head to head · open source
strix vs h5i
strix has 73,376 GitHub stars, 8,266 forks, 383 open issues and last shipped 4 days ago. h5i has 887 stars, 77 forks, 9 open issues and last shipped yesterday. strix leads on adoption by 8,172% (73,376 vs 887 stars). strix is written in Python under Apache-2.0; h5i is written in Rust under Apache-2.0. strix has attracted 11% as many forks as stars, h5i 9%. h5i was the more recently maintained of the two, and both are self-hostable with no licence fee. The two share 4 topic tags (ai-security, bug-bounty, cybersecurity, ethical-hacking), so they are genuine substitutes rather than adjacent tools.
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
| strix | h5i | |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | ★ 73K | ★ 887 |
| License | Apache-2.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Written in | Python | Rust |
| Last push | 2026-10-30 | 2026-11-02 |
| Forks | ⑂ 8.3K | ⑂ 77 |
| Self-hosting | Yes | Yes |
| Data ownership | Your server | Your server |
pick strix if
- You weight community size — 73K stars and counting
- You want the Apache-2.0 license terms
- Your stack matches Python
- You value the larger contributor base for long-term maintenance
pick h5i if
- You want the h5i feature set and don't need the biggest community
- You prefer the Apache-2.0 license terms
- Your stack matches Rust
- You evaluated both and h5i fits your workflow better
About strix
Strix The open source AI pentesting tool. Autonomous AI hackers that find and fix your app’s vulnerabilities. [!TIP] New! Strix integrates seamlessly with GitHub Actions and CI/CD pipelines. Automatically scan for vulnerabilities on every pull request and block insecure code before it reaches production Get started with no setup required. Strix Overview Strix are autonomous AI penetration testing agents that act just like real hackers they run your code dynamically, find vulnerabilities, and validate them through actual proofs of concept. Built for developers and security teams who need fast, accurate security…
read the full strix overview →
About h5i
The Red Teaming Browser for AI Agents h5i (pronounced high five ) is a lightweight browser built for AI agents to test web applications. It combines page automation with direct control over HTTP traffic, letting agents capture, inspect, modify, replay, and compare requests through one interface. Sandboxing, network policies, credential isolation, and auditable sessions keep autonomous testing contained and within scope. Agent native red teaming Browser + direct HTTP control Attack replay in CI Replay attack flows in CI Sandboxed & auditable Isolated execution with logs Fast & lightweight 3× faster, 86% less…
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Frequently asked questions
Is strix or h5i more popular?
strix has 73,376 GitHub stars and h5i has 887. strix has the larger community by that measure.
Are strix and h5i free?
Both are open source. strix is licensed under Apache-2.0 and h5i under Apache-2.0. Neither carries a licence fee.
What is the difference between strix and h5i?
strix is written in Python and h5i 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, strix or h5i?
Choose strix if you want the larger community (73,376 stars) or its Apache-2.0 licence terms. Choose h5i if its feature set, stack or Apache-2.0 licence fits better. Both are self-hostable.