Grype vs Kubescape
Grype
github.com
Kubescape
kubescape.ioSide by side
| Figure | Grype | Kubescape |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | $30/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| API | — | Yes |
| Self-hosted | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 2 | 6 |
| Spec score · Container Security Software | 8.7 (#2) | 9.1 (#1) |
| Spec score · Cloud Vulnerability Scanners | 8.7 (#3) | 9.1 (#1) |
| Documentation | Anchore publishes getting-started material, installation instructions, scan-target guidance, configuration reference, CLI reference and architecture documentation. | The documentation covers installation, scanning, frameworks, controls, operator services, integrations, runtime detection, telemetry and troubleshooting. |
| Founded | 2016 | 2021 |
| Funding | Anchore announced a $20 million Series A led by SignalFire on January 22, 2020; VentureBeat reported that this brought total funding to about $30 million. | Startup Nation Central reports ARMO raised $31.5 million across two rounds, including a $27 million March 2022 round and a $4.5 million January 2021 seed round. |
| Integrations | The installation documentation provides a Docker image and lists community installation options including Homebrew, MacPorts, Winget, Scoop, and Snapcraft. | Documented integrations include GitHub, GitLab CI/CD, Lens and Visual Studio Code. |
| License | The project is released under the Apache-2.0 License. | Kubescape is released under the Apache 2.0 license. |
| Purpose | Grype scans container images, filesystems, and SBOMs for known vulnerabilities. | Kubescape is an open-source Kubernetes security platform for end-to-end security coverage. |
| Self-hosting | Grype runs locally and can continue scanning offline after downloading its database and scan inputs. | The operator is installed with Helm and runs as Kubernetes microservices inside the customer cluster. |
| Support | Commercial support is offered through Anchore, while community help is routed through issues, contribution documentation and community meetings. | The project says it aims to respond to issues within 48 hours and provides CNCF Slack users and developers channels. |
| What it does | Grype scans container images, source directories, filesystems, archives, SBOMs and individual packages for known vulnerabilities. | Kubescape is an open-source Kubernetes security platform covering configuration, vulnerability, compliance, policy and runtime security. |
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
Grype
Grype is a free, Apache-2.0-licensed scanner for known vulnerabilities in container images, filesystems, and software bills of materials (SBOMs). It can also scan directories, individual files, archives, and packages identified by PURL or CPE. Coverage includes major operating-system package ecosystems and language packages such as Ruby, Java, JavaScript, Python, .NET, Go, PHP, and Rust; supported image formats include Docker, OCI, and Singularity. Grype uses EPSS, KEV, and risk scoring to help prioritize findings. OpenVEX can filter results or add context. Reports can be emitted as a table, JSON, SARIF, or a custom Go template. The project supports SBOM generation and runs on Linux, macOS, Windows, or in a self-hosted setup. Installation options include a Docker image and community packages such as Homebrew, MacPorts, Winget, Scoop, and Snapcraft. Individual package scanning is described as useful for lightweight vulnerability checks and compliance scanning of specific dependencies. Security updates are applied only to the most recent release, and vulnerability-report support is described as best effort.
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.