WindowsExploits vs PowerUp: 2026 Comparison
WindowsExploits is a free penetration testing tool. PowerUp is a free penetration testing tool. Compare features, ratings, integrations, and community reviews side by side to find the best penetration testing fit for your security stack.
CST VerdictBased on our analysis of available product data, here is our conclusion:
Penetration testers running Windows privilege escalation assessments on air-gapped or restricted networks will find WindowsExploits essential; the precompiled binaries eliminate compilation dependencies that break offensive workflows in locked-down environments. With 1,917 GitHub stars and active maintenance, the collection covers CVEs across multiple Windows versions without requiring live internet access or external tool chains. Skip this if your team relies on commercial frameworks like Metasploit for integrated post-exploitation or if you need exploits for non-Windows targets; WindowsExploits is deliberately narrow and doesn't attempt to be a full offense platform.
Penetration testers running Windows infrastructure assessments need PowerUp for its methodical enumeration of privilege escalation paths that exploits actually abuse; its 12,911 GitHub stars reflect adoption by operators who've validated it against real misconfigurations. The tool excels at the Identify function, systematically exposing Windows permission gaps and service exploits that other scanners miss or flag generically. Skip PowerUp if your team lacks Windows privilege escalation expertise or expects a GUI; it's a PowerShell script for operators, not a point-and-click platform.
