Core Security Cobalt Strike vs Skyhook: Side-by-Side Comparison (2026)

Core Security Cobalt Strike: Post-exploitation threat emulation platform for red team operations. built by Core Security. Core capabilities include Beacon post-exploitation payload supporting reconnaissance, command execution, and payload deployment, Malleable C2 profiles to customize network indicators and simulate APT behavior, Covert communication over HTTP, HTTPS, DNS, TCP, and SMB named pipes..

Skyhook: Skyhook is an HTTP-based file transfer tool that uses obfuscation techniques to evade detection by Intrusion Detection Systems..

Both serve the Offensive Security market but differ in approach, feature depth, and target audience.

Core Security Cobalt Strike is developed by Core Security. Skyhook is open-source with 275 GitHub stars. Vendor maturity, funding stage, and team size can be important factors when evaluating long-term viability and support quality.

Core Security Cobalt Strike and Skyhook serve similar Offensive Security use cases: both are Offensive Security tools, both cover Red Team, Evasion. Key differences: Core Security Cobalt Strike is Commercial while Skyhook is Free, Skyhook is open-source. Review the feature comparison above to determine which fits your requirements.