Havoc Framework vs Saruman v0.1: Side-by-Side Comparison (2026)
Features, pricing, ratings, and pros & cons — compared head-to-head.
Havoc Framework is a free offensive security tool. Saruman v0.1 is a free offensive security tool. Compare features, ratings, integrations, and community reviews side by side to find the best offensive security fit for your security stack.
CST VerdictBased on our analysis of NIST CSF 2.0 coverage, core features, company size fit, deployment model, here is our conclusion:
Red teams and penetration testers building custom C2 infrastructure will find Havoc's malleable profiles and team collaboration features faster to operationalize than Cobalt Strike, especially at zero cost. The 8,200-plus GitHub stars reflect active community contribution to payload obfuscation and evasion techniques that actually work against modern defenses. Skip this if your priority is managed C2 services or Windows-only operations; Havoc's strength is flexibility for operators who want to own their implant behavior, not outsource it.
Red teamers and penetration testers validating EDR evasion techniques will find Saruman v0.1 useful for its dual injection approach; the stealth variants let you test whether your target's memory inspection actually catches parasitic code, not just whether it blocks obvious syscalls. The 138 GitHub stars and proof-of-concept maturity suggest active use in adversary simulation workflows. Skip this if you need production-grade injection stability or vendor support; Saruman is a research tool for understanding injection mechanics, not a foundation for persistent access frameworks.
