# chkrootkit vs Stairwell Variant Discovery: side-by-side comparison (2026)

[chkrootkit](https://cybersectools.com/tools/chkrootkit) is a free [malware analysis](https://cybersectools.com/categories/malware-analysis) solution. [Stairwell Variant Discovery](https://cybersectools.com/tools/stairwell-variant-discovery) is a commercial [malware analysis](https://cybersectools.com/categories/malware-analysis) solution by [Stairwell](https://cybersectools.com/companies/stairwell). Features, integrations, deployment and the company behind each one, side by side.

## Side-by-side comparison

| | chkrootkit | Stairwell Variant Discovery |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Free | Commercial |
| Category | Malware Analysis | Malware Analysis |
| Verified | No | No |
| Deployment type | On-Premises | Cloud |
| Company size fit | Startup, SMB, Mid-Market, Enterprise | Mid-Market, Enterprise |
| Company | – | Stairwell |
| Headquarters | – | – |

### Use cases and capabilities

| | chkrootkit | Stairwell Variant Discovery |
|---|---|---|
| System Security | Yes | – |
| Linux | Yes | – |
| File Analysis | Yes | – |
| Rootkit | Yes | – |
| Binary Analysis | Yes | – |
| YARA | – | Yes |
| IOC | – | Yes |
| Cyber Threat Intelligence | – | Yes |

### Core features

**chkrootkit**

9 features listed. Sign in on the page to see them.

**Stairwell Variant Discovery**

7 features listed. Sign in on the page to see them.

### Integrations

**chkrootkit**

No integrations listed.

**Stairwell Variant Discovery**

9 integrations listed. Sign in on the page to see them.

## Which one fits you

Based on what each listing shows: deployment, company size, price and open source.

- [chkrootkit](https://cybersectools.com/tools/chkrootkit) fits if you need to run it on your own servers, you are a startup or a small business and you need a free product.
- [Stairwell Variant Discovery](https://cybersectools.com/tools/stairwell-variant-discovery) fits if you want a cloud product.

## chkrootkit vs Stairwell Variant Discovery FAQ

Common questions when comparing chkrootkit vs Stairwell Variant Discovery for malware analysis.

### What is the difference between chkrootkit and Stairwell Variant Discovery?

**chkrootkit**: A tool to locally check for signs of a rootkit with various checks and tests.

**Stairwell Variant Discovery**: Expands a single malware hash into full family visibility via structural analysis. Built by Stairwell.

The table above shows where their features, integrations, deployment and company size fit differ.

### Is chkrootkit a good alternative to Stairwell Variant Discovery?

Often, yes. chkrootkit and Stairwell Variant Discovery are both Malware Analysis products. Key differences: chkrootkit is Free while Stairwell Variant Discovery is Commercial. Use the table above to see where features, deployment and company size fit differ.

## Related comparisons

- [chkrootkit vs Stairwell Analyze](https://cybersectools.com/compare/chkrootkit-vs-stairwell-analyze)
- [chkrootkit vs ReversingLabs Spectra Analyze](https://cybersectools.com/compare/chkrootkit-vs-reversinglabs-spectra-analyze)
- [chkrootkit vs Stairwell Intelligent Analysis](https://cybersectools.com/compare/chkrootkit-vs-stairwell-intelligent-analysis)
- [Stairwell Variant Discovery vs Stairwell Analyze](https://cybersectools.com/compare/stairwell-analyze-vs-stairwell-variant-discovery)
- [Stairwell Variant Discovery vs ReversingLabs Spectra Analyze](https://cybersectools.com/compare/reversinglabs-spectra-analyze-vs-stairwell-variant-discovery)
- [Stairwell Variant Discovery vs Stairwell Intelligent Analysis](https://cybersectools.com/compare/stairwell-intelligent-analysis-vs-stairwell-variant-discovery)

## Alternatives to each

- [See all chkrootkit alternatives](https://cybersectools.com/alternatives/chkrootkit)
- [See all Stairwell Variant Discovery alternatives](https://cybersectools.com/alternatives/stairwell-variant-discovery)

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Source: https://cybersectools.com/compare/chkrootkit-vs-stairwell-variant-discovery

For AI agents: each product above has its own Markdown page (add .md to its URL, for example https://cybersectools.com/tools/chkrootkit.md). Every CybersecTools shortlist is listed at https://cybersectools.com/shortlists.md.

More on chkrootkit and Stairwell Variant Discovery: funding, momentum, hiring and news, plus the full product and company record, are available through the Mandos MCP Server (paid plans), which connects to AI assistants: https://mandos.io/mcp?utm_source=cybersectools.com&utm_medium=compare-md