| Guide | GDE-055 |
| Topic | OSINT Framework |
| Domain | OSINT tooling and workflow |
| Last updated | September 2026 |
Short answer: Start from the data type you already have, open that branch of OSINT Framework, scan the whole category and shortlist two or three tools. A listing is not a vetting, so confirm each tool on its own site before you trust it.
What is OSINT Framework?
OSINT Framework is the practice of using osintframework.com, a free categorised directory of open-source intelligence tools organised as a clickable mind map by data type, to identify which tool fits a specific investigative question rather than searching for tools one at a time.
OSINT Framework is a static, community-maintained website that organises hundreds of OSINT tools and resources into a branching tree by category, such as username, email address, domain name, phone number or social network, rather than by vendor. Clicking a category reveals the specific tools that address it, each linking out to the tool's own site. It carries no login, no tracking of what you click, and no tools of its own; it is purely a navigation layer over the wider OSINT ecosystem.
Investigators use it as a starting map when a case opens with a data type rather than a known tool: given a phone number, a username or a domain, the framework surfaces the relevant category and a curated shortlist rather than requiring a general search.
| • | Starting an investigation from a data type, such as a phone number or username, rather than a known tool |
| • | Discovering a specific-purpose tool you did not know existed for a narrow data category |
| • | Building a mental map of the OSINT tool landscape when new to the field |
| • | Cross-checking whether a tool you're already using has a more specialised alternative listed nearby |
How do you use OSINT Framework effectively?
Six steps from picking the right branch to verifying a listed tool still does what the framework says.
The following resources are used across the steps below.
OSINT Framework: Free, no login. The directory itself, organised as a clickable category tree.
OSINT Framework GitHub repository: Free, open-source. The underlying source that powers the site, useful for suggesting additions or spotting recent changes.
Signal & Shadow's own toolkit guide: Free. A curated, annotated alternative for a narrower, vetted starting set.