head to head · open source
PentestGPT vs sn0int
PentestGPT has 15,543 GitHub stars, 2,709 forks, 81 open issues and last shipped 2 months ago. sn0int has 2,540 stars, 225 forks, 54 open issues and last shipped 2 days ago. PentestGPT leads on adoption by 512% (15,543 vs 2,540 stars). PentestGPT is written in Python under MIT; sn0int is written in Rust under GPL-3.0. PentestGPT has attracted 17% as many forks as stars, sn0int 9%. sn0int was the more recently maintained of the two, and both are self-hostable with no licence fee.
Two open source projects, one decision. Both are free and self-hostable — the differences are community size, license terms, language stack and release pace.
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Side by side
| PentestGPT | sn0int | |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | ★ 16K | ★ 2.5K |
| License | MIT | GPL-3.0 |
| Written in | Python | Rust |
| Last push | 2026-07-14 | 2026-09-20 |
| Forks | ⑂ 2.7K | ⑂ 225 |
| Self-hosting | Yes | Yes |
| Data ownership | Your server | Your server |
pick PentestGPT if
- You weight community size — 16K stars and counting
- You want the MIT license terms
- Your stack matches Python
- You value the larger contributor base for long-term maintenance
pick sn0int if
- You want the sn0int feature set and don't need the biggest community
- You prefer the GPL-3.0 license terms
- Your stack matches Rust
- You evaluated both and sn0int fits your workflow better
About PentestGPT
PentestGPT is an MIT licensed Python framework that uses large language models to run automated penetration tests and CTF challenges, aimed at penetration testers, security engineers and CTF players who want an agent to drive the tooling rather than working through it by hand.
read the full PentestGPT overview →
About sn0int
sn0int (pronounced /snoɪnt/) is a semi automatic OSINT framework and package manager written in Rust that helps IT security professionals, bug bounty hunters, law enforcement agencies, and security awareness trainers gather intelligence about a given target or about themselves.
read the full sn0int overview →
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Frequently asked questions
Is PentestGPT or sn0int more popular?
PentestGPT has 15,543 GitHub stars and sn0int has 2,540. PentestGPT has the larger community by that measure.
Are PentestGPT and sn0int free?
Both are open source. PentestGPT is licensed under MIT and sn0int under GPL-3.0. Neither carries a licence fee.
What is the difference between PentestGPT and sn0int?
PentestGPT is written in Python and sn0int in Rust. The practical differences are community size, licence terms, language stack and release cadence — all compared in the table above.
Which should I choose, PentestGPT or sn0int?
Choose PentestGPT if you want the larger community (15,543 stars) or its MIT licence terms. Choose sn0int if its feature set, stack or GPL-3.0 licence fits better. Both are self-hostable.