Alternatives
There are mature tools in this space. Pick the right one for your use case.
Comparison
| Feature | Prowler | Trivy | Checkov | cloud-audit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Checks | 576 | 517 | 2500+ | 80 |
| Multi-cloud | AWS, Azure, GCP | AWS, Azure, GCP | Multi-cloud IaC | AWS only |
| Attack chain detection | No | No | No | 20 rules |
| Remediation per finding | CIS only | No | Links | 100% (CLI + Terraform) |
| Breach cost estimation | No | No | No | Per finding + chain |
| CIS v3.0 compliance engine | Yes | No | No | 62 controls with evidence |
| MCP server (AI agents) | Paid ($99/mo) | No | No | Free, standalone |
| Scan time | Hours | Minutes | Seconds (IaC) | Seconds |
| License | Apache 2.0 | Apache 2.0 | Apache 2.0 | MIT |
When to Use Each Tool
-
Prowler - You need exhaustive compliance coverage (500+ checks, 30+ frameworks) across multiple clouds. You don't mind longer scan times. The most comprehensive open-source scanner.
-
Trivy - Your primary need is container and IaC scanning. Cloud scanning is growing but not the core strength.
-
Checkov - You scan Terraform/CloudFormation/Kubernetes code before deployment. Pre-deploy IaC analysis, not live AWS scanning.
-
Steampipe - You want SQL-based cloud querying for custom analysis. Very flexible, requires writing queries.
-
AWS Security Hub - You want native AWS continuous monitoring with auto-remediation via SSM. Free 30-day trial, then per-check pricing.
-
cloud-audit - You need a focused scan that shows how findings combine into real attack paths, tells you exactly how to fix each one with Terraform, and generates compliance evidence. Best for quick audits, consulting engagements, and teams that want depth over breadth.