- meterpreter
  - many more advanced commands
  - in-memory process migration
  - disable/enable user input
  - check remote idle time
  - pivot through hosts
  - interact with processes, threads, files, and the registry
- msfconsole
  - multiple concurrent sessions
  - session backgrounding
  - exploit backgrounding
  - multiple concurrent exploits
    - especially useful for passive exploits, like clientside bugs