Clair vs Kubescape
Clair
clairproject.org
Kubescape
kubescape.ioSide by side
| Figure | Clair | Kubescape |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | $30/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | Yes |
| Windows | — | Yes |
| macOS | — | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 6 |
| Spec score · Container Security Software | 8.0 (#10) | 9.1 (#1) |
| Deployment | Clair supports microservice, monolithic, CI pipeline, and disconnected deployment methods. | The CLI supports offline and air-gapped operation by downloading artifacts for local use. |
| License | Clair is licensed under Apache 2.0. | Kubescape is released under the Apache 2.0 license. |
| Purpose | Clair continuously scans container images for vulnerabilities and security problems. | Kubescape is an open-source Kubernetes security platform for end-to-end security coverage. |
| Support | The project directs questions to its Google Group and bug reports to GitHub Issues. | The project says it aims to respond to issues within 48 hours and provides CNCF Slack users and developers channels. |
Plans
Kubescape
- ARMO Platform FreeFree
- Kubescape open sourceFree
- Kubescape Open SourceFree
- ARMO Platform Startup$30 a month
- ARMO PlatformPriced on request
- ARMO Platform EnterprisePriced on request
In their own words
Clair
Clair is free, self-hosted software that continuously scans container images for vulnerabilities in operating-system bases, installed packages, and programming-language components. Clients use its API to index images and match them against known vulnerabilities. Clair updates its vulnerability database as new issues appear and can reanalyze images without rereading their complete contents. It supports OCI Distribution and Docker v2 images, and lists RHEL, Alpine, Ubuntu, Debian, Oracle, Photon, and SUSE distributions, plus Java, Python, Golang, and Javascript. Deployment options include microservices, monolithic installations, CI pipelines, and disconnected environments. Clair can run as an indexer, matcher, notifier, or combo process. It uses PostgreSQL for persistence and is released as a Quay.io container, with the clairctl command-line tool among its artifacts. Clair runs on Linux, supports registry scanning, and is licensed under Apache 2.0. Runtime protection is not provided.
Kubescape
Kubescape is an open-source platform for Kubernetes security across configuration, images, compliance, and activity in running clusters. It analyzes Kubernetes manifests, Helm charts, and live clusters for misconfigurations. Its operator scans deployed container images for vulnerabilities using Grype and public vulnerability databases, and monitors active clusters for suspicious behavior and threats. Kubescape supports CIS, NSA-CISA, MITRE ATT&CK, and SOC 2 frameworks. Its policy engine uses Open Policy Agent to evaluate Kubernetes objects against posture controls written in Rego; the operator runs as microservices that continuously monitor cluster posture. Integrations are available for GitHub, GitLab CI/CD, Lens, and Visual Studio Code. The CLI can download artifacts for local use, including in offline and air-gapped environments. Results can be exported as JSON or JUnit XML or rendered as HTML or PDF. The CLI and Kubernetes operator are self-hosted and free under Apache License 2.0. ARMO Platform is a compatible provider for uploading scan results and downloading custom artifacts; its price depends on vCPUs and other cloud resources.