checkra1n vs Masochist: Side-by-Side Comparison (2026)
Features, pricing, ratings, and pros & cons — compared head-to-head.
checkra1n is a free offensive security tool. Masochist is a free offensive security tool. Compare features, ratings, integrations, and community reviews side by side to find the best offensive security fit for your security stack.
CST VerdictBased on our analysis of available product data, here is our conclusion:
Penetration testers and iOS security researchers targeting iPhone 5s through iPhone X need checkra1n for its semi-tethered access to A9-A11 chipsets via the unfixable checkm8 bootrom exploit, which remains unpatched across all iOS versions. The exploit persists because Apple cannot patch bootrom vulnerabilities in hardware already in the field, making checkra1n the only reliable jailbreak for these legacy devices in controlled testing environments. Skip this tool if your scope includes iPhone XS and newer; checkra1n's bootrom approach doesn't reach A12 and later chips, and you'll waste time on incompatible devices.
Security researchers and red team operators building custom OS X and iOS attack primitives should use Masochist for its direct XNU kernel access without the abstraction layers that slow down rootkit development. The framework's 126 GitHub stars reflect active adoption by practitioners who need to test Apple's kernel mitigations at scale. Skip this if your team lacks kernel-level C expertise or needs off-the-shelf payloads; Masochist is a builder's tool, not a delivery platform.
