Qualys Container Security vs Aqua Security

Qualys Container Security9.1Visit Aqua Security8.5Visit

Higher score Qualys Container Security #2 in Container Security Software 9.1/10 Free plan · pricing on request Free plan✓ 6 of 6 features Visit Qualys

vs

Aqua Security #7 in Container Security Software 8.5/10 Pricing on request ✓ 6 of 6 features Visit Aqua Security

• Qualys Container Security fits best

  Budget-conscious enterprises wanting broad coverage

• Aqua Security fits best

  Enterprises needing comprehensive hybrid security

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Side by side

Feature	Qualys Container Security 9.1/10 Visit ↗	Aqua Security 8.5/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	9.1	8.5
Ranking	#2 in Container Security Software	#7 in Container Security Software
Best for	Budget-conscious enterprises wanting broad coverage	Enterprises needing comprehensive hybrid security
Pricing model	Free plan + paid	Paid
Starting price	Free plan · pricing on request	—
Free plan	✓ (best)	—
Free trial	—	—
Deployment	Cloud, Self-hosted	Cloud, Self-hosted
Platforms	Web, Linux	Web, Linux
Support	Phone, Docs · 24/7	Email, Tickets
Compliance	SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR, HIPAA, PCI DSS, SSO/SAML, 2FA	SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR
Integrations	8 integrations	17 integrations
Built for	Mid-market, Enterprise	Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Qualys Container Security 6/6 · Aqua Security 6/6
Image scanning	✓	✓
Runtime protection	✓	✓
Kubernetes security	✓	✓
Registry scanning	✓	✓
Admission control	✓	✓
SBOM generation	✓	✓
Specs
Deployment model	Hybrid	Hybrid
Our review
Pros	Covers images, registries, CI/CD, Kubernetes, runtime, and SBOMs Free plan provides container visibility and metadata Supports GitHub Actions, Jenkins, and REST API integrations	Covers image, registry, Kubernetes, runtime, malware, secrets, and SBOM security Supports hybrid, multicloud, on-premises, private-cloud, and disconnected environments Connects with major Kubernetes, registry, CI/CD, cloud, and SIEM platforms
Cons	Vulnerability scanning requires a paid subscription Paid access uses a sales-led pricing model Listed integrations focus on GitHub Actions, Jenkins, and REST API	No free plan is available for smaller evaluations Pricing requires contact with sales Its broad coverage may exceed the needs of narrowly focused teams
Our verdict	Qualys Container Security is a cloud application for discovering, inventorying, scanning, and protecting container images and workloads. It is designed for organizations that need coverage across CI/CD pipelines, container registries,… Read the review →	Aqua Security provides a cloud-native application protection platform for organizations securing software from development through production. It is designed for enterprises that need visibility and controls across code repositories,… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• Qualys Container Security — where it wins

  • Covers images, registries, CI/CD, Kubernetes, runtime, and SBOMs
  • Free plan provides container visibility and metadata
  • Supports GitHub Actions, Jenkins, and REST API integrations

  Where it doesn't

  • Vulnerability scanning requires a paid subscription
  • Paid access uses a sales-led pricing model
  • Listed integrations focus on GitHub Actions, Jenkins, and REST API

• Aqua Security — where it wins

  • Covers image, registry, Kubernetes, runtime, malware, secrets, and SBOM security
  • Supports hybrid, multicloud, on-premises, private-cloud, and disconnected environments
  • Connects with major Kubernetes, registry, CI/CD, cloud, and SIEM platforms

  Where it doesn't

  • No free plan is available for smaller evaluations
  • Pricing requires contact with sales
  • Its broad coverage may exceed the needs of narrowly focused teams

• Qualys Container Security9.1/10 · Free plan · pricing on request

  Broad container coverage with a free visibility tier and sales-led paid access.

  Visit QualysFull verdict →
• Aqua Security8.5/10 · Pricing on request

  A broad hybrid security platform for securing containers from development through runtime.

  Visit Aqua SecurityFull verdict →