Ivy vs CrossC2: 2026 Comparison
Ivy is a free offensive security tool. CrossC2 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 available product data, here is our conclusion:
Red teamers and penetration testers running Windows-focused assessments will find Ivy valuable for its direct approach to VBA-based code execution; it bypasses common detection patterns by executing shellcode in-memory without touching disk. With 744 GitHub stars and active maintenance, it's proven enough for lab work and controlled engagements. Skip this if your team needs post-exploitation frameworks with built-in persistence or lateral movement capabilities; Ivy is payload delivery, not command and control.
Red teams executing multi-platform campaigns will value CrossC2 for doing one thing exceptionally well: extending Cobalt Strike's command-and-control infrastructure to Linux and macOS without rebuilding your entire operational toolkit. The 2,546 GitHub stars and active maintenance signal a tool that actually works in production red team environments, not just in labs. Skip this if your operations are Windows-only or if you need post-exploitation capabilities beyond payload delivery; CrossC2 is strictly a C2 extender, not a replacement framework.
