Suggestions appear as you type. Use the up and down arrows to choose one and Enter to open it.

This page's audience our own tag's counts — open to see them
–Visits
–Page views
–Clicks to vendors
–Time on page
–Reading now
Clicks to vendors, by tool
  • –
Top countries
  • –
Devices
  • –

– · visits, page views and clicks counted by our own tag, which counts more than our checked analytics; every figure rounded down · how we count

Head-to-head · Cloud-Native Application Protection Platforms

Aqua Security vs Upwind CNAPP

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 5 checks side by side
Higher score Aqua Security #9 in Cloud-Native Application Protection Platforms 8.2/10 Pricing on request ✓ 2 of 4 features Visit Aqua Security
Upwind CNAPP #17 in Cloud-Native Application Protection Platforms 7.5/10 Pricing on request ✓ 4 of 4 features Visit Upwind

Aqua Security leads on 0 checks, Upwind CNAPP on 0, and 5 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 5 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreAqua Security · 8.2/10
  • Most featuresUpwind CNAPP · 4 of 4

Aqua Security scores higher on our rubric for cloud-native application protection platforms: 8.2 against 7.5 out of 10; our editors rank them #9 and #17.

Aqua Security is the better fit for container-first security and Kubernetes platform teams. Upwind CNAPP is the better fit for modern cloud teams needing runtime-to-code visibility.

  • Aqua Security fits best

    Container-first security and Kubernetes platform teams

  • Upwind CNAPP fits best

    Modern cloud teams needing runtime-to-code visibility

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature Aqua Security 8.2/10 Visit ↗ Upwind CNAPP 7.5/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 8.2 7.5
Ranking #9 in Cloud-Native Application Protection Platforms #17 in Cloud-Native Application Protection Platforms
Best for Container-first security and Kubernetes platform teams Modern cloud teams needing runtime-to-code visibility
Pricing model Paid Paid
Starting price — Pricing on request
Free plan — Not checked yet
Free trial — —
Deployment Cloud, Self-hosted Cloud
Platforms Web, Linux Web
Support Email, Tickets Live chat, Email, Community, Docs · 24/7
Compliance SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR, HIPAA
Integrations 17 integrations 12 integrations
Built for Mid-market, Enterprise Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Aqua Security 2/4 · Upwind CNAPP 4/4
Runtime protection ✓ ✓
Code-to-cloud security Not checked yet ✓ (best)
Identity security Not checked yet ✓ (best)
Kubernetes security ✓ ✓
Specs
Cloud scope Not checked yet Multi_cloud
Supported cloud providers Not checked yet AWS, GCP, Azure, OCI
Our review
Pros
  • Covers image scanning, runtime protection, SBOMs, and admission control
  • Supports Kubernetes, major cloud platforms, registries, and CI/CD tools
  • Adds runtime context, drift prevention, and container memory forensics
  • Covers AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, and Oracle Cloud environments
  • Links runtime behavior to repositories and deployment pipelines
  • Combines posture, identity, Kubernetes, data, and supply-chain security
Cons
  • No free plan is available
  • Pricing requires contacting sales
  • The platform may exceed the needs of teams seeking a narrow security tool
  • Pricing uses a contact-sales process
  • Its broad scope may exceed the needs of narrowly focused teams
  • Documented cloud coverage centers on four named cloud providers
Our verdict

Aqua Security is a cloud-native application protection platform for organizations securing software from development through production. It covers code repositories, container images, registries, Kubernetes environments, cloud workloads,…

Read the review →

Upwind CNAPP is a cloud-native application protection platform for security, engineering, and DevOps teams. It brings together agentless cloud scanning, runtime sensors, cloud security posture management, identity analysis, vulnerability…

Read the review →
  1. Aqua SecurityCloud-Native Application Protection Platforms 8.2Pricing on request
  2. Upwind CNAPPCloud-Native Application Protection Platforms 7.5Pricing on request

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Aqua Security — where it wins

    • Covers image scanning, runtime protection, SBOMs, and admission control
    • Supports Kubernetes, major cloud platforms, registries, and CI/CD tools
    • Adds runtime context, drift prevention, and container memory forensics

    Where it doesn't

    • No free plan is available
    • Pricing requires contacting sales
    • The platform may exceed the needs of teams seeking a narrow security tool

  • Upwind CNAPP — where it wins

    • Covers AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, and Oracle Cloud environments
    • Links runtime behavior to repositories and deployment pipelines
    • Combines posture, identity, Kubernetes, data, and supply-chain security

    Where it doesn't

    • Pricing uses a contact-sales process
    • Its broad scope may exceed the needs of narrowly focused teams
    • Documented cloud coverage centers on four named cloud providers
  • Aqua Security8.2/10 · Pricing on request

    Aqua Security covers supply-chain, Kubernetes, and runtime protection without a free plan.

    Visit Aqua SecurityFull verdict →
  • Upwind CNAPP7.5/10 · Pricing on request

    A broad CNAPP for teams connecting cloud runtime activity with code and identity context.

    Visit UpwindFull verdict →

All Cloud-Native application protection platforms comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update