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Head-to-head · IaC Security Scanners

Checkov vs DeepSource

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 3 checks side by side
Higher score Checkov #3 in IaC Security Scanners 8.7/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 2 of 5 features Visit Checkov
DeepSource #5 in IaC Security Scanners 8.3/10 Free plan · paid from $24/user/mo (annual) · 14-day trial Free plan✓ 0 of 5 features Visit DeepSource

Checkov leads on 2 checks, DeepSource on 0, and 1 is even. Who comes out ahead on the 3 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreCheckov · 8.7/10
  • Free planboth
  • Most featuresCheckov · 2 of 5

Checkov scores higher on our rubric for iac security scanners: 8.7 against 8.3 out of 10; our editors rank them #3 and #5.

Checkov offers custom policies; DeepSource doesn't publish it. Checkov offers open-source option; DeepSource doesn't publish it.

Checkov is the better fit for open-source multi-framework scanning. DeepSource is the better fit for teams combining IaC and code security.

  • Checkov fits best

    Open-source multi-framework scanning

  • DeepSource fits best

    Teams combining IaC and code security

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. We may earn a commission when you click some links. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature Checkov 8.7/10 Visit ↗ DeepSource 8.3/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 8.7 8.3
Ranking #3 in IaC Security Scanners #5 in IaC Security Scanners
Best for Open-source multi-framework scanning Teams combining IaC and code security
Pricing model Free Free plan + paid
Starting price Not published $24/user/mo
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — —
Deployment Self-hosted Cloud, Self-hosted
Platforms Linux, macOS Web
Support Community, Docs Email, Tickets, Docs
Integrations 9 integrations 8 integrations
Built for Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Checkov 2/5 · DeepSource 0/5
Custom policies ✓ (best) Not published
CI/PR integration Not published Not published
Fix suggestions Not published Not published
Drift detection Not published Not published
Open-source option ✓ (best) Not published
Specs
IaC frameworks Not published Not published
Our review
Pros
  • Scans Terraform, CloudFormation, Kubernetes and Terraform plans
  • Supports secrets detection, graph analysis and custom Python or YAML policies
  • Integrates with major CI/CD tools, pre-commit and IDE environments
  • Reviews Dockerfiles, Terraform, and Ansible alongside application code.
  • Scans pull requests for secrets and dependency vulnerabilities.
  • Connects with GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket, and Azure DevOps.
Cons
  • Self-hosted deployment requires your team to operate the scanner
  • Support channels are limited to community resources and documentation
  • Runs on Linux and macOS, narrowing supported host platforms
  • Secrets detection is limited to Team and Enterprise plans.
  • Team costs $30 per user monthly or $24 with annual billing.
  • The Individual plan's repository limits are not stated.
Our verdict

Checkov is an open-source static analysis tool for infrastructure as code, designed for teams that need policy checks across multiple configuration frameworks. It scans Terraform and Terraform plans, CloudFormation and AWS SAM, Kubernetes…

Read the review →

DeepSource brings code review and application-security checks together for software teams that want infrastructure-as-code findings in the same workflow as code issues. It reviews Dockerfiles, Terraform, and Ansible, alongside static…

Read the review →
  1. CheckovIaC Security Scanners 8.7Free plan
  2. DeepSourceIaC Security Scanners 8.3Free plan · paid from $24/user/mo (annual) · 14-day trial

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Checkov — where it wins

    • Scans Terraform, CloudFormation, Kubernetes and Terraform plans
    • Supports secrets detection, graph analysis and custom Python or YAML policies
    • Integrates with major CI/CD tools, pre-commit and IDE environments

    Where it doesn't

    • Self-hosted deployment requires your team to operate the scanner
    • Support channels are limited to community resources and documentation
    • Runs on Linux and macOS, narrowing supported host platforms

  • DeepSource — where it wins

    • Reviews Dockerfiles, Terraform, and Ansible alongside application code.
    • Scans pull requests for secrets and dependency vulnerabilities.
    • Connects with GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket, and Azure DevOps.

    Where it doesn't

    • Secrets detection is limited to Team and Enterprise plans.
    • Team costs $30 per user monthly or $24 with annual billing.
    • The Individual plan's repository limits are not stated.
  • Checkov8.7/10 · Free plan

    A self-hosted, multi-framework IaC scanner with broad policy and CI/CD coverage.

    Visit CheckovFull verdict →
  • DeepSource8.3/10 · Free plan · paid from $24/user/mo (annual) · 14-day trial

    Combines IaC checks with code, secrets, and dependency scanning in pull requests.

    Visit DeepSourceFull verdict →

More comparisons

All IaC security scanners comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update