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Volatility 3

Volatility 3 is a free, open-source framework for extracting digital artifacts from volatile memory (RAM) samples.

Place
#9 of 23
Score
6.1
Volatility 3's website

What Volatility 3 is

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.

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

Watch out

  • 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

Who it suits

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.

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.

Plans and prices

From Volatility 3's own pricing page, checked 30 Sep 2026.

All about pricing
PlanPriceWhat it gives you
Volatility 3FreeFree open source software · License requires publicly sharing source code for additions made available to others

The facts

Each one read from Volatility 3's own pages, with the date it was checked.

What it does

Cloud storage
The Foundation says a 2024 release added support for Amazon S3 and Google Cloud Storage.checked 30 Sep 2026
Documentation
The framework is documented through doc strings, can be built with Sphinx, and has generated documentation online.checked 30 Sep 2026
Intended users
The Foundation says Volatility is used by law enforcement, military, academia, and commercial investigators.checked 30 Sep 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.checked 30 Sep 2026
License warranty
The license says the software is provided as is without warranty or condition, to the extent allowed by law.checked 30 Sep 2026
Open source
The Volatility Foundation describes the framework as free and open source, available for download on GitHub.checked 30 Sep 2026
Purpose
Volatility 3 extracts digital artifacts from volatile memory (RAM) samples to provide visibility into a system’s runtime state.checked 30 Sep 2026
Python requirement
Volatility 3 requires Python 3.8.0 or later and is published on PyPI.checked 30 Sep 2026
Release status
The Foundation’s history page lists Volatility 3 version 2.28.2 as released in September 2026.checked 30 Sep 2026
Support
The project directs bug reports to GitHub Issues and community support questions to its Slack.checked 30 Sep 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.checked 30 Sep 2026
Training
The Foundation offers an endorsed malware and memory forensics training course designed and taught by the framework’s creators.checked 30 Sep 2026

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