Core Security Cobalt Strike vs Covenant: side-by-side comparison (2026)

Core Security Cobalt Strike: Post-exploitation threat emulation platform for red team operations. Built by Core Security.

Covenant: Covenant is a collaborative .NET command and control framework designed for red team operations and offensive security engagements.

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

Core Security Cobalt Strike is made by Core Security. Covenant is open-source with 4,641 GitHub stars. The vendor behind a product decides its roadmap, support, and longevity, so check each company's profile before you commit.

Often, yes. Core Security Cobalt Strike and Covenant are both Red-Team & Adversary Emulation products, and both cover C2, Red Team. Key differences: Core Security Cobalt Strike is Commercial while Covenant is Free, Covenant is open-source. Use the table above to see where features, deployment and company size fit differ.