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Head-to-head · Infrastructure Policy as Code Tools

Cloud Custodian vs Checkov

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 6 checks side by side
Higher score Cloud Custodian #4 in Infrastructure Policy as Code Tools 9.0/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 5 of 5 features Try Cloud Custodian
Checkov #5 in Infrastructure Policy as Code Tools 8.9/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 0 of 5 features Visit Checkov

Cloud Custodian 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 scoreCloud Custodian · 9.0/10
  • Free planboth
  • Most featuresCloud Custodian · 5 of 5

Cloud Custodian scores higher on our rubric for infrastructure policy as code tools: 9.0 against 8.9 out of 10; our editors rank them #4 and #5.

Cloud Custodian is the better fit for multi-cloud remediation teams. Checkov is the better fit for open-source IaC scanning teams.

  • Cloud Custodian fits best

    Multi-cloud remediation 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 Cloud Custodian 9.0/10 Visit ↗ Checkov 8.9/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.0 8.9
Ranking #4 in Infrastructure Policy as Code Tools #5 in Infrastructure Policy as Code Tools
Best for Multi-cloud remediation teams Open-source IaC scanning teams
Pricing model Free Free
Starting price Free plan Free plan
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — —
Deployment Cloud, Self-hosted Self-hosted
Platforms Windows, macOS, Linux Linux, macOS
Support Community, Docs Community, Docs
Integrations 4 integrations 9 integrations
Built for Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Cloud Custodian 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 YAML Not checked yet
IaC formats Terraform Not checked yet
Our review
Pros
  • Supports AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, and Oracle Cloud Infrastructure
  • Combines YAML policies, dry runs, enforcement, remediation, and reporting
  • Evaluates Terraform infrastructure as code in CI with c7n-left
  • 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
  • Requires teams to manage and operate the open-source deployment
  • CI admission-style enforcement is not a standalone deployment admission controller
  • Policy reporting is limited to CSV and text-based outputs
  • Focuses on configuration scanning rather than runtime enforcement
  • Runs on Linux and macOS
  • IDE extensions come through third-party marketplaces
Our verdict

Cloud Custodian is an open-source rules engine for managing public-cloud resources and accounts. It is designed for teams that need one policy workflow across AWS, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Platform, and Oracle Cloud Infrastructure.…

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. Cloud CustodianInfrastructure Policy as Code Tools 9.0Free plan
  2. CheckovInfrastructure Policy as Code Tools 8.9Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Cloud Custodian — where it wins

    • Supports AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, and Oracle Cloud Infrastructure
    • Combines YAML policies, dry runs, enforcement, remediation, and reporting
    • Evaluates Terraform infrastructure as code in CI with c7n-left

    Where it doesn't

    • Requires teams to manage and operate the open-source deployment
    • CI admission-style enforcement is not a standalone deployment admission controller
    • Policy reporting is limited to CSV and text-based outputs

  • 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