Merlin vs PoshC2: 2026 Comparison
Merlin is a free offensive security tool. PoshC2 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 multi-stage engagements will find Merlin's HTTP/2 C2 framework invaluable for its lightweight Golang architecture and cross-platform flexibility, which sidesteps the detection signatures that plague Metasploit-based infrastructure. The 5,516 GitHub stars and active community contributions reflect real operational adoption, not theoretical interest. Skip Merlin if your team needs built-in evasion modules or OPSEC hardening out of the box; you're doing custom development here, which means smaller teams should budget engineering time accordingly.
Red teamers and penetration testers running command-and-control operations in restricted networks will prefer PoshC2 for its proxy-aware architecture; it routes traffic through existing infrastructure without requiring direct outbound access, which saves weeks of reconnaissance work that other frameworks demand. The modular payload design means you're not locked into fixed implant capabilities, letting you adapt to target environments instead of forcing targets to fit your tool. Skip this if your team needs operational security hardening or OPSEC logging at the framework level; PoshC2 assumes you're the threat actor controlling the network, not defending against one.
