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Steampipe

Free plan APILinuxMacSelf-hostedWindows

What Steampipe is

Steampipe is an open-source tool for querying data from APIs and services with SQL. Its CLI presents connected resources as relational data and includes its own PostgreSQL database, so queries can reach live data without a separate database setup. Plugins provide the interface to each cloud service, file, or other resource being queried. Steampipe can join live cloud configuration data with internal or external datasets; listed use cases include compliance, security, operations, and cost. The plugin Hub covers public cloud, SaaS, security, and software development. Other formats include PostgreSQL Foreign Data Wrappers, SQLite extensions that translate queries into API calls, and standalone export tools that extract information without a database. Turbot Pipes is a hosted option with database instances, shared dashboards, and snapshots. Downloads are available for Linux, macOS, and Windows, and the listed platforms also include API and self-hosted use. Steampipe is free, and the site links to a Slack community of more than 3,200 practitioners.

Who it suits

Steampipe suits teams that need SQL access to live information from cloud services, APIs, files, or other resources. Its listed use cases include compliance, security, operations, and cost.

What it does well

Free and open source.
Queries live data with SQL.
Joins cloud configuration data with other datasets.
Available as CLI, PostgreSQL FDWs, SQLite extensions, and export CLIs.
Downloads for Linux, macOS, and Windows.

What to know first

A plugin is required for each resource queried.
Hosted Turbot Pipes is a separate option.

Limits

The free plan has no listed quota or seat limit. Each queried resource requires a plugin, and the PostgreSQL FDW option is limited to supported PostgreSQL versions.

Getting started

Visit https://steampipe.io/ and choose the CLI, PostgreSQL FDW, SQLite extension, Export CLI, or hosted Turbot Pipes route.
For the CLI, install Steampipe on macOS, Linux, or Windows.
Install a plugin that implements the interface for each service or resource you want to query.
For AWS, use the default credentials from your credential file or environment variables.
Query live data with SQL, or use the applicable PostgreSQL, SQLite, export, or hosted option.

Verdict

Steampipe offers several ways to query or export live service data, with SQL at the center of its CLI. Resource access depends on having the relevant plugin, while Turbot Pipes provides a hosted alternative.

Questions

How much does Steampipe cost?

Steampipe is free, and a free plan is listed.

Is Steampipe open source?

Yes. The Steampipe site describes it as open source.

Which platforms are supported?

The listed platforms are API, Linux, macOS, self-hosted, and Windows. Installers are available for macOS, Linux, and Windows.

Does Steampipe need a database?

The CLI includes its own PostgreSQL database and does not require a separate database. Export CLIs can extract information without a database.

What else can I use besides the CLI?

Steampipe is also available as PostgreSQL Foreign Data Wrappers, SQLite extensions, standalone Export CLIs, and hosted Turbot Pipes database instances.

Who makes Steampipe?

Turbot says it was founded in 2014 and is 100% bootstrapped.

Facts from Steampipe's own pages

Company: Turbot says it was founded in 2014 and is bootstrapped. · turbot.com, 3 Oct 2026
Credentials: The AWS tutorial says Steampipe uses default AWS credentials from the user's credential file or environment variables out of the box. · steampipe.io, 3 Oct 2026
Data joins: Steampipe can join live cloud configuration data with internal or external datasets. · steampipe.io, 2 Oct 2026
Export: Steampipe Export CLIs are standalone binaries for extracting information from cloud services and APIs without a database. · steampipe.io, 2 Oct 2026
Founded: 2021 · steampipe.io, 28 Sept 2026
Hosted option: Turbot Pipes provides hosted Steampipe database instances, shared dashboards, and snapshots. · steampipe.io, 2 Oct 2026
Live data: Steampipe queries live cloud configuration data and can join it with internal or external data sets. · steampipe.io, 3 Oct 2026
Maker: Turbot says it was founded in 2014 and is 100% bootstrapped. · turbot.com, 2 Oct 2026
Open source: Steampipe is described as an open-source zero-ETL engine, and its GitHub repository identifies its license as Apache 2.0. · github.com, 3 Oct 2026
Other distributions: Steampipe is also available as PostgreSQL FDWs, SQLite extensions, and standalone export CLIs. · steampipe.io, 3 Oct 2026
Plugin library: The Steampipe Hub lists 157 plugins across categories including public cloud, SaaS, security, and software development. · hub.steampipe.io, 3 Oct 2026
Plugins: Plugins implement interfaces to cloud services, files, and other resources, and the Hub lists 158 plugins. · hub.steampipe.io, 2 Oct 2026
PostgreSQL: Steampipe is available as PostgreSQL Foreign Data Wrappers that can be installed in supported PostgreSQL versions. · steampipe.io, 2 Oct 2026
Query engine: The Steampipe CLI exposes APIs and services as a relational database and includes its own PostgreSQL database. · steampipe.io, 3 Oct 2026
Security maintenance: The changelog lists dependency upgrades to remediate security vulnerabilities in Steampipe CLI releases. · steampipe.io, 3 Oct 2026
Security reports: Turbot says SOC 2 reports are available on request under NDA and that its annual SOC examinations take place each April. · turbot.com, 2 Oct 2026
Setup requirement: Steampipe requires a plugin to implement the interface for each cloud service, file, or other resource being queried. · steampipe.io, 3 Oct 2026
SQLite: Steampipe SQLite Extensions provide virtual tables that translate queries into API calls. · steampipe.io, 2 Oct 2026
SQL queries: The Steampipe CLI exposes APIs and services as a relational database for SQL queries over dynamic data. · steampipe.io, 2 Oct 2026
Support: The maker directs users to documentation, the Steampipe Hub, and its Slack community. · steampipe.io, 3 Oct 2026
Supported platforms: The downloads page provides installers for macOS, Linux, and Windows. · steampipe.io, 3 Oct 2026
Use cases: The maker highlights compliance, security, operations, and cost questions as Steampipe use cases. · steampipe.io, 3 Oct 2026
What it does: Steampipe provides zero-ETL tools for querying APIs and services directly with SQL. · steampipe.io, 3 Oct 2026

Where Steampipe stands on Freedom251

Security Configuration Management Software#9 of 29