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Head-to-head · Infrastructure as Code Security Software

KICS vs DryRun Security IaC Security

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 8 checks side by side
Higher score KICS #1 in Infrastructure as Code Security Software 9.4/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 7 of 7 features Visit KICS
DryRun Security IaC Security #6 in Infrastructure as Code Security Software 8.8/10 Pricing on request ✓ 6 of 7 features Visit DryRun

KICS leads on 0 checks, DryRun Security IaC Security on 0, and 8 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 8 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreKICS · 9.4/10
  • Free planonly KICS
  • Most featuresKICS · 7 of 7

KICS scores higher on our rubric for infrastructure as code security software: 9.4 against 8.8 out of 10; our editors rank them #1 and #6.

KICS is the better fit for broad, free IaC security coverage. DryRun Security IaC Security is the better fit for teams needing AI-assisted IaC workflows.

  • KICS fits best

    Broad, free IaC security coverage

  • DryRun Security IaC Security fits best

    Teams needing AI-assisted IaC workflows

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 KICS 9.4/10 Visit ↗ DryRun Security IaC Security 8.8/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.4 8.8
Ranking #1 in Infrastructure as Code Security Software #6 in Infrastructure as Code Security Software
Best for Broad, free IaC security coverage Teams needing AI-assisted IaC workflows
Pricing model Free Paid
Starting price Free plan Pricing on request
Free plan ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Free trial — —
Deployment Self-hosted Cloud
Platforms Windows, macOS, Linux Web
Support Email, Community, Docs Email, Docs
Integrations 16 integrations 11 integrations
Built for Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features KICS 7/7 · DryRun Security IaC Security 6/7
Terraform analysis ✓ ✓
Kubernetes analysis ✓ ✓
CloudFormation analysis ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Custom policies ✓ ✓
Secrets detection ✓ ✓
Pull request scanning ✓ ✓
IDE integration ✓ ✓
Our review
Pros
  • Scans Terraform, Kubernetes, and CloudFormation
  • Detects security issues, compliance gaps, misconfigurations, and secrets
  • Connects with CI/CD tools, GitHub Actions, and Visual Studio Code
  • Scans Terraform and Kubernetes configurations for security misconfigurations
  • Adds custom natural-language policies and secrets detection
  • Connects pull requests, IDEs, APIs, MCP, and AI assistants
Cons
  • Primarily focuses on infrastructure-as-code configuration files
  • Custom queries may require security and policy knowledge
  • Workflow coverage depends on configuring its listed integrations
  • Pricing uses a contact-sales process
  • Analysis is centered on Terraform and Kubernetes IaC
  • Risk management and automation require adoption of its wider platform
Our verdict

KICS is a free, open-source static analysis tool for infrastructure-as-code projects. It is designed for teams that need security, compliance, misconfiguration, and secrets checks across Terraform, Kubernetes, and CloudFormation. The…

Read the review →

DryRun Security is a cloud application-security platform with Infrastructure as Code security capabilities for engineering, developer, and application-security teams. It analyzes Terraform and Kubernetes configurations alongside related…

Read the review →
  1. KICSInfrastructure as Code Security Software 9.4Free plan
  2. DryRun Security IaC SecurityInfrastructure as Code Security Software 8.8Pricing on request

Strengths and trade-offs

  • KICS — where it wins

    • Scans Terraform, Kubernetes, and CloudFormation
    • Detects security issues, compliance gaps, misconfigurations, and secrets
    • Connects with CI/CD tools, GitHub Actions, and Visual Studio Code

    Where it doesn't

    • Primarily focuses on infrastructure-as-code configuration files
    • Custom queries may require security and policy knowledge
    • Workflow coverage depends on configuring its listed integrations

  • DryRun Security IaC Security — where it wins

    • Scans Terraform and Kubernetes configurations for security misconfigurations
    • Adds custom natural-language policies and secrets detection
    • Connects pull requests, IDEs, APIs, MCP, and AI assistants

    Where it doesn't

    • Pricing uses a contact-sales process
    • Analysis is centered on Terraform and Kubernetes IaC
    • Risk management and automation require adoption of its wider platform
  • KICS9.4/10 · Free plan

    A broad, free IaC scanner for security, compliance, secrets, and misconfigurations.

    Visit KICSFull verdict →
  • DryRun Security IaC Security8.8/10 · Pricing on request

    AI-assisted IaC analysis with policy controls, secrets detection, and developer workflow integrations.

    Visit DryRunFull verdict →

More comparisons

All infrastructure as code security software comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update