SET

A toolkit for social engineering with various attack vectors.

EstablishedOpen SourceLow lock-in

Pricing

Free tier

Flat rate

Adoption

Stable

License

Open Source

Data freshness

Aging · Jun 8, 2026

Overview

What is SET?

The Social-Engineer Toolkit (SET) is a Python-driven tool that automates many of the steps in social-engineering attacks. It provides an easy-to-use interface to generate phishing emails, create malicious websites, and more.

Key differentiator

SET is unique in its ability to automate social engineering attacks, making it an invaluable resource for ethical hackers and penetration testers looking to simulate real-world scenarios.

Capability profile

Capability Radar

Ease of StartEcosystemValueMaturityFlexibilityScale Ready

Honest assessment

Strengths & Weaknesses

↑ Strengths

Automates social engineering attacksmedium

Generates phishing emails and malicious websitesmedium

Provides a user-friendly interface for attack vectorsmedium

↓ Weaknesses

Steep learning curve for non-Python developershigh

The tool heavily relies on Python-specific patterns and idioms, which can be challenging for developers unfamiliar with the language.

Limited documentation and supportmedium

SET's documentation is sparse and lacks comprehensive examples or troubleshooting guides, making it difficult to resolve issues without community assistance.

Potential legal and ethical concernshigh

As a tool designed for social engineering attacks, SET must be used carefully within the bounds of law and ethics; misuse can lead to severe consequences.

Dependency on third-party services may limit functionalitymedium

SET's phishing capabilities often depend on external email providers or hosting services, which may have restrictions that limit the tool's effectiveness.

Fit analysis

Who is it for?

✓ Best for

Organizations conducting penetration tests to simulate real-world social engineering attacks

Educational institutions teaching cybersecurity and ethical hacking courses

✕ Not a fit for

Individuals without a background in cybersecurity who may misuse the tool for malicious purposes

Small businesses with limited resources for comprehensive security audits

Cost structure

Pricing

Free Tier

Available

Open source — free to use

Starts at

$0

Model

Flat rate

Enterprise

None

Performance benchmarks

How Fast Is It?

Ecosystem

Relationships

Next step

Get Started with SET

Step-by-step setup guide with code examples and common gotchas.

View Setup Guide →