# RTFSig vs Stairwell Variant Discovery: side-by-side comparison (2026)

[RTFSig](https://cybersectools.com/tools/rtfsig) is a free [malware analysis](https://cybersectools.com/categories/malware-analysis) solution. [Stairwell Variant Discovery](https://cybersectools.com/tools/stairwell-variant-discovery) is a commercial [malware analysis](https://cybersectools.com/categories/malware-analysis) solution by [Stairwell](https://cybersectools.com/companies/stairwell). Features, integrations, deployment and the company behind each one, side by side.

## Side-by-side comparison

| | RTFSig | Stairwell Variant Discovery |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Free | Commercial |
| Category | Malware Analysis | Malware Analysis |
| Verified | No | No |
| Deployment type | On-Premises | Cloud |
| Company size fit | Startup, SMB, Mid-Market, Enterprise | Mid-Market, Enterprise |
| GitHub stars | 28 | – |
| Last commit | Jan 2026 | – |
| Company | – | Stairwell |
| Headquarters | – | – |

### Use cases and capabilities

| | RTFSig | Stairwell Variant Discovery |
|---|---|---|
| File Analysis | Yes | – |
| YARA | Yes | Yes |
| Signature | Yes | – |
| IOC | – | Yes |
| Cyber Threat Intelligence | – | Yes |

### Core features

**RTFSig**

No features listed.

**Stairwell Variant Discovery**

7 features listed. Sign in on the page to see them.

### Integrations

**RTFSig**

No integrations listed.

**Stairwell Variant Discovery**

9 integrations listed. Sign in on the page to see them.

## Which one fits you

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

- [RTFSig](https://cybersectools.com/tools/rtfsig) fits if you need to run it on your own servers, you are a startup or a small business, you need a free product and you want an open-source product.
- [Stairwell Variant Discovery](https://cybersectools.com/tools/stairwell-variant-discovery) fits if you want a cloud product.

## RTFSig vs Stairwell Variant Discovery FAQ

Common questions when comparing RTFSig vs Stairwell Variant Discovery for malware analysis.

### What is the difference between RTFSig and Stairwell Variant Discovery?

**RTFSig**: A tool for signature analysis of RTF files to detect potentially unique parts and malicious documents.

**Stairwell Variant Discovery**: Expands a single malware hash into full family visibility via structural analysis, built by Stairwell.

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

### Who makes RTFSig and Stairwell Variant Discovery?

**RTFSig** is open-source with 28 GitHub stars. **Stairwell Variant Discovery** is made by Stairwell. The vendor behind a product decides its roadmap, support, and longevity, so check each company's profile before you commit.

### Is RTFSig a good alternative to Stairwell Variant Discovery?

Often, yes. RTFSig and Stairwell Variant Discovery are both Malware Analysis products, and both cover YARA. Key differences: RTFSig is Free while Stairwell Variant Discovery is Commercial, RTFSig is open-source. Use the table above to see where features, deployment and company size fit differ.

## Related comparisons

- [RTFSig vs Stairwell Analyze](https://cybersectools.com/compare/rtfsig-vs-stairwell-analyze)
- [RTFSig vs Stairwell Intelligent Analysis](https://cybersectools.com/compare/rtfsig-vs-stairwell-intelligent-analysis)
- [RTFSig vs ANY.RUN](https://cybersectools.com/compare/anyrun-vs-rtfsig)
- [Stairwell Variant Discovery vs Stairwell Analyze](https://cybersectools.com/compare/stairwell-analyze-vs-stairwell-variant-discovery)
- [Stairwell Variant Discovery vs Stairwell Intelligent Analysis](https://cybersectools.com/compare/stairwell-intelligent-analysis-vs-stairwell-variant-discovery)
- [Stairwell Variant Discovery vs ANY.RUN](https://cybersectools.com/compare/anyrun-vs-stairwell-variant-discovery)

## Alternatives to each

- [See all RTFSig alternatives](https://cybersectools.com/alternatives/rtfsig)
- [See all Stairwell Variant Discovery alternatives](https://cybersectools.com/alternatives/stairwell-variant-discovery)

---

Source: https://cybersectools.com/compare/rtfsig-vs-stairwell-variant-discovery

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

More on RTFSig and Stairwell Variant Discovery: 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