Volatility 3

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Score7.0

Rank#3 of 29

PriceFree

Free planYes

Runs onLinux, macOS, Self-hosted, Windows

Summary

Volatility 3 is a free, open-source framework for extracting digital artifacts from volatile memory (RAM) samples. It gives investigators visibility into a system’s runtime state and is intended for memory forensics, not disk imaging or mobile forensics. The project supports memory images from Windows, macOS, and Linux. Volatility 3 requires Python 3.8.0 or later and is published on PyPI. Windows symbols can be queried, downloaded, generated, and cached when missing; Mac and Linux symbol tables must be produced manually. A 2024 release added support for Amazon S3 and Google Cloud Storage. Documentation is generated from doc strings with Sphinx and is available online. The Volatility Software License permits free use, sharing, and building, but requires publicly sharing source code for additions made available to others. The license also provides the software as is, without warranty or condition to the extent allowed by law. The project directs bug reports to GitHub Issues and community questions to Slack.

Who it is for

Volatility 3 is suited to investigators and practitioners examining RAM artifacts, including users in law enforcement, military, academia, and commercial investigations. It requires familiarity with Python and symbol table preparation for Mac and Linux.

What is good

Free and open source
Supports Windows, macOS, and Linux memory images
2024 release added Amazon S3 and Google Cloud Storage
Online documentation is generated with Sphinx

What to know first

Requires Python 3.8.0 or later
Mac and Linux symbol tables must be produced manually
Not intended for mobile forensics or disk imaging
License requires public source sharing for distributed additions

Verdict

Volatility 3 focuses on memory forensics across desktop operating systems and cloud storage sources. Check the Python requirement, symbol-table workflow, and license conditions before adopting it.

Volatility 3 plans and pricing

All plans

Volatility 3 Free Free open source software · License requires publicly sharing source code for additions made available to others volatilityfoundation.org · 30 Sept 2026

Compared on digital forensics software

Free plan: Yesvolatilityfoundation.org
Evidence sources: volatile memory (RAM) samples and memory images from Windows, Linux, and macOSvolatilityfoundation.org
Mobile forensics: Novolatilityfoundation.org
Disk imaging: Novolatilityfoundation.org
Memory forensics: Yesvolatilityfoundation.org
Supported platforms: Windows, macOS, Linuxvolatilityfoundation.org
Export formats: CSV, JSON, JSONL, pretty, quickvolatilityfoundation.org

Facts

Purpose: Volatility 3 extracts digital artifacts from volatile memory (RAM) samples to provide visibility into a system’s runtime state.github.com · 30 Sept 2026
Open source: The Volatility Foundation describes the framework as free and open source, available for download on GitHub.volatilityfoundation.org · 30 Sept 2026
Python requirement: Volatility 3 requires Python 3.8.0 or later and is published on PyPI.github.com · 30 Sept 2026
Supported systems: The project provides symbol table packs for Windows, macOS, and Linux; Windows symbols can be queried, downloaded, generated, and cached when missing, while Mac and Linux symbol tables must be produced manually.github.com · 30 Sept 2026
Cloud storage: The Foundation says a 2024 release added support for Amazon S3 and Google Cloud Storage.volatilityfoundation.org · 30 Sept 2026
Documentation: The framework is documented through doc strings, can be built with Sphinx, and has generated documentation online.github.com · 30 Sept 2026
Support: The project directs bug reports to GitHub Issues and community support questions to its Slack.github.com · 30 Sept 2026
License conditions: The Volatility Software License allows free use, sharing, and building, and requires publicly sharing source code for additions made available to others.volatilityfoundation.org · 30 Sept 2026
License warranty: The license says the software is provided as is without warranty or condition, to the extent allowed by law.volatilityfoundation.org · 30 Sept 2026
Intended users: The Foundation says Volatility is used by law enforcement, military, academia, and commercial investigators.volatilityfoundation.org · 30 Sept 2026
Training: The Foundation offers an endorsed malware and memory forensics training course designed and taught by the framework’s creators.volatilityfoundation.org · 30 Sept 2026
Release status: The Foundation’s history page lists Volatility 3 version 2.28.2 as released in September 2026.volatilityfoundation.org · 30 Sept 2026