FREEDOM251

Freedom251 › Security & Privacy

Free and open first

Best Offensive Security in 2026

Offensive security tools support penetration testing, automated attacks and attack simulation. This list is for people comparing software for that work while watching cost and deployment needs.

  1. 1

    Kali Linux

    Free plan Open source AndroidLinuxMac+2

    Kali Linux offers a broad security-testing environment across many deployment types, with live and custom-image options.

    8.9 Free plan Visit site
  2. 2

    OWASP ZAP

    Free plan Open source APIExtensionLinux+3

    ZAP combines web scanning with automation, API imports, and CI options at no charge. Check installer requirements and the project's release-support limits before choosing it.

    8.7 Free plan Visit site
  3. 3

    Atomic Red Team

    Free plan APILinuxMac+1

    Atomic Red Team offers a free collection of mapped tests and tools for running them locally, remotely, or on a schedule.

    7.7 Free plan Visit site
  4. 4

    AttackIQ Platform

    Free plan APILinuxMac+3

    Choose AttackIQ if your organization needs adversary emulation, control validation, or enterprise-wide security testing.

    7.6 Pricing on request Visit site
  5. 5

    BlackArch Linux

    Free plan LinuxSelf-hosted

    Choose BlackArch Linux if you work in penetration testing or security research and are comfortable with Arch Linux.

    7.3 Free plan Visit site
  6. 6

    ImmuniWeb

    Free plan AndroidAPIiPhone+1

    ImmuniWeb brings scanning, monitoring, and penetration testing into one platform, with a free set of Community Edition tests.

    7.3 Free plan · paid from €395 Visit site
  7. 7

    Pentest-Tools.com API Scanner

    Free plan APILinuxMac+1

    The scanner covers common API formats and authenticated scans, with evidence and remediation guidance in reports.

    7.1 Free plan · paid from $140/mo · 7-day trial Visit site
  8. 8

    Stratus Red Team

    Free plan APILinuxMac+2

    Stratus Red Team offers mapped attack simulations across several cloud and cluster environments, with a workflow for setup and cleanup.

    6.6 Open source Visit site
  9. 9

    Astra Security

    Free trial APIWeb

    Astra Security combines automated scanning with human-led penetration testing and coverage for APIs and cloud infrastructure.

    6.3 Free plan · paid from $69/mo · 7-day trial Visit site
  10. 10

    NodeZero

    Free trial APILinuxSelf-hosted+1

    NodeZero combines autonomous testing with attack-path analysis, evidence, and remediation direction.

    6.1 Pricing on request Visit site
  11. 11

    Picus Security Platform

    Free trial APILinuxMac+3

    Choose Picus if your security team needs ongoing attack simulation and exposure validation across multiple controls, with options for restricted deployment environments.

    6.0 Pricing on request · 14-day trial Visit site
  12. 12

    SCYTHE

    Free trial LinuxSelf-hostedWeb+1

    Choose SCYTHE if your security team needs continuous adversary emulation, ATT&CK-mapped results, and deployment options that include air-gapped environments.

    5.9 Pricing on request Visit site
  13. 13

    BreachLock DAST

    Paid APIExtensionWeb

    Choose BreachLock DAST if you need external application testing with API scanning, scheduled scans, reporting, and retesting.

    5.8 Pricing on request Visit site
  14. 14

    Cymulate Platform

    Free trial Web

    Cymulate Platform combines exposure validation, threat simulation, and mitigation guidance for security teams.

    5.8 Pricing on request Visit site
  15. 15

    Metasploit

    Free plan LinuxMac

    Metasploit combines web and network testing with finding management and evidence capture. Its free plan and Linux or macOS support may suit users seeking on-prem security testing software.

    5.8 Free plan Visit site
  16. 16

    Social-Engineer Toolkit (SET)

    Free plan LinuxMacWindows
    5.7 Free plan Visit site
  17. 17

    Burp Suite Professional

    Paid LinuxMacWindows
    4.6 From $499/user Visit site
  18. 18

    Core Impact

    Paid Windows
  19. 19

    Metasploit Pro

    Paid LinuxWebWindows

    Metasploit Pro focuses on web application testing, network testing, and evidence capture. Its paid, on-premises model and request-based pricing are key considerations for evaluating fit.

    4.5 Pricing on request Visit site
  20. 20
    4.4 Pricing on request Visit site
  21. 21
    4.4 Pricing on request Visit site
  22. 22

    vPenTest

    Paid Web
    4.0 Pricing on request Visit site

#1Places #1, #2, #3, #4, #5 on this list can be bought by the makers of the software on it. See the price

Check whether a tool has a free plan or trial, and review paid pricing or request-based pricing. If you need to read or change code, check the open-source licence. Compare platform support, testing scope, attack simulation libraries and listed integrations before choosing.

Questions

Are free offensive security tools available?

Yes. The list includes free products and tools with free plans, alongside freemium and paid products. Check the individual pricing note for terms.

Can I use a free trial?

A free trial is offered by certain tools. Trial length and availability are shown in the relevant pricing note, so check before signing up.

Which platforms do these tools support?

Platform options represented here include Linux, web, Windows, API, macOS and self-hosted deployments. Check the platform field for the tool you want.

Do these tools include automated attacks?

Automated attacks and attack simulation are comparison fields for this category. Review a tool's testing scope and simulation library to see what it offers.

What should I check besides price?

Compare deployment, testing scope, automated attacks, attack simulation library and listed integrations. If code access matters, review the open-source licence.

More in Security & Privacy