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Head-to-head · Infrastructure Policy as Code Tools

Azure Policy vs Checkov

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 6 checks side by side
Higher score Azure Policy #2 in Infrastructure Policy as Code Tools 9.3/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 5 of 5 features Visit Azure Policy
Checkov #5 in Infrastructure Policy as Code Tools 8.9/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 0 of 5 features Visit Checkov

Azure Policy leads on 0 checks, Checkov on 0, and 6 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 6 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreAzure Policy · 9.3/10
  • Free planboth
  • Most featuresAzure Policy · 5 of 5

Azure Policy scores higher on our rubric for infrastructure policy as code tools: 9.3 against 8.9 out of 10; our editors rank them #2 and #5.

Azure Policy is the better fit for azure governance teams. Checkov is the better fit for open-source IaC scanning teams.

  • Azure Policy fits best

    Azure governance teams

  • Checkov fits best

    Open-source IaC scanning teams

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 Azure Policy 9.3/10 Visit ↗ Checkov 8.9/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.3 8.9
Ranking #2 in Infrastructure Policy as Code Tools #5 in Infrastructure Policy as Code Tools
Best for Azure governance teams Open-source IaC scanning teams
Pricing model Free Free
Starting price Free plan Free plan
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — —
Deployment Cloud Self-hosted
Platforms Web Linux, macOS
Support Docs, Community, Tickets Community, Docs
Integrations 9 integrations 9 integrations
Built for Mid-market, Enterprise Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Azure Policy 5/5 · Checkov 0/5
Policy testing ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Admission control ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Runtime enforcement ✓ (best) Not checked yet
CI/CD integration ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Policy reporting ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Specs
Policy language JSON Not checked yet
IaC formats ARM templates, Bicep, Terraform Not checked yet
Our review
Pros
  • Free policy definitions, initiatives, assignments, and compliance reporting
  • Enforces deny, audit, modify, deployIfNotExists, and remediation effects
  • Supports Terraform, ARM, Bicep, GitHub, Azure DevOps, and CI/CD validation
  • Scans Terraform, CloudFormation, Kubernetes, secrets and other configurations
  • Supports custom Python and YAML policies with graph-based analysis
  • Fits CI/CD, pull-request, pre-commit and IDE workflows
Cons
  • Focused on Azure resource governance rather than broad multi-cloud policy
  • Policy definitions use JSON, which may require governance-specific expertise
  • Related Azure resources and services may incur separate charges
  • Focuses on configuration scanning rather than runtime enforcement
  • Runs on Linux and macOS
  • IDE extensions come through third-party marketplaces
Our verdict

Azure Policy is Microsoft’s governance service for defining, assigning, and evaluating rules against Azure resources. It suits teams that need centralized control over compliance across management groups, subscriptions, resource groups,…

Read the review →

Checkov is an open-source static analysis tool for infrastructure as code, designed for teams that need preventive security and compliance checks before deployment. It scans Terraform and Terraform plans, CloudFormation and AWS SAM,…

Read the review →
  1. Azure PolicyInfrastructure Policy as Code Tools 9.3Free plan
  2. CheckovInfrastructure Policy as Code Tools 8.9Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Azure Policy — where it wins

    • Free policy definitions, initiatives, assignments, and compliance reporting
    • Enforces deny, audit, modify, deployIfNotExists, and remediation effects
    • Supports Terraform, ARM, Bicep, GitHub, Azure DevOps, and CI/CD validation

    Where it doesn't

    • Focused on Azure resource governance rather than broad multi-cloud policy
    • Policy definitions use JSON, which may require governance-specific expertise
    • Related Azure resources and services may incur separate charges

  • Checkov — where it wins

    • Scans Terraform, CloudFormation, Kubernetes, secrets and other configurations
    • Supports custom Python and YAML policies with graph-based analysis
    • Fits CI/CD, pull-request, pre-commit and IDE workflows

    Where it doesn't

    • Focuses on configuration scanning rather than runtime enforcement
    • Runs on Linux and macOS
    • IDE extensions come through third-party marketplaces

More comparisons

All infrastructure policy as code tools comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update