# Fortra Cobalt Strike vs XlsGen: side-by-side comparison (2026)

[Fortra Cobalt Strike](https://cybersectools.com/tools/fortra-cobalt-strike) is a commercial [red-team & adversary emulation](https://cybersectools.com/categories/offensive-security) solution by [Fortra](https://cybersectools.com/companies/fortra). [XlsGen](https://cybersectools.com/tools/xlsgen) 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

| | Fortra Cobalt Strike | XlsGen |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Commercial | Free |
| Category | Red-Team & Adversary Emulation | Red-Team & Adversary Emulation |
| Verified | Verified | No |
| Deployment type | On-Premises | On-Premises |
| Company size fit | Mid-Market, Enterprise | Startup, SMB, Mid-Market, Enterprise |
| GitHub stars | – | 44 |
| Last commit | – | Aug 2021 |
| Company | Fortra | – |
| Headquarters | – | – |

### Use cases and capabilities

| | Fortra Cobalt Strike | XlsGen |
|---|---|---|
| Red Team | Yes | Yes |
| Post Exploitation | Yes | – |
| C2 | Yes | – |
| Lateral Movement | Yes | – |
| Proof of Concept | – | Yes |
| Payload Generation | – | Yes |

### Core features

**Fortra Cobalt Strike**

- Post-exploitation payload (Beacon) with PowerShell execution, keylogging, screenshots, and file downloads
- Malleable Command and Control (C2) language for network indicator customization
- Browser pivoting for hijacking authenticated web sessions
- System Profiler for target fingerprinting and reconnaissance
- Shared team server for collaborative red team operations
- Asynchronous low and slow communication for stealth
- Multiple report types including activity, hosts, IOCs, sessions, and TTPs
- Extensible framework supporting custom scripts and extensions

**XlsGen**

No features listed.

## Which one fits you

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

- [XlsGen](https://cybersectools.com/tools/xlsgen) fits if you are a startup or a small business, you need a free product and you want an open-source product.

## Fortra Cobalt Strike vs XlsGen FAQ

Common questions when comparing Fortra Cobalt Strike vs XlsGen for red-team & adversary emulation.

### What is the difference between Fortra Cobalt Strike and XlsGen?

**Fortra Cobalt Strike**: Threat emulation product for adversary simulations and red team operations. Built by Fortra. Core capabilities include Post-exploitation payload (Beacon) with PowerShell execution, keylogging, screenshots, and file downloads, Malleable Command and Control (C2) language for network indicator customization, Browser pivoting for hijacking authenticated web sessions.

**XlsGen**: A proof-of-concept tool that generates Excel BIFF8 files with embedded 4.0 macros programmatically without requiring Microsoft Excel installation.

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

### Who makes Fortra Cobalt Strike and XlsGen?

**Fortra Cobalt Strike** is made by Fortra. **XlsGen** is open-source with 44 GitHub stars. The vendor behind a product decides its roadmap, support, and longevity, so check each company's profile before you commit.

### Is Fortra Cobalt Strike a good alternative to XlsGen?

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

## Related comparisons

- [Fortra Cobalt Strike vs Core Security Outflank Security Tooling](https://cybersectools.com/compare/core-security-outflank-security-tooling-vs-fortra-cobalt-strike)
- [Fortra Cobalt Strike vs Core Security Cobalt Strike](https://cybersectools.com/compare/core-security-cobalt-strike-vs-fortra-cobalt-strike)
- [Fortra Cobalt Strike vs Core Security Bundles and Suites](https://cybersectools.com/compare/core-security-bundles-and-suites-vs-fortra-cobalt-strike)
- [XlsGen vs Core Security Outflank Security Tooling](https://cybersectools.com/compare/core-security-outflank-security-tooling-vs-xlsgen)
- [XlsGen vs Core Security Cobalt Strike](https://cybersectools.com/compare/core-security-cobalt-strike-vs-xlsgen)
- [XlsGen vs Core Security Bundles and Suites](https://cybersectools.com/compare/core-security-bundles-and-suites-vs-xlsgen)

## Alternatives to each

- [See all Fortra Cobalt Strike alternatives](https://cybersectools.com/alternatives/fortra-cobalt-strike)
- [See all XlsGen alternatives](https://cybersectools.com/alternatives/xlsgen)

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Source: https://cybersectools.com/compare/fortra-cobalt-strike-vs-xlsgen

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

More on Fortra Cobalt Strike and XlsGen: 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