Side by side
Chef InSpec vs Kubescape
Both stand on security configuration management software. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Chef InSpec provides code-based checks, reusable profiles and multiple reporting options for infrastructure and applications. Its free tier has non-production and non-commercial limits, while production use falls under commercial licensing.
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Choose Kubescape if you want a free, self-hosted Kubernetes security platform with configuration, image, compliance, and runtime coverage. Consider the ARMO Platform if you need its documented scan-upload and custom-artifact provider, with pricing dependent on resource usage.
Visit KubescapeThe facts
| Chef InSpec | Kubescape | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Yes | Yes |
| Runs on | API, Linux, Mac, Self-hosted, Windows | API, Linux, Mac, Self-hosted, Windows |
| Lowest paid plan | Business: $59 per node a year | ARMO Platform Startup: $30 a month |
| Plans published | 6 | 5 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | docs.chef.io | kubescape.io |
| On security configuration management software | #1 of 29 | #2 of 29 |
Chef InSpec: what it does well
- Tests AWS, Azure, AliCloud and GCP resources.
- Profiles group reusable, versionable controls.
- Exports results as JSON, HTML or plain text.
- Works with Test Kitchen through kitchen-inspec.
What to know first
- Free tier excludes production workloads.
- Free use is limited to personal, non-commercial work.
- InSpec 7 requires EULA acceptance.
- License-key requirements vary by distribution source.
Kubescape: what it does well
- Free, self-hosted CLI and operator under Apache License 2.0.
- Scans manifests, Helm charts, and live clusters for misconfigurations.
- Operator scans deployed images and monitors runtime activity.
- Supports CIS, NSA-CISA, MITRE ATT&CK, and SOC 2 frameworks.
- CLI supports offline and air-gapped operation.
What to know first
- Self-hosted deployment requires teams to run the CLI and operator.
- ARMO Platform pricing depends on vCPUs and other cloud resources.
- In-cluster scan results are ephemeral and regularly updated.
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