruder](https://www.g2.com/products/intruder/reviews) — 4.8/5 stars (220 reviews)
- [Pentera](https://www.g2.com/products/pentera/reviews) — 4.6/5 stars (190 reviews)
- [vPenTest](https://www.g2.com/products/vpentest/reviews) — 4.6/5 stars (246 reviews)
- [Astra Pentest](https://www.g2.com/products/astra-pentest/reviews) — 4.6/5 stars (248 reviews)
- [Aikido Security](https://www.g2.com/products/aikido-security/reviews) — 4.6/5 stars (266 reviews)

---
## Top Discussions

### Cobalt

No discussions available for this product.

### Metasploit

- Title: [How do I get Premium License for free to make tests for local FinTech & Universities and education?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/35953-how-do-i-get-premium-license-for-free-to-make-tests-for-local-fintech-universities-and-education) — 2 comments, 1 upvote
  > **Top comment:** "The best way to pass in Isaca  CRISC Exams provided by exactinside.

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- Title: [<>?:"{}!@#$%^&*()_+ I like that Rapid7 provides the required number of characters.](https://www.g2.com/discussions/40702-_-i-like-that-rapid7-provides-the-required-number-of-characters) — 1 comment, 2 upvotes
  > **Top comment:** "<u>test</u>"

---
**Source:** [G2.com](https://www.g2.com) | [Comparison Page](https://www.g2.com/compare/cobalt-io-cobalt-vs-metasploit)