Armitage vs Xplico: Which Kali Linux Tools tool is Best in 2025?

Armitage is a dynamic open-source GUI for the Metasploit Framework, pre-installed in Kali Linux (version 20221206), tailored for penetration testers and red teams. This Metasploit GUI tool for ethical hacking simplifies complex workflows by visualizing targets, recommending exploits, and automating post-exploitation tasks. With a 10.95 MB footprint and team server for multi-user collaboration, Armitage is a top collaborative penetration testing tool for cybersecurity experts, harnessing Metasploit’s vast exploit library for streamlined security assessments.

Xplico is an open-source network forensic analysis tool (NFAT), pre-installed on Kali Linux at /usr/bin/xplico, designed for extracting and reconstructing application data from network traffic captures, such as PCAP files. Developed by Gianluca Costa and Andrea de Franceschi, Xplico decodes protocols like HTTP, SIP, IMAP, POP, SMTP, and FTP, extracting artifacts like emails, web content, VoIP calls, and files. Unlike traditional packet analyzers like Wireshark, Xplico focuses on application-layer data reconstruction using Port Independent Protocol Identification (PIPI). With its web-based interface and support for SQLite or MySQL databases, it’s a vital tool for digital forensic investigators, incident responders, and ethical hackers.