Last Updated: May 2026
Industry-standard exploitation framework with massive exploit database. Community free and Pro commercial editions available. Metasploit currently offers a Freemium pricing model. Below is a complete breakdown of all available plans, costs, and what each tier includes.
Free & Open Source (BSD license)
Includes
Best for: Individual pentesters, researchers, and students
From ~$15,000/year
Includes
Best for: Enterprise penetration testing teams and MSSPs
Metasploit Framework delivers exceptional ROI as a free tool — penetration testers, red teamers, security researchers, and CTF players get 2,300+ exploits and the most-used post-exploitation framework on the planet at zero cost. For most individual professionals, the free Framework combined with custom scripting matches Pro capabilities. Metasploit Pro at ~$15,000/year is justified for enterprise pentest teams and MSSPs running structured large-scale internal pentests where the automated workflows, credential management, and reporting engine save 40+ analyst hours per month. Compared to Cobalt Strike at $5,900+/year for a single seat, Metasploit Pro is more expensive but bundles a polished web UI and reporting. Upgrade from Framework to Pro once your team scales beyond 3–4 pentesters.
Rapid7 (Metasploit Pro's owner) offers academic discounts on Pro through its educational program — typically 30–50% off for accredited universities. Metasploit Framework remains permanently free under the BSD license. Pro is billed annually only with no monthly option; multi-year commitments typically yield 10–15% discount. A 14-day free trial of Metasploit Pro is available with full feature access. Black Friday and end-of-quarter promotions occasionally appear. See the official Metasploit Pro pricing page.
Yes — Metasploit Framework is fully free and open-source under the BSD license, with the full set of 2,300+ exploits and Meterpreter post-exploitation modules. Only Metasploit Pro (the commercial enterprise edition) is paid.
Metasploit Framework is free for everyone. The cheapest paid plan is Metasploit Pro starting at approximately $15,000/year, which adds the web UI, automated workflows, and reporting engine.
Yes — Metasploit Pro offers a 14-day free trial with full feature access. The Metasploit Framework itself is permanently free, so the trial is only relevant for Pro.
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