# Core Security Cobalt Strike vs Saruman v0.1: side-by-side comparison (2026) [Core Security Cobalt Strike](https://cybersectools.com/tools/core-security-cobalt-strike) is a commercial [red-team & adversary emulation](https://cybersectools.com/categories/offensive-security) solution by [Core Security](https://cybersectools.com/companies/core-security). [Saruman v0.1](https://cybersectools.com/tools/saruman-v01) is a free [red-team & adversary emulation](https://cybersectools.com/categories/offensive-security) solution. Features, integrations, deployment and the company behind each one, side by side. ## Side-by-side comparison | | Core Security Cobalt Strike | Saruman v0.1 | |---|---|---| | Pricing model | Commercial | Free | | Category | Red-Team & Adversary Emulation | Red-Team & Adversary Emulation | | Verified | No | No | | Deployment type | On-Premises | On-Premises | | Company size fit | Mid-Market, Enterprise | Enterprise | | GitHub stars | – | 138 | | Last commit | – | Mar 2018 | | Company | Core Security | – | | Headquarters | – | – | ### Use cases and capabilities | | Core Security Cobalt Strike | Saruman v0.1 | |---|---|---| | Red Team | Yes | – | | Post Exploitation | Yes | – | | C2 | Yes | – | | Evasion | Yes | Yes | | Proof of Concept | – | Yes | | DLL Injection | – | Yes | | Code Injection | – | Yes | | Process Injection | – | Yes | | Payload Generation | – | Yes | ### Core features **Core Security Cobalt Strike** 6 features listed. Sign in on the page to see them. **Saruman v0.1** No features listed. ### Integrations **Core Security Cobalt Strike** 2 integrations listed. Sign in on the page to see them. **Saruman v0.1** No integrations listed. ## Which one fits you Based on what each listing shows: deployment, company size, price and open source. - [Core Security Cobalt Strike](https://cybersectools.com/tools/core-security-cobalt-strike) fits if you are a mid-market company. - [Saruman v0.1](https://cybersectools.com/tools/saruman-v01) fits if you need a free product and you want an open-source product. ## Core Security Cobalt Strike vs Saruman v0.1 FAQ Common questions when comparing Core Security Cobalt Strike vs Saruman v0.1 for red-team & adversary emulation. ### What is the difference between Core Security Cobalt Strike and Saruman v0.1? **Core Security Cobalt Strike**: Post-exploitation threat emulation platform for red team operations. Built by Core Security. **Saruman v0.1**: A proof-of-concept executable injection tool that compiles and launches parasitic executables within target processes using standard or stealth injection techniques. The table above shows where their features, integrations, deployment and company size fit differ. ### Who makes Core Security Cobalt Strike and Saruman v0.1? **Core Security Cobalt Strike** is made by Core Security. **Saruman v0.1** is open-source with 138 GitHub stars. The vendor behind a product decides its roadmap, support, and longevity, so check each company's profile before you commit. ### Is Core Security Cobalt Strike a good alternative to Saruman v0.1? Often, yes. Core Security Cobalt Strike and Saruman v0.1 are both Red-Team & Adversary Emulation products, and both cover Evasion. Key differences: Core Security Cobalt Strike is Commercial while Saruman v0.1 is Free, Saruman v0.1 is open-source. Use the table above to see where features, deployment and company size fit differ. ## Related comparisons - [Core Security Cobalt Strike vs Core Security Outflank Security Tooling](https://cybersectools.com/compare/core-security-cobalt-strike-vs-core-security-outflank-security-tooling) - [Core Security Cobalt Strike vs Fortra Cobalt Strike](https://cybersectools.com/compare/core-security-cobalt-strike-vs-fortra-cobalt-strike) - [Core Security Cobalt Strike vs Core Security Bundles and Suites](https://cybersectools.com/compare/core-security-bundles-and-suites-vs-core-security-cobalt-strike) - [Saruman v0.1 vs Core Security Outflank Security Tooling](https://cybersectools.com/compare/core-security-outflank-security-tooling-vs-saruman-v01) - [Saruman v0.1 vs Fortra Cobalt Strike](https://cybersectools.com/compare/fortra-cobalt-strike-vs-saruman-v01) - [Saruman v0.1 vs Core Security Bundles and Suites](https://cybersectools.com/compare/core-security-bundles-and-suites-vs-saruman-v01) ## Alternatives to each - [See all Core Security Cobalt Strike alternatives](https://cybersectools.com/alternatives/core-security-cobalt-strike) - [See all Saruman v0.1 alternatives](https://cybersectools.com/alternatives/saruman-v01) --- Source: https://cybersectools.com/compare/core-security-cobalt-strike-vs-saruman-v01 For AI agents: each product above has its own Markdown page (add .md to its URL, for example https://cybersectools.com/tools/core-security-cobalt-strike.md). Every CybersecTools shortlist is listed at https://cybersectools.com/shortlists.md. More on Core Security Cobalt Strike and Saruman v0.1: 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