Head-to-head · Infrastructure as Code Security Software
KICS vs TigerGate IaC Security
KICS leads on 1 check, TigerGate IaC Security on 0, and 7 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
- Free trialonly TigerGate IaC Security
- Most featuresKICS · 7 of 7
KICS scores higher on our rubric for infrastructure as code security software: 9.4 against 8.6 out of 10; our editors rank them #1 and #8.
KICS offers free plan; TigerGate IaC Security doesn't.
KICS is the better fit for broad, free IaC security coverage. TigerGate IaC Security is the better fit for enterprise multi-cloud IaC programs.
- KICS fits best
Broad, free IaC security coverage
- TigerGate IaC Security fits best
Enterprise multi-cloud IaC programs
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 ↗ | TigerGate IaC Security 8.6/10 Visit ↗ |
|---|---|---|
| At a glance | ||
| Editor score | 9.4 | 8.6 |
| Ranking | #1 in Infrastructure as Code Security Software | #8 in Infrastructure as Code Security Software |
| Best for | Broad, free IaC security coverage | Enterprise multi-cloud IaC programs |
| Pricing model | Free | Paid |
| Starting price | Free plan | — |
| Free plan | ✓ (best) | — |
| Free trial | — | 14 days |
| Deployment | Self-hosted | Cloud, Self-hosted |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Web |
| Support | Email, Community, Docs | Email, Community, Docs, Live chat |
| Integrations | 16 integrations | 100+ integrations |
| Built for | Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise | Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise |
| Features KICS 7/7 · TigerGate IaC Security 6/7 | ||
| Terraform analysis | ✓ | ✓ |
| Kubernetes analysis | ✓ | ✓ |
| CloudFormation analysis | ✓ | ✓ |
| Custom policies | ✓ | ✓ |
| Secrets detection | ✓ (best) | Not checked yet |
| Pull request scanning | ✓ | ✓ |
| IDE integration | ✓ | ✓ |
| Our review | ||
| Pros |
|
|
| Cons |
|
|
| 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 → |
TigerGate IaC Security scans infrastructure-as-code files for security misconfigurations and compliance issues before deployment. It is designed for development and security teams managing Terraform, CloudFormation, Kubernetes manifests,… Read the review → |
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
TigerGate IaC Security — where it wins
- Scans Terraform, CloudFormation, Kubernetes, Helm, Docker Compose, and ARM
- Supports AWS, GCP, Azure, Oracle Cloud, and Kubernetes environments
- Adds custom OPA policies, pull-request checks, remediation, and compliance reports
Where it doesn't
- Paid pricing requires contact with sales
- No free plan is available
- Enterprise features are concentrated in the Enterprise tier
- KICS9.4/10 · Free plan
A broad, free IaC scanner for security, compliance, secrets, and misconfigurations.
Visit KICSFull verdict → - TigerGate IaC Security8.6/10 · Pricing on request · 14-day trial
Broad multi-cloud IaC coverage with policy controls, workflow checks, and compliance reporting.
Visit TigerGateFull verdict →
More comparisons
- KICS vs Checkov
- KICS vs Snyk IaC
- KICS vs Safeguard IaC Security
- KICS vs Aikido Security
- KICS vs DryRun Security IaC Security
- KICS vs audytx
- Checkov vs TigerGate IaC Security
- Snyk IaC vs TigerGate IaC Security
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







