chkrootkit vs Exein Runtime: Side-by-Side Comparison (2026)
Features, pricing, ratings, and pros & cons — compared head-to-head.
chkrootkit is a free endpoint detection and response tool. Exein Runtime is a commercial endpoint detection and response tool by Exein. Compare features, ratings, integrations, and community reviews side by side to find the best endpoint detection and response fit for your security stack.
CST VerdictBased on our analysis of NIST CSF 2.0 coverage, core features, integrations, company size fit, here is our conclusion:
Linux administrators managing legacy or air-gapped systems need chkrootkit because it runs entirely offline and requires no agent installation, making it the only viable rootkit detection option when your infrastructure can't phone home. The tool performs over 100 signature-based checks for known rootkit artifacts and kernel-level compromises, catching what file integrity monitoring alone will miss. Skip this if you're running modern EDR across your fleet; chkrootkit prioritizes detection over response and won't integrate with your SOC workflows, making it a one-off forensic tool rather than a continuous monitoring layer.
SMB and mid-market teams protecting IoT fleets will get immediate value from Exein Runtime's firmware-embedded detection, which catches threats at the kernel level before they reach your network. The eBPF-based monitoring and AI-powered anomaly detection address the NIST DE.CM and DE.AE functions that most IoT stacks leave blind, giving you actual visibility into device behavior instead of guessing. This is not for buyers who need cross-platform endpoint coverage across servers, desktops, and mobile; Exein is IoT-specific, and that's where its teeth are.
